The following ‘Ask the Experts’ questions were sent into The Menopause Exchange by our members, the answers were provided by our ‘Ask the Experts’ panel and included in issues 104 (Spring 2025) and 105 (Summer 2025) of The Menopause Exchange newsletter.
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I’ve been experiencing a very dry mouth. Could this be related to the menopause? Is there anything I can do to help this?
Your dry mouth could well be related to the menopause. Xerostomia, the medical term for the sensation of a dry mouth, is more common in menopausal women and seems to be linked to lower levels of oestrogen, as well as diseases that are more common in middle age, such as Sjogren’s syndrome and diabetes (mellitus), and taking medicines that can dry the mouth, such as diuretics (water tablets) or amitriptyline (an antidepressant and painkiller). Avoiding taking these medicines at night, using saliva substitutes and making lifestyle changes, such as not smoking, drinking lots of water and avoiding spicy and dry food, can all help. HRT doesn’t seem to make much difference to the condition. Speaking to your doctor and dentist about your symptoms is a good idea.
I had a hysterectomy recently at the age of 37. I still have my ovaries. At what age should I expect to go through the menopause?
Based on current research evidence, if you’ve had a hysterectomy while keeping your ovaries, you might experience the menopause earlier than the typical age. Research indicates that the menopause could occur within about five years after the surgery. Even though your ovaries continue to produce hormones, the onset of your perimenopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes (vasomotor symptoms) and psychological changes, will follow a pattern similar to women with an intact uterus, except without the menstrual cycle changes. In many cases, treatment involves oestrogen-only therapy, which can help to manage these symptoms. However, it’s important to have a consultation with your healthcare provider to determine the best approach for your specific situation.
I’m 54 and my periods stopped two years ago. I’ve noticed over the last year that my memory isn’t as good as it was. Are there any supplements I can take to improve it?
At 54, and having gone through the menopause, it’s understandable to notice changes in your memory. One important point is whether you’re on menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). MHT has been shown to be one of the most effective approaches for improving brain function at this time of life. If you’re not on MHT, and have no clinical contraindication such as a personal history of oestrogen receptor positive breast cancer, MHT might be worth discussing with a healthcare professional. If MHT isn’t an option for you, there’s some evidence that certain supplements may help. Magnesium, lion’s mane (a type of mushroom), and various vitamins (such as B vitamins, vitamin D and antioxidants) have been mentioned in the context of supporting brain health. It’s also important to adopt a holistic approach regarding sleep, exercise and diet. Changes in memory can sometimes be related to other underlying conditions. So it’s important to discuss this with a healthcare professional to rule out other potential causes and to create a personalised plan that best suits your needs.
Is there a test I can have to find out if I’m going through the menopause?
If you’re under 40 and think you may be going through an early menopause, it’s important to speak to your doctor and start investigations. If you’re aged 40 to 45 and think you’re menopausal, a hormone test may be misleading. So if you have a change in periods and menopausal symptoms, your doctor may make a diagnosis without blood tests. If the diagnosis is unclear, your doctor may suggest an FSH test, but you may need more than one over a couple of months. If you’re over 45, your hormones will be fluctuating so a test isn’t needed or helpful. Your body will be letting you know these changes are happening to you with typical menopause symptoms and a change in periods. Since a blood test may be misleading as a diagnosis, it’s better to listen to your body.
I’m a nurse working in a GP practice. Can you tell me about new HRT products?
Generic natural progesterone or Gepretix are new capsules containing 100 mg natural progesterone, similar to Utrogestan. Natural progesterone, Utrogestan or Gepretix can be prescribed with oestrogen to make up the HRT and can be taken as a monthly-bleed or no-bleed formulation. Lenzetto is a new oestrogen spray used with a cap attached to the spray mechanism to deliver an accurate oestrogen dose. New vaginal oestrogen products include Blissel vaginal gel, a clear water-based oestriol gel that dries quickly. Blissel is inserted directly into the vagina using an applicator or can be applied lightly on the outer area of the vagina. It can be used safely with latex condoms or a diaphragm for contraception. Imvaggis offers another choice and is available as a pessary. It may damage latex condoms.
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