The menopause

The menopause is when women stop ovulating and stop having periods. It usually happens between 45 and 55 years of age, and beforehand, periods may become less frequent before stopping. This means that a woman can no longer get pregnant and that hormones don’t fluctuate in the same way as they did with monthly menstrual cycles. Women going through the menopause have low levels of oestrogen, which can result in the skin of the vagina becoming thinner and a reduction in the fluids and mucus produced by the glands in the area. Symptoms of the menopause include hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and mood changes.

STI symptoms

Some intimate health symptoms indicate a sexually transmitted infection (STI), while some STI symptoms are similar to conditions such as thrush. Chlamydia (an STI) may not have any symptoms, but it can affect fertility if it’s left untreated. Anyone who has symptoms such as blisters/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.