Do you know what to look for in a vaginal moisturiser or lube? Could some products do more harm than good? Find out what the science says. Women’s intimate health is a big market – in fact by 2030 it’s expected to be worth a massive US$38bn. So it’s no wonder there are more and more products coming onto the market that claim to moisturise vaginal tissue or be great in bed. But, when you’re cruising your supermarket or social media feed looking to buy, how do you know which products are good and which could do you harm?…
Sex during menopause- Are you talking about sex to your doctor? If not, you should because they can really help – but you may have to make the first move. You might have a great relationship with your doctor but you might be too embarrassed to talk about problems you’re having when it comes to sex – and, your doctor might be too. As we know, sex can become an issue around the time of menopause. Vaginal dryness can make it painful or your libido may have taken a nose dive. Sheryl Kingsburg, a clinical psychologist in the Obstetrics &…
Running to the toilet more than 7 times a day? Feel the need that you have to go right now? Find out why and what you can do about it. Most of the time we don’t pay much attention to our bladder – it just does what it does – emptying a few times a day to rid the body of waste products it doesn’t need – but – when it goes wrong, we notice! One common problem many women face, especially as oestrogen levels drop, is a feeling that they have to keep racing to the loo far…
Menopause and the mind: experts explain what’s going on, if HRT relieves symptoms & if it could prevent dementia. How many times have you walked into the kitchen and found yourself wondering what you came in for, or struggled to find words only to end up saying: “you know, the thing-a-me-jig that what’s-his-name uses’? If you’re approaching menopause or are already on the other side (post menopausal), these may be frequent and distressing occurrences. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the menopausal brain. We often find concentrating is difficult and may feel we can…
Consultant Gynaecologist Professor Isaac Manyonda answers some frequently asked questions on menopause, HRT and breast cancer. Q: Is HRT safe? A: “There’s no doubt that the one thing what worries women when it comes to HRT is the Big C, breast cancer. When it comes to the WHI studies which were published in 2002-3, the main focus was on breast cancer and sadly there was a lot of confusion about it. “If you take 1000 women and follow them up for 5 years, 23 who are not taking HRT will get breast cancer, so it’s quite common. But if you…
Menopause’s hidden symptoms – anxiety, depression, brain fog and a low sex drive affect more women than hot flushes. When you think of menopause symptoms the first things that usually come to mind are red-faced women, drenched in sweat as they suffer yet another hot flush or night sweat, but a recent survey shows that mood, mental health and brain function symptoms could be affecting more women than these vasomotor symptoms. Some 60% of respondents to a survey of 100 perimenopausal and post menopausal women conducted by Harley Street Emporium said hot flushes and night sweats were an issue for…
Can’t walk, can’t sit, can’t have sex – welcome to the debilitating world of vaginal atrophy. Author Jane Lewis knows it well and explains what it is and how you can get through it. Our Vaginas go through a lot – childbirth, periods, infections… but with menopause you’d finally start to think they were going to get a break – but hell no! In the lead up to menopause (when our periods finish), and beyond it, our oestrogen levels decline and our vaginas start to ‘atrophy’. What that means is the vagina shortens and the walls become thinner and less…
Is oestrogen helping protecting women against Coronavirus? There’s a lot of talk in the media about women being better protected against the coronavirus than men. Depending on which country you look at the death rate among men is two to three times higher and the big question is why? The reasons put forward include genes, oestrogen and lifestyle. So, what do we know about these so far? Oestrogen Let’s take Oestrogen first. We know oestrogen plays a protective role in many aspects of women’s health. It is part of the reason women have a lower rate of heart disease…
Do you need to have blood test to diagnose menopause? Gynaecologist Vikram Talaulikar gives you a guide. When you sit down with your GP and tell them you’re feeling irritable, waking in a pool of sweat every night or feeling like you’re lacking in energy, they may think you’re on the path to menopause. The first thing they might do is ask you to have a blood test to establish your hormone levels, in particular oestrogen and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). These days though it’s not considered necessary unless the GP has reason to believe there are other underlying…
How do you relieve menopause symptoms if you’ve had breast cancer & can’t take HRT? One in eight women in the UK develop breast cancer at some stage in their adult life. The diagnosis can be devastating, but just to add insult to injury it can also mean many women are either plunged into an early menopause because of the treatments or encouraged to go off their HRT because of the risk of a recurrence or new breast cancer. So, on top of having to deal with the cancer itself, there is a host of unwanted and unwelcome symptoms that they…
Professor Isaac Manyonda, BSc MBBS PhD MRCOG FICOG (Hon). Professor Manyonda is Lead Clinician and Consultant Gynaecologist at the The Menopause Clinic, in Harley St, London. He has more than 25 years’ experience in caring for women with menopausal symptoms and is a member of the British Menopause Society and a certified Menopause Specialist. The clinic is dedicated to the provision of world class health care to women during perimenopause and menopause. It also focuses on premature menopause (premature ovarian failure), with his co-founder and specialist in fertility issues, Mr Vikram Talaulikar taking the lead in those areas. Professor Isaac…
Phthalates are endocrine disruptors but some are still used in various cosmetic products. Should we be worried? Dr Haran Sivapalan examines the evidence. If you look at the ingredients listed on your favourite products it may well say ‘fragrance.’ If so, there’s a chance that the product may contain phthalates – molecules that are considered to be ‘endocrine disruptors.’ Currently, the EU Cosmetics Directive bans the use of over 1,300 chemicals in cosmetics and, in 2013, three “phthalates” were added to this list. But there are some that are still used in a variety of products including skincare, perfumes, hair sprays…
Harley Street Emporium is a website where you can find skincare products, a doctor, find information on perimenopause and menopause, women’s health, and skincare. We feature the best anti-aging skin care products and the best acne products as well as information on how to treat various skin conditions. Consumers can also book with some of the UK’s best menopause doctors, plastic surgeons, dermatologists and aesthetic practitioners. Harley Street Emporium features editorially independent information about skin care, skin conditions, and treatments. The site also features a glossary of ingredients telling consumers what each one does and if there are any safety…
