It can have a positive effect on hormonal ageing. HRT also reduces your risk of osteoporosis and may help other health problems associated with the menopause, such as cardiovascular disease and stroke see below.
In the years leading up to the menopause, you may notice your periods are no longer regular. This stage of life is called the perimenopause. Once you reach the menopause itself, your ovaries stop releasing eggs and your periods stop completely. Get the personalised support you need from a specially trained Bupa GP, including an individual care plan.
There are different types of HRT. Your GP will talk to you about which one is best for you based on your medical history. This form of HRT contains just the hormone oestrogen. It helps to relieve symptoms of the menopause and strengthens your bones.
Low levels of oestrogen at the menopause can weaken your bones and make you more likely to break one if you fall over. Combined HRT contains oestrogen as well as the hormone progesterone in the form of progestogen. You can take combined HRT in two ways. Tibolone is a synthetic artificial version of HRT, which mimics the effects of oestrogen and progesterone. It also has weak androgenic male hormone properties.
Like combined HRT, you take tibolone every day. The brand name of tibolone is Livial. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence NICE has approved testosterone for this use specifically, but the products are currently unlicensed for female use. This means that the manufacturer of the medicine has not yet said it can be used in this way.
A doctor with specialist menopause training may prescribe testosterone in some cases. Ask your doctor for more information if it has been suggested as a treatment option.
You can take HRT in a number of ways. Your GP will talk to you about your options to help you work out which is best for you. You stick a self-adhesive patch on your skin below your waist. This provides a constant flow of hormones. You remove the patch once or twice a week, depending on the product.
You then replace it with a fresh patch on a different area of your skin each time. Patches may irritate your skin. If a patch falls off in the bath, apply a new one once your skin has cooled down. You put gels on a clean dry area of skin, such as on your lower back, upper arms or on your thighs, every day.
Gels are less likely to irritate your skin than patches. Once you have applied it, allow it to dry for five minutes and wash your hands. Tablets containing both oestrogen and progesterone are the most popular form of HRT. More recently, progesterone tablets may be used in combination with oestrogen gels or patches too. HRT also comes in the form of vaginal tablets, rings or creams. Thus, her ovaries gradually stop producing and releasing an egg every month ovulation , and she can no longer conceive in the natural way.
This hormone is produced on ovulation. It also declines with age, as the number of eggs released decreases. The reduction in oestrogen levels results in many of the characteristic symptoms of the menopause. Over the longer term, oestrogen deficiency results in skin and hair to become drier and thinner, including that of the vagina which makes intercourse painful. It also causes more frequent urinary infections and need to pass urine; urinary incontinence; bones to become thinner osteoporosis ; and an increased risk of heart and blood vessel disease.
Low levels of progesterone are similar to those of oestrogen deficiency. They include infertility, dry skin, emotional disturbances, low libido, tiredness, headaches, and weight gain. Menopausal symptoms alone will indicate to your doctor the requirement for HRT. A blood test may be necessary if you are younger than 50 years, have atypical menopausal symptoms, or have had a hysterectomy. Short-term symptoms of the menopause can be treated with HRT.
Most symptoms disappear over time, although they may continue for longer if left untreated. The benefits include not just symptom control but a decrease in the risk of osteoporosis and certain cancers, such as colorectal cancer. Women may have come a long way in the past century but are still viewed as somehow lesser after the menopause. Log In. Contact us Sign up for newsletters. Log In Register now My account.
By Dr Philippa Kaye. Unfortunately, we cannot do this for you. Once we receive this, we will send you several essential forms to read and sign. Please read these carefully, sign, and return to us as soon as possible. Any delays prevent us from scheduling your appointment. Before you have your first appointment with our hormone prescriber you will need to provide up to date blood tests taken within 6 months of your appointment.
Please complete these and send the results to us. Failure to provide these means we cannot schedule your appointment. Once we have received the essential forms and your blood results, we will call you to schedule an appointment date. Your first appointment will take place via Zoom, with a face to face follow up approximately 4 weeks later when, if no contra-indications are identified, you will be provided with a prescription to commence hormone therapy. Watch on Youtube How much does it cost?
From 1st September , we are introducing a direct debit scheme subscription and payment plan for all new patients. The fees for the treatment plan are:. For more information on our fees and what the service includes, read our patient guide.
At your initial videolink consultation, your prescriber and you will discuss your gender identity, social, and medical history. This usually takes around 1 hour. Approximately 4 weeks later, you will have a face-to-face consultation where you will undergo a physical examination to include, InBody analysis, blood pressure, weight, and height. Again, this usually takes around 1 hour. The gap between the two appointments enables you to complete additional blood tests, fertility preservation, and any other investigations where a need has been identified at the first consultation.
It will also give you a second opportunity to discuss any queries which may arise.
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