Hot flashes, mood swings, and weight gain: these are all things many women have to look forward to when they go through the menopause. These symptoms might be mild and only last a few months or they could be more severe and last for years as you go through the different stages of menopause. 

Menopause Stages
Perimenopause: This is the transitional time between when your hormone levels begin to change, but before you stop having periods. Any menopausal symptoms you experience during this period are referred to as ‘perimenopausal.’ Your period won’t have stopped, but it will get more erratic.

Menopause: If your body has stopped producing the hormones that cause your menstrual period and you haven’t had a period for 12 months, you have reached the menopause. Menopausal symptoms may become more intense during this time.

Postmenopause: After you haven’t had your period for 12 months, you will enter the postmenopause phase. Your menopause symptoms will become less intense, but you are at a higher risk of osteoporosis and heart disease.

Hormone Replacement Therapy
When you go through menopause, your hormone levels change and this can affect your body in many ways. Menopause affects women differently and whilst some may only experience mild symptoms, others will find it difficult to manage their daily routines.

Menopause Symptoms: 

• Hot flashes
• Insomnia
• Night sweats
• Lowered libido
• Mood swings
• Vaginal dryness
• Weight gain
• Hair loss

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help those who have more severe menopausal symptoms. HRT contains synthetic versions of the female hormones you produce less of during menopause. By raising your levels of oestrogen and progesterone, the symptoms of the menopause should decrease. Studies have even shown that hormone replacement therapy can prevent the type of bone loss associated with osteoporosis.

HRT comes in a few different forms, but the most popular methods of taking it are through patches or tablets. Tablets are usually taken once per day and are an easy way for many women to take HRT.

Patches are applied directly to the skin and left there for a few days before being replaced. These are ideal for women who can’t stick to a pill schedule. Patches often have fewer side effects than tablets.

You can get HRT treatment like Estradot patches, Evorel patches, and Femoston tablets online in the UK from Pharmacy Planet