It’s Menopause Awareness Month, and a time to shine a light on one of the most misunderstood stages of a woman’s life. Menopause isn’t just about hot flashes or mood swings. It’s a complex hormonal shift that can affect your body, mind and quality of life. 

As the UK’s leading bioidentical hormone therapy clinic for menopause, we believe knowledge is power. Understanding what’s happening in your body is the first step to feeling like yourself again. So, with that in mind, here are 10 things everyone should know about menopause.

1. Menopause doesn’t happen overnight

Menopause officially begins once you’ve gone 12 months without a period, but perimenopause, which is the years leading up to it, can start much earlier, often in your 40s, and even sometimes in your late 30s. 

During this time, your hormones fluctuate unpredictably, which is why symptoms can come and go long before your final period. Understanding this transition means you can recognise the signs early and take proactive steps to support your body before symptoms become overwhelming.

2. It’s all about your hormones

Menopause is driven by a natural decline in the hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which are produced by the ovaries. These hormones do far more than regulate your menstrual cycle; they influence everything from your mood, sleep, and energy to your metabolism and brain function.

When these levels drop, it can feel like your body has changed overnight. But the key thing to remember is that your body isn’t failing you. It’s simply recalibrating, and with the right treatment, you can restore harmony to your body again.

3. Symptoms go way beyond hot flashes

Hot flashes and night sweats are some of the most common (and annoying) symptoms of menopause, but they’re just the tip of the iceberg. Many women also experience fatigue, brain fog, mood swings, anxiety, weight gain, dry skin, low libido, and disrupted sleep.

These symptoms can vary in intensity and duration, as no two menopause journeys look the same. That’s why personalised menopause treatment is so important. At the Marion Gluck Clinic, we tailor every treatment plan to your individual symptoms, hormone levels, and lifestyle so your body can find balance again. 

4. Menopause impacts your heart and bone health

Declining oestrogen doesn’t just affect how you feel, it also impacts your long-term health. Oestrogen helps protect your heart and maintain bone density. As levels decline, the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis rises. This makes early support and prevention essential. 

Lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, eating calcium-rich foods, and maintaining healthy vitamin D levels can all help protect your heart and bones. Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) is also highly beneficial, with studies showing that it supports both heart and bone health as you age. 

5. Your mental health matters too

Menopause doesn’t just happen in your body; it happens in your brain, too. As hormone levels fluctuate, so do neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which play a key role in regulating mood. That’s why anxiety, irritability, low mood, and even feelings of depression are common during menopause. 

You’re not just ‘too emotional’, you are experiencing real biological changes. The good news? With the proper support, including lifestyle changes and hormone-balancing treatment, you can get back to feeling like you. 

6. You don’t have to suffer in silence

Too many women are told to ‘just get on with it’ when it comes to menopause. But those days are over. Menopause is a major health transition, and you deserve compassionate, specialist support.

At the Marion Gluck Clinic, we take your symptoms seriously. Through doctor-led consultations, hormone testing, and evidence-based treatment options, we help you feel empowered, informed, and back in control of your body.

7. Lifestyle changes make a big difference

​​This Menopause Awareness Month, the focus is on Lifestyle Medicine, which recognises how small, everyday habits have a big impact on your health and wellbeing during menopause. While hormones play a leading role, lifestyle choices directly influence how your body responds to these changes.

At the Marion Gluck Clinic, our functional medicine approach looks at the body as a whole system. We address not just hormone levels, but also nutrition, gut health, sleep, stress, and metabolism to help you feel your best inside and out.

Simple tweaks such as reducing caffeine or alcohol, managing stress, and eating more protein and healthy fats support hormone balance naturally. These steps create the foundation that allows hormone therapy to work even better.

8. HRT isn’t one-size-fits-all

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can be transformative, but it must be tailored to your individual needs. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. At the Marion Gluck Clinic, we use Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) that has been life-changing for many women. 

Bioidentical hormones are designed to match the molecular structure of the hormone your body naturally produces and come in custom formulations. This personalised approach allows for precise dosing and careful monitoring, helping to relieve symptoms safely and effectively while supporting long-term health. 

9. Treatment should evolve with you

Menopause isn’t a one-time event; it’s an ongoing journey. Your hormonal needs shift from perimenopause through to post-menopause, which is why continued monitoring and support are essential. 

Symptoms can come and go, intensify, or change over time, so your treatment needs to evolve with your body. At the Marion Gluck Clinic, we provide personalised care that adapts to these changes, keeping your hormones balanced over the long term.

10. You can feel amazing again

Menopause isn’t the end of feeling good in your body; it’s the start of a new chapter. With the right support and treatment, you can regain your confidence and sense of well-being.

So many of the women we treat tell us they don’t just get back to feeling like themselves, but they actually feel better than ever. Because when your hormones are in harmony, everything else starts to fall into place.

At the Marion Gluck Clinic, our team of medical experts specialise in personalised menopause care and Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT), helping you take back control of your health and hormones.

Book an online consultation and start your journey to feeling better.