For the first time women will be able to receive individual advice about the best options for managing their menopause thanks to a new website developed by the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) supported by the British Menopause Society.
The development of the website at www.managemymenopause.co.uk has been led by Mr Edward Morris, consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology at NNUH who was also Chairman of the British Menopause Society in 2013-15.
Mr Morris explains: "This website provides tailored menopausal advice for women, provided by experts. We aim to educate and support women with their healthcare by providing unbiased, accurate information.
"Life expectancy has increased significantly over the last century but the age of the menopause has stayed about the same. This means that women spend as much as a third of their life after the menopause. This means it is increasingly important to follow a healthy lifestyle and reduce any risk factors for major illnesses such as heart disease and cancer."
The launch of the website coincides with the publication of new guidance for the NHS on managing the menopause, due to be published by NICE (National Institute of Clinical Excellence) in November 2015.
To obtain a tailored report women simply fill in the survey on the website and the results are sent by email. There is also a Handbook on the website which provides more details about symptoms of the menopause and how to manage them, as well as the latest advice on the benefits and risks of treatments such as Hormone Replacement Therapy and non-hormonal treatments and therapies.
Mr Paul Simpson, Clinical Research Fellow, assisted with the website design and production.
For more information, go to: www.managemymenopause.co.uk.