Do I need to stop taking HRT to have treatment? 

No, your decision to take HRT is between you and your doctor. You can come for treatment if you are taking HRT. 

Do I officially have to be diagnosed with Perimenopause or the menopause to come for treatment?

No, it can be really difficult to get a diagnosis in Permimenopause as hormones fluctuate so much within the cycle. I will take a full health history and treat you based on your signs and symptoms. 

What are the symptoms of menopause?

There are too many to list here. There are thought to be up to 62 symptoms of the menopause! There are around 30 more common symptoms, and the most common are:
Hot flushes
Night sweats
Brain Fog
Low energy
Low mood
Irritability
Tearfulness
Insomnia
Weight gain
Changes in weight distribution
Migraine 

What are the symptoms of menopause that you are able to treat?

I have many times in clinic treated the following with a reduction and management of symptoms. 

•  Hot flushes 

• Night Sweats 

• Anxiety

•  Low Mood 

• Lethargy 

• Menopause onset Migraine 

• Restless legs Menopause onset

• IBS/ Food intolerances ( Alongside recommended Functional MedicineTesting and targeted Supplement treatment.) 

What is the evidence on how acupuncture can help me with my symptoms? 

https://www.imsociety.org/2009/08/31/acupuncture-for-vasomotor-menopausal-symptoms/ 

How often do I need to attend? 

C A 2009 RCT study published in Norway, shows a 48% reduction in hot flush frequency vs 28% in the contra group after 10 weeks of treatment. 

This varies for each patient according to the strength of symptoms, and how you respond to treatment. I often find that fortnightly sessions are enough to get symptoms under control, and then to move to a symptom management regime of monthly treatments. This timeframe would be under review as we go along, depending on how you respond. 

Are menopause symptoms due to a lack of oestrogen?

Not always! Sometimes symptoms may be due to an incorrect ratio between Oestrogen and Progesterone. A good way to assess this is to to a Complete Dutch test with a Functional Medicine Practitioner. I have access to this testing through a Naturopath who can do the testing at a reduced cost to my patients. Symptoms may also be due to a deficiency of Testosterone- again, testing of these levels is something I am able to arrange. 

Why do some women suffer and others don’t?

We need to go into this phase of life fighting fit and in good health. Unfortunately due to our busy hectic lives, this is not always possible. There are many factors which affect how the hormonal shifts will affect you, such as a sedentary lifestyle Gut health, Thyroid, Liver function, a lifetime of exposure to environmental toxins, diets in highly processed foods, PUFA’s, and stress. 

Acupuncture can help with some symptoms, but is unable to fix all of the above. With some lifestyle changes suggested by me, and possibly some further testing, alongside acupuncture treatments to address symptoms, we can pinpoint effective ways of moving towards better health and symptom management. 

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