The Little Book of HRT

Shortlisted for Wellbeing Book of the Year at the Health & Wellbeing Awards 2026 'This is the book I've been waiting for!' Lauren Laverne 'Empowering and essential' Cherry Healey The go-to manual for anybody considering starting HRT and navigating the perimenopause journey Most GP visits are 10-15 minutes long - never enough time for your doctor to take you through all the ins and outs of hormone replacement therapy. Written by Dr Ellie Cannon, a practising GP specialising in women's health, this easy-to-read guide condenses everything doctors wish they had time to tell you. With the amount of conflicting information on menopause, navigating this journey can be overwhelming. It's been framed in some quarters as the panacea - the more hormones you take, the better you'll feel. But there are also a lot of GPs concerned that women are being over-promised a positive menopause. Dr Ellie is here to redress the balance: in support of HRT but sensible about the pros and cons of the treatment. With her level-headed and impartial approach, she doesn't ask you to jump on the HRT bandwagon, but gives you clear, digestible advice and information as you start your research during perimenopause. Getting to the crux of HRT, this is your personal GP consultation from start to finish - with all your questions finally answered.

Dr Ellie Cannon is an NHS GP with a special interest in women's health. She is the resident Health columnist for the Mail on Sunday and MailOnline and frequently appears as the medical expert for ITV's This Morning, BBC Woman's Hour and LBC. @drelliecannon

Introduction How to use this book Before we get started What is menopause? What is perimenopause? When do perimenopause and menopause happen? What are the early menopause and premature menopause? Why does menopause happen? What are the symptoms of menopause? What are the complications of menopause? How to have a successful consultation about menopause What should happen when you are first 'diagnosed'? It might not be menopause Part 1: HRT 1. Why you might want HRT 2. Oestrogen 3. Progesterone 4. Testosterone 5. How am I going to take HRT? 6. How do I know if HRT is right for me? 7. What are the risks of HRT? Part 2: After HRT and beyond 8. HRT follow-up 9. Saying no to HRT 10. The alternatives to HRT Myths about HRT Conclusion Appendix: List of menopausal symptoms Further reading References Acknowledgements Index