I am 38 years old and I am Peri-menopausal. I am finding it really difficult and frustrating to get some reassurance and information. My gut tells me not to go on HRT, so I've been looking at herbal remedies such as royal macha, which I've been told is good. What I don't understand is once I've gone through the menopause, does my body go back to normal, minus having periods? Or, will I have to always take some sort of replacement? I'm starting to get a bit anxious as I feel so rubbish all the time. My doctor is no good and just wants to give me HRT! Any advice would be great.

In theory, as you go through the menopause, your body can often make up the shortfall of decreasing hormones by various means but this often depends on the state of your health, diet, stress levels etc.

So how you feel afterwards will be a very individual thing, some women who's health is good will feel little if any different whereas someone with health issues may have a tough time.

Looking after yourself well is the key here so make sure that you have a really good, varied diet, as little stress as possible (difficult, I know!) and sensible exercise.

Taking a good female multi-vitamin is also a good idea. Avoiding HRT if symptoms are manageable is a good idea.

Although HRT may help, when you have to come off it most women will go through withdrawal symptoms which are similar to menopause ones and these can be worse than the original symptoms!

Anxiety is a common menopause symptom often caused by falling oestrogen, so you may find taking a fermented soya, such as Menopause Support, helpful, or you could try one of the stress remedies such as AvenaCalm.

Eileen Durward