The menopause is defined when you have not had a period for 12 months and it happens when your ovaries stop producing eggs and your oestrogen level falls. The time before your last period, when your hormone levels are falling, is called the perimenopause and this can last from a few months to several years.

Symptoms include :

• Hot flushes
• Night sweats
• Vaginal dryness
• Tiredness
• Sleep disturbance
• Mood swings

Every woman experiences the menopause differently, some women choosing to manage their symptoms utilising Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).

HRT is a medical treatment for the menopause and it provides low doses of oestrogen and sometimes other hormones that your body is no longer producing. Our doctors are happy to discuss your symptoms and alternative therapies to cope with the menopause.