Free Offer
Due to popular demand, we have extended our Agnus Castus offer. For one month only new or renewing members will each receive a free 30 capsule pack of Agnus Castus tablets, worth £7.99. Agnus Castus can help with irritability, anxiety, breast tenderness and fluid retention associated with PMS. Join up now and try for yourself.
Next women's health conference Canterbury September
Following on from the success of its Derbyshire conference last February, NAPS is organising a second major women's health conference this year in the South of England.
It will take place on 29 September 2006 and will be held at the Darwin College Conference Centre in Canterbury, Kent. Key speakers will include the eminent Mr Nicholas Panay, Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital London, Menopause specialist, Professor John Studd, Susan Quilliam, relationship psychologist, Dr Carrie Sadler, GP with a special interest in women's health and research, Specialist Registrar, Dr Claudine Domoney, Dietician, Gaynor Bussell and Menopause/PMS nurse specialist Gilly Andrews. Book early to avoid disappointment.
Click on the link for full programme
NAPS director for Scotland gets into print
A new book covering the menopause will be available in bookshops from September. Part of the At Your Fingertips range, published by Class Publishers, Menopause at Your Fingertips has been written by NAPS Scotland director, Dr Heather Currie, Associate Specialist Gynaecologist and Obstetrician at the Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary and co-founder and managing director of Menopause Matters.
Aimed at patients, it will also be of interest to those in primary care. Each chapter is dedicated to a specific area relating to the menopause and will form a question and answer style. There will be chapters explaining what the menopause is, symptoms, diagnosing, as well as chapters on diet and lifestyle and osteoporosis. There will also be a section on treatments, including contraception, HRT and other issues such as relationships. "The idea is to inform people what the menopause is all about and what they can do for themselves to make it better," comments Dr Currie.
Menopause at Your Fingertips will be promoted through Menopause Matters and will be available from all main bookshops, as well as Amazon on-line in September.
Volunteers needed for PMS study
Participants are still needed to help with a new clinical study into the effects of St Johns Wort on premenstrual syndrome. The study is being set up by the University of Leeds in collaboration with Dr Julie Ayers of the Rosalind Bolton PMS Clinic at Leeds General Infirmary. For further information and details of how to take part, please click here
Record breaking belly dancing
There's only one week to go to get your name in the Guinness World Record books for the largest group belly dance, and help raise money for NAPS in the process.
Aquaban Herbal and NAPS have joined partnership to help raise awareness of the issues of premenstrual bloating and highlight that it is a treatable condition. Participants will be invited to help raise money for NAPS by getting sponsored to take part in the record attempt.
Two hundred willing women are needed to help make this a world record, so if you're up for a challenge and fancy raising money for NAPS, while learning something new or showing off your moves then come and join the fun.
Helen Roberts, an experienced belly dancing instructor, will teach a one hour crash course in belly dancing. There will then be time to perfect a five minute routine and perform it together to break the current record. NAPS Christine Baker will be taking part, so if anyone would like to sponsor her, just contact her on Christine@pms.org.uk She'll be delighted to hear from you.
11am Saturday 13 May at Cheltenham Racecourse (directions and a map are available in the information pack)
- Women aged 16+ are invited and no experience is necessary. So whether you're a total beginner, or an experienced dancer - come along!
- Belly dancing costumes are optional, with prizes up for grabs for the best dressed. Otherwise wear comfortable clothes and sensible shoes!
- Participants will be presented with a 'record breaker' medal after the successful attempt
Register now by calling 01242 633154 or email bellydancing@targetgroup.co.uk for your information pack and sponsorship form.
Removal of ovaries may increase risk of dementia
An extensive American study has revealed that women who have their ovaries removed may be at increased risk of dementia.
The team, led by Dr Walter Rocca believes the cause to be the loss of the female sex hormone oestrogen. The team at Mayo Clinic, Minnesota, also suggested that women at risk of ovarian cancer may be genetically at risk of dementia.
The study researched 1, 209 women with both ovaries removed and 1,302 who had one removed between 1950 and 1987. These women were compared with others who had not had surgery. The results showed that 40% were likely to develop signs of dementia compared to the group who had not had surgery. The risk increased to 70% by the age of 46 in women who had both ovaries and those who had one ovary removed by aged 38 had a 260% increased risk.
The surgery has also been linked to an increased risk of Parkinsons disease, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. The full report can be viewed on-line at BBC news health page
Cartoon of the month - Sally Ann Lasson
More wit from Sally Ann Lasson - cartoonist on The Independent - who has agreed to allow us to publish a cartoon strip each issue.
Sally Ann is a freelance journalist and cartoonist. Her cartoon strip, As If, appears daily in The Independent. A book of collected cartoons is published by Metro at £6.99. Sally lives in London.
Top Tips to help beat PMS
A new survey of women conducted by herbal medicine manufacturers MedicHerb and NAPS has revealed that PMS is not only a physical condition that they bear each month, but it also blights their careers, personal relationships and social lives.
The survey found that 100% of respondents claimed that PMS has affected their personal relationships, nearly half (45%) said that they had missed an important family or social event due to the severity of PMS symptoms and, over a quarter (27%) reported that PMS had prejudiced their career or a new job application. Click here to find out some top tips
PMS in the media
PMS will be extensively covered in the media again during the coming month. Love It magazine will be publishing an article on PMS and PMDD in the May 9 issue and You Magazine is also covering PMS in May. Channel 4 have also commissioned a programme which is going to focus on celebrities with PMS. Watch this space for further details.Click to see the scanned magazine pages (703KB)
