Norfolk Menopause

Norfolk Menopause Norwich based specialist GPs and gynaecologists with a mission to transform your menopause journey

✨ Two Evenings. One Important Conversation. ✨ We’re excited to be hosting two community menopause events at the Dial Hou...
16/01/2026

✨ Two Evenings. One Important Conversation. ✨

We’re excited to be hosting two community menopause events at the Dial House, Reepham – one for women, and one for men & partners – because menopause doesn’t just affect one person, it affects relationships, families and life at home.

Whether you want clear, practical information, a supportive space to ask questions, or to better understand how to support your partner, these evenings are for you. Warm, informal, and led by experts from Norfolk Menopause.

Spaces are limited – booking is now open:

Women’s Evening: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/understanding-menopause-a-community-evening-tickets-1977526991465

Men & Partners Evening: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/understanding-menopause-for-men-partners-tickets-1977527228173?aff=oddtdtcreator

16/01/2026

The popularity of weight loss injections continues to grow... and it is easy to see the appeal.

BUT a couple of big cautions;

- They can have a really damaging impact on muscle mass and bone density.

- They can affect absorption of oral medications including HRT.

Have a listen and please bear in mind if you are considering these injections.

✨ Two Evenings. One Important Conversation. ✨ We’re excited to be hosting two community menopause events at the  Reepham...
16/01/2026

✨ Two Evenings. One Important Conversation. ✨

We’re excited to be hosting two community menopause events at the Reepham – one for women, and one for men & partners – because menopause doesn’t just affect one person, it affects relationships, families and life at home.

Whether you want clear, practical information, a supportive space to ask questions, or to better understand how to support your partner, these evenings are for you. Warm, informal, and led by experts from Norfolk Menopause.

Spaces are limited – booking is now open via the link in our bio 🔗

09/01/2026

In this video Emily and Hannah discuss combined HRT patches, which can cause a bit of confusion!

Combined patches contain both oestrogen and progestogen. The most common by far are Evorel Conti (continuous oestrogen and progestogen) and Evorel Sequi (continuous oestrogen and sequential progestogen for 2 weeks out of 4).

It is the Evorel Sequi patches that can be confusing. You will be using Evorel 50 patches (oestrogen only) for 2 weeks and then Evorel Conti (oestrogen and progesterone) for 2 weeks, and then repeating. The trouble is that these two patches look VERY SIMILAR and it is easy to get in muddle, and use them in the wrong order. This could lead to unpredictable or erratic bleeding and concern.

Let us know if you have tips to getting your patch sequence right!

There are some newer combined patches coming on the market soon so watch this space.

07/01/2026

If, like Emily, you’re feeling sluggish and getting to the end of Xmas leftovers you might be wanting to eat better but are confused about some terms you keep hearing - antioxidants, phyto-oestrogens, polyphenols......

In really simple terms, polyphenols are a big group of plant based foods - think of it as an umbrella term. Polyphenols support health by reducing inflammation, reducing ‘stress’ to cells, and feeding the gut microbiome. Polyphenols include antioxidants, which is a bit of an old fashioned term now; phyto-oestrogens contain a mild plant based oestrogen.

Typical phytoestrogens include whole soy products, lentils and other beans/pulses.

Brightly coloured fruit and veg are rich in polyphenols, hence the ‘eat the rainbow’ mantra. Not just to look pretty but for all the polyphenol benefits.

Tea, coffee, red wine and cocoa are rich in polyphenols - good news in moderation!

In basic terms, increasing plant diversity, including nuts/seeds/wholegrains, fresh herbs and eating the rainbow will allow you to keep things simple.

Any nutritionists, please do pass on your expertise!

Happy New Year everyone!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
25/12/2025

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

23/12/2025

Join us for a discussion regarding HRT guidance.

There are two main types of HRT: sequential and continuous.

Sequential HRT:
- Indicated for perimenopausal individuals who are still having regular periods.
- Consists of continuous oestrogen with cyclical progesterone.
- Progesterone is taken for two weeks on, two weeks off.
- To regulate bleeding from the outset, it is recommended to start the first course of progesterone 14 days before the next predicted bleed.
- From this point onwards, the timing should follow the “two weeks on, two weeks off” schedule
- Irregular bleeding is common initially. This can be managed by adjusting the type or dose of progestogen

Continuous Combined HRT:
- Indicated for post-menopausal individuals or those on progesterone-only contraception without periods.
- Consists of continuous oestrogen and progesterone.

Everol Sequi Patches:
- A type of sequential HRT.
- The packaging and order of patches (Everol Conti and Everol 50) can cause confusion. This will be clarified in a separate discussion.

Follow-up:
- A review is recommended three months after initiating HRT.
- The purpose is to assess symptom improvement and evaluate the bleeding pattern.

19/12/2025

Is our constant search for comfort one of the biggest threats to our health and well-being? Becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable can build resilience.

Evidence for Cold Water Immersion:
- Plymouth University study (Jan 2024) involving over 1000 middle-aged female wild swimmers showed self-reported benefits:

- Nearly 50% reported reduced anxiety.

- 30% reported fewer hot flushes.

- A third noted improvements in mood swings and low mood.

- Reduced irritability was also reported.

- Note: Potential bias exists as participants were actively seeking health improvements and benefiting from the social aspect of group activity.

Practical Advice & Recommendations
- Aim for 11 minutes of cold water exposure per week (based on Danish research).
- Divide this into 2-4 sessions. Short dips or immersion are sufficient.
- For home practice, start with cold showers.

- Build up tolerance gradually, starting from a few seconds.

- One minute appears to be an optimal duration for a cold shower, with limited extra benefit beyond this.

Safety Considerations
- The advice is for individuals without underlying cardiovascular problems, who are not on potent blood pressure medication, and are not prone to fainting.
- Always consult a healthcare professional if there are any doubts about suitability.
- Never engage in wild swimming alone.

Clinical Context
- Cold water therapy is a useful additional tool in the “menopausal toolbox”.
- It can help manage residual symptoms not fully controlled by HRT, such as anxiety or breakthrough hot flushes.
- It complements other lifestyle interventions like nutrition and exercise.

18/12/2025

Do I need to take collagen?

Collagen seems to be everywhere. And it is easy to see the appeal, it promises more youthful skin and reduction in joint pains. Which mid-life woman is not tempted by that?

But the jury is out - some think it is a waste of money, others swear by it.

There is not a lot of trial evidence, the trials are either very small or industry sponsored.

Anecdotally some woman are convinced of the benefits, others find it costly and ineffective.

It might be that boosting protein in our diets, more antioxidants and decent sunscreen is a more realistic alternative.

Let us know your thoughts!

17/12/2025

Did you know cold water therapy can be a game-changer for your health, especially during perimenopause and menopause? It’s something I grew up with in Sweden and the benefits are backed by some interesting research.

It can help with:
Pain management
Hot flushes
Improving sleep
Boosting mood and energy levels

Curious to try? Here’s a simple way to start at home:
1. Enjoy your usual warm shower.
2. Before you get out, turn the tap to full cold for ten seconds.
3. Gradually work your way up to a full minute. Immerse your whole body, head included!
4. Get out while the water is still cold. Don’t warm up again in the shower.

This process of vasodilation (from the heat) and vasoconstriction (from the cold) acts like a workout for your blood vessels. It can even raise your core body temperature, making you feel warmer afterwards. While there’s no solid proof it causes weight loss, it can boost your metabolic rate and may help your body burn more “white” fat by activating “brown” fat. The boost in energy and mood might also motivate you to be more active and eat healthier.

It’s an easy addition to your routine that combines well with other lifestyle measures. Give it a go !

If you have got underlying medical condition, if you are on medication or have had any issues with fainting I would recommend that you ask your GP for advice first.

10/12/2025

Did you know oestrogen can be given through the skin as a spray?

In this video Emily and Susanne talk about Lenzetto spray. This is an oestrogen only spray and can be a good alternative to gel or patches for some women, especially for women who don’t absorb well from either of these.

Lenzetto is generally easy to use and well absorbed, though of course not everyone gets on with it. It is sprayed onto the thin skin of the inner forearm to help absorption. Unlike patches or gel it is used in the SAME PLACE daily as over time it forms a bit of a resevoir under the skin which aids steady levels.

Let us know if you have any experience - good or bad!

Address

Colney Hall, Watton Road
Norwich
NR47TY

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Norfolk Menopause posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Norfolk Menopause:

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram