MenoTastic

I've now uploaded my first video about the menopause : "Vaginal oestrogen products in menopause - a practical guide". This video is a quick whizz through the commonest vaginal oestrogen products for treating the Genitourinary Syndrome of the Menopause. I explain how to use the products available from your doctor I hope this provides some practical information.

Menopause can sometimes feel like your thermostat has a mind of its own - suddenly, you're hosting an impromptu tropical party, even if it’s 10°C outside. Understanding the Physiology Behind Flushes Hot flushes occur when your body’s thermoregulatory centre in the hypothalamus - your internal thermostat - gets a little confused due to fluctuating oestrogen levels. Essentially, the drop in oestrogen causes the hypothalamus to mistakenly trigger a cooling response by widening your blood vessels to release heat. This leads to the sudden feeling of warmth, accompanied by sweating and sometimes a flushed face. The range at which you internal thermostat detects “hot” and “cold” also narrows which is why in part you can feel hot one minute and then not too much later, cold. I will address how this interferes with sleep in another post. Hot Flushes vs. Night Sweats While hot flushes and night sweats share similar physiological origins - both stemming from the body’s response to hormonal ch...

Menopause is like that uninvited guest who turns up at your house, throws the cushions on the floor, eats all your snacks, and then just sits there smirking while you try to figure out what’s going on. It brings with it a wide range of possible symptoms, but let’s be honest—sometimes it feels like it brings all of them at once. However, not every weird thing happening to your body is necessarily menopause’s fault (tempting as it is to blame it for everything from missing car keys to sudden road rage). So, how do you tell what’s really going on? Let’s dive in. Understanding the Stages of Menopause (A.K.A. The Joyride Through Hormonal Chaos) The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) defines the different stages of menopause, which is helpful to understand more about the journey you may be on or about to embark on. Premature Menopause:  When menopause crashes the party before the age of 40, often for medical, autoimmune, or genetic reasons. Full medical assessments ...

So, you’ve had a brief outline in part one of what’s available, but what are the products out there, and how do you actually use them? Firstly —if you think this doesn’t apply to you (you don’t have symptoms or it’s only a little bit), so you want to skip on— STOP! GSM is like a marching band—once it starts, it just keeps marching on, with symptoms getting worse and worse if left untreated. I have honestly had women with bleeding cuts and fissures because they were too embarrassed to seek help. Don’t ignore it—it only gets worse as time moves on! The First Step: Educate Yourself Knowledge is power, and the more you know, the better you can advocate for yourself. Start by reading trustworthy information sources that outline what GSM is, why it happens, and what can be done about it. A couple of really reliable and trustworthy information sheets are here: Vaginal Dryness Factsheet Urogenital Problems Factsheet Talk to Your Partner This isn’t just a you  issue—it affects your relation...

  So, how did Valentine's Day go? Are you walking like you’ve been on a horse, or are you much more devastated than that? This is where I am going to get serious… The vagina can be a source of joy, or it can be a wrecking ball on the most stable of relationships - and that’s if you actually have any libido to start with. Couples have split over this, and I have heard the phrase “if only someone had just told me that” more times than I can count. The difficulty in talking about this subject - with partners, friends, or even healthcare professionals - is something I hear about day in, day out. Many women struggle to even raise it in conversation, let alone work up the courage to see a doctor, only to bail and talk about something else once they’re there. Not just that - older women often accept recurrent urinary infections, painful intercourse, or a prolapsed vagina as just part of ageing . But let me be clear: just because it’s common doesn’t mean it’s normal, and it absolutely doe...

Right and on we march to my next post- a subject barely talked about - the vagina (well barely talked about in this context- cant speak for banter down the local pub !!)  Today, on this cheeky Valentine’s Day, let’s have a candid chat about the gradual (or sudden) onset of menopausal including that pesky GSM (Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause) – and the treatments available here in the UK.  As it is "that day" where you are either loved up or feeling a bit lonely- let me cheer you up with some all round vagina talk!! (er...yeah not sure that came out right....er a poor choice of words too...er.. I think I may stop now!!) The Slow March of Menopause Phase 1: The Sneaky Prelude (Perimenopause) Before menopause makes its grand entrance, it tiptoes in with perimenopause. This stage is like a long, unpredictable trailer before the main event. In later posts I will drill down on what this exactly is, how long it lasts, why it can be so hard to recognise (it took me 4 years and I...

Below are 10 menopause myths I've encountered in my GP work. Myth 1: Menopause Means You'll Suffer Endless Hot Flushes and Night Sweats The Truth: Hot flushes and night sweats are real – but they’re not the eternal inferno many fear. Some women experience the bit of heat, while others might feel like they’re in a spontaneous steam room. Factors like overall health, stress, g enetics, BMI  and even a bit of British weather can influence their frequency and severity.  What do they feel like?- Some women describe suddenly feeling warm, and they start having to take off layers, or describe sudden or gradual sweat on the back of their necks, others describe a sudden rising flush of unbearable heat, with or without sweat whilst the people around them are feel ok. Research, including insights from the SWAN study, shows these symptoms vary as much as our tea and coffee preferences. Many find that tailored management strategies, such as lifestyle tweaks help reduc...

Before we embark upon the world of droopy boobs and sore vaginas (don’t say I didn’t warn you…) a bit about me. I’m Dr. Sarah   Thomas   —   a GP with  decades of experience . I am an Advanced Menopause Specialist with a Diploma in Lifestyle Medicine. I’m also internationally certified by the World Obesity Federation and accredited via the Royal College of GPs “GP Leaders in Obesity and Weight Loss” (GLOW) programme. Welcome to my little corner of the internet - a place where  E vidence- B ased  M edicine meets a dash of humo u r, and where the  rollercoaster  world of hormones and weight management is explored with both passion , sincerity and a quip or two.  F rom sprinting through emergency departments, juggling virtual menopause group consultations ,  lecturing about obesity  in  menopause , course writing for the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine, there is depth to my breadth. No mountain too high, no vagina too dry…...