Do you have questions about menopause? Ask Vira Health’s expert Dr Michelle Griffin - £200 voucher to be won

[CeriMumsnet]

Please note this Q&A is now closed for questions but you can see Dr Griffins answers here

Menopause can feel daunting and complicated. Maybe you’re perimenopausal; maybe your periods have stopped but you’re still having menopause-related symptoms. Maybe you’re going through an early menopause, or one brought on by medical treatment. Or maybe you’re just wondering what the next few years might hold for you and how you can best embrace (or at least get through) whatever may be heading your way. Vira Health is here to help, and their expert Dr Michelle Griffin will be answering your questions about everything to do with menopause from 18th to 27th Jan.

Here’s some more information about Dr Griffin: ‘Dr Michelle Griffin qualified as a doctor from University of Cambridge and specialised in Gynaecology, working in a number of hospitals in London and the East of England. She is a Member of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and has completed her training with the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare. She has worked in the NHS for over a decade, as well as for the Department of Health, Public Health England and the World Health Organisation on women’s health projects. She is leading the clinical development of Stella, a new app to help you manage your menopausal symptoms'.

Here’s what Vira Health, the team behind Stella has to say: “Women spend on average 7-10 years in menopause, with symptoms changing and fluctuating all the time. Yet, in the UK, less than 7% of women are satisfied with the care they receive. That’s not ok. Stella offers women personalised plans to help manage menopause symptoms better with support from an expert coach. From insomnia to weight gain and anxiety to incontinence issues, Stella supports women to find relief backed by proven science. Plans are customised to your needs and you can track your progress quickly and easily.”

If you feel in the dark about the symptoms of menopause, you’re looking for advice on managing its effects in day to day life, or you have questions about treatment or care options, you’re in the right place. Share your questions for Dr Griffin below and you’ll be entered into a prize draw where one Mumsnet user will win a £200 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ
Insight Terms and Conditions apply

[EuphieKat]

To cut a long story short, I’m 45 and still taking the pill (progesterone only). Will this mask any possible signs/symptoms of menopause/peri menopause?
(ps not trying to sell at all, but Avon’s January brochure has a range of products specifically for women in the lit 40s/50s and approaching menopause).

[BristolMum96]

How do you cope with the constant temperature changes?! Always cycling through too hot and too cold

[ohdannyboy]

I am pretty terrified of the Menopause as my mum had a terrible time, I remember her with the flushes and mood swings, and depression, which started when she was in her early 50s.
I am 36 now and would like to know, what is the age I should go to my GP to see if i can have any tests to see when my Menopause will start, so I can look into taking medications to help the process.

[pushchairprincess]

What are your views on how employees should treat women with the menopause - I feel many women suffer in silence with this. Is there anything being done to give them support in the workplace, so this is not demonised by employers (time off - WFH options, sitting next to a window, etc)

[OnlyTeaForMe]

Is there any evidence that the menopause can bring about new allergies and intolerances? Since my mid-40s and perimenopause/menopause I've become allergic/ intolerant of several foods I previously ate happily.

[MrsFHolmes]

In annoyed at my GP. She is forcing me off the minipill. I take it because I suffered horrendous period pain. GP says that, as i'm 53, my periods have 'probably' stopped so i don't need the minipill.
She did blood tests to bolster her argument but I read the results were probably meaningless whilst I'm still on the minipill. She got very argumentative when i talked about the NICE guidelines I'd read. She would only prescribe 3 months minipill and made it quite clear I would have to have another confrontation if I wanted more.
I feel great on the minipill. Why do I have to come off it now ( I would just like a couple more years to make sure my periods have stopped) in order to end up probably suffering debilitating menopause symptoms- and then being offered a similar hormonal treatment of HRT- which may take a long time to get the right product/ dosage.
I feel bullied by my GP. What do you think?

[ILoveFlumps]

This time last year my periods stopped, and I had about 6 months of terrible hot flushes. I'm now bleeding irregularly and the hot flushes have stopped. Blood tests indicate menopause, but GP has said nothing else. I'm 41. Should I be taking anything?

[WhispersOfWickedness]

I'm 38 and suffering night sweats in the lead up to my period every month. Is this peri menopause or something else hormone related?

[jitterbugintomybrain]

Does the brain fog lift? I hope so!

[mymenoname]

I'm 48 and am on HRT and also sage tablets. How will I know when I can stop taking HRT? Is there an optimum length of time to be on it?

[MrBeagles]

I know the evidence for maternal link is a factor for early meno, but is it a certainty? Is there anything I can do to delay?

Also - sorry two questions I guess. What's the one thing you'd like GPs to know or do for women experiencing menopause symptoms?

[bestbefore]

Why are so many GPs so uneducated about menopause? I asked about hrt and was told it would give me blood clots, a stroke and cancer . And I know this is out of date and incorrect advice. It's so annoying. And worries me that there's a generation of women who are being denied access to modern hrt which can make menopause easier and also prevent heart disease, osteoporosis and cancer...

[BrokenCircle]

Is there anything I can do to deal with irregular periods and excessively heavy bleeding, which doesn’t involve taking hormone tablets? It’s affecting my work, as I cannot go to the toilet as soon as I need to, and I often have nearly three hours without a break.

[Gnome134]

Similar to another question, but also wondering whether taking hormonal contraceptives will mask symptoms of menopause?
I'm 46 and taking the combined pill. I still get withdrawal bleed 'periods' in the 7 day break between packs but they are mainly very, very light.
I've recently started suffering with insomnia and have cut out caffeinated drinks in the afternoon to try to combat this. Is this likely to be a symptom?

[Martinisarebetterdirty]

If one has a history of young (mid 20s) hormone reactive breast cancer, and is about to undergo a full hysterectomy including ovaries for “peculiar” and large fibroids in late 30s, would you recommend HRT?

[Destinysdaughter]

Can HRT help with loss of libido and hair thinning? Also, how do you know which type of HRT is best for you?

[Cismyfatarse]

Does HRT prevent signs of ageing such as grey hair / wrinkles / loss of muscle?

I have used it for a while now and am much less grey than my contemporaries but this could be genetic. My Mum had a hysterectomy so can't easily compare with her.

[PrincessNutNuts]

What's the gold standard of treatment for menopause? What combination would you recommend to your best friend?

When's a good time to start HRT?

My periods started changing at 38. In my forties I am told I am too young for HRT, my friend who is 51 was dismissed as too old, and another friend's GP insisted she couldn't have HRT unless she had a Mirena coil fitted.

[voyager50]

I was going to ask the same question as EuphieKat - I am 44 and on the mini pill and I was also wondering if I would notice any menopausal changes.

I haven't had a proper period in years due to the pill but I do have a very small amount of breakthrough bleeding sometimes and get bad headaches fairly regularly.

[ChrissyCarol]

Does testosterone play any part in menopausal symptoms? Would you support this hormone being prescribed to menopausal women?

[chuffedasbuttons]

I wish GP's were more thorough when a something 39-42 year old woman arrives with endless new issues.... allergies, bowels, allergies, new symptoms out of the blue.

I have a prolapse which I believe would have been entirely preventable for many more years if they were just more clued up!

And why can't women access all the necessary drugs we want or need to maintain a sex life ? Viagra is handed out like sweeties in comparison.

[weebarra]

What is your advice for someone with a history of breast cancer (7 years since dx) due to Brca2 gene, post surgical menopause, to treat vaginal atrophy and loss of libido?

[RudolphtheRemaindeer]

I'm 48 and had a bilateral salpingo oophorectomy and hysterectomy in June this year after a endometrial cancer diagnosis. It was caught early and was a very low grade and stage. My menopause symptoms are horrible - night sweats, hot flushes, no libido at all and I'm a moody cow. I've been told that under no circumstances can I have HRT by my consultant. However it seems that in some cases HRT can be prescribed. Would you agree width this? I feel pretty fobbed off having been told that as I was near the average age of menopause anyway I would just be able to deal with it.

[TheProvincialLady]

How can I tell the difference between fibroids and peri menopause? I have a huge family history of problematic fibroids leading to hysterectomy (mum, her 5 sisters, grandmother and her two sisters). I am now experiencing more frequent, heavier periods (and cycle related anxiety, insomnia and painful breasts) - how do I know when to see my GP?

[Theimpossiblegirl]

I'm 45 and know very little about the menopause, but I suppose I'll have to find out soon enough. I have the Mirena coil so I'm hoping a lot of it will pass me by. Am I being naïve?