Managing Menopause

Treating and supporting women through perimenopause, menopause and beyond.

A 1 1/2 day LIVE ONLINE via zoom course for healthcare professionals to increase their knowledge on the changes experienced by women at this life stage, and the impact this has on treatment and management plans.

Day 1 ( 9-5pm )

Day 2 ( 9-2pm ) 

All women will go through menopause and as physiotherapists, women’s health and MSK, we will be assessing and treating these women for a variety of conditions, some influenced directly by hormonal changes and others that need an understanding of the impact menopausal symptoms have.

There are many symptoms of menopause from pelvic floor changes to musculoskeletal issues, weight gain, hot flushes and mood swings- which all happen at a time in women’s life when their other commitments are still high; whether that’s work and career, caring for elderly parents, growing children, maintaining existing or finding new relationships, or all of those, society also expects women to age ‘well’, and this was all before the additional pressures of Covid-19!

There is increasing evidence of the value of a holistic and biopsychosocial approach to supporting these patients. This course will develop healthcare professionals’ skills to offer a clinically reasoned approach to do that, structuring treatment, and management on an ongoing basis to improve outcomes and long-term quality of life.

What will be covered:

• The common symptoms and hormonal changes of menopause.

• The latest evidence and guidelines on HRT with Dr Stephanie Goodwin.

• Jane Lewis, menopause advocate, author of Me and My Menopausal Vagina will cover menopausal changes and the impact on health and life.

• Pelvic floor changes and health- what’s normal and what’s not:

• Urinary tract infections, vaginal atrophy, sexual function and libido, incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse.

• Pelvic floor function - assessing and identifying changes

• Musculoskeletal issues:

  • • Joint and muscle pain, common injuries, fatigue.

    • Increase in osteoporotic and cardiovascular risk.

    • Maintaining bone and joint health during menopause.

• Menopause following illness:

  • Cancer and hysterectomy, early menopause. Health and treatment considerations.

• Treatment and management approaches:

Pelvic floor changes:

• Manual therapy techniques and exercises for pelvic floor health.  

Activity and exercise:

• Using current evidence to develop effective rehabilitation and exercise programmes to maintain and improve fitness.
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• Improving compliance and improving patient outcomes.

• Yoga-based breath and relaxation practices to help manage pelvic pain, stress and anxiety.

The impact of lifestyle strategies:

• How sleep, stress management and nutrition all help menopausal symptoms and quality of life going forward.

Developing a BPS approach to treating these women and positively impacting menopause.

An understanding of the other treatment options and when/where to signpost patients for further help and support.

Course aims and objectives - Participants will be able to: -

• Understand the hormonal changes and symptoms around menopause and perimenopause.

• Develop an understanding of HRT and the options available to signpost effectively.  

• Understand and treat the implications of early menopause and hysterectomy.  

• Understand changes to pelvic health; Understand the changes to the musculoskeletal system and use the evidence and clinical reasoning to offer safe and effective exercise programmes for this group.

  • Helping patients self-examine
  • Identify changes and issues
  • Techniques to help ease symptoms.
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• Use a series of yoga-based postures and breathwork to help manage pelvic pain and anxiety.

• An understanding of how lifestyle strategies such as sleep, stress management and nutrition can help menopausal symptoms and quality of life going forward.

• The ability to sensitively offer advice on these strategies and self-care techniques, and when to refer on to a GP/consultant.  

The course is taught by Sarah Marsh, women’s health physiotherapist, yoga teacher, wellbeing presenter and coach.

Sarah works with women and men to ensure healthy ageing at all life stages. She is passionate about educating women on menopause and helping them to go through this transition and emerge stronger, wiser, happier and healthier in body and mind and to look forward to the next stage of their lives. Sarah presents and coaches in the UK and internationally on wellbeing at all life stages.

                             Instagram:  @harbornept  @themenopausephsyio,  @yogiphysiosarah

Tutor: Sarah Marsh, women’s health physiotherapist, yoga teacher and wellbeing presenter and coach. Sarah works with women to ensure healthy ageing at all life stages. She is passionate about educating women on menopause and helping them to go through this transition and emerge stronger, wiser, happier and healthier in body and mind and to look forward to the next stage of their lives. Sarah presents and coaches in the UK and internationally on wellbeing; stress, sleep and managing menopause.    

Guest Presenters

Mrs Jane Lewis: Menopause Advocate, expert patient and author “Me & My Menopausal Vagina”

Dr Stephanie Goodwin

As a private GP based in central London, Stephanie is passionate about women being properly informed about the menopause, what symptoms to expect and how to manage it. Her interest was fuelled when she started to get menopausal symptoms herself and realised that her knowledge about the subject was not that great that great! She then spent three years doing specialist training in a London teaching hospital and has been awarded the Advanced Certificate of Menopause Care. She is recognised as a specialist by the British Menopause Society. She treats many women who are often really suffering with menopausal symptoms and within a short period of time they literally feel like new!