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Christina's periods stopped at age 42 but she still suffers from hot flushes, sweats, poor memory, and mood swings. Unable to take HRT, she feels embarrassed and misunderstood at work. Weight gain and stress incontinence have eroded her confidence.
Christina is an administrative assistant. She is single with an adult son. She started the menopause at age 40 and had her last period at 42. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.
Irregular and heavy periods marked the start of the menopause for Brenda. Loss of libido and the inability to carry out the Orthodox Jewish cultural practice 'mikvah' have led to tensions in her relationship. She has taken HRT to regulate her periods.
Brenda is a part-time teacher. She is married with five children. She started the menopause at age 46. Ethnic background/nationality: White Orthodox Jewish.
The menopause has not been easy for Annette. Now the mother of a two year-old 'menopause' baby, her experiences of hot flushes, moods and increased weight alongside existing health problems have added to the complexity of her life as a single mother.
Annette is a part-time dinner lady and carer. She is single with four children ranging in age from 2-22. She started the menopause at age 44. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.
Despite hot flushes and eighteen months of erratic periods, Maureen feels she sailed through the menopause. She describes it as a liberating experience bringing relief from the pain and inconvenience of periods, as well as increased self-confidence.
Maureen is a support care worker. She is divorced with four adult children. She started the menopause at age 45 and had her last period at 47. Ethnic background/nationality: White...
With a history of irregular periods, Carolyn did not realise she was going through the menopause until a blood test, a year after her last period, confirmed she was postmenopausal. She sailed through the menopause, experiencing no unpleasant symptoms.
Carolyn is a retired police officer. She is single with no children. She started the menopause in her early fifties and had her last period at 53. Ethnic background/nationality: White...
Feelings of emotional turmoil were the most distressing aspect of the menopause for Cheryl. Her inability to cope and increased irritability at home put pressures on her relationships. An understanding GP and two years on HRT helped ease her symptoms.
Cheryl is a part-time teacher. She is married with two adult daughters. She started the menopause at age 46. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.
Weight gain has been the most distressing menopausal symptom for Sharon. Although HRT has brought relief from hot flushes, mood swings have left her irritable and short-tempered. Vaginal dryness and loss of interest in sex have affected her relationship.
Sharon is a police officer. She is married with two adult sons. She started the menopause at age 48. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.
Barbara has had erratic periods, hot flushes and mood swings since her mid-thirties. Unable to take HRT, she tried complementary therapies without success. She found it hard to cope with the menopause in a physical, male-dominated working environment.
Barbara is a retired army officer. She lives with her partner and has no children. She started the menopause at age 35. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.
For Rhonda, the onset of menopause followed a mastectomy for breast cancer and removal of both ovaries. Treated with tamoxifen, she is now taking Arimidex. Night sweats impact on her sleep but she is unable to take HRT.
Rhonda is a training and development manager. She is married with no children. She had a premature menopause at age 37 following treatment for cancer. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.
Rose's menopausal symptoms included hot flushes, headaches, and tiredness. Tried a number of types of HRT but problems with breakthrough bleeding, headaches and heart palpitations led her to manage her symptoms naturally with the help of herbal remedies.
Rose is a personnel manager. She is married with two adult children. She started the menopause at age 43 and had her last period at 45. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.
