Menopause is when your periods stop due to lower hormone levels, this can occur naturally or for reasons such as surgery on your ovaries or uterus. This usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55.

Perimenopause is when you have symptoms before your periods have stopped. You reach menopause when you have not had a period for 12 months.

Menopause and perimenopause can cause symptoms like anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, hot flushes and irregular periods. These symptoms can start years before your periods stop and carry on afterwards and may have a big impact on your life, including relationships and work.

There are things you can do to help with symptoms such as regularly exercising, eating and drinking healthily as well as taking some medicines that can replace the missing hormones and help relieve your symptoms.

Use open discovery questions to make the most of conversations by recognising an opportunity to discuss health and wellbeing to do with menopause.

Establishing what support or guidance is required by the person. Ask questions such as 'how can I help you in understanding menopause?' and ' what support would help you with understanding menopause?'

Acknowledge the response by using healthy conversation skills such as active listening, reflecting or showing empathy. This will allow for a joint understanding of the support a person needs.

Remember to personalise and consider the individuals motivation for stopping smoking.

Take appropriate action to either give information, signpost to a local service or refer them yourself. Remember that the solution must be person centered and they must want to change.