If you feel like you need help to manage your symptoms you can access support through your local GP practice. This will help you to make the decisions about your treatment that are best for you.
Sometimes, just knowing what to expect and how to manage specific menopausal symptoms can really help.
There are different ways to manage menopausal symptoms, including:
Your GP may refer you to see a menopause specialist if they think it is necessary.
Your decisions about treatment may change as you journey through your menopause. If a treatment isn’t working for you, you can try something different. You can always seek a second opinion if you’re not sure about the options offered to you.
Before speaking to someone you could try:
We all wake naturally through the night. Ideally, we just roll over and go back to sleep. If you experience hot flushes and night sweats as a result of menopause, you are more likely to fully wake up and then struggle to get back to sleep. There are a few simple measures that may sometimes help, such as:
If you find you are lying awake for a long time, get up and do something else (read a chapter of a book in another room, for example) for around 15 minutes, then try again. A distraction technique, once you are back in bed, can help avoid other thoughts coming into your head and keeping you awake for longer.
If the flushes and sweats are frequent or severe, or you feel like you need more help, speak to your local GP practice. They may suggest taking HRT.
If HRT isn’t suitable for you, or you would prefer not to have it, your GP may recommend other medicines that can help.
Some women experience changes such as low mood and anxiety during the menopause.
Self-help measures to improve your mood may help, such as:
If you’ve been diagnosed with depression, medicine is also available, including HRT and antidepressants.
Other treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can help with low mood and anxiety. CBT is a type of talking therapy and your GP may be able to refer you, or you can use our online mental health self-help guides.
Further information about menopause and your mental wellbeing
If your vagina becomes dry, painful or itchy as a result of the menopause, your GP can prescribe oestrogen treatment that’s put directly into your vagina as a pessary, cream, gel or vaginal ring. This can safely be used alongside HRT.
The oestrogen cream will increase moisture and lubrication in the lining of your vagina and improve vaginal tissues making walking, exercise and penetrative sex more comfortable again.
Wearing cotton underwear and only washing your vagina with water will help to keep your vagina healthy.
You’ll usually need to keep using vaginal oestrogen, as your symptoms are likely to return when treatment stops. However, side effects are very rare.
You can also use over-the-counter vaginal moisturisers or lubricants in addition to, or instead of, vaginal oestrogen.
All women experience menopause differently, many women experience changes in their sex life as they go through the menopause. You may have heard about menopause impacting women’s ‘libido’ or sexual desire.
There are lots of reasons why you might not want to have sex during menopause. This might include:
As with all other symptoms of menopause it’s important that you seek advice when you need it as there is a lot that can be done to help. Don’t be afraid to speak to someone at your local GP practice as there are treatments that can help you get your sex life back on track.
Further information about sex, intimacy and the menopause
HRT replaces the hormones that are missing. Most symptoms are caused by low oestrogen levels, so this is the most important hormone to replace. If you have a womb you also need a progestogen to protect the lining of the womb.
HRT is extremely effective at relieving menopausal symptoms. It is available as tablets, skin patches, a gel or spray or, less often, implants.
In most cases, the benefits of taking HRT outweigh the risks. You may not be able to take HRT if you are undergoing certain types of cancer treatments or you may prefer not to take HRT.
Some products are sold in health shops for treating menopausal symptoms. These herbal remedies include evening primrose oil, black cohosh, angelica and ginseng.
If you are thinking of trying herbal remedies, speak to your pharmacist or GP for advice. Natural doesn’t always mean the treatment is safe or effective.
Last updated:
20 October 2022