Providing a full and holistic assessment of a person’s needs at the time of the menopause. We’ll review your symptoms and recommend appropriate support including HRT, other medicines, cognitive behavioural therapy, acupuncture and hypnotherapy.
Dr Rebecca Smithson aims to provide a full and holistic assessment of a person’s needs at the time of the menopause. To do this, she looks at the symptoms you have, and the impact the symptoms are having on you. Rebecca is able to provide advice on what can be done to help. This may include HRT, other medicines, and non-medical approaches.
Dr Smithson is an experienced doctor, with 13 years as a GP and 9 years as a GP in Palliative Care. Rebecca’s passion is to ensure people feel listened to and valued, supporting them to choose the right treatment. She empowers them to take control of their life and symptoms by understanding what is happening to them at this transitional time.
the menopause
It goes without saying that the menopause, the time when a woman’s periods have stopped, is a season of change. The lead-up to the menopause is known as the perimenopause and it’s when most women start to notice the symptoms of fluctuating hormones. This is common after the age of 45, and normally happens when ovaries naturally and gradually stop producing oestrogen. The menopause can also happen because of surgery, or as a result of medical treatments (for example for breast cancer), or when for unknown reasons the ovaries simply stop producing oestrogen far sooner than the normal.
Not all women experience menopause symptoms, but most do. These include irregular and sometimes heavy periods, bladder symptoms such as recurrent infections, insomnia, headaches and migraines, low mood and anxiety, vaginal dryness, hot flushes and night sweats, muscle aches and pains, thinning of the hair, changes in weight distribution, low libido, and brain fog. The menopause can also be linked to an increased risk of heart disease, osteoporosis and dementia.
Treatment list
The Menopause symptoms you experience are personal to you. That’s why Dr Smithson offers a full assessment of your symptoms, and she develops a plan, especially for you, which may combine both medical and non-medical treatments. The goal is to understand and alleviate your symptoms. In doing so, she’ll help you to take control of your life once more.
The menopause is a time of change and it can bring increased risk of heart disease, osteoperosis and strokes. You can reduce the risk of these conditions, however, with lifestyle changes. At the same time, these lifestyle changes can also ease your menopause symptoms including hot flushes and night sweats, weight changes, insomnia, headaches, and joint aches and pains.
Could I try acupuncture to ease menopause symptoms?
Yes! Acupunture can be an effective treatment for permimenopause and menopause symptoms. Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine needles at specific points in the body. The Western Medical approach to acupuncture uses our understanding of anatomy and physiology to choose the appropriate sites to insert the needles. Studies published in the British Medical Journal conclude that acupunture can ease troublesome menopausal symptoms including hot flushes, sweating, mood swings, sleep disturbance, skin and hair problems.
what is CBT and can it help during the menopause?
CBT stands for cognitive behavioural therapy. It is a talking therapy which can help you to manage your problems (both physical and mental) by changing the way you think and behave. It is very useful for the management of hot flushes and night sweats. For women approaching and going through the menopause, it can also improve many aspects of wellbeing. You can find out more about CBT and the menopause at the Women’s Health Concern.
What is HRT?
HRT stands for hormone replacement therapy. Falling levels of oestrogen cause many symptoms during the perimenopause and menopause, including brain fog, hot flushes, night sweats, changes in weight, anxiety, low mood, bladder issues and headaches. HRT replaces lost oestrogen. Small amounts are used in the vagina to treat vaginal and bladder issues. Or, HRT can treat other symptoms when used in larger amounts. You may also need to take the hormone progesterone, and there are some women who benefit from the hormone testosterone too. Find out more on Dr Rebecca Smithson’s website.
Can hypnotherapy help during the menopause?
Hypnotherapy uses a state of deep relaxation to allow the mind to be open to suggestions of change. Studies show that hypnotherapy is an effective method of managing hot flushes during the menopause. Dr Smithson, at The Borders Menopause Clinic, offers Solution Focused Hypnotherapy. This is a combination of psychotherapy and hypnosis. It is useful because it can treat a variety of conditions including general stress, anxiety, low mood or depression, grief, irritable bowel syndrome, phobias, smoking cessation, chronic pain, insomnia, and weight management.