Page 36 - topcoverissue19

36 TOP COVER SPRING 2024

HORMONES, AGEING AND

MIDLIFE – UNDERSTANDING,

RAISING AWARENESS AND

SUPPORTING OTHERS

anxiety, and generally putting a smile That’s an old women thing!” Oh how
on people’s faces. wrong was I. I looked into it; sure
enough I could tick off at least five
The inspiration for symptoms of the peri-menopause, the
Mid Point 4 Women time around menopause when your
Four years ago in the autumn of ovaries stop working.
2020, at the age of 46 and confident,
physically fit and mentally strong, What is menopause and
I began to notice changes, both who is affected?
physically and mentally. What was Menopause is a natural process,
happening to me? Was it lockdown? I although it can be surgically induced.
didn’t think so as I was still working. Every person born female will go
Was it the significant bereavement through this. It can last a few years to
I had just gone through? Or was it much longer, in some cases more than
something else? 10 years. Most people will experience
Whatever the cause, I found these changes in hormones between
I'm Fiona Gehring, an ex-competitive
myself sat crying on the bathroom the ages of 45 and 55, as the body
sports person who had a desire
floor on New Year’s Day 2021 for adjusts; finally, the ‘menopause’ is just
to become a professional athlete
no real reason. I felt weak, I felt like one single day after 12 months have
(athletics or rugby). Injuries curtailed
everything was falling apart, I’d put been noticed without a period.
those aspirations, so college and
weight on, I lacked motivation, and The average age for a female to go
university followed; I became a
my emotions were clearly all over the through this in UK is 51; the periods
Civilian Physical Training Instructor
place. My periods were horrendously stop (menstruation ceases) and the
for the Metropolitan Police Service
heavy leaving me exhausted, and I was rest of her life is ‘post-menopausal’.
in 2002, and 22 years later, here I still
forgetful, which was frustrating me. However, this doesn’t mean symptoms
am (although outsourcing occurred,
But I told no-one; no-one needed to stop. The mind and body can still
so technically I’m now employed by
know I was struggling, we don’t do that be in turmoil, with the oestrogen,
Optima Health).
sharing of ‘personal stuff ’. progesterone and testosterone
I facilitate the standalone annual
firearms medicals, fitness testing and When cancer and thyroid issues were rules
hands-on massage therapy clinic for “
instructors and firearms students at out, a nurse said it might be menopause. The
the prestigious Met Police Specialist response in my mind was: “WHAT? That’s an old
Training Centre (MPSTC) in
Gravesend, Kent, my work home for women thing!” Oh how wrong was I.
the last eight years.
I’m also super lucky to have the All I knew was that this was not me. hormones seriously affected.
company of my working Cocker I had tests and scans and when cancer Some people will choose to take
Spaniel Etty, the unofficial MPSTC and thyroid issues were rules out, a Hormone Replacement Therapy
wellbeing dog – reducing blood nurse said it might be menopause. The (HRT), which can be in a number of
pressure, reducing stress, reducing response in my mind was: “WHAT? different forms including patches, gels,

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