One of the main reasons we founded The York Clinic was to ensure women can access the treatment they need, without disruption from medication shortages or substitutions – which are unfortunately common.
With our service:
We provide:
Dr Helen Bedford, Clinical Lead at The York Clinic explains:
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can be life-changing for many women experiencing perimenopause or menopause. At The York Clinic, we usually start with body-identical HRT – the regulated form of HRT that matches the hormones your body naturally produces. HRT is available in different forms, patches, gels, sprays, and tablets, and the choice depends on your symptoms, medical history, lifestyle, and personal preference.
HRT can improve sleep, mood, energy, concentration, and overall wellbeing. It also supports bone health, may benefit heart health, and can help with genitourinary symptoms of menopause, including vaginal dryness, recurrent urinary tract infections, and frequent nighttime trips to the toilet. For some women, it can also support sexual wellbeing and libido.
Some women may also benefit from testosterone as part of their treatment plan, which will be tailored to your individual needs.
Not every woman wants or needs HRT, which is why we also offer non-hormonal options. If you’ve been unsure whether HRT could help, or if you’ve previously been told it isn’t suitable for you, it’s worth discussing with a specialist who can provide advice tailored to you.
Body-identical HRT is the gold standard – it’s the regulated form of HRT prescribed by clinicians and is chemically identical to the hormones your body naturally produces.
Bioidentical HRT, by contrast, is a term used by some private compounding pharmacies for unregulated, unlicensed hormone preparations that have not undergone the rigorous safety testing required for licensed medicines. Despite the impressive-sounding name, there is no scientific evidence that compounded bioidentical HRT is safer, more effective, or more “natural” than body-identical HRT. In fact, both the British Menopause Society and NICE advise against it.
If you’ve been offered or recommended compounded bioidentical HRT, our advice is simple – ask why an unregulated product is being suggested when a safer, clinically proven, body-identical alternative exists. We do not, and will not, prescribe bioidentical HRT.
Oestrogen is a key hormone that declines during perimenopause and menopause – and this decline is responsible for many of the symptoms women experience. It affects sleep, mood, memory and concentration, temperature regulation (hot flushes and night sweats), and the health of bones, heart, skin, and vaginal and urinary tissues.
Oestrogen can be absorbed through the skin as a gel, spray, or patch, or taken as a tablet – for most women, the skin options are preferred because they carry a lower risk profile than tablets. Replacing oestrogen can improve sleep, reduce hot flushes, support mental clarity, and ease genitourinary symptoms such as vaginal dryness, urinary urgency, and recurrent infections. It can also help support sexual wellbeing by improving comfort and, for some women, enhancing libido.
Progesterone is an essential hormone when oestrogen is prescribed for women who have a womb – it protects the lining of the uterus, reducing the risk of overgrowth or abnormal changes. It may also be used for other clinical reasons, such as managing endometriosis or supporting overall hormone balance.
Progesterone can be prescribed as a tablet, coil, or patch, depending on your individual needs and treatment plan. While it may not directly relieve hot flushes, progesterone can help stabilise mood, support better sleep, and contribute to overall wellbeing when used as part of a personalised HRT regimen.
Testosterone is an important hormone in women, though often overlooked. It naturally declines with age and during perimenopause and menopause, and this can affect energy, motivation, muscle strength, bone health, and sexual wellbeing, including libido and arousal.
At The York Clinic, we assess whether testosterone supplementation is appropriate on an individual basis. When prescribed, it is carefully monitored to ensure safety and effectiveness. Testosterone therapy can help restore sexual desire, improve overall vitality, and support wellbeing, particularly when used alongside personalised HRT and lifestyle strategies.
Vaginal oestrogens are low-dose, local treatments that directly target the vaginal and urinary tissues affected by menopause. They can relieve symptoms such as vaginal dryness, itching, soreness, and discomfort during sex. They also help with urinary symptoms like urgency, frequent need to urinate, and recurrent infections, which are common but often under-recognised.
Vaginal oestrogens come in several forms, including creams, gel, pessaries, and rings, and are generally very safe for long-term use. They work locally, which means the hormone is absorbed in very small amounts into the bloodstream, making them suitable for many women, including those who cannot take systemic HRT.
These treatments can make a significant difference to comfort, sexual wellbeing, and quality of life. Even women who have been living with these symptoms for years often notice improvement quickly after starting vaginal oestrogen.
HRT is not right for every woman, and not every woman wants it. Whether you have a medical reason to avoid hormones, or simply prefer a non-hormonal approach, there are effective options available – and HRT is not the only route to feeling better.
A newer non-hormonal treatment is now available in the UK for menopausal hot flushes and night sweats. This once-daily tablet works on temperature-regulating pathways in the brain and may be an option for women who are unable to take, or choose not to take, HRT. Clinical studies have shown it can help reduce the frequency and severity of symptoms in some women.
If you would like to explore non-hormonal treatment options, our menopause specialists can discuss whether this approach may be suitable for you.
Certain antidepressants – particularly SSRI and SNRI – can help reduce hot flushes and support mood and sleep in menopausal women, even if you are not depressed. They are a legitimate option for women who cannot take HRT, though they have their own side effect profiles and are not suitable for everyone. If your GP has prescribed antidepressants for low mood or anxiety without discussing menopause, it may be worth asking whether your hormones could be contributing.
