Profiles

Here, you can find any of the interviews on this site.



Katherine - Interview 44

Katherine had a premature menopause following a diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease and treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She was prescribed the pill for many years before starting HRT. She finds support in an early menopause group.

  • Background

    Katherine is a TV production manager. She is single with no children. She had an early menopause at age 21 following treatment for cancer. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

  • Age at interview 35
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Maria - Interview 45

    Maria's menopausal symptoms started two years ago with severe hot flushes, sweats, scant periods and 'mad moments. A recent contraceptive implant has led to heavy bleeding. Men at work laugh and joke about the menopause but have little understanding.

  • Background

    Maria is a retail assistant. She is divorced with three children. She started the menopause at age 41. Ethnic background/nationality: British Afro-European.

  • Age at interview 43
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Janet - Interview 46

    Tiredness, irritability and hot flushes in her fifties led Janet to take HRT. Symptoms returned after discontinuing HRT 12 years later. Resumed HRT for a few years but stopped after heavy bleed. At 77, no longer on HRT but still gets hot flushes.

  • Background

    Janet is a retired probation officer. She is widowed with four adult children. She started the menopause at age 55 and was a long-term user of HRT until four years...

  • Age at interview 77
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Dr Sally Hope - Interview 47

    As a GP and the co-author of several books on the menopause, Sally brings considerable expertise to this website, presenting a medical perspective on the menopause. As well as a professional interest, Sally is also a menopausal woman who can genuinely empathise and understand how women feel.

  • Background

    Sally Hope is a GP in Woodstock, Oxfordshire and also does research on women’s health in the Department of Primary Health Care, University of Oxford.

  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Beverley - Interview 13

    Beverley thought she was pregnant when her periods became irregular in her late thirties. Despite symptoms, her GP felt she was too young for menopause. A blood test later confirmed menopause. Menopause took away her choice of having more children.

  • Background

    Beverley is an anti-social behaviour caseworker. She is divorced with two adult daughters. She started the menopause at age 38 and had her last period at 46. Ethnic background/nationality: Black...

  • Age at interview 50
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Eileen - Interview 02

    After a year of irregular periods, Eileen reached the menopause at the age of 56. Asthma, an underactive thyroid and a divorce in midlife have influenced her menopause experience. Apart from mild hot flushes in the past year she has had few symptoms.

  • Background

    Eileen is a finance assistant. She is divorced with three adult sons. She started the menopause at age 55 and had her last period at 56. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

  • Age at interview 59
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Charlotte - Interview 03

    Following heavy bleeding, Charlotte was referred to a gynaecologist and prescribed the drug Zoladex to induce the menopause. This led to severe hot flushes. Bleeding returned after treatment ended, however, and Charlotte is now considering a hysterectomy.

  • Background

    Charlotte is a university professor. She is married with two adult daughters. She started the menopause at age 47. Ethnic background/nationality: Welsh/Caribbean.

  • Age at interview 54
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Judy - Interview 04

    For Judy, the menopause started at 40 with a missed period and coincided with the onset of the autoimmune disorder Myasthenia Gravis. As well as irregular periods over the past 6 years, she has experienced hot flushes which have disrupted her sleep.

  • Background

    Judy is a senior lecturer. She is married with two teenage children. She started the menopause at age 40. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

  • Age at interview 46
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Deborah - Interview 05

    After suffering increasingly severe premenstrual tension (PMT) for which she was prescribed citalopram, Deborah saw a menopause specialist. Monthly Prostap injections for 4 months induced a medical menopause. Now free of PMT she is on HRT.

  • Background

    Deborah is postgraduate student. She is married with three adult children. She started the menopause at age 46. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

  • Age at interview 48
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Karen - Interview 06

    Karen started the menopause at 40, with hot flushes and mood swings having a considerable impact on her life. Initially prescribed HRT, this was discontinued following surgery to remove fibroids and polyps. Experienced withdrawal symptoms for 6 months.

  • Background

    Karen is now retired after working as a partner in her husband’s plumbing business. She is married with two adult children. She started the menopause at age 40 and had...

  • Age at interview 61
  • Sex/Gender Female