Support and guidance during your menopause
Menopause is a hugely transformative phase, with a range of concerns and challenges that can impact your overall wellbeing. We are dedicated to helping you navigate this time with confidence and grace. Book your appointment at our menopause clinic today!
Our clinic is available on the first and third Friday of every month
If you would like to book an appointment, please either contact us by email [email protected] or call us on 07493 922532.
If your call cannot be taken, please do leave a message and the Patient Coordinator for the Wellness Clinic will get back to you.
At Skin Southwest, we can help with all aspects of your menopause care, including:
Orca Health and Wellness at Skin Southwest are proud to bring you a different kind of menopausal care. We want you to feel and look your best self – live better and live longer!
You are likely to experience many new challenges as you go through perimenopause and menopause, including hormonal chaos, life stresses, a change in appearance and loss of self-confidence. This all amounts to a seismic shift in your sense of wellbeing. Dr Pradnya is delighted to work alongside Dr Charlotte Chandler to provide a holistic model of care, looking at your hormone health and the lifestyle factors impacting your health and longevity.
Menopause, a natural biological process that marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years, is a stage in life that can bring about a multitude of physical and emotional changes. The menopause refers to that time in every woman’s life when her periods stop, and her ovaries lose their reproductive function. Usually, this occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, but in a few exceptional cases women may become menopausal in their 30s, or even younger. This is then known as a premature menopause, or premature ovarian insufficiency.
Before periods stop all together, over several years, women will have some cycles where they ovulate and some when they don’t. This causes large swings in oestrogen and progesterone often causing erratic and debilitating symptoms, and is known as the perimenopause. This transitional period can be accompanied by a range of concerns and challenges that impact a woman’s overall well-being. Understanding and addressing these concerns are crucial for supporting women during this transformative phase and ensuring they can navigate menopause with confidence and grace.
Dr Charlotte Chandler is an NHS GP with a special interest in women’s health, menopause and lifestyle medicine. She is a member of the British Menopause Society and runs the only private menopause clinic in Exeter. Dr Chandler is passionate about helping with all aspects of your menopause care with gentle and understanding support and guidance.
More about Dr Chandler
The symptoms of perimenopause and menopause include but are not limited to:
There has been much controversy about the safety of HRT since two studies in 2008 and 2009, which raised concerns about the prolonged use of HRT and the risk of breast cancer, heart disease and stroke. It is now recognised that the data from these studies was incorrectly evaluated and its results very misleading. HRT is safe for the vast majority of women and the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms.
Yes, it is recognised that HRT reduces the risk of future disease, including:
Some women may not be suitable for HRT due to their medical or family history. These women will need further investigations from their GP or discussion with a specialist.
Interestingly, women produce more testosterone than oestrogen, which starts to decline after the early 30s. If symptoms such as tiredness, lack of libido, reduction in strength and muscle bulk, and brain fog persist after oestrogen replacement, testosterone may well be the missing piece of the puzzle.
