Gynaecology

The Science of Women

Menopause & Hormone Replacement Therapy


Menopause is defined as the absence of menstruation for 12 months.
The average age of menopause is 51 years old,
with a range between 45 and 55.

The most common symptom of menopause is Hot Flashes. It is like a hair dryer blowing down your neck.

Non-Hormonal Treatment

Localized Hormonal Treatment

Some women experience vaginal dryness, leading to soreness, itch, and painful intercourse.
Vaginal dryness can also mimic recurrent urinary tract infections.
These symptoms are the Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM)
Using localized vaginal estrogen tablets has been shown to be safe and effective, even in the long term.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

To date, HRT remains the most effective treatment for disturbing hot flashes and many other menopause symptoms.
The WHI (Women's Health Initiative) Study carried out in 2002 created a "scare" on the use of HRT.
The WHI Study was stopped because coronary heart disease and breast cancer rates reached the safety limit, even though those rates were not significantly higher than the population rates.
Many Menopause Experts today now hold the opinion that the WHI Study results were biased.
This is because, in the Study, HRT was started for the first time in 74% of the women around age 63 years old, which is not the usual practice.

Each woman's symptoms with menopause are unique.
Every woman's risk factors for HRT are different.
Review your individualized risks and benefits of HRT with your specialist to ensure you get the best treatment options for your menopause.

Hormone Replacement Therapy
❖ Is Effective for Menopause Symptoms
❖ Is Safer with Estrogen Cream than Estrogen-Progesterone Tablets
❖ Carries a small risk of Breast Cancer
❖ Should not be started at age 63 for heart protection