If you think you have menopausal symptoms and are finding them difficult to deal with, your GP could help. Your doctor should be able to diagnose the menopause by discussing your symptoms and taking into account your age and whether or not you're having periods. If you're under 45, you may also be offered a blood test.
"Women shouldn’t feel embarrassed," says Dr Rupal Shah, a GP in south London. "GPs see it almost every day and women must not feel like they’re making a fuss."
Dr Shah stresses that if the symptoms are having a negative effect on your job or relationship, it's time to ask your GP for help. "If you're sitting at your desk in the office embarrassed because you’re covered in sweat or you’re worrying about going out in the evening because you may have a hot flush, go and see your GP."
Go prepared
Some women find it difficult to approach their GP about the menopause. Dr Shah suggests seeing a female GP if that makes you feel more comfortable.
She also recommends keeping a list or diary. "A list can be good as a memory aid and a little diary of how often you’re getting hot flushes can help your GP assess whether they're average or more frequent than average.
"Hot flushes are by far the most common physical symptom of the menopause," says Dr Shah. It's important to tell the GP about all the symptoms you're experiencing, including any sexual difficulties.
"Some women are embarrassed about the sexual side of things and won't talk about it," she says. But if vaginal dryness is the main issue then oestrogen creams can be a simple, safe option. Dr Shah says sexual difficulties caused by vaginal dryness can be the easiest symptom to treat.
What to expect
Medical treatment for the menopause can involve hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This can be helpful in treating common symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats and vaginal dryness or itching.
"HRT is the main form of menopause treatment," says Dr Shah. Patients can expect their GP to remind them of the slight risks associated with HRT.
"In the first instance, HRT is likely to be supplied in tablet form and if a woman is within two years of the menopause, I would recommend a cyclical HRT, which means you still get your periods. If you haven’t had periods for one year, you can go on to continuous HRT, which means there is no bleeding."
The decision to prescribe HRT also depends on your age. "Under the age of 45, it’s not a bad idea to be on HRT to protect your bones," says Dr Shah. "And it's the most effective treatment for hot flushes."
Dr Shah recommends allowing three months to get used to HRT and advises against giving up after the first attempt as there is a variety of different types of HRT you can try.
When a woman can’t take oestrogen, for example if she has had a stroke or blood clots, antidepressants may be recommended to treat some symptoms.
However, not all women who visit their GP about menopause symptoms want or need drug treatment. Dr Shah says: "You want to know you’re not the only one and it may be that, armed with enough knowledge, you decide you don’t want any medication, that you’d rather see how things go. And that is a perfectly valid choice."
