What is actually happening to hormones during perimenopause, and why can symptoms feel so unpredictable?
In the first episode of our new eight-part series on menopausal hormone therapy, pharmacist Kate Thomas explains the physiology behind the menopausal transition, including changes in oestrogen, progesterone, FSH, ovulation and ovarian reserve.
We also look at why hormone blood tests are often unhelpful in women over 45 with a typical clinical presentation, why perimenopause is not simply a steady decline in oestrogen, and how fluctuating hormones can affect bleeding, sleep, mood, cognition, hot flushes and genitourinary symptoms.
This episode also introduces genitourinary syndrome of menopause, or GSM, and why symptoms such as urinary urgency, recurrent UTIs and nocturia should not be dismissed as minor inconveniences.
Reflective questions are included at the end to support continuing professional development.
In Episode 2, we will ask an essential clinical question: what can menopausal hormone therapy actually treat and what can’t it?
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