ASKING FOR HELP

There are a number of ways you can help yourself. Consider the following…

✢ FIND A MENOPAUSE CLINIC – ask your GP for a referral, or go private. Visit thebms.org.uk/find-a-menopause-specialist

✢ HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY (HRT) in the form of tablets, skin patches, gels and implants, can relieve menopausal symptoms by replacing oestrogen. Previous worries that it increases the risk of breast cancer have mainly been disproven, and any rise in risk is minimal, particularly compared to the benefits.

✢ VAGINAL OESTROGEN CREAMS, lubricants or moisturisers for vaginal dryness can help enormously.

✢ COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY, or CBT, is a type of talking therapy that can help with low mood and anxiety.

✢ SUPPLEMENTS such as black cohosh and sage have been shown to help hormone balance and ease hot flushes.