Menopause
Treatment & Medications
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Menopause key facts
The menopause is a time in a woman’s life when her menstrual cycles and reproductive years end. During the menopause a woman will stop releasing eggs and her levels of estrogen and progesterone (the hormones responsible for menstruation and fertility) will also fall. Menopause normally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, but this can vary from person to person.
Here, we will take a closer look at menopause, its causes, symptoms and treatment options available.
What is the perimenopause?
The phase in a woman’s life before the menopause, is called the perimenopause. During the perimenopause, less estrogen is produced by the ovaries, resulting in changes in the menstrual cycle and irregular periods. Other symptoms include mood swings, hot flashes, night sweats, difficulty sleeping, and vaginal dryness.
Hot flashes
Hot flashes (vasomotor symptoms) are the most common symptom of menopause. Hot flashes are often accompanied by sweating, hot flushes and a rapid heartbeat. Around three quarters of women experience hot flashes during the menopausal transition. Hot flashes may continue for around 2 years, but this may vary.
Other symptoms of menopause
Other symptoms may include irregular or missed periods, vaginal dryness, sore breasts, urinary incontinence, difficulty sleeping, mood changes, irritability, depression, tiredness, headaches, joint and muscle aches, weight gain, hair loss, vaginal atrophy and changes in sex drive.
When does menopause start?
When menopause starts is affected by factors, such as lifestyle, genetics, and other medical conditions. Underweight smokers tend to experience the menopause earlier, while women who are overweight may experience menopause later. Ethnicity does not however play a major role for the age of onset of menopause.
What is premature menopause and induced menopause?
Premature menopause is menopause that occurs before the age of 40, due to factors such as genetics, autoimmune diseases, medical treatments, or radiation therapy. Premature menopause may cause more severe symptoms needing treatment to manage any hormonal changes and potential health risks.
Induced menopause occurs when a woman has her ovaries surgically removed or receives treatment which damages the ovaries, causing a reduction in estrogen levels, triggering symptoms of menopause.
How to diagnose menopause
Diagnosis of menopause takes into consideration age, symptoms, and changes in the menstrual cycle. Blood tests can be used to measure hormone levels, such as the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol. FSH increases as a woman approaches menopause, while estradiol levels decrease.
How to manage menopause symptoms
Lifestyle changes to alleviate symptoms
- Maintain a balanced diet containing calcium, vitamin D, and soy-based foods
- Regular exercise to reduce the risk of osteoporosis and heart disease
- Reduction of stress using yoga or meditation
- Managing changes in body temperature by wearing light clothing
- Avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods
- Staying mentally active to promote good cognitive health
Hormone therapy
Hormone therapy may be used for women with severe menopause symptoms. This uses estrogen and sometimes progesterone, in the form of a patch, pill, cream, vaginal ring, gel or spray, to replace hormones no longer produced by the body. Oral contraception can also be used to help manage the symptoms of menopause.
Hormone therapy is not necessarily suitable for everyone, and women with a history of breast cancer or cardiovascular disease, may require alternative treatment.
Non-hormonal medications and alternative treatments
Non-hormonal medications such as paroxetine, venlafaxine, gabapentin and clonidine are effective in reducing hot flashes and sleep disturbances. Acupuncture is another potential option for the management of menopause symptoms.
Frequently asked questions
When does menopause occur?
Menopause occurs from the age of 45 to 55, but this can vary depending on genetics, general health, and other medical conditions. Menopause that occurs before the age of 45 is called early menopause.
Can a hysterectomy cause menopause?
If a woman has her uterus removed (hysterectomy) while keeping her ovaries, she will not experience the menopause immediately. However, her menstrual periods will stop, and she will not be able to conceive. If a woman has a hysterectomy and has both ovaries removed, menopause will occur immediately, as the ovaries are responsible for the production of hormones.
Can menopause affect bone health?
Estrogen helps to maintain bone density. A reduction in estrogen levels during menopause increases the risk of osteoporosis. To promote healthy bones:
- Exercise using weights
- Maintain a diet containing dairy products, leafy greens, and fortified foods, and consider calcium and vitamin D supplements
- Avoid smoking
Does menopause affect heart health?
Women may be at an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attacks after menopause. Prioritize your heart health by:
- Monitoring your blood pressure and cholesterol levels
- Eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, managing your stress levels, avoiding smoking or excessive alcohol consumption
How will menopause affect my sexual health?
Menopause can cause vaginal dryness, causing discomfort during intercourse. Menopause can also reduce your sex drive. Treatment options include:
- Discussing your concerns with your partner and healthcare provider
- Using over-the-counter lubricants and moisturizers
- Using hormonal therapies
Does menopause affect sleep?
Yes. Sleep disturbance is common during menopause. Symptoms include night sweats and disrupted sleep patterns. Try the following:
- Keep your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet. Use breathable bedding and consider using a fan or air conditioning
- Develop a relaxing routine before bed, such as a warm bath or reading a book
- Limit caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime
How long does the menopause last?
The transition to menopause can last around 7 years. However, this may vary and some women may experience symptoms for a longer or shorter period of time. Postmenopause is defined as when your last period was over 12 months ago.
Can menopause affect my mental health?
Hormonal changes during menopause can cause mood swings, irritability, and changes to your mental well-being. Consider the following:
- Connect with friends, family, or support groups to receive emotional support
- Engage in activities that help you relax
- Consult a mental health professional if your symptoms affect your daily life or continue for long periods
Conclusion
Menopause is a natural process of life for every woman. By having a healthy lifestyle, staying connected to support groups and healthcare providers, and understanding menopause you can manage your symptoms with greater ease.
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Service Guide
Everything you need to know about Getting Treated Privately
What does the Get Treated Privately service do?
The Get Treated Privately service is a private prescribing service which is designed for adults aged 18 years and over, who are experiencing health issues and who would like to receive a fast-track assessment and if applicable, a treatment plan from a qualified prescribing clinician. Treatments are dispensed and delivered to your home or workplace from our regulated online pharmacy.
Is this a safe service?
Yes. Our formulary of medications prescribed and conditions treated are controlled, governed, and continuously risk-assessed by our Medical Director, Dr. Aseel Hamoud. Unlike other prescribing services which operate using faceless questionnaires, our service is conducted through remote video consultations, also known as synchronous consultations. This builds patient safety and prescribing appropriateness into our service, ensuring our prescribing clinicians can be satisfied with who and what they are treating. There is no guarantee of supply of medications, and any prescriptions supplied are at the sole discretion of our clinician prescriber. There is no charge for the consultation.
What is a prescribing clinician and is it safe for me to use them on the NowPatient platform?
Our prescribing clinicians are board-certified pharmacists, nurses, or doctors who can also prescribe any medicine for any medical condition, subject to accepted accreditation and good clinical practice. They are all registered with their respective regulatory bodies. For example, a pharmacist independent prescriber is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Each prescribing clinician undergoes an extensive background check including a disclosure and barring service check (DBS). In addition, they undergo a rigorous license verification process. When you book an appointment with our prescribing clinicians you will see their full name, license number, and any specialized credentials they have.
Is the service available worldwide?
Yes, the Get Treated Privately service is available worldwide.
Do I need to pay for this service?
Yes. This is a private service. You do not need to pay for the consultation. You only pay for the cost of the medication you are prescribed.
How do I book a consultation?
Once you have logged into your account, you will need to navigate to the Get Treated Privately quick action widget which is located at the bottom of your dashboard. You can then select one of the following actions – ‘Search Treatments’ or ‘Search Conditions’.
Depending on the search type, you will be taken to a consultation booking screen. You will then need to select a date and time that is convenient for you, along with the preferred language of the prescribing clinician you wish to choose. You will then see a list of all available clinicians. From this list, you can filter clinicians by gender and then select the clinician you would like to confirm for your booking.
Once you have approved this, you will see a summary of the appointment including preliminary information about the consultation. At this point, you will also be able to add a reminder to your calendar. Always ensure your account health profile is up to date before any consultation. This ensures that our clinicians have the most up-to-date information about your current health status and anything that may influence their prescribing decisions. You will receive a push notification and email reminding you of your consultation, 30 minutes before it is due to start.
You can ‘star’ the Get Treated Privately quick action widget to have it display in the ‘My Favourite Widgets’ section of your dashboard, for ease of future booking or checking active or past orders.
What happens during the remote video consultation?
During the consultation, the clinician will ask you a series of questions that will allow the clinician to diagnose your health condition and consider possible treatment options. At the end of the consultation, the clinician will decide if a treatment plan is a safe and appropriate option for you.
If it is, the clinician will discuss the various treatment options that may be available, so that you can jointly agree on the option that is most suited to you. Once you have jointly agreed on a treatment plan, the clinician will issue a prescription order which will be available in your ‘shopping cart’ at the end of the consultation.
Also, with your consent, the clinician may wish to inform your GP of the treatment that was prescribed. We recommend that you agree to this since your GP is responsible for your overall care and they should have a record of this consultation and medication prescribed. In addition, our clinician may take the opportunity to advise you on your overall health including advice on healthy living or stop smoking.
What happens at the end of the consultation?
At the end of the consultation, you will receive a notification which will summarise the outcome. It will also advise if any referrals were made to your GP, along with any other advice that was given to you by the clinician.
If a GP referral letter was issued, you will be able to view a copy of this in the ‘My Documents’ section of your dashboard.
If you were prescribed a treatment plan, it will now be available in your shopping cart. When you go to your shopping cart, you will be able to checkout and make payment. Once the checkout is complete, your prescription order will be sent to our regulated online pharmacy for processing.
What if the prescriber does not prescribe what I want?
We operate a safe and effective service. This means that our prescribing clinicians always exercise their clinical judgment when prescribing. Unfortunately, we do not operate a service where you can demand a certain medication. If you are not prescribed anything, then you will not be charged.
Will I get status updates for my order?
Yes. When you place an order with NowPatient, we will keep you fully updated with the status of your order. Every time the status of your order changes, you will be notified immediately. These notifications will appear in your ‘My Notifications’ section on your dashboard. You can click the notification and it will take you to your active orders screen which will give you a timeline overview of the progress of your order. This can also be accessed using the ‘My Orders’ quick action widget which is on your dashboard. Here, you can access active and past orders.
How will my order be delivered?
All orders are shipped in discreet and unmarked packaging. This means it is suitable for delivery wherever you require (home, work, or a neighbour). For thermo-sensitive orders (e.g. Insulin or weight loss injections) we use cold chain-validated packaging. Your parcel will normally receive an estimated delivery window from the courier on the day of delivery.
For your protection and safety, your first order can only be delivered to the address that is registered with NowPatient. Future orders can be delivered to any other address, for example, your workplace.
Do you ship cold-chain or temperature sensitive products?
Yes. We use a specialist courier service for all thermo-sensitive deliveries. This is to ensure that cold chain integrity is always maintained and thus the product quality, safety and efficacy.
Learn more about how we handle the delivery of temperature sensitive products.
Where do you deliver?
We currently deliver to all postcodes/zipcodes worldwide. Some postcodes in rural areas may have a slightly longer delivery time.
When will my order arrive?
- UK – Royal Mail Tracked 24 & Signed for Delivery – Next day delivery
- Europe – Royal Mail Tracked – Typical delivery of 3-5 working days
- Worldwide – Royal Mail – Typical delivery of 5-7 working days. If a tracked option is available for your country via Royal Mail, this service will be applied.
What should I do if my order has not arrived?
Delivery is normally made promptly after your dispatch notification is received. You can check the tracking details of your order in the ‘My Notifications’ section of your dashboard, at any point after dispatch.
Unfortunately, packages can sometimes get lost in the delivery system, if after 10 days you have not received your delivery, please contact us and we will do all we can to resolve the problem.
Can you prescribe GLP-1 weight loss injections?
Yes. However, with GLP-1 weight loss medications, the license requires that there are support resources put in place as part of the plan including coaching for a healthy lifestyle, exercise, and diet. Our clinicians will discuss this with you, if you are prescribed this type of treatment.
You can learn more on our Weight Loss Programs feature page.
About Telehealth
Everything you need to know about video consultations
Are remote video consultations right for me?
How do I know if the remote video consultation service is safe?
Do I need to verify my identity during the remote video consultation?
Can I have a chaperone (carer, friend, family member) join a remote video consultation?
How can I be sure that you are handling and protecting my data securely?
How is my data stored?
Are my consultations confidential?
Can I select which clinician I have my consultation with?
Will my doctor be informed of any consultations I have through the app?
Do remote video consultations save money for health systems?
Are remote video consultations safer than online questionnaires?
What quality of care can I expect to receive from a remote video consultation?
WHY WE BUILT NOWPATIENT
We are committed to helping everyone, everywhere live healthier lives
The NowPatient virtual care platform provides you with access to trusted health information, affordable treatments, management of chronic health conditions and continuous monitoring for health risks. NowPatient can be accessed by downloading the App or using your web browser.
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Your Questions Answered
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What does NowPatient do?
NowPatient is an online pharmacy & telehealth service that is available in the US and UK. Our service is FREE and packed with useful features that can help you save money on the cost of your medications, access virtual treatments, and provide tools that can help improve your overall health.
Get started today and benefit from medication reminders, Get Treated Privately, NHS online pharmacy, GP appointment booking, Rx savings card, Drug Coupons, US drug savings programs, health conditions information, genetic testing, home test kits, BMI Risks, Type 2 Diabetes Risks, pollen meter, air quality monitor, and lots more!
Our service is operated by experienced medical professionals in the United States and the United Kingdom. You can view the online services that we provide by clicking Features.
UK users can safely and securely buy medicines online that treat a wide range of medical conditions. UK customers can also order NHS prescriptions online with the benefit of free tracked delivery.
US customers, regardless of insurance coverage, can enjoy huge savings on prescription medications using our various drug savings programs including drug coupons, savings card and manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs.
Where is NowPatient located?
NowPatient has offices in the United Kingdom and United States.
In the UK, we are located at:
NowPatient
28 Chipstead Valley Road
Coulsdon
Surrey
CR52RA
In the US, we are located at:
NowPatient
8911 North Capital of Texas Highway
Suite 4200 #1263
78759
Austin, TX
How can I contact NowPatient?
To contact NowPatient, please use the contact form available on the Contact Us page.
Alternatively, if you need to speak to us, you can reach us on the following numbers:
UK telephone number – 020 388 51 500
US telephone number – 1-866-967-1977
Who owns NowPatient?
NowPatient is owned and operated by Infohealth Ltd, a licensed online pharmacy with services spanning the UK, US and Rest of the World. Infohealth Ltd is registered in England and Wales under company number 04004930 and our registered office is at Lynwood House, 373 – 375 Station Road, Harrow, England, HA1 2AW.
Our website is www.nowpatient.com. Our App is called “NowPatient” and can be downloaded from the App Store (for Apple devices) or Google Play (for Android devices).
Can you tell me more about your NHS online pharmacy?
NowPatient’s Pharmaceutical services in the UK are provided by Infohealth Limited trading as ‘Infohealth Pharmacy’.
Our dispensing pharmacy is regulated and authorized for internet sales by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), registration number 1036487. You can view our license credentials on the General Pharmaceutical Council website. Our superintendent pharmacist who is responsible for the safe and effective oversight of medicines supplies is Mr Amish Patel (Registration Number 2042705).
Medicines are not ordinary items of commerce. All medicines or healthcare product sales are made under the supervision of a registered pharmacist who is licensed by the GPhC. At all times, we endeavour to provide a professional and transparent service whose primary goal is to ensure that the best interests of the patient are served.
How do I make a complaint?
From time to time, we accept that our service levels may not be up to your expectations. NowPatient welcomes concerns, compliments and complaints as valuable feedback that will help us learn from your experiences and make improvements. Feedback can be provided via our clear and transparent Complaints Procedures.
Can you tell me more about NowPatient’s prescribing services for treatments offered?
Our prescribing services are regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). We provide the following regulated activity:
• treatment of disease, disorder, or injury
• transport services, triage, and medical advice are provided remotely
• caring for adults over 65 years old
• caring for adults under 65 years old
NowPatient prescribing services are run by Infohealth Limited. The Clinical Safety Officer and nominated individual is Mr Navin Khosla.
Can you tell me more about NowPatient’s US services?
Our head of US services is Dr. Jamie Winn.
You can lower the cost of your prescription medications using our various savings programs which include drug coupons, savings card and manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs.
We do not provide any prescribing services or dispensing services in the United States.
Is NowPatient legit and can I trust information from NowPatient?
Yes. NowPatient provides trustworthy and accessible clinical, health education and prescription services. We are also trusted by the NHS to deliver clinical and NHS repeat prescription dispensing across the whole of England. In the United States, we work with over 65,000 pharmacies to deliver considerable costs savings for our users.
NowPatient is operated by experienced licensed medical professionals in the United Kingdom and United States. Our Medical Team can be found here.
Our service is trusted by thousands of patients worldwide. You can read their reviews on our Trustpilot:
What are NowPatient’s opening hours?
Our office hours are:
UK – Monday-Friday 9am-6pm GMT
US – Monday-Friday 8am-5pm EST
Please note that we are closed at weekends.
In the event of a medical life-threatening emergency please call:
UK – 999
US – 911
In the event of a medical emergency which is not life-threatening please call:
UK – 111