Help and support for those going through the menopause.

Advice from our experts

• What treatments and care are available to women going through the menopause? icon plus

  The mainstay is optimising hormone balance with bio-identical hormones to optimise health. These usually include oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone. 
  
  Making changes to diet, lifestyle and exercise are also very important along with the appropriate supplements. There are also non-hormonal options for those women who can’t or don’t want to take HRT such as red clover, sage and sea buckthorn oil.
  

• What are the most common menopause myths you encounter? icon plus

  1. You have to stop your periods before taking HRT. Actually, hormones start to decline 10 years before the menopause and many women feel a lot better with hormone rebalancing even if they are still having periods. It can help lift mood, settle anxiety and improve sleep.
  
  2. Testosterone is a male hormone. It is a normal female hormone important for energy, drive, enthusiasm, muscle strength, bone strength, heart health, mental clarity, and libido. As long as safe doses are used, you will not end up with more hair than you want!
  
  3. You can only take HRT for five years. You can in fact take it indefinitely as long as the 
  benefits outweigh the risks. HRT, when started around the time of the menopause is protective of the heart, bones and brain by reducing risk of heart disease, osteoporosis and dementia. Women have a longer life expectancy when taking HRT.
  
  4. It causes breast cancer. In fact, the risk of breast cancer is associated with the synthetic hormones, not the bio-identical hormones. What many people also don’t know is that there is a 30% reduction in colon cancer in women who take HRT.
  

   

• Why might a woman need onward consultant care for the menopause? icon plus

  There are certain medical conditions where HRT may need to be used with caution or under close supervision, for example if someone has had a previous thrombosis or has a heart condition. 
  
  Prescribing HRT has to be personalised as everyone has a different experience of the menopause and differing hormonal needs. Getting that right can involve making adjustments in the hormone prescription. Some women experience some side effects from certain types of HRT so a menopause specialist can combine hormones in ways that are suitable and which rebalance the hormones optimally.

• What can organisations do to support women in the workplace with menopause? icon plus

  This is such an important issue. There are 4.4 million women between the ages of 50-64 in work, and this is the fastest growing sector. 

  Symptoms of the menopause can significantly affect a woman’s ability to work effectively, and women are often very uncomfortable about talking to their workplaces about how they can promote a culture of a positive attitude toward the menopause with information to colleagues and support to those affected. 

  It’s important to remember, the menopause affects not just the women going through it but everyone around them. An organisation’s diversity and inclusion training should include information and education about the menopause, with open discussions to enable women to openly share their experiences of managing their-day to-day symptoms which will help to promote more openness and understanding. Adjustments at work such as flexible working, taking regular breaks, allowing additional time to complete a task and close working with the occupational health department can all be beneficial.