The menopause

The menopause is when women stop ovulating and their periods stop. This means that a woman can no longer get pregnant and that hormones don’t fluctuate in the same way as they did during monthly menstrual cycles. 

The menopause usually begins between the ages of 45 and 55, and beforehand, periods may become less frequent before stopping. The average age for a woman to begin the menopause in the UK is 51.  

Women going through the menopause have declining levels of oestrogen, which can reduce the amount of natural lubrication produced in the vagina, causing dryness and discomfort.

Gina, which is available over the counter, is a form of low-dose hormone replacement therapy (HRT). It contains estradiol, a form of oestrogen, in a vaginal tablet form and treats the underlying cause of vaginal dryness.

Other symptoms of the menopause include hot flushes, night sweats, low mood, anxiety, difficulty sleeping and loss of libido (sex drive).   

STI signs and symptoms

Some intimate health signs and symptoms may indicate the presence of a sexually transmitted infection (STI), while some STI symptoms are similar to other conditions such as thrush (which is not always transmitted during sex).

Chlamydia is an STI that usually doesn’t cause symptoms but can affect fertility if it is left untreated. 

Anyone who has symptoms such as blisters or sore spots around the genitals, yellow/green vaginal discharge, bleeding between periods and/or after sex, pain during sex or lower abdominal pain should be referred to the pharmacist.  

If customers are concerned that they might have an STI, you should refer them to the pharmacist or signpost them to a sexual health clinic or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic for further advice.