Menopause is a significant transition in a woman's life, often accompanied by various physical changes. The increased incidence of joint pain and osteoarthritis is among the concerns. Women are more likely to develop osteoarthritis after menopause. Approximately 6 in 10 of postmenopausal women show radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis. Understanding the connection between menopause and osteoarthritis is crucial for women experiencing these symptoms and looking for effective management strategies.

The menopause happens when your ovaries stop producing eggs and is said to have occurred if you have not had a period for 12 months. It can vary in how it occurs with some people experiencing gradually changing periods, or missed periods, and others finding a sudden end to their periods. Once you have had one year without a period it can be confirmed that you have gone through the menopause. Natural menopause is due to increasing age, where over time your ovaries producing less of the hormone oestrogen which in turn means your ovaries don’t release an egg (so you can no longer conceive naturally) and your periods subsequently stop. It happens to all women, however, when exactly menopause occurs, and the symptoms people experience during this time vastly differ. In the UK, the average age of menopause is 51 and is said to be early if it occurs before the age of 45. Around 1% of will go through premature ovarian insufficiency, which is defined as the menopause occurring before the age of 40. You may also experience menopause due to having had surgery to remove your ovaries, having radiotherapy around the area of your ovaries, some chemotherapy treatment, or certain medical conditions.

Breast pain is very common and there can be many causes, but most cases are not a cause for concern. Cyclical breast pain can be a normal part of many women’s cycles, especially in the weeks before a period starts. Other causes of breast pain are the contraceptive pill, pregnancy, menopause, an infection in the breast such as mastitis, a muscle strain in the chest wall and injury to the area. Pain is not a common presentation of breast cancer; other signs that are more indicative of breast cancer such as changes in your breast shape, nipple or skin changes, or a breast lump that doesn't go away with your next period.

Some women may experience a missed period, and this can happen for many reasons, including a medical condition, medication or stress and lifestyle factors. With a one-off period that's missed, we may not find out the cause and hopefully your cycle returns to normal. Persistent missed periods will need investigating with your doctor.

Heavy menstrual bleeding is either when you lose a lot of blood or you bleed for a longer period of time. This can be associated with the passage of blood clots and pain, and if it occurs every month it is known medically as menorrhagia. All in all, it can cause a considerable disruption to everyday life and a toll on your mental wellbeing. It’s hard to know what a “normal” period is and it is often difficult to know if your period is lighter, heavier or the same as other women. Signs that you are bleeding more heavily than others may include that you soak through a sanitary towel or tampon at least every hour, that you need double protection (towel and pad) that you need to change in the middle of the night and flooding through to clothes or bedding. It may also include bleeding for more than 7 days, passing large blood clots, and generally a disturbance to your daily activities, work, studies or relationship from bleeding.

Hair is a huge part of a woman’s identity and we are constantly bombarded with images of long sleek locks with plenty of volume. Understandably loss of hair can cause women a great deal of anxiety. There can be telling signs that this is an inevitable part of an ageing process, so let’s talk through what to look for, and consider any reversible causes.

Contraceptives are used to prevent pregnancy. The combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP) is a type of contraception for women. The COCP is sometimes referred to as just the pill. It contains two hormones, oestrogen and progestogen. These hormones closely resemble the oestrogen and progesterone hormones produced by a woman’s ovaries. There are lots of different COCPs available. Some COCPs contain 21 pills which are followed by a seven-day break. Other COCPs contain 28 pills, with seven inactive (dummy) pills at the end of the pack. You should try to take your tablets at the same time each day. If you do not take your pill within 12 hours of your regular pill-taking time, it is classed as a missed pill. Below we will look at steps you should take if you miss any pills. Note the guidance in this article does not apply to Zoely, Qlaira, and Eloine. Remember, the advice only applies to missed active pills. If you miss any inactive pills, you can just disregard these pills.