Patricia Fletcher, a Midwife at the menopause clinic at the Rotunda Hospital, is a woman in her 50s, who is going through the menopause herself.  She has helped hundreds of menopausal women over the past seven years and knows only too well how Irish women contend with symptoms.  Patricia comments, “I’ve seen women of all ages suffer from many kinds of symptoms. Whilst menopause is completely normal and not a disease, other than GPs and women’s medical clinics, there are no specific support services available, so it can be difficult for women trying to deal with these symptoms.”

Patricia continues, “By keeping a positive frame of mind and putting a brave face on the menopause, women tend to deal with the symptoms a lot better. It makes sense to me that if you are worried and anxious about symptoms such as hot flushes, you are much more likely to get them. However, oestrogen does have anti-depressant properties and a drop in the levels of this hormone, normal in menopausal women, can be responsible for altered moods and feelings of depression. Women need to be aware that any depression can be due to drop in oestrogen and anti-depressants are not always the answer for them at this time of life.”