More than 600 women from all over the island have participated in the workshops Let's Talk About Menopause, an initiative promoted by Primary Care of the Lanzarote Health Area, attached to the Ministry of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands. The workshops, which have been held monthly for two years, have established themselves as a reference space for the support, information, and assistance during this vital stage for women.
These sessions have become a meeting point for women of different ages who find in them rigorous information and practical tools to face a stage marked by important physical, emotional, and social changes.
According to census data, around 15,000 women in Lanzarote are in perimenopause (between 45 and 54 years old) and more than 25,000 are in postmenopause (over 55 years old). This means that one in every three adult women on the island is in this phase, highlighting the importance of making visible and adequately addressing their health needs.
Menopause from scientific evidence
The program, coordinated by the midwife of the Teguise Basic Health Zone, Sonia Tejedor Magallanes, an expert in menopause, comprehensively addresses the main aspects related to climacteric, from the definition of menopause and its different stages to the identification and diagnosis of its symptoms.
Throughout the sessions, key issues are addressed such as the impact of estrogen decline on cardiometabolic health or metabolic syndrome, as well as menopausal hormone therapy, analyzed from scientific evidence to debunk myths and clarify its benefits and risks.
Furthermore, other topics of great interest are addressed, such as healthy eating, with special emphasis on the Mediterranean diet, and the adoption of healthy lifestyle habits, highlighting the importance of both aerobic and strength physical exercise.
The workshops also include content on sleep hygiene, with guidelines for improving rest and combating insomnia, as well as changes in body composition, addressing anatomical, hormonal, psychoemotional, and cardiometabolic aspects specific to this stage.
The initiative's comprehensive approach is completed with sessions dedicated to the impact of menopause on the brain and mood, as well as sexual life during this stage. Genitourinary syndrome and pelvic floor care are also addressed, with specific exercises.
Specific query
The midwife Sonia Tejedor attends in the consultation room of the Costa Teguise Health Center to all women from Lanzarote referred from the different Basic Health Zones for issues specifically related to menopause and climacteric.
This consultation effectively addresses symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, hormonal changes, and emotional disturbances, and offers individualized and comprehensive care to women in this stage who require it.
With this initiative, Primary Care of Lanzarote reinforces its commitment to the promotion of women's health, offering spaces for information and support aimed at a broad segment of the population.