What might help? Gel? Aches main symptom

[Isadora2007]

I am late 40s and over the last year I have joint aches and pains as a main symptom of menopause - and my periods changed cycle and strength with them now stopping for a few months so far… I feel like orgasms are more difficult to achieve but my libido is good in general… I have a moderate prolapse and rectocele. The pelvic physio suggested oestrogen gel but I wasn’t sure what that is usually prescribed for. Would it help with muscle aches? Or is it only for gynae issues.

Maybe your physio didn't explain this fully?
I'd assume she meant you might consider HRT.

Oestrogel (brand name) is a form of estrogen used as part of systemic HRT.
There is a another brand called Sandrena.

It's prescribed for menopausal symptoms and if women still have a womb they need to use a progesterone as well.

There are many forms of estrogen used in HRT- gel, spray, tablets, patches.

If you want to try HRT you can decide which of them suits you best.

Ah @JinglingSpringbells thank you. I will look into HRT. I didn’t get on with the combined contraceptive pill- migraines, mood swings etc. So is that likely to mean HRT is not for me?

The physio was lovely but there was a bit of a
language Barrier there so it’s entirely possibly i didn’t pick her up right.

@Isadora2007 The Pill and HRT are completely different.
The Pill uses a high dose of synthetic hormones to prevent ovulation.

HRT is a 'replacement' and the estrogen and progesterone in HRT are exactly the same as our own. They top up our falling hormones.

It's sad there isn't enough education on this - many women mistakenly think the Pill and HRT are the same and miss out on treatment that may help.