Every woman will go through the menopause, but no two women will experience it in quite the same way. For some, menopausal symptoms are mild and manageable. For others, they are disruptive, distressing, and significantly affect the quality of life. Whatever your experience, you deserve access to effective menopause treatment and expert guidance.
At Infiniti Healthcare, we specialise in supporting women experiencing menopause and perimenopause symptoms, helping them understand their options and make informed decisions about their care. This article explains the treatments available, from HRT to complementary and alternative therapies, so you can begin those conversations from a place of knowledge.
Recognising the Symptoms of the Menopause
Before exploring treatment for menopause, it is important to understand what you might be experiencing. The symptoms of the menopause can begin during perimenopause, sometimes years before periods stop, and may continue for several years after your last period.
Common menopause symptoms include:
- Hot flushes and night sweats: sudden waves of heat, often accompanied by flushing and perspiration
- Vaginal dryness and discomfort: caused by declining oestrogen levels affecting vaginal tissue
- Mood changes: including low mood and anxiety, irritability, and emotional sensitivity
- Sleep disturbance: frequently linked to night sweats, but also occurs independently
- Reduced sex drive: a result of the menopause's hormonal shifts affecting libido
- Brain fog and difficulty concentrating: often described as a decline in mental sharpness
- Joint pain and muscle aches
- Urinary symptoms: including increased urgency or recurrent infections
- Tinnitus: a lesser-known but increasingly recognised symptom, with some women reporting new or worsening ringing in the ears during the menopause transition
- Palpitations and changes in mood and energy levels
If you are unsure whether what you are experiencing is menopause or perimenopause, a healthcare professional can help with menopause through a clinical assessment and, in some cases, blood tests to measure hormone levels.
HRT: The Most Widely Used Treatment for Menopause
Hormone replacement therapy, commonly known as HRT, remains the most well-evidenced and widely recommended treatment for menopause. It works by replenishing the oestrogen (and where needed, progestogen) that the body produces less of during the menopause transition.
How HRT Works
When you take HRT, you are essentially restoring the amount of estrogen your body has lost. This can dramatically reduce or eliminate many menopausal symptoms, including hot flushes and night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood disturbances, and sleep problems. It also protects long-term bone health. Menopause accelerates the loss of bone density, increasing the risk of osteoporosis.
There are different types and doses of HRT, and finding the right formulation is an important part of the process. Your GP can prescribe oestrogen in a variety of forms, including patches, gels, sprays, implants, or tablets. For women who still have a womb, combined HRT, which includes both oestrogen and progestogen, is typically prescribed to protect the womb lining.
The Benefits and Risks of Taking HRT
Your healthcare professional will thoroughly discuss the benefits and risks of HRT with you. For the majority of women, the benefits of HRT significantly outweigh the risks, particularly when therapy is started early in the menopause journey and tailored appropriately.
Much of the concern around HRT historically centred on a perceived risk of breast cancer. Current guidance from the British Menopause Society makes clear that the risk of breast cancer associated with most types of HRT is small, comparable to or lower than lifestyle factors like alcohol consumption, and must be weighed against the substantial benefits of managing menopausal symptoms and protecting long-term health. Women with a personal history of breast cancer should discuss their specific risks and benefits with a specialist.
At Infiniti Healthcare, we take time to explain the benefits and risks of taking HRT in full.
Oestrogen-Only and Combined HRT
For women who have had a hysterectomy, oestrogen-only HRT is typically the preferred option, as there is no womb to protect. For those who have not, combined HRT adds progestogen to reduce the risk of endometrial changes.
Women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), where the menopause occurs before age 40, sometimes significantly earlier, are generally advised to take HRT until at least the average age of natural menopause, both to manage symptoms and to protect bone and cardiovascular health.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Menopause
Not every woman will want to take HRT, and for those who cannot or choose not to, there are other effective treatment options. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is increasingly recognised as valuable for managing menopause symptoms, particularly mood changes, anxiety, low mood and anxiety, and sleep difficulties.
CBT does not alter hormone levels, but it equips women with practical strategies to manage the psychological and emotional impact of menopause. The NHS now recommends cognitive behavioural therapy as a non-hormonal treatment option, and it can be used alongside HRT or independently.
Medicine Options Beyond HRT
For women who cannot take HRT, for example, those with certain types of breast cancer, a GP may prescribe medicine such as clonidine, an antihypertensive that can help reduce hot flushes and night sweats in some women. Antidepressants and gabapentin are also sometimes prescribed where mood changes, hot flushes, or night sweats are the primary concern.
These are not a direct substitute for hormone replacement therapy, but they can offer meaningful relief where hormonal treatment is not appropriate. Your healthcare professional will assess which medicine is best suited to your needs and health history.
Vaginal Dryness and Discomfort: Local Treatments
Vaginal dryness and discomfort are among the most frequently underreported symptoms of menopause. Unlike hot flushes, which often improve over time, vaginal symptoms can worsen without treatment.
Localised treatments include vaginal oestrogen, available as creams, pessaries, or rings, which deliver oestrogen directly to the vaginal tissue without the systemic effect of full HRT. A lubricant or vaginal moisturiser can also provide relief, and these can be used alongside any other menopause therapy. A GP can prescribe oestrogen in localised form even for women who are not taking systemic HRT, and it is considered very safe for most women.
Complementary and Alternative Therapies
Many women explore complementary and alternative therapies as part of managing menopause, either alongside conventional treatment or as a standalone approach. These include herbal remedies such as black cohosh, red clover isoflavone supplements, and evening primrose oil.
It is important to approach complementary and alternative treatments with care. While some women find herbal products helpful, particularly for mild hot flushes, the evidence base is variable, and herbal remedies can interact with other medicines. Always discuss any complementary and alternative therapies with a healthcare professional before starting them, particularly if you have an existing health condition or are already taking medication.
Managing Menopause with Expert Support
Whether you are just beginning to experience symptoms of menopause, are already on HRT and want to review your treatment options, or are looking for guidance on alternative treatment approaches, professional support makes a profound difference.
The NHS offers menopause support through your GP, but waiting times and appointment length can make it difficult to have the in-depth conversations that managing menopause properly requires. At Infiniti Healthcare, our consultants, accredited by the British Menopause Society, offer dedicated menopause appointments where treatments that can help are discussed openly, alternatives explored, and your individual circumstances fully considered.
Book an appointment with Infiniti Healthcare today and take the first step towards the care and support you deserve.
Infiniti Healthcare is an award-winning women's health clinic based in Cardiff, founded by Consultant Gynaecologists with specialist expertise in menopause and perimenopause care. Our team is proud to hold accreditation from the British Menopause Society and the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy.