The menopause can be a trying time. There are a few lucky women who don’t experience any symptoms but for others they can be severe and debilitating. Common menopausal symptoms include headaches, hot flushes, depression, night sweats, changes to hair and skin, osteoporosis, loss of libido and vaginal dryness. While there isn’t a cure for the menopause itself, there is certainly help out there to help you manage its side effects.
Book a consultation with a menopause specialist
A menopause specialist such as London female gynaecologist Amanda Tozer can give you the support you need to help you through this testing time. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is usually the only possible way of alleviating all symptoms, and this may involve trialling a variety of combinations.
At your consultation, Miss Tozer will conduct a physical examination a run any necessary tests to assess your health and suitability for the treatment. She will also talk you through the associated side effects and much publicised health risks. These include a slight increase in risk of breast or ovarian cancer, stroke, deep vein thrombosis and blood clots; however, HRT can reduce the risk of bowel cancer and the risk of osteoporosis-related fractures. While there are risks, most experts now agree these are outweighed by the benefits if HRT is used only on a short-term basis of a maximum of five years.
I’d rather not have HRT…
For those who wish to avoid HRT there is a range of alternatives. These include medication such as anti-depressants, clonidine and gabapentin, and complementary therapies such as red clover and evening primrose oil. At her London menopause clinic, Miss Amanda Tozer can advise on how these can treat individual symptoms and discuss their effectiveness and safety issues, too. Furthermore, Miss Tozer can offer guidance on the lifestyle changes that have been found to have a positive impact on menopausal symptoms.