I stopped taking HRT 10 years ago after being on it for 12 years. I was on HRT because I had a hysterectomy when I was 41 years old. I'm now nearly 64 and I've been experiencing dreadful night-sweats for 10 years, ever since I stopped having HRT. Will these night-sweats eventually cease, or have I got them for life?

Unfortunately, coming off HRT can trigger withdrawal symptoms that can mimic menopausal ones such as hot flushes and it can be a miserable time until the body re-balances itself.

However, for some women the stress can be so great that the body is unable to re-adjust and you can then continue to get symptoms ongoing.

I would suggest a female multi-vitamin with high levels of B vitamins, and a separate magnesium supplement to help with supporting your system generally.

Acupuncture can be really effective for balancing after coming off HRT, even if it was years ago so it is worth looking into.

Avoid foods that can stress the nervous system such as caffeine, high salt and sugar foods, processed foods, and try to drink plenty of plain water each day.

Daily relaxation is really important for this as it helps to strengthen the nervous system and the stronger this is, the less likely you are to get symptoms.

In the meantime, you may find sage helpful for the sweats. Be aware too, that menopause-like symptoms can also indicate low iron, low, thyroid, or low vitamin D so it is a good idea to ask your doctor to test for these just to rule them out.

Eileen Durward