HRT

The simplest way to understand the difference between perimenopause and menopause is this: perimenopause is the transition leading up to your last period, while menopause is the point at which your periods have stopped for good. They are often spoken about as one thing, but they are distinct stages with different symptoms and timelines. This guide explains each clearly and helps you work out where you are. If your symptoms are affecting daily life, our HRT range sets out the treatment options, all of which are prescribed only after a clinical consultation.

What Is Perimenopause?

Perimenopause means around the menopause. It is the years during which your ovaries gradually produce less oestrogen and your hormone levels begin to fluctuate. The hallmark is change: periods become irregular, perhaps closer together, further apart, heavier or lighter, and symptoms come and go as hormones rise and fall unpredictably.

Perimenopause often begins in the mid-forties, though it can start earlier or

Yes, you can get pregnant during perimenopause. As long as you are still having periods, even irregular ones, your ovaries can release an egg, which means conception is possible. This catches many women by surprise, because perimenopause is often assumed to mean the end of fertility. This guide explains how fertility changes through your forties, why ovulation becomes unpredictable, the risks involved, and why contraception still matters. You can explore suitable options in our contraception range, all prescribed after a clinical consultation.

Why Pregnancy Is Still Possible

Perimenopause is a transition, not an off switch. Your hormone levels fluctuate and your ovaries release eggs less regularly, but they have not stopped. Some months you may ovulate, some months you may not, and you cannot reliably tell which is which. That unpredictability is exactly why pregnancy can happen when it is least expected.

Only once you have gone a full 12 months without a period, the point of menopause,

Yes, men can have a form of hormone replacement. It is usually called testosterone replacement therapy, or TRT, and it is prescribed for men with a confirmed testosterone deficiency rather than as a general pick-me-up. This guide explains what low testosterone is, how TRT works, who it may suit, and the risks worth understanding. Our Testogel page covers one commonly prescribed option, and any treatment is started only after blood tests and a clinical assessment confirm it is appropriate.

Can Men Take HRT?

The phrase HRT is most associated with the menopause, but the principle, replacing a hormone the body is no longer making enough of, also applies to men. In men, the hormone in question is testosterone. When levels are genuinely low and causing symptoms, replacing it can help. The key word is genuinely. TRT is not for boosting normal levels, building muscle, or as a lifestyle enhancer, and using it that way carries real risks.

What Is Low Testosterone?

Testosterone naturally declines

Most women start to notice the first improvements from HRT within a few weeks, though how quickly HRT works depends on the symptom and the type you use. Hot flushes often respond fastest, while mood, sleep and other changes can take a few months to settle. This guide sets out a realistic week-by-week timeline so you know what to expect and when to check in with your prescriber. If you are exploring treatment, our HRT range explains the available options, and any prescription is issued only after a clinical consultation.

Why HRT Does Not Work Overnight

HRT replaces hormones, mainly oestrogen and, where needed, progestogen, that fall during the menopause. Your body needs time to respond to steadier hormone levels, and finding the right dose and delivery method, whether gel, patch or tablet, can take a little trial and adjustment. That is normal, and it is why the first prescription is often reviewed after around three months.

A Realistic Week-by-Week Timeline

Everyone is different, but the