Five Facts about the menopause

pharmafile | March 6, 2026 | Feature | Medical Communications |  Five Facts, HRT, menopause, perimenopause 

1

Menopause is when periods stop due to decreasing hormone levels. It generally begins between the ages of 45 and 55, but can begin earlier or later, and can happen naturally or be caused by surgery, cancer treatments or genetic differences.1

2

Perimenopause is a stage before menopause when periods have not stopped completely but symptoms of menopause have begun. Common symptoms of menopause include hot flushes, insomnia and low mood.2

3

One possible treatment for menopause symptoms is hormone replacement therapy (HRT). HRT helps to increase levels of the hormone oestrogen, and some forms prescribed for menopausal women may also contain progestogen and testosterone.3

4

Many women struggle to access medical support for symptoms of menopause, with one survey finding that 36% of women did not feel comfortable talking about their symptoms with a healthcare professional4 due to feeling embarrassed and worrying that their concerns will not be taken seriously.5

5

Recent advances in menopause treatment include personalised HRT doses. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and research into the gut microbiome may also prove promising for women who, for personal reasons, choose not to take HRT.6

References:

  1. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/
  2. https://thebms.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/17-BMS-TfC-What-is-the-menopause-AUGUST2023-A.pdf
  3. https://www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/browse-our-patient-information/treatment-for-symptoms-of-the-menopause/
  4. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/womens-health-strategy-for-england/womens-health-strategy-for-england#menopause
  5. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10657761/
  6. https://www.bristolmenopause.com/blog/the-latest-advances-in-menopause-research%3A-what-women-need-to-know-

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