Menopause is absolutely natural biological process that marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years. Menopause occurs when a woman’s ovaries stop producing eggs, and her levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones decrease, leading to the cessation of menstruation. The average age for menopause is around 51 years old, but it can occur earlier or later than this.
Menopause can cause a variety of physical and emotional symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood changes, difficulty sleeping, and decreased sex drive. Menopausal symptoms vary in severity and duration from woman to woman.
| Menopausal symptoms |
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Irregular periods or no periods at all
- Vaginal dryness and discomfort during sex
- Sleep disturbances and insomnia
- Mood changes, such as irritability and anxiety
- Decreased sex drive
- Fatigue and lack of energy
- Memory problems and difficulty concentrating
- Joint and muscle pain
- Urinary incontinence or frequent urination
These symptoms are caused by hormonal changes in the body, particularly a decrease in estrogen production. While menopause is a natural part of aging and not a medical condition, some women may experience severe symptoms that significantly impact their quality of life. In these cases, medical treatments and/or complementary therapies such as hypnotherapy may be recommended to manage symptoms.
| How can hypnotherapy help |
Advances in medicine have brought many treatment options that may include hormone replacement therapy (HRT), lifestyle changes, and medication. However, some women are not able to take advantage of hormones due to another medical issues (cancers for example) or prefer to manage their symptoms in more natural ways. Next to herbal extracts that often mimic natural oestrogen, Hypnotherapy is another complementary therapy that is being used to moderate menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, and insomnia.
During hypnotherapy, I will guide you into a state of deep relaxation and heightened suggestibility. The therapist may suggest positive affirmations or visualizations to help the patient manage their symptoms.
There is limited research on the effectiveness of hypnotherapy specifically for menopausal symptoms, but some studies have shown promising results. For example, a 2013 study found that hypnotherapy reduced hot flashes and improved sleep in postmenopausal women. Another study published in 2018 found that hypnotherapy improved hot flashes and sleep quality in women with breast cancer who were experiencing menopausal symptoms.