Perimenopause & Menopause Clinic in Ashby de la Zouch
Personalised hormone health support through perimenopause, menopause and beyond
Perimenopause and menopause can affect far more than your periods.
Changes in hormones can influence your sleep, mood, energy, concentration, sexual health, skin, joints and overall sense of wellbeing. For some women the transition is relatively straightforward; for others, symptoms can have a significant impact on everyday life.
At Aeternum Aesthetics, our clinician-led Women’s Hormone Health Clinic provides comprehensive assessment and personalised treatment for women experiencing symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause.
We take time to understand you as a whole person – your symptoms, medical history, lifestyle, menstrual cycle and individual priorities – before discussing the treatment options that may be appropriate for you.
What is Perimenopause?
Perimenopause is the transitional stage leading up to menopause.
During this time, ovarian hormone production begins to change and fluctuate. This can cause symptoms even while you’re still having regular periods.
For some women, changes to their menstrual cycle are one of the first signs. For others, symptoms such as anxiety, disrupted sleep, brain fog or changes in mood can appear before they realise hormones could be contributing.
Perimenopause can last for several years, and symptoms can change considerably during that time.
What is Menopause?
Menopause describes the point at which you have gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period, provided you’re not using hormonal contraception that affects your bleeding pattern.
The average age of menopause in the UK is around 51, although it can occur earlier or later.
After this point, you are described as postmenopausal, but that doesn’t necessarily mean symptoms immediately disappear.
Some women continue to experience symptoms for several years and may benefit from ongoing treatment and support.
Symptoms of Perimenopause & Menopause
Every woman’s experience is different, and symptoms can change over time.
You may experience:
- Hot flushes
- Night sweats
- Difficulty sleeping or waking during the night
- Anxiety
- Low mood
- Irritability or mood changes
- Brain fog and difficulty concentrating
- Memory changes
- Fatigue or reduced energy
- Headaches or migraines
- Heart palpitations
- Joint and muscle aches
- Changes in menstrual cycle
- Heavier or lighter periods
- Reduced libido
- Vaginal dryness or discomfort
- Pain or discomfort during sex
- Recurrent urinary symptoms
- Changes in skin and hair
- Changes in body composition or weight
Sometimes it’s difficult to recognise that seemingly unrelated symptoms may form part of the same hormonal transition.
"I Just Don't Feel Like Myself"
This is something we hear frequently.
Not every woman experiences dramatic hot flushes or night sweats.
Sometimes the changes are much more subtle – poor sleep, increasing anxiety, feeling less resilient, difficulty concentrating, reduced motivation, low libido or simply feeling that something isn’t quite right.
These symptoms can have many causes, which is why our approach isn’t to automatically assume that everything is hormonal.
Your appointment gives us the opportunity to look at the whole clinical picture and decide what may be contributing and what your options are.
How is Perimenopause Diagnosed?
You don’t necessarily need a hormone blood test to determine whether you’re perimenopausal.
For otherwise healthy women aged 45 and over with typical menopause-associated symptoms, NICE recommends identifying perimenopause and menopause from symptoms and menstrual history rather than routinely using hormone blood tests. Hormone levels can fluctuate significantly during perimenopause, meaning a single result may not accurately reflect what’s happening overall.
Blood testing may, however, be appropriate in some circumstances – for example, depending upon your age, symptoms, medical history or where another underlying cause needs investigating.
We’ll discuss whether testing would actually be useful for you, rather than performing blood tests routinely without a clinical reason.
Your Initial Hormone Health Consultation
Your first appointment is a comprehensive assessment with a member of our medical team.
We will discuss your:
- Current symptoms
- Menstrual cycle and any recent changes
- Medical and family history
- Current medication and contraception
- Previous or current HRT
- Sleep and emotional wellbeing
- Sexual and vaginal health
- Lifestyle
- Personal treatment goals
Most importantly, we’ll listen to what has changed for you and which symptoms are affecting you most.
From there, we’ll discuss the treatment options available and whether any further investigation is required.
Initial Women’s Hormone Health Consultation – £150
Do I Need Hormone Blood Tests?
Not everybody does.
For many women aged 45 and over, perimenopause or menopause can be identified from symptoms and menstrual history without hormone testing.
There are, however, circumstances where blood testing may form part of your assessment or ongoing management.
Where clinically appropriate, we can arrange a comprehensive Female Hormone Profile.
Female Hormone Blood Test – £195
Your clinician will explain whether testing is recommended and what information we’re looking for.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
Hormone Replacement Therapy can be highly effective for many symptoms associated with menopause, particularly hot flushes and night sweats, and NICE recommends offering HRT for menopause-associated vasomotor symptoms.
There isn’t one HRT regimen that suits every woman.
Treatment should take into account your symptoms, medical history, whether you have a uterus, your individual risk factors and your personal preferences.
Where HRT is appropriate, we’ll explain the available options and discuss the potential benefits, risks and expected outcomes so that you can make an informed decision about your treatment.
A Personalised Approach to Hormone Treatment
Hormone treatment isn’t simply about prescribing a standard dose and leaving you on it indefinitely.
Your treatment may need to be adjusted over time according to your symptoms, response
Our aim is to find an appropriate regimen that manages your symptoms effectively while ensuring treatment remains clinically appropriate and properly monitored.
What About Testosterone?
Testosterone is also an important female hormone and may form part of treatment for some women, but it isn’t automatically required as part of menopause treatment.
Where low sexual desire persists despite otherwise appropriately managed HRT, testosterone supplementation may be considered following clinical assessment. This is consistent with current NICE guidance.
If testosterone may be appropriate for you, we’ll discuss this separately as part of your treatment plan.
Already taking HRT elsewhere but want to discuss testosterone?
We also offer a dedicated Testosterone Supplementation for Women service.
Vaginal & Urinary Symptoms
Menopause can also affect the tissues of the vagina, vulva, bladder and urinary tract.
Symptoms can include:
vaginal dryness, burning or irritation, discomfort during sex, urinary urgency and recurrent urinary tract symptoms.
These symptoms are common but aren’t something you simply have to accept as part of ageing.
Local vaginal oestrogen and other treatment options may be considered depending upon your symptoms and medical history.
Importantly, these symptoms can sometimes occur without hot flushes or other typical menopause symptoms.
Ongoing Reviews & Monitoring
Starting treatment isn’t the end of your care.
We’ll review how you’re responding, discuss any ongoing symptoms or side effects and make adjustments where clinically appropriate.
When starting hormone treatment we review at 6 weeks and 12 weeks which allows us to adjust your prescription if needed.
Follow-Up Hormone Review – £120
Further blood testing may occasionally be recommended depending upon your treatment and individual circumstances.
Repeat Prescriptions
Once you’re established on treatment and your prescription remains clinically appropriate, repeat prescriptions can be issued between scheduled reviews.
Repeat Prescription – £45
Medication costs are additional and will depend upon the treatment prescribed.
Additional investigations may occasionally be required depending upon your symptoms, medical history or treatment. These will always be discussed with you first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Perimenopause is the transition leading up to menopause, during which hormone levels fluctuate and symptoms may begin.
Menopause is reached when you've had no menstrual period for 12 consecutive months, provided you're not using hormonal contraception that affects bleeding.
You can experience significant menopause-related symptoms during either stage.
Yes. Symptoms can begin before your periods become obviously irregular. Your menstrual pattern is only one part of the assessment.
Usually not if you're otherwise healthy and aged 45 or over with typical symptoms. Testing may be appropriate in younger women or where your clinical circumstances indicate further investigation.
Most women experience menopause between 45 and 55, but it can happen earlier.
Menopause occurring between 40 and 44 is described as early menopause, while loss of ovarian function before 40 requires assessment for premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). NICE recommends specific investigation in younger women rather than simply assuming routine menopause
No. HRT can be used during perimenopause where clinically appropriate. You don't need to wait until you've reached menopause or until your symptoms become unbearable before seeking advice.
Menopause can affect mood and emotional wellbeing, and treatment may help where symptoms are associated with hormonal change.
However, anxiety and depression can have many causes, so we'll consider your wider health rather than automatically attributing every psychological symptom to menopause.
There isn't a universal cut-off that applies to every woman. Treatment should be reviewed periodically and decisions about continuing HRT made according to your symptoms, benefits, risks and individual circumstances.
That doesn't necessarily mean HRT isn't suitable.
Different preparations, doses and routes of administration can suit different women. We'll discuss what you've previously tried, why it was stopped and whether another approach may be appropriate.
Yes. If you're already using HRT but remain symptomatic or would like a more detailed hormone health review, we can assess your current treatment and discuss your options.
Please bring details of your current medication and any relevant recent investigations to your appointment.
Why Choose Aeternum for Menopause Care?
Aeternum provides a private, clinician-led Women’s Hormone Health service in Ashby de la Zouch.
Our approach is based around:
time to listen, comprehensive clinical assessment, individualised treatment, appropriate prescribing and ongoing follow-up.
You’ll be cared for by an experienced medical team in a private clinical environment, with the opportunity to discuss symptoms that can sometimes be difficult to address in a shorter appointment.
Our aim isn’t simply to prescribe hormones.
It’s to help you understand what is happening to your body, what your options are and what treatment is appropriate for you.
