Perimenopause and menopause symptoms, what actually works

Louise Taube
22 hours ago
3 min read

Menopause Treatment Options – Beyond the Confusion

Menopause treatment doesn’t mean running marathons, waking at 4am, or pushing through exhaustion.

It means understanding what your body actually needs — now, and for your future self.

For many women, the menopause conversation has become loud, polarised, and confusing. Exercise is either presented as “do more, push harder” or dismissed altogether. Medical options are often framed with fear. Supplements are marketed as miracle cures.

Let’s slow this down and bring the conversation back to what matters: informed, evidence-based care that supports your whole body — and your life.

Reframing the Menopause Conversation

Movement is powerful — but not just any movement.

Menopause support is not about mindlessly running on a treadmill or exhausting yourself in the name of “health.” Intensity alone does not equal benefit, especially during perimenopause and post-menopause.

What matters is intentional movement — movement that supports:

bone density
muscle mass and strength
joint stability
pelvic floor function
nervous system regulation
hormonal and metabolic health

In midlife, intentional is more important than intense.

Lifestyle and Exercise as First-Line Support

For many women, lifestyle and exercise are the first line of support during perimenopause and menopause.

A well-designed, menopause-informed Pilates program can help support:

Strength and bone health — critical as oestrogen declines
Posture and joint stability — as connective tissue changes
Pelvic floor function — including continence and prolapse awareness
Mood, sleep, and confidence — through nervous system support

This is not about “bouncing back.”

This is about training for the life you want to keep living — strong, capable, and confident in your body.

Medical Treatment Options — Without the Fear

There is a lot of confusion — and unnecessary fear — around medical treatment for menopause. Let’s simplify it.

Medical options may include:

Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) — also called HRT
Local vaginal oestrogen — important for vaginal, bladder, and pelvic floor health
Non-hormonal medications — which may help symptoms such as hot flushes or sleep disturbance

These are medical decisions, guided by your GP or menopause-trained specialist.

They are not decisions to be made based on social media trends, influencer opinions, or fear-based messaging.

Treatment is:

individual
evidence-based
personalised

There is no single “right” choice — only informed choices.

Supplements — Evidence vs Hype

Supplements can be helpful — or they can be expensive distractions.

Some have evidence to support specific symptoms. Many do not. Others are marketed aggressively without meaningful research. Most are not regulated, which means they may not list everything that is in the suppliment.

Understanding the difference matters — not just for your wallet, but for your health.

Evidence should always come before hype.