Spilling the tea on HRT Is there an ideal age to take it and how long can you take it?
What you need to know about Hormone Replacement Therapy as it’s set to be sold over the counter for the first time
From hot flushes and night sweats to anxiety and insomnia, menopause symptoms are no fun. Other traits such as brain fog and mood swings are quietly endured by roughly 1.5 million women in the UK every year. Yet only one in 10 women are prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which can reduce some symptoms.
This month, it was announced that HRT could be reclassified for the first time, allowing women to get vaginal oestrogen tablets (inserted into the vagina) from a pharmacy without a prescription from a GP or specialist.
“These changes are positive – they’re another step closer to removing the barriers that make life harder for women when they’re going through the menopause,” says intimate health expert Dr Shirin Lakhani. “However, it’s important that the correct education and ongoing support is provided.” Here, we quiz Dr Lakhani for more details…
Should women really be self-diagnosing menopause?
There should still be consultations, even within a pharmacy setting. We should not just be expected to go away and deal with what can be an incredibly daunting process by ourselves. It’s vital that this proposed improved access to HRT goes hand in hand with education and support.
Also, symptoms related to the genitals are not always related to the menopause, so it’s essential for women to receive a full consultation if they are experiencing symptoms in this area to rule out any other issues, such as inflammatory skin condition lichen sclerosus, which would require medical attention.
Is it safe to buy HRT over the counter?
The new over-the-counter proposal concerns vaginal tablets rather than those that are taken
orally. This is relatively safe. However, some types of HRT require more monitoring. HRT comes in many forms, including pills, gels and skin patches. They all work by boosting the levels of hormones in the body that drop during the menopause.
What are the signs that you should take HRT?
ONLY ONE IN 10 WOMEN ARE PRESCRIBED HRT, WHICH CAN REDUCE SOME SYMPTOMS OF
MENOPAUSE
Women can start the perimenopause up to 10 years before the menopause and it brings with it a host of well-known symptoms such as irregular periods, hot flushes and low libido. But there are many lesser-known ones, too, such as vaginal itching and dryness, pain during intercourse, bone ache, jaw pains, changes in bowel activity, feeling teary and palpitations.
If women are experiencing any of these symptoms it could be a sign that they are going through the perimenopause. They should book an appointment with a doctor who specialises in menopause to find out if HRT could help.
You can usually begin HRT as soon as you start experiencing menopause symptoms. There’s no specific age, it depends on the symptoms and hormone levels. There’s a misconception that women need to stop taking HRT after a certain number of years – but that’s outdated. HRT helps women to lead normal lives during the menopause. If a woman chooses to stop taking the therapy, she should be weaned off it gradually in order to minimise the risk of withdrawal symptoms, rather than just stop taking it abruptly.
Aren’t there cancer risks associated with longterm use of HRT?
The old notion stems from the increased risk of breast cancer related to taking the older forms of HRT for long periods of time. But these risks are minimal with modern bio/body-identical HRT and women can safely remain on HRT for as long as they wish. If you’ve had cancer, you may still be able to take some types of HRT – you should ask for a referral to a specialist.
Vaginally taken oestrogen is safe even in patients who have had breast cancer. HRT has other health benefits, too. It lowers your risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes and dementia.