Body Confidence Clinic

Body Confidence Clinic Independent nurse practitioner with a special interest in women’s health. DFSRH
LOC IUT/SDI
Member of the British Menopause Society

HRT doesn’t come in a one-size-fits-all package 🌿There are several different types of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT),...
22/08/2026

HRT doesn’t come in a one-size-fits-all package 🌿

There are several different types of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), and the right option will depend on your symptoms, medical history, whether you still have a uterus and where you are in your menopause journey.

HRT may include:

✨ Systemic HRT – works throughout the body and can help symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, sleep disturbance and mood changes.

🌸 Local vaginal oestrogen – specifically treats genitourinary symptoms of menopause (GSM), including vaginal dryness, soreness, discomfort and urinary symptoms. It can be used alone or alongside systemic HRT.

🔄 Sequential HRT – generally used if you are still having periods or are perimenopausal.

🌿 Continuous combined HRT – generally used once you are postmenopausal.

💗 Oestrogen-only HRT – usually suitable for those who have had a hysterectomy.

HRT can also be delivered in different ways, including patches, gels, sprays, tablets and vaginal preparations.

The important thing is finding an individualised treatment plan that takes into account your symptoms, preferences, medical history and personal risk factors.

📌 Image credit: Women’s Health Concern – the patient arm of the British Menopause Society.

Protecting time to de-stress 🌿We’re often very good at making time for work, family, appointments and everyone else — bu...
18/08/2026

Protecting time to de-stress 🌿

We’re often very good at making time for work, family, appointments and everyone else — but not always so good at making time for ourselves.

Having some protected time to switch off and de-stress isn’t selfish or indulgent — it’s important for our wellbeing.

Chronic stress can affect our sleep, mood, energy, concentration and how well we cope with everyday life. And during perimenopause and menopause, when hormonal changes can already affect mood, anxiety and sleep, reducing the additional stress load can be particularly valuable.

Protected time doesn’t have to mean hours of meditation or an expensive spa day. It might simply be:

🌿 A walk without your phone
☕ Sitting quietly with a coffee
📖 Reading a book
🏋️ Moving your body
🎧 Listening to music or a podcast
🛁 Having a bath
💬 Spending time with someone who makes you feel good
…or simply doing absolutely nothing for a while.

The important part? Put it in the diary and protect it.

We schedule everything else that matters.
Our wellbeing deserves a place in the diary too. 💙

An afternoon well spent. 📚🏥Today I had the opportunity to spend the afternoon shadowing in gynaecology.One of the things...
07/08/2026

An afternoon well spent. 📚🏥

Today I had the opportunity to spend the afternoon shadowing in gynaecology.

One of the things I value most as a healthcare professional is never stopping learning. Spending time alongside colleagues, seeing different presentations, discussing management options, and sharing experiences is invaluable.

Every opportunity like this helps me broaden my knowledge and deepen my understanding.

A huge thank you to the team for such an insightful and educational afternoon.

🧠 Why do hormones affect your mood?If your mood changes before your period or during perimenopause, you’re not imagining...
29/07/2026

🧠 Why do hormones affect your mood?

If your mood changes before your period or during perimenopause, you’re not imagining it.

💜 Oestrogen supports the production and activity of serotonin – one of the brain’s “feel-good” neurotransmitters that helps regulate mood, sleep and emotional wellbeing. As oestrogen fluctuates or falls, serotonin activity can reduce, leading to low mood, anxiety and irritability.

🌙 Progesterone is often calming because it is converted into allopregnanolone, which acts on GABA receptors in the brain. However, in people with PMS or PMDD, the brain is more sensitive to the normal rise and fall of progesterone and allopregnanolone. It’s this altered brain response—not abnormal hormone levels—that can trigger severe mood symptoms.

🌸 During perimenopause, hormone fluctuations become more unpredictable, so mood changes may become more frequent or more intense, particularly if you’ve always experienced PMS.

✨ The good news? These symptoms are real, they’re biological, and effective treatments are available. You don’t have to struggle through them alone.

How Long Can I Take HRT For? 🤔One of the most common questions I get asked is: “How long can I stay on HRT?”The simple a...
23/07/2026

How Long Can I Take HRT For? 🤔

One of the most common questions I get asked is: “How long can I stay on HRT?”

The simple answer is: there is no arbitrary time limit.

According to the British Menopause Society (BMS), HRT should be individualised and reviewed regularly. The decision to continue should be based on your symptoms, health risks, personal preferences, and the balance of benefits and risks.

✅ HRT can be highly effective for managing menopausal symptoms such as:
• Hot flushes and night sweats
• Sleep disturbance
• Mood changes
• Brain fog
• Joint aches
• Genitourinary symptoms such as vaginal dryness and urinary symptoms

✅ For women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) or an early menopause, HRT is usually recommended until at least the average age of natural menopause (around 51 years).

✅ Many women continue HRT beyond the age of 60 if the benefits outweigh any potential risks.

Regular reviews are important to ensure you are on the most appropriate treatment and dose for your individual needs.

Remember: Menopause is not a one-size-fits-all journey, and neither is HRT.

If you’re wondering whether to continue, stop, or adjust your HRT, speak to a healthcare professional experienced in menopause care.

What Should You Expect From Your Healthcare Professional?Your healthcare professional should be more than someone who si...
17/07/2026

What Should You Expect From Your Healthcare Professional?

Your healthcare professional should be more than someone who simply prescribes treatment. They should be your partner in healthcare.

✔️ Someone who listens
You should feel heard. Your symptoms, concerns, and experiences matter and deserve to be taken seriously.

✔️ Someone who validates your experience
Symptoms are real, even when the cause isn’t immediately obvious. A good clinician will acknowledge how you’re feeling and work with you to understand what’s happening.

✔️ Someone who uses evidence-based information
Healthcare advice should be guided by the latest research, national guidelines, and clinical expertise—not social media trends or misinformation.

✔️ Someone who explains your options
You should be given clear, balanced information about the benefits, risks, and alternatives available to you.

✔️ Someone who works with you to create a plan
The best healthcare decisions are made together. Your preferences, values, and goals should be part of the conversation.

✔️ Someone who knows when to seek additional expertise
No healthcare professional has all the answers. Good clinicians recognise when specialist input is needed and will refer or collaborate with colleagues to ensure you receive the best possible care.

✔️ Someone who supports you throughout your journey
Healthcare is rarely a one-off appointment. Ongoing review, support, and adjustment of your plan are often just as important as the initial consultation.

You deserve healthcare that is compassionate, collaborative, and evidence-based.

soon become easier?This week, NICE published draft guidance recommending two new non-invasive tests that could help spee...
09/07/2026

soon become easier?

This week, NICE published draft guidance recommending two new non-invasive tests that could help speed up the diagnosis of endometriosis in the NHS. 💛

For many people, getting a diagnosis currently takes over 9 years on average. That’s years of pain, uncertainty, missed work, and often being told that symptoms are “just bad periods.”

The proposed tests include:

🧪 A saliva test (Endotest) – looks for tiny biological markers (microRNAs) associated with endometriosis.

📡 An abdominal sensor test (EndoSure) – measures electrical signals from the bowel using external sensors.

✨ The important bit?
These tests are not designed to replace clinical assessment or laparoscopy when needed. Instead, they could help clinicians identify people who are more likely to have endometriosis and get them referred and treated much sooner.

At the moment, this is draft NICE guidance, with a planned three-year evidence-generation period while more data is collected before final recommendations are made.

This is an exciting step towards:
💛 Earlier recognition
💛 Less invasive assessment
💛 Reduced diagnostic delays
💛 Better access to treatment

Earlier diagnosis has the potential to change lives—but it’s equally important that we continue listening to patients, recognising symptoms early, and taking period pain seriously.

Have you experienced delays in getting an endometriosis diagnosis? Share your experience below. 👇



Clinical note: These recommendations are currently draft guidance. NICE proposes that the tests be used alongside standard clinical assessment, not as standalone diagnostic tests, during a three-year evidence-generation period before final guidance is issued.

🚫 Menopause Washing: Don’t Let Marketing Replace MedicineHave you noticed that suddenly everything is being marketed as ...
05/07/2026

🚫 Menopause Washing: Don’t Let Marketing Replace Medicine

Have you noticed that suddenly everything is being marketed as “for menopause”?

From supplements and skincare to expensive hormone tests and “miracle” treatments, menopause has become a booming industry. This is known as menopause washing – when products or services are marketed as essential for menopause without good scientific evidence to support their claims.

✨ Just because it’s trending doesn’t mean it’s evidence-based.

Before spending your money, ask yourself:
✔️ Is there good-quality research behind this?
✔️ Is the person recommending it appropriately qualified?
✔️ Are they selling a product or providing balanced information?
✔️ Does it align with recognised clinical guidelines?

Social media can be a fantastic place to raise awareness and reduce stigma around menopause, but it can also spread misinformation at an alarming rate. Personal stories can be powerful, but one person’s experience doesn’t become medical evidence.

Evidence-based menopause care should be:
💜 Individualised
💜 Safe
💜 Transparent about benefits and risks
💜 Based on the best available research—not algorithms or viral trends.

If something sounds too good to be true, promises to “balance your hormones” overnight, or claims to be the one answer for everyone, it’s worth taking a closer look.

Let’s empower women with facts, not fear.

’sHealth

🌸 Hormonal fluctuations in young people – why HRT usually isn’t the answer 🌸Many teenagers and young adults experience s...
28/06/2026

🌸 Hormonal fluctuations in young people – why HRT usually isn’t the answer 🌸

Many teenagers and young adults experience symptoms that are linked to hormonal fluctuations throughout their menstrual cycle.

Symptoms can include:
✨ Mood changes
✨ Anxiety or irritability
✨ Acne
✨ Painful or heavy periods
✨ Headaches
✨ Breast tenderness
✨ Bloating
✨ Fatigue
✨ Hot flushes

These symptoms can feel very similar to those experienced during perimenopause, but the underlying cause is different.

During adolescence and early adulthood, oestrogen levels are usually normal or high, but they fluctuate significantly throughout the cycle. It is these hormonal fluctuations, rather than a lack of oestrogen, that often cause symptoms.

This is why HRT is usually not appropriate for young people experiencing cyclical hormonal symptoms.

Instead, treatment focuses on reducing hormonal fluctuations and improving symptom control.

Some options your healthcare professional may discuss include:

💊 Zoely®
A combined contraceptive pill containing estradiol and nomegestrol acetate that provides more stable hormone levels. Some people find it improves cyclical mood symptoms, acne, painful periods and menstrual-related symptoms.

💊 The progestogen-only pill (POP)
Some POPs, including desogestrel and drospirenone, suppress ovulation in many users, helping to reduce hormonal fluctuations and improve symptoms for some people.

💊 Other options
• The contraceptive patch or vaginal ring
• A hormonal coil (particularly for heavy or painful periods)
• Lifestyle measures including sleep, nutrition, exercise and stress management
• Psychological support where mood symptoms are having a significant impact

💚 There is no “one size fits all” treatment. The best option depends on your symptoms, medical history and whether you also need contraception.

If your symptoms are affecting your quality of life, speak to a healthcare professional.

Shared from Menopause Matters NEW FACTSHEETAVAILABLE -Measuring hormone levels.Measuring hormone levels to monitor HRT ...
23/06/2026

Shared from Menopause Matters
NEW FACTSHEET
AVAILABLE -
Measuring hormone levels.
Measuring hormone levels to monitor HRT is rarely helpful. Hormone levels fluctuate significantly, what is measured from a blood test does not reflect what is going on around the body within cells, there is not a target level to aim for, and there is much
more to control of symptoms and how you feel than the blood level of estrogen.
WHC Factsheets are evidence-based and are regularly reviewed and updated by the British Menopause Society medical advisory council, providing a trusted source of information for women and their partners.
Menopause Matters also covered the topic in our podcast - please with fabulous guest Dr
Clare Spencer
https://shows.acast.com/menopause-matters-lets-talk/episodes/measuring-hormone-levels-theres-more-to-it-than-you-think

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