I have written about HRT several times over the last 10 years and they are always some of my most-read blog posts.  It seems that women are still looking for clear, honest, good quality information about perimenopause and menopause. We are still trying to understand what is happening to our bodies and trying to work out whether the symptoms we are living with are due to a busy life, stress, ageing, anxiety or whether they might actually be connected to our depleting hormones.  

And then when we have worked it out and want to discuss our options - maybe we think it is time to try HRT - but HRT still feels confusing!  

One friend says it changed her life. Another says it is dangerous. Someone else says she doesn't need HRT because she does not have symptoms. Then an unqualified voice online shares an old headline about cancer, strokes or blood clots and suddenly it all feels frightening again.

Recently I saw someone on Instagram say that HRT caused her to have a stroke. There was no context, no explanation and no balance around the fact that, for many women, the benefits of HRT can outweigh the risks. There was no information about the difference between older synthetic HRT and the new transdermal HRT menopause specialists recommend today. There was no mention of dose, age, health history, personal risk factors or which hormones were being used.  Without context, I think posts like that can be really unhelpful and frightening.

A lot of the fear around HRT still comes from older headlines, older synthetic hormones, older prescribing habits and studies that do not always reflect the way many menopause specialists prescribe today.  Menopause training and experience can still vary hugely too. Some women get excellent support from their GP, while others are still dismissed, rushed or offered antidepressants without a proper menopause conversation.

This blog is not medical advice. I am not a doctor and I would never tell another woman what she should take. But I do have my own experience and I have learned, sometimes the hard and expensive way, that not all HRT advice is equal.

What I want to do here is share what I wish I had understood earlier about HRT, natural hormones, progesterone intolerance and why it is never too late to ask for proper help. 
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Women deserve better than fear, confusion and half-truths.  We deserve clear information, proper support and the confidence to explore what is right for our own bodies.  I hope in this post I can clear up some misinformation and point you in the right direction for finding the support you need.

It's a long one, but it needs to be!  Make a cup of tea and get comfortable!
Full disclaimer and references are provided.

​There are some days when we simply get dressed and get on with our day, and others when we want to feel a little more pulled together. It might be a wedding, race day, garden party, afternoon tea, birthday lunch or family occasion, but it might also be a lunch with friends, a holiday evening, a theatre trip or just an ordinary day when a simple outfit just needs a little more of an upgrade.

Special occasion dressing can be lovely, but it can also bring with it a bit of anxiety over what to wear, especially when there is very little dress code guidance. And everyday dressing can have its own challenges too, because not every outfit needs to be formal, but sometimes we still want it to feel more elevated - a date at a special restaurant or a fun day out with friends?

Hats and fascinators can look beautiful, and I do love a hat, but they are not for everyone. I know lots of women feel self-conscious wearing one. They can feel too formal, too big, too much or simply too expensive for just one occasion, although it is always worth remembering that you can hire a hat at a much better price if you do want to go down that route.

So what about a compromise?

A headband can still give you that lovely sense of occasion without feeling overdone. It adds polish without taking over the whole outfit and, unlike a hat or fascinator, it is something you are much more likely to wear again, whether that is for a party, on holiday or just a nice day out when you want your hair to look tidy with very little effort.
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Add in a beautiful brooch or a pair of statement earrings and you have a very simple way to make an outfit feel more special. It is not about starting again or buying a whole new look, it is about the finishing touches that pull everything together, both for special occasions and everyday style.