Jasmine remembers when the word ‘menopause’ was not nearly so familiar or openly discussed as it is today. “Menopause was just not spoken about – it wasn’t part of my lingo,” she says.
She also points out that women now in their late 50s and early 60s received either no information, or the wrong information, about Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) previously known as HRT. “I was in that age cohort that got the wrong HRT message … and why didn’t anyone correct us?”
As a result, Jasmine managed her symptoms, which started with hot sweats, feeling irritable, and weight gain, with lifestyle interventions like meditation, yoga, ocean swimming, after briefly trying MHT.
For the next generation, Jasmine’s advice is clear – start thinking about it and seek advice from your doctor early. “Start investigating treatment earlier rather than later and do it for yourself.”
