◗ VAGINAL OESTROGEN: If vaginal dryness causes discomfort during sex or vaginal and urinary infections, vaginal oestrogen cream or a suppository can do the trick, says Prof Carol-Ann Benn, without increasing the risk of breast or endometrial cancers, as circulating oestrogen does. You generally don’t need a progestogen to offset it.
◗ TESTOSTERONE: This hormone is produced in the ovaries, and some studies suggest a low dose can be helpful in menopause, although its use is off-label. Supplementation is claimed to improve sexual desire and pleasure, increase bone density, relieve muscle and joint pain, and improve cognition, mood, motivation and energy, with celebrities such as Kate Winslet praising it.
But in July 2024 the British Menopause Society issued a statement saying that ‘Misinformation risks medicalising a normal life stage and…
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Fairlady South Africa (Digital) - 1 Issue, Mar/Apr 2025