Menopause Q&A with Dr Rosemary Leonard

If you are having hot flushes, it could be that your blood sugars are too high or you are just overweight. I had a radical hysterectomy about 7-8 years ago but before that, I went to the Dr's to complain about the hot flushes. They did hormone tests, told me I was still a little way off menopause but they would send me to a specialist because I was also struggling with memory. I got quite annoyed when he said I was getting overheated because I was overweight (I didn't think I was that big) and suggested that I was also insulin resistant. Sure enough, I lost weight, started metformin and the hot flushes stopped. In fact, for the first time in years I started wearing a coat and had to wrap up warm at night. Sadly, I wasn't able to keep the weight off and I find the diabetes difficult to control so even though I am on HRT, I still struggle with being too hot and night sweats.

Do you think there is a link between an under active thyroid and the menopause, my thyroid is just about struggling along, I am 63 this year and had my last period at 52, the symptoms seem very similar.

I have had night sweats fir the past 12 years, meaning that I rarely sleep for longer than 90-120 minutes at a time before being woken up by hot flushes. My family have a history of breast cancer and so hrt was not really an option. Other than generally feeling tired all the time and mire recently male pattern hair loss, my menopausal symptoms are manageable. I had hoped symptoms would reduce over time, but there is no sign of improvement, yet!
My menopausal

Forgot to add I now sometimes cry and don't know why really. I know everyone has to get older but somehow it feels like a shock as I always had a lot of energy and sex drive before.

I am 55 years old haven't had period now for about 17 months. I have had a few hot flushes but as over winter not too bad. My problem is my sex drive is nil. I use gel but just don't feel any desire for sex. I used to have amazing orgasms but now nothing. I also feel very tired and fall asleep for about 40 mins on days I don't work. My hair and skin is also much drier but I can manage this with Dove and moisturizer. I have never tried HRT but should i go to doc and ask to try it. DH thinks i should.

Six months after my hysterectomy last year i gave in and started HRT, 3 weeks or so ago suddenly entered my head that maybe after having a DVT many yearss ago that maybe i shouldnt be taking HRT. My poor Doctor was horrified i told him about the DVT and took them off me. Now i am sat here waiting on the dreaded hot flushes returning.

Pamela, I don't have any ovaries so am able to just have oestrogen. If I could, I would be back on the maximum dose! After years of awful hassle with my hormones, it was wonderful to be the same all the time and I felt really well.
I started off with a huge cyst on one of my ovaries and a couple of years later had everything else removed because of the endometriosis. It was good riddance to it all.
I have some trouble with dryness too.

I always said I'd be on HRT till I died but then the manufacturer stopped producing my pill. I was prescribed a different one, started bleeding so had a go at going cold turkey. I got really dry then, bought something called sylk but it didn't seem to work very well.
Next step was Evorel conti patches. Are they the same as yours Liz? Can't see 25 on the pack. I have been on them about a year but I started feeling nauseous so thought it may be the patches so I'm off again. Hello hot flushes almost immediately but the dryness hasn't really got going yet. When it does what can I do?
I am 64, been on hrt since I was 53 no other health problems at all. As I have sailed through life without any medical concerns I AM TAKING THIS PERSONALLY AND AM VERY CROSS?

I started on HRT when I was in my forties after a hysterectomy. My main problem was and is hot flushes. I am 70 now and have tried to give up the patches (Evorel 25) several times. The last time I stopped them I went Christmas shopping in Liverpool. I was carrying parcels and had a dreadful hot flush and panicked. I had nowhere to put the parcels as the shop I was in was very full of stock and I HAD to get my coat off.

I'm back on the patches but still wake up with hot flushes. They are so bad that if my husband happens to touch my arm, he notices it is sweaty and there is a river between my boobs.

My problems started after I had children and I ended up with endometriosis.