The menopause is when a woman stops having periods. Periods usually start to become less frequent over a few months or years before they stop altogether. Sometimes they can stop suddenly. This is because the ovaries stop working to make an egg each month.  

The menopause is a natural part of female ageing that usually occurs between 45 and 55 years of age, as a woman's oestrogen hormone levels decline. Some women can experience the menopause before 40 and this is called premature menpause. 

Although it is natural, many women experience menopausal symptoms that affect their quality of life.

All the doctors at the practice are qualified to discuss menopause with you and go through different potential treatment options with you. Everybody is different, and everybody's experience of the menopause is different - the doctor you see will go through your symptoms and hopefully will be able to help. 

There are resources below that will help you to know a bit more about menopause and to guide you further about HRT and other treatments available for menopause. 

Hormone replacement therapy is a safe and effective treatment option for most healthy women with symptoms, who are going through the menopause. The risks and benefits of HRT will vary according to your age and any other health problems you may have. Your doctor will be able to discuss any potential risks of HRT with you in detail.

All types of HRT contain an oestrogen hormone. If you take HRT it replaces the oestrogen that your ovaries no longer make after the menopause. You also need to have progestogen hormone in your HRT to protect the lining of your womb from building up too much. 

We have compiled a list of resources that will hopefully help you:

NHS Inform Menopause - has lots of useful information about menopause and treatments

Menopause Matters - is an award winning, independent website providing up-to-date, accurate information about the menopause, menopausal symptoms and treatment options

Rock My Menopause - over half the population is affected by menopause, why dont we talk about it more? Great website with lots of helpful information

Womens Health Concern - WHC provides a confidential, independent service to advise, inform and reassure women about their gynaecological, sexual and post reproductive health

Understanding the risks of breast cancer - this picture visually explains the risk compared to other risks for breast cancer

Daisy Network - is a charity for women who have been diagnosed with premature menopause

You will have been given a prescription for a 3 month supply of HRT. You will need to book a face-to-face appointment around 1–2 weeks before this supply runs out, so that we can discuss how you are getting on with the medicine and check your blood pressure. It is essential that this appointment takes place before further supplies can be made.

If it is suiting you, it will be added to your repeat prescription for 1 yr and you will receive a 3 months’ supply at a time.

If it is not suiting you, we will discuss alternatives with you. If suitable you will be given a prescription for a 3 month supply of an alternative medication, and will again need to book a face to face appointment around 1–2 weeks before this supply runs out.

If everything is fine at your 3 month revew your HRT will be on your repeat prescription for 1 yr. Please request further supplies by your preferred method at least a week before you are due to run out. You must have an appointments once a year for a review. This is for safety reasons. You should plan this review one month before your supply runs out in order to get an appointment and to continue to receive treatment.

The once a year review can be either:

• Telephone GP review if you have your own BP machine and can check your BP prior to the consultation

or

• Face to face GP review