Meno Martha’s Look for A Pattern
explains how to look for a pattern with
menopause symptoms of what’s-what-when.

Umbrella
What may the Meno Martha’s Look for A Pattern Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Menopausal/Menopause Changes/Signs/Symptoms
  • Menopause Transition Changes/Signs/Symptoms
  • Menopause-Related Changes/Signs/Symptoms
  • Perimenopausal/Perimenopause Changes/Signs/Symptoms

Menopause

What is menopause?

DotS the definition of menopause may vary. In The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Definitions, published online 01 December 2023, the authors’ definition is:

“Menopause is the permanent cessation of menstruation in a non-hysterectomized woman. As many women may not be naturally menstruating when their menopause transition begins, for example due to hormonal contraception, having had an endometrial ablation or hysterectomy or pre-existing oligo-amenorrhea, a pragmatic definition of menopause is the permanent cessation of ovarian function”.1

Look for A PatternMeno Martha’s Look for A Pattern

What is the best way to predict menopause?

In What Is Menopause? Diagnosing Perimenopause and Menopause the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) explain:

“The best way to predict menopause is to keep track of your symptoms. If your periods are irregular and your symptoms are getting worse, it’s likely you are approaching menopause”.2

Periods Pattern

Is there a menstrual diary to look for a pattern with my periods?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Meno Martha’s Look for A Pattern

What is Meno Martha’s Look for A Pattern?

Meno Martha’s Look for A Pattern explains how to look for a pattern with menopause symptoms of what’s-what-when.

How can I look for a pattern with my menopause symptoms?Meno Martha’s Look for A Pattern

To Look for A Pattern with menopause symptoms of what’s-what-when, you can ask yourself these questions and any of your own:

Meno Martha’s Look for A Pattern

When do you have X? e.g. When do you have hot flushes/flashes?

  1. Do you have X on a particular day or night of the week? e.g work day or night
  2. Do you have X at a particular time of day or night?
  3. Do you have X when you feel hot?
  4. Do you have X when you feel hungry?
  5. Do you have X when you eat spicy or certain other food?
  6. Do you have X when you drink tea, coffee, cola or other caffeinated drinks?
  7. Do you have X when you drink alcohol?
  8. Do you have X when you smoke?
  9. Do you have X when you do not have a good night’s sleep?
  10. Do you have X when you feel stressed or sick?
  11. Do you have X when you do not exercise regularly?
  12. Do you have X when you do something else in particular?

Meno Martha’s Look for A Flip-Side Pattern

What is Meno Martha’s Look for A Flip-Side Pattern?

Meno Martha’s Look for A Flip-Side Pattern is how to look for a pattern with menopause symptoms of what’s-what-when, you have less menopause symptoms.

Meno Martha’s Look for A PatternHow can I look for a flip-side pattern with my menopause symptoms?

To Look for A Flip-Side Pattern with menopause symptoms of what’s-what-when, you can ask yourself these questions and any of your own:

Meno Martha’s Look for A Flip-Side Pattern

When do you have less X? e.g. When do you have less hot flushes/flashes?

  1. Do you have less X on a particular day or night of the week? e.g. Non-work day or night
  2. Do you have less X at a particular time of day or night?
  3. Do you have less X when you do not feel hot?
  4. Do you have less X when you do not feel hungry?
  5. Do you have less X when you eat less spicy or certain other food?
  6. Do you have less X when you drink less tea, coffee, cola or other caffeinated drinks?
  7. Do you have less X when you drink less alcohol?
  8. Do you have less X when you smoke less?
  9. Do you have less X when you have a good night’s sleep?
  10. Do you have less X when you do not feel stressed or sick?
  11. Do you have less X when you exercise regularly?
  12. Do you have less X when you do nothing in particular?

Hot Flush Triggers

What are hot flush triggers?

In Hot Flashes: What Can Trigger A Hot Flash the (United States) Cleveland Clinic elaborate on:

“A trigger is something that can set off a hot flash. There are actually a lot of things in your normal life that could trigger a hot flash. Triggers of hot flashes can include:

  • Hot weather
  • Heat
  • Smoking
  • Caffeine
  • Alcohol
  • Spicy foods
  • Tight clothing
  • Stress”.3

Symptom Tracker

Is there a symptom tracker?

In Menopause: Related Resources – Download the Menopause Symptom Tracker the (American) Endocrine Society include:

Healthy Lifestyle, Alternative Therapies, HRT

Can a healthy lifestyle, improve menopause symptoms?

On page one in the Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause, first published online 10 June 2022, the recommendations include:

  • “Women should be advised that implementing or maintaining a healthy lifestyle can improve menopause symptoms. A healthy diet (one low in saturated fat and salt and rich in calcium and vitamin D), stopping smoking, reducing alcohol intake and including regular exercise can be beneficial. Reducing caffeine intake may also improve symptoms.
  • Alternative therapies, including cognitive behavioural therapy, may also improve hot flushes, nights sweats and other menopausal symptoms and can be considered in women who do not wish to take HRT or have contraindications to taking HRT.
  • The decision whether to take HRT, the dose and duration of its use should be made on an individualised basis after discussing the benefits and risks with each patient…”.4

What is HRT?

HRT can be an abbreviation for Hormone Replacement Therapy.

Health Care Provider

What if I would like help with my menopause symptoms?

If you would like help with your menopause symptoms, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

In What Is Menopause? When To See Your Doctor the JH explain:

“Talk to your doctor if you are worried about:

  • Irregular periods
  • Heavy bleeding
  • Bleeding after menopause
  • Increased premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms
  • Menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, that interfere with your daily life”.5

In Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment the (United States) Mayo Clinic also encourage us to seek help:

“Before deciding on any form of treatment, talk with your doctor about your options and the risks and benefits involved with each. Review your options yearly, as your needs and treatment options may change”.6

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Meno Martha’s Look for A Pattern?

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Links

Where may I find Links related to Meno Martha’s Look for A Pattern?

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Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Davis, S. R., Taylor, S., Hemachandra, C., Magraith, K., Ebeling, P. R., Jane, F., and Islam, R. M. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Definitions. Published Online: 01 December 2023 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2023.2258783 Accessed: 14 February 2024
  2. What Is Menopause? Diagnosing Perimenopause and Menopause. Last Updated: 18 January 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/about-menopause Accessed: 14 February 2024
  3. Hot Flashes: What Can Trigger A Hot Flash? Last Reviewed: 21 March 2022. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15223-menopause-non-hormonal-treatment–relief-for-hot-flashes Accessed: 14 February 2024
  4. Hamoda, H., Mukherjee, A., Morris, E., Baldeweg, S. E., Jayasena, C. N., Briggs, P., Moger, S. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause. First Published Online 10 June 2022:3-4 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20533691221104879 Accessed: 14 February 2024
  5. What Is Menopause? When To See Your Doctor. Last Updated: 18 January 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/about-menopause Accessed: 14 February 2024
  6. Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment. 25 May 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353401 Accessed: 14 February 2024
Topic Last Updated: 10 March 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 14 February 2024

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