Haitham Hamoda, a consultant gynecologist, clinical lead for London King’s College Hospital menopause service, and chairman of the British Menopause Society, says, “The British Menopause Society is not saying every woman needs Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), but women shouldn’t be scared off it and be made aware of the benefits.”

She says, “For the vast majority of women, the benefits will outweigh the risks. We want women to have access to accurate information and be supported to manage their symptoms.”

Whether you want to take Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for your menopausal symptoms, or try individual drug treatments for isolated symptoms, help is available. 

What other drugs help with menopause?

Individual drug treatments for symptoms include antidepressants for depression, vaginal moisturisers and lubricants for dry vagina and painful sex, drugs such as clonidine which is normally used to treat blood pressure but is also used for hot flushes, and painkillers for muscle pain and aching joints. 

“While drugs can treat some of the individual symptoms of the menopause, HRT is really the only one that addresses all of them,” said GP and womens health expert Dr Nighat Arif. 

“However, HRT is not a silver bullet for the menopause, it’s just a part of the jigsaw that we make to treat the big change in life,” she says. “Every woman is unique and will have her own individual problems. But my own view is that life is short, and HRT gives you your life and joy back.”