How much do you regularly fork out on products to relieve symptoms arising from (peri) menopause?

[GentleIron]

I suddenly find myself in perimenopausal hell. According to my GP, a recent traumatic incident followed by an extended period of stress and anxiety may have caused a significant drop in oestrogen, which has led to this rapid presentation of a range of symptoms, almost over night. I'm gutted as, by most people's standards, I've been doing everything 'right'; eating well, healthy BMI, not carrying excess weight, decent varied exercise, no substances or stimulants.

Hot flushes, a suspected prolapse, sleep disturbance, horrendous vaginal dryness, loss of libido and sensation during sex, irritable bladder, relapse of diastasis recti which I supposedly closed 10 years ago, dryness of eyes, mouth and vocal cords, fatigue and brainfog, all of which have appeared in the last 6 weeks: as a result of my googling support and advice, my socials are flooding with advertisements for products claiming to relieve the symptoms I am experiencing, as well as others which I guess may be just around the corner. There seems to be supplements, ointments, gadgets, devices, online programmes and apps for all of my symptoms, and they all cost money.

Is this really what to expect now, at this new phase of my life? For a portion of my monthly income to be earmarked for products to relieve these symptoms? I've just calculated that the cost of some supplements and a couple of products / services I think I might actually benefit from will average a spend of £145 / month for the next 12 months (this is nothing to do with improving hair, nails or skin, just bare nuts and bolts of keeping my body from coming apart at the seams). How much do women tend to spend on products and services to relieve symptoms of menopause? It's so unfair!

For the record, GP is reluctant to prescribe full HRT, preferring a 'watchful waiting' approach, so has given me a nice cream for vaginal dryness. Ho hum.

You gp should be following the Nice guidance and offering you hrt, or referring you to a specialist if there are medical reasons why you might not suitable. When our estrogen drops and fluctuates we need additional oestrogen, not expensive and random supplements. Many women spend months or years trying alternatives before discovering that adding oestrogen back in via hrt is what they needed all along.

Check out the Practice Guidelines from the British Menopause Society and go back to your gp.

HRT is the only thing that helped me.

I tried all the standard supplements first, especially the ones recommended to help with sleeping, bladder irritation/ weakness and hot flushes, and saw very little difference. Those (my worst) symptoms have all but gone with HRT.

There's a massive money making industry mushrooming as a result of the taboos around menopause fading away so many self styled "experts" trying to grab a slice of the potential cash menopausal women might have, with flimsy claims that we need their special therapies or groups or books or - especially - supplements. Most of it is snake oil. Being able to talk about it is great; being financially exploited over it isn't.

Also, if you do decide to explore additional things that might be helpful at this life stage

-A few sessions with a specialist pelvic physio - these women are fantastic, devoted to helping women live well with changing bodies, really knowledgeable

• a few sessions with a nutritionist or medical herbalist rather than buy off the shelf supplements - speaking to someone who can explore your particular diet and lifestyle and recommend any changes or supplements specific to you can save you a fortune in the long run

Just go back ask for patches and tablets and get on HRT, ignore the wait and see bullshit that’s not following guidelines. I was having 15-20 hot flushes a day could list all of your symptoms and after 2 weeks on a low dose patch everything felt manageable. Why wait? and why spend money on useless supplements if you already eat well there is no need.

I pay approx £15 a month for estriol 1% cream. I was buying Evorel Conti patches at around £65 for three months, but my GP's now prescribing them. His quote: "We're a lot more relaxed about prescribing HRT to women now."

Do go back, with the NICE guidelines if you think they need a prod. Many practices now have a menopause or women's health specialist, who should be better able to hear what you're saying.

You can switch your diet to nothing but soya, drown yourself in red clover and hop teas, swallow an assortment of root supplements, and the phytoestrogens will not have the same effect as a straightforward hormone replacement therapy. Because you aren't a plant.

There's a minimal evidence base for 'supplements', and many are snake oil. But the your gp sounds a but of a wally. I've never heard of trauma causing a drop in oestrogen, I'd like to see a reference for that. Read the NICE guidelines and if you're 45 put your hrt request in writing. The vaginal oestrogen does help though.

Is this a wind up? Surely there is not such a stupid doctor in 2025. I’d be livid. HRT, now and vaginal estrogen as well. And don’t wait.

Thank you, that's really good to hear. I'm so worn out with worrying and managing it that facing down my GP doesn't feel that easy, but I'll have another go. They've made out HRT is a very serious decision but I realise I'm surrounded by women who are on it and doing really well. Back to the surgery it is.

I'm on HRT which is fantastic but the only other thing I feel really helps me us a luxury facial once a month. My skin was really suffering before and a facial not only keeps it looking fresh and not haggard but us wonderfully relaxing. Well worth the money.

Honestly I would suggest changing surgeries. Your GP sounds HRT adverse and will likely hound you constantly to get off of it. Some of them are so uneducated, it’s a disgrace.

HRT is the only thing that really works. But I do also take joint supplements (omega3, glucosamine and collagen) as joint pain was my worst symptom.that costa about £1 per day.

I am on hrt and it has caused new symptoms including reflux which can be due to the impact of hormones on relaxation of the lower oesophigial splincter. It also has not fixed other issues such as irritable bladder. That said there is an improvement in some things and I am staying on it for bone protection.

I think there are just a lot of things which start to go wrong in your 40s even with a healthy lifestyle.

Take this with you and go back to the GP.

"3 Identifying perimenopause and menopause
Blood tests are rarely required to diagnose perimenopause or
menopause in women aged 45 or over and should not be used."

https://thebms.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/09-BMS-TfC-NICE-Menopause-Menopause-identification-and-management-%E2%80%93-from-guideline-to-practice-MARCH2025-D.pdf

From here:

https://thebms.org.uk/publications/tools-for-clinicians/

Also my GP gave me this link for information when they finally gave me HRT recently after 5 years of peri symptoms, they still did bloods to check my thyroid before I started the HRT (I am over 45 now).

https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/

My menopause journey started at 52, 12 years ago, then GP did offer HRT but my GP really didn’t help my decision to take it or not, I came away thinking it’s not too bad, I will carry on, only to repeat same course again 6 months later with same outcome. If I had my time again I would see a specialist, I spent money on chillow pillows, they worked, magnets for hot flushes, worked around 1 month, various creams, all worked for a short period, but never long term, various supplements, none did much, portable fans, so I probably spent over £250 with no real gain, might as well have spent that on a consultation with a professional menopause specialist.

Definitely HRT, including vaginal pessaries (tablets). Only thing that’s helped me. Still get symptoms but without the HRT I was just constantly unwell; I would have had to leave my job. Most if not all of the rest of the things you see advertised are snake oil. I wouldn’t waste your money. I spend £20/year on a HRT prepayment certificate, my GP prescribes it, and that’s literally it. I no longer drink alcohol and try and avoid sugar and that helps and has probably saved me money, and I pay for the occasional comfort thing like a spa day. Oh, and I’ve had to buy a whole new wardrobe because of the weight gain…

OP do you have a supportive friend you can take with you when you go back to gp? It's so hard to have to fight for what you're absolutely entitled to expect, especially when we're generally feeling dreadful anyway. If you can take someone with you for support it might feel easier. And ask the receptionist if there's a gp who specialises in women's health, or just who they would recommend to see about menopause. The gp you spoke to is shockingly ill informed, it's reportable really.

How old are you? What cream have they prescribed? Are these extra products evidence based?

I was on HRT for a few years, did have issues with it (bleeding). Then I was diagnosed with hormone positive breast cancer, so can no longer take systemic HRT.

I do use vaginal oestrogen and I also take sea buckthorn oil capsules, which are great for dryness (anywhere! Opticians recommend it for dry eyes). Weirdly, I think I'm more well now than when I was on HRT, despite having had cancer!

I only take the sea buckthorn oil, a vitamin B complex and collagen, I don't know how much I spend, but HRT isn't an option for me, so I just have to suck it up.

Hello, as has been mentioned previously, please do also get your thyroid levels checked. Trauma can screw over your thyroid which could also explain some of your symptoms.

Good call @anothercortisolqueen I am in remission now, but had an over active thyroid, and the dryness thing is definitely a symptom of that.

Exactly this, I am also just recently in remission for Graves (overactive) 😊. I also suspect trauma may have pushed my thyroid over the edge.

Zero, I’m one of the lucky ones. Sleep is an issue but I’ve had those issues my whole life, just ramped up in my late 30’s.

remember most of what you see are simply snake oil, they are not medically tested and often placebo at best. They basically see us coming. If a vitamin drink or ointment makes you feel better then that’s great but apps? Online programmes? The only thing they’ll do is drain your bank balance. Healthy diet, exercise, plenty of water, sleep when you can, watch alcohol intake and try to have fun each week. If you are struggling see a different gp, not a quack

Oh and i highly recommend a mirina, got rid of 90% of my symptoms within a week, im now into my 50’s no hrt

I’ve not had extreme symptoms really, no hot flushes etc. Sleep is a big problem and thinning hair, and yet I’m growing more hair on my face. I am not on HRT but I am taking biotin for my hair and I’m taking magnesium glycinate for my sleep. I used to take an expensive multivitamin but realised I was taking too much Vitamin A and C with the other things so stopped. I also didn’t really need most of the herbs etc in it. I pluck my chin hair with tweezers. I spend around £25 a month on supplements.

May I ask what symptoms mirena helped you with? I had one fitted a few days ago and am hoping it will improve my reflux caused by utrogestan.