Dr Rachael Chrystal - Manchester Menopause Hive

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Dr Rachael Chrystal - Manchester Menopause Hive

Manchester Menopause Hive - GP & BMS Menopause Specialist

05/07/2026

Sunday morning at The Wild Rage perimenopause and menopause support group…..🪴

and Ames have created such a supportive group in South Manchester at community garden.

I’ve had a gorgeous morning surrounded by a great group of women in beautiful surroundings…lots of talk about hormones and supporting ourselves through hormonal transition.

Swipe to see some of the pics I took before and after.

The group meets on the first Sunday of the month 10-12pm, all welcome. Message for more info.

Thank you to Menopause Support for their brilliant booklets to share as always

03/07/2026

Progesterone alone as a treatment in perimenopause - what does the research show?

I presented a critical appraisal of the research on micronised progesterone as a standalone treatment for perimenopausal symptoms at the BMS conference — work I supervised by a brilliant medical student Eloise, who did a fabulous critical appraisal of the literature.

Why does this matter?

Because progesterone-only approaches are becoming increasingly popular on social media. It’s not necessarily new, but more and patients are asking about it as an option.

So Eloise looked to answer the question: does the evidence actually back this up?

Short answer: there’s real promise. But not everyone tolerates it well, the research base is small and short, and some of the loudest voices in this space are genuine believers whose enthusiasm can outpace what the data shows.

In my own experience, some patients find progesterone helpful for their symptoms.

But knowing *how* progesterone works in the body isn’t the same as having proof it’s safe and effective as a standalone treatment for everyone. Mechanism ≠ evidence.

Swipe through for what we found, where the gaps are, and why we might be a long way from getting the level of research and data we need.

Ultimately, individualised care matters - hormonal health is complex and what’s right for one person won’t be right for another. And we also need nuance and a critical eye when looking at the science - one small study does not equal ‘proof’ or ‘evidence’
🐝

30/06/2026

Myself and some of the team headed down to the BMS conference last week.

We saw lots of useful presentations from a variety of specialists across not just menopause but across different fields of medicine covering the impact and management of menopause across different specialities as well as highlighting the research gaps.

This conference made me reflect on the benefits of being a Menopause Specialist with a background as a GP - we’re used to managing patients with multiple medical conditions and looking at things with a holistic and integrative approach because that’s the reality of being a GP - you see patients as people, not single problems or conditions.

And with perimenopause and menopause impacting every single body system, we can’t just look at menopause or hormones alone - we need to be able to understand, treat and manage the whole picture. So it was brilliant having experts from different areas sharing details of specific research in relation to their unique fields of expertise so we can continue to develop our experience and understanding of managing our patients better.

And of course, it’s always great to connect with lots of familiar and new faces - and to catch up with friends - especially our early morning runs before a day of lectures!

.jennifer.horrocks .mmh

27/06/2026

📆Sunday 5th July 10-12pm community garden

I’m really looking forward to the Wild Rage group meet up next Sunday where I’ll be in the garden chatting and answering questions about perimenopause and menopause with the group from an evidence based perspective as a menopause specialist.

It’s open to all, so do come along if you’d like to find a bit of connection and community through the wild ride that is perimenopause and menopause - and hang out in the beautiful garden 🪴

All welcome - if you’d like to come along do email [email protected]

06/04/2026

We brought Crumble home last week🐾🐾🐾

She’s gorgeous and tiny, but she’s navigating big changes - a completely new home, new smells, new sounds, new faces.

We’re trying to do our best to keep things as soothing and calm for her as possible (although this doesn’t stop the crazy moments!)

Cuddles, dog music, play, training when she’s up for it. LOTS of treats. Getting out and about in her sling.

And SO much sleep 💤 (although not so much for us humans, sadly🤣)

Helping her settle in has been a big reminder that we ALL need these exact same things for a regulated nervous system at every age. Safety, supportive relationships, movement, nourishment, and proper rest.

And even more so when we’re navigating hormonal transitions, neurodivergence or the other challenges that life often throws our way

Welcome home, little Crumble 🐶🥰
🐾

20/03/2026

It was an early start for me today for the study day in Leeds, but worth it!

As well as PMS/PMDD there were fantastic speakers covering PCOS, autism and ADHD and hormones, endometriosis and much more. And it’s always a good to catch up with familiar faces 😊

Ready for the weekend now!

08/03/2026

I’m unpacking my rucksack after an amazing and magical trip to Costa Rica…feeling so lucky we saw all the wildlife we wanted to see and far more…🦥🦜🐍

Being in the rainforest and the cloud forests was so special, being around huge and magnificent trees and breathing in the air that we share, as was being in the gorgeous hot volcanic springs 🌋 It’s impossible not to feel the powerful connection to nature when it’s so alive and colourful.

I’ve wanted to go for so long (it’s been on my vision board since 2019!!) and it really did surpass all expectations - and I’m very grateful to everyone who looked after things back home while we were away 💚

22/01/2026

If your HRT no longer feels as effective as it once did, you’re not alone.

We see this a lot in clinic, and often it isn’t a reason to worry.

Because HRT isn’t a set and forget treatment. Your body continues to change through perimenopause and beyond, and hormone needs can shift over time. Absorption can change too, and symptoms can also be influenced by sleep, stress, workload, and overall life load.

When symptoms return or you start to feel flat or unlike yourself, it’s usually a sign that something needs reviewing, not that HRT has stopped working altogether.

A review can help work out what’s changed and what might need adjusting, so you can start feeling more like yourself again.

16/01/2026

2026 so far…and we’re over halfway through January.

January has seen lots of new patients - both face to face and online consultations.
Fortunately my cat Elsa has been helping me out with writing my clinic letters 😬😻

Not pictured here is the many hours spent watching The Traitors! Perfect January TV!

Address

Manchester

Website

https://manchestermenopausehive.co.uk/

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