Menopause

Some studies suggest that women living with HIV might experience symptoms of menopause earlier and more severely than women who don't have HIV.

According to the PRIME study on menopause in women living with HIV in England, symptoms of menopause among the women in this group were sometimes confused with symptoms of HIV. Sexual dysfunction was also more common, but the good news is that women living with HIV are a lot more likely to seek medical help for those problems.

The full PRIME report has more interesting findings.

Some women prefer not to take any treatment and others find it a useful way to reduce symptoms they find unpleasant.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be prescribed to reduce some symptoms of menopause, prevent osteoporosis or to treat early onset of menopause. HRT involves taking oestrogen in the form of tablets, an implant or gel to replace the decline in your own levels. HRT is generally not used as a long-term treatment because it may increase the risk of developing other conditions such as breast cancer.

Because of this your doctor will discuss the benefits and risks of taking HRT before prescribing it to you.

The British HIV Association (BHIVA) recommends that HIV doctors regularly check the bone health of all women with HIV who have gone through the menopause. This is because both HIV and the menopause raise the risk of bone issues.

By regularly getting some weight-bearing exercise, stopping smoking, drinking less alcohol, including calcium in your diet and getting enough vitamin D, you can help take care of your bone health.

NAM has a factsheet where you can read more about bone problems and HIV.

Yes, HRT can be taken with HIV treatment. Ask your doctor if there are any interactions between HRT and the anti-HIV drugs you’re on.

HIV clinics don’t provide HRT so you’ll need to have it prescribed by your GP or another doctor.

Treatment works just as well in women who have gone through the menopause as it does in younger women.

Menopause is when your monthly periods (known as the menstrual cycle) stop and you can no longer get pregnant naturally. This usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55 after months or years of periods becoming less frequent.

There can be changes to your body and your menstrual cycle in the years leading up to your menopause. This is called the perimenopause.

The menopause happens because the levels of the hormone oestrogen being released from the ovaries drops over time. Oestrogen causes:

• your periods to start in adolescence
• your ovaries to release an egg every month
• your womb lining to thicken up in order to receive a fertilised egg.

At the same time, the number of eggs in your ovaries also reduce, but you can still become pregnant up until you have your last period.

If you have questions about symptoms of the menopause, or possible interactions between treatments, talk to your healthcare team.

You could also call THT Direct on 0808 802 1221, who can offer signposting advice.