Health & Wellness
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Supporting Your Whole-Body Health Through Hormonal Change
Hormonal health doesn't exist in isolation. Your hormones affect your skin, weight, heart, bones, energy levels, and overall wellbeing. At The Women's Hormone Clinic, we provide comprehensive support that goes beyond just prescribing HRT – we help you thrive through every aspect of your hormone journey.
Skin Health & Menopause
As oestrogen levels decline during perimenopause and menopause, many women notice significant changes to their skin. You might experience increased dryness, loss of elasticity, more pronounced fine lines, and changes in skin texture.
How Hormones Affect Your Skin
Oestrogen plays a vital role in maintaining skin health by supporting collagen production, moisture retention, and skin barrier function. When levels drop, your skin becomes drier, thinner, and more sensitive.
Our Approach
HRT can help restore oestrogen levels, which may improve skin hydration, thickness, and collagen production. Many women notice improvements in their skin as a beneficial side effect of hormone treatment. We also provide personalised guidance on skincare routines, sun protection, nutrition, and lifestyle factors that support healthy skin during this transition.
Common skin concerns we address include:
- Increased dryness and sensitivity
- Loss of firmness and elasticity
- Adult acne related to hormonal fluctuations
- Hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone
- Slower healing and increased sun sensitivity
While we can't stop the natural ageing process, we can support your skin health through hormonal optimisation and evidence-based lifestyle guidance.
Weight Management & Hormonal Health
Weight gain, particularly around the middle, is one of the most common and frustrating symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. If you've noticed your usual approach to diet and exercise isn't working anymore, you're not alone – and it's not your fault.
Why Hormones Affect Your Weight
As oestrogen levels decline, several metabolic changes occur:
- Your metabolism naturally slows, meaning you burn fewer calories at rest
- Fat distribution shifts from hips and thighs to your abdomen
- Muscle mass decreases, further slowing metabolism
- Insulin sensitivity changes, affecting how your body processes carbohydrates
- Poor sleep and increased stress raise cortisol, promoting weight gain
Our Approach
We take a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to weight management during menopause. This includes:
- Hormone optimisation through HRT when appropriate
- Personalised nutrition guidance that works with your changing metabolism
- Exercise recommendations that preserve muscle mass and support bone health
- Sleep and stress management strategies
- Realistic goal-setting and sustainable lifestyle changes
We understand that weight management during menopause is complex and multi-faceted. Our specialists work with you to address the hormonal factors whilst supporting practical, achievable changes that fit your life.
Important to Know
HRT itself doesn't cause weight gain. In fact, studies show that women on HRT often find it easier to maintain a healthy weight compared to those not on treatment. We help you separate hormone myths from evidence-based facts.
Cardiovascular Health
After menopause, women's risk of cardiovascular disease increases significantly. This is largely due to the protective effect of oestrogen on heart and blood vessel health being lost as hormone levels decline.
Why Cardiovascular Health Matters at Menopause
Before menopause, oestrogen helps protect your heart by:
- Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels
- Supporting flexible, healthy blood vessels
- Regulating blood pressure
- Reducing inflammation in blood vessels
After menopause, the loss of oestrogen's protective effects means cardiovascular disease becomes the leading cause of death in women – more than all cancers combined.
Our Approach to Heart Health
At The Women's Hormone Clinic, we take cardiovascular health seriously as part of your overall hormone care:
Risk Assessment
We evaluate your individual cardiovascular risk factors, including family history, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, weight, and lifestyle factors.
HRT and Heart Health
When started within 10 years of menopause, HRT can actually protect against cardiovascular disease. We carefully assess whether HRT is right for you and choose the safest delivery method for your circumstances.
Preventative Care
We provide guidance on:
- Heart-healthy nutrition
- Appropriate exercise for cardiovascular fitness
- Blood pressure management
- Cholesterol monitoring
- Smoking cessation support
- Stress reduction strategies
Individualised Treatment
Not all women can take HRT, and not all HRT is the same. We use transdermal (patch or gel) oestrogen when appropriate, as it carries a lower cardiovascular risk than oral oestrogen.
Protecting your heart health is a crucial part of managing your menopausal transition. We're here to help you make informed decisions that support long-term cardiovascular wellbeing.
Osteoporosis Risk Assessment & Bone Health
Osteoporosis – where bones become weak and fragile – is a major health concern for women after menopause. The decline in oestrogen accelerates bone loss, significantly increasing fracture risk, particularly in the hips, spine, and wrists.
Understanding Bone Health and Menopause
Your bones are living tissue that constantly renew themselves. Oestrogen plays a crucial role in this process by:
- Slowing down bone breakdown
- Supporting bone formation
- Maintaining bone density and strength
When oestrogen levels fall during menopause, bone loss accelerates. In the first five years after menopause, women can lose up to 20% of their bone density.
Risk Factors
You may be at higher risk of osteoporosis if you:
- Experienced early menopause (before 45)
- Have a family history of osteoporosis
- Have a small, thin frame
- Don't get enough calcium or vitamin D
- Are or were a smoker
- Drink alcohol regularly
- Have had prolonged periods without menstruation
- Take certain medications (e.g., long-term steroids)
Our Approach to Bone Health
Risk Assessment
We evaluate your individual risk factors and may recommend bone density scanning (DEXA scan) if appropriate.
HRT for Bone Protection
HRT is highly effective at preventing bone loss and reducing fracture risk. It works by replacing the oestrogen your body no longer makes, helping maintain bone density. This is one of the key long-term health benefits of HRT.
Comprehensive Support
We provide guidance on:
- Adequate calcium and vitamin D intake
- Weight-bearing and resistance exercises
- Falls prevention strategies
- Lifestyle factors that support bone health
- When additional medications might be needed
Monitoring
For women at higher risk, we recommend regular monitoring of bone health and adjust treatment plans accordingly.
Protecting your bones is an investment in your future mobility, independence, and quality of life. Starting HRT around the time of menopause offers the best protection, but it's never too late to take action.
Lifestyle Medicine & Hormone Support
While HRT is often the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms, lifestyle factors play a crucial supporting role in your hormonal health. We believe in a holistic approach that combines medical treatment with evidence-based lifestyle guidance.
Why Lifestyle Matters
Your daily habits significantly impact how you experience hormonal changes:
- What you eat affects inflammation, energy, and weight
- How you move influences bone health, mood, and cardiovascular fitness
- Sleep quality impacts every aspect of wellbeing
- Stress management affects hormone balance and symptom severity
- Social connections support mental and emotional health
Our Lifestyle Medicine Approach
Nutrition
We provide personalised guidance on:
- Anti-inflammatory eating patterns
- Protein intake to preserve muscle mass
- Calcium and vitamin D for bone health
- Blood sugar management
- Hydration
- Reducing trigger foods for hot flushes (caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods)
Physical Activity
We recommend exercise tailored to your needs:
- Weight-bearing activities for bone health
- Resistance training to maintain muscle mass
- Cardiovascular exercise for heart health
- Flexibility and balance work to prevent falls
- Activities you actually enjoy and will stick with
Sleep Hygiene
Quality sleep is essential for hormone balance. We discuss:
- Creating an optimal sleep environment
- Addressing night sweats and sleep disruption
- Sleep timing and routine
- When additional support might be needed
Stress Management
Chronic stress worsens menopausal symptoms. We explore:
- Mindfulness and relaxation techniques
- Time management and boundary-setting
- Activities that bring joy and reduce stress
- When professional mental health support is beneficial
Alcohol and Smoking
We provide honest, supportive guidance on reducing or eliminating habits that worsen symptoms and increase health risks.
Realistic, Sustainable Changes
We don't believe in extreme diets, punishing exercise regimes, or unrealistic expectations. Instead, we work with you to identify small, achievable changes that fit your life and support your hormonal health over the long term.
Lifestyle changes aren't a substitute for HRT when it's needed, but they're a powerful complement that enhances treatment effectiveness and overall wellbeing.
Complementary Therapies & Alternative Approaches
Many women are interested in complementary therapies to support their hormonal health, either alongside HRT or as alternatives when HRT isn't suitable. We take an evidence-based approach to complementary medicine, helping you navigate what works and what doesn't.
Our Philosophy
We believe in integrating the best of conventional and complementary medicine. While HRT remains the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms, certain complementary approaches can provide additional support or serve as alternatives in specific situations.
Evidence-Based Complementary Approaches
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Strong evidence shows that CBT can help with:
- Hot flushes and night sweats
- Sleep problems
- Mood changes and anxiety
- Managing the emotional impact of menopause
We can recommend qualified therapists who specialise in menopause-related CBT.
Mindfulness and Meditation
Research supports mindfulness for:
- Reducing the distress associated with hot flushes
- Improving sleep quality
- Managing stress and anxiety
- Enhancing overall wellbeing
Acupuncture
Some studies suggest acupuncture may help with:
- Hot flushes
- Sleep disturbances
- Joint pain
While evidence is mixed, many women find it beneficial. We can discuss whether it's worth trying in your situation.
Herbal Remedies
We provide honest, evidence-based guidance on popular herbal supplements:
Black Cohosh: May help with hot flushes in some women, though evidence is inconsistent. Generally safe for short-term use.
Red Clover: Limited evidence for effectiveness, but generally safe.
St John's Wort: May help with mood, but interacts with many medications including some types of HRT.
Soy and Phytoestrogens: Mixed evidence, with modest effects at best.
What We Don't Recommend
We advise caution with:
- Products making unrealistic claims
- Unregulated "bioidentical" hormones from non-medical sources
- High-dose supplements without medical supervision
- Therapies with no credible evidence base
Important Considerations
- "Natural" doesn't always mean "safe" – herbs can interact with medications
- Quality and dosing of supplements vary widely
- What works for one woman may not work for another
- Some complementary therapies can be expensive with limited benefit
Our Approach
We'll discuss your interest in complementary therapies openly and without judgement. We help you:
- Understand what evidence exists
- Weigh potential benefits against costs and risks
- Integrate complementary approaches safely with any medical treatment
- Set realistic expectations
- Know when something isn't working and it's time to try a different approach
For women who can't take HRT or choose not to, we work together to find the most effective combination of medical and complementary approaches for your individual situation.
Your Next Steps
Understanding is the First Step
Now that you know how hormones affect your daily life, you can better recognise when they need support and make informed decisions about your health.
