Menopause by clinical definition is the stopping of hormone production by the ovaries with no menstrual period for 12 months. The average age for Australian women to enter menopause is 51.

This is a natural transition in a woman’s life, but it invokes fear in many, as women watch our body and mind morph into someone unrecognisable at times.

There is also a second cause of menopause, that is called induced menopause. This means it has been caused by something other than the natural age-related change and can be intense and full of unexpected twists and turns.

In both situations, this is a time woman most often question their sexual attraction, body image and their purpose. To make things harder, the lack of sleep, hot flushes and anxiety can take you to places you do not need to be.

This is the most important time to reassess, redefine and move forward with purpose and power.

Perimenopause (around menopause) is the term used to describe the transition to menopause. This is usually somewhere in your 40’s, however it can occur in the 30’s and completely blindside women on their fertility pathway. The main factor for symptoms at this time is the fluctuation of estrogen, one of the sex hormones.

Some woman suffer little as their symptoms are not severe enough to seek assistance, and others have symptoms that affect their daily life, marking this transition to be a difficult time both physically and emotionally.

Symptoms are many and varied between individuals. Some symptoms can be effectively treated with hormonal replacement therapy, others require a combination with other therapies such as hypnosis for sleep (insomnia) and relaxation techniques for anxiety.

Endometriosis is a condition that affects younger women, usually with symptoms presenting in their 20’s, however the range is somewhere between 25-40 years. In Australia 1 in 9 woman will be diagnosed in their 40s with endometriosis. However, the cause remains unknown and it takes women an average of 6-10 years to be diagnosed.

The endometrium is the lining of the uterus and is what sheds and causes symptoms during your period. Endometriosis is endometrial type tissue lying outside the uterus that does not shed, however it becomes inflamed and can cause heavy or irregular bleeding, severe cramping and pain during sex. It can also lead to fertility issues.

Depending on the severity of the symptoms, endometriosis can leave some women bed, in agony for weeks in every month. In short endometriosis can rule their life.

There are techniques that can help you take back some control over this challenging.