Menopause and HRT

The menopause is your last menstrual period. However, most women think of the menopause as the time of life leading up to, and after, their last period.

In reality, your periods don’t just stop. First they tend to become less frequent. It can take several years for a woman to go through the menopause completely. Women are said to have gone through the menopause (be postmenopausal) when they have not had a period at all for one year.

Symptoms can include hot flushes, sweats, tiredness, irritability, vaginal and vulval dryness, aches and pains in the joints, low mood, anxiety and difficulty sleeping.

If you would like to consider starting HRT please make an appointment with the GP. This can be done by telephone if you have an up to date height, weight and blood pressure for us. If not, please book a face to face appointment.

HRT has lots of benefits, but can carry an increased risk of breast cancer.
This leaflet explains those risks: Understanding the Risks of Breast Cancer with HRT

If you are prescribed HRT it can be delivered in various forms.
Here are some videos showing how the oestrogen is delivered. If you still have a womb, you will need progesterone to accompany this, which can be given as oral tablets, vaginal tablets or through a mirena coil:
How to apply oestrogen gel: https://youtu.be/Y6DcKLtQ3tM
How to apply oestrogen/oestrogen and progesterone patch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXGIYWPqdpI

Further Information

Resources on what to expect with the menopause and hormonal/non-hormonal management options:

Alternatives to HRT for symptoms of the menopause | Patient

Menopause Matters, menopausal symptoms, remedies, advice

Balance – Homepage (balance-menopause.com)

menopausesupport.co.uk – Supporting You Through Change

Menopause and Me|Official Website