Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

14 May 2025

4-minute read

A range of physical, mental and emotional changes take place in a women’s body at different stages in her life. Dr Aakifah Parker, a GP in Cape Town with a special interest in women’s healthcare, particularly in menopause and perimenopause, states that “with the right information, women can feel more confident and supported, and less overwhelmed and also more in control of their health.”

According to Dr Parker, when a female is born, all the eggs that she’ll ever have are already contained in her body inside her ovaries. Once she hits puberty, these eggs start to be released, signalling the beginning of her menstrual cycle. Every month, if she does not get pregnant during that cycle, she gets a period. As a woman ages, both the number and quality of her eggs decrease, and this shift leads to hormonal changes.

Perimenopause is the transition phase leading up to menopause and can take place 4 to 5 years before menopause, typically around the age of 45. There is a correlation between the time women start their menstrual cycle with girls who start get their period earlier usually going into menopause earlier. Menopause occurs when a woman does not experience her period for one year, generally starting around the age of 51 when most women experience their last period. Post menopause is the period after menopause.

Menopause and perimenopause vary from one women to another and each experience it differently. Factors that contribute to the way women experience either are genetic traits, individual variability, lifestyle factors like exercise and diet, weight, and the timing when it starts. Underlying conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid issues, and mental health issues like depression and anxiety come to the fore during this period.

Symptoms include a period becoming heavier, lighter, or irregular; hot flushes during the day or the night; mood swings and feeling more emotional than usual; fatigue; insomnia or trouble sleeping; urinary changes with needing to go to the bathroom more often; vaginal dryness and sexual dysfunction; brain fog; difficulty concentrating; bowel habit changes; and joint pain or problems. Usually, more than one of these symptoms arise around the time of menopause or perimenopause.

Hormone levels can be a clear indicator of menopause but not necessarily of perimenopause. Hormonal changes during this transition period can have a huge impact on a woman’s mental wellbeing. Some of the symptoms like fatigue, mood swings and sexual dysfunction can lead to mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Having a partner who does not understand can exacerbate the feelings of negative emotions.

Treatments options vary as what works for one woman will not necessarily work for another. Dr Parker suggests the following:

1. Start off by balancing your diet to ensure you are getting the right amount of Vitamin D and Calcium.
2. Moderate exercise like walking and stretching are essential, because “motion is lotion,” and movement leads to less physical pain and a better mental state with the release of endorphins.
3. Evening Primrose Oil is a good supplement for hot flushes for those women who are not on chronic medication.
4. Avoid spicy foods.
5. Dress in layers to manage hot flushes, keep a portable fan and keep your room at a cooler temperature.
6. Factor in stress management and get help through therapy.
7. Get adequate sleep.
8. Put yourself first.
9. Certain women do require oral or topical HRT that should be prescribed by their doctors.
10. Anti-depressants can also be prescribed for those women experiencing severe depression and anxiety.

Whether there is a gap in this topic or these discussions are taboo, many women have a fear when menopause symptoms arise. Women who are feeling unsupported need to understand that menopause and perimenopause are natural processes that every woman undergoes. “Grieve the old you and accept the new you,” suggests Dr Parker, advising women to seek help for their symptoms and teach their families that they will require empathy during this transition. For online consults, please contact: https://www.doctorsondemand.co.za

Listen to the full interview with Faaiza Munshi and Dr Parker here.