Time To Pause

15/03/2026

Perimenopause or menopause… and not sure what’s actually going on in your body?

Late-night Googling.
Conflicting advice.
Strong opinions everywhere.

If that sounds familiar, this workshop is for you.

On 22 March, I’ll be joining pilates instructor Anne Simonsen, founder of ‘Shape it up Pilates’ in Rugby.

In this relaxed 2-hour workshop, we’ll talk honestly about what’s happening in midlife and what you can actually do about it.

We’ll explore:
• Sleep & relaxation – why it changes
• Mood, energy and focus
• Weight changes
• HRT – what it is and how to decide if it’s right for you

You’ll leave with:
✔ Clear, reliable information you can trust
✔ Practical steps you can take
✔ A better understanding of your options
✔ Confidence to speak to your GP
✔ Reassurance that what you’re experiencing is normal

Whether you’re perimenopausal, post-menopausal, or just noticing subtle changes, this session is about learning, connecting and pausing long enough to understand your health.

Refreshments and their famous blueberry cake included! 🫐

✨ Shape It Up members: £20 with code SIU8

If you’ve been quietly wondering what’s going on in your body, this is your invitation.

Book your place now. Find the booking link in my bio.

14/03/2026

13/03/2026

Most women get 10 minutes to talk about their peri- menopause / menopause symptoms.

But those symptoms may have been affecting them for months, sometimes years.

So it’s no surprise many women tell me they feel rushed, unheard, or unsure where to start when they finally ask for help.

I’m Dr Rebecca Jacques, a GP and menopause specialist in Warwickshire, offering in-person and online menopause consultations designed to give you the time and space to explore what’s really going on.

This isn’t a rushed appointment.

My aim is to understand the whole picture, including:

• The menopause or perimenopause symptoms affecting your life
• What matters most to you and what you’d really like help with.
• What your expectations are for the consultation
• Your medical and family history
• What you may already have tried for your symptoms

Many women want time to talk through questions like:

• Is HRT right for me?
• Can I safely take hormone replacement therapy?
• What are the alternatives to HRT?
• How can I protect my heart health and bone health during menopause?

We can also review any blood tests you’ve already had or arrange further testing if needed.

And importantly, support doesn’t stop when the appointment ends.
If questions come up afterwards, you’re welcome to email following your consultation.

Because menopause care should feel thoughtful, unhurried, and centred around you.

📍 In-person appointments in Warwickshire
💻 Online menopause consultations available

If you’ve been struggling with perimenopause or menopause symptoms, support is available.

Save this post or share it with friends that really want to be heard.

04/03/2026

Today in clinic I saw something that’s so important:

Women being given time.
Women being heard.
Symptoms validated.
Personalised treatment plans made.

Perimenopause and menopause can be complex but finding the right support shouldn’t. 💛

If you’ve been struggling with symptoms or just want to feel listened to, DM me or book a consultation, online or in person. You deserve time and support that works for you.

feelingheard

28/02/2026

Bleeding on HRT, when is it normal and when should you get checked?

This is one of the most common (and worrying) questions I get asked.

The answer depends on the type of HRT you’re taking:

If you’re on sequential (cyclical) HRT, a monthly withdrawal bleed lasting around 3–7 days is expected.

If you’re on continuous combined HRT, you shouldn’t have periods once things have settled but light spotting can be normal in the first 3–6 months after starting or switching.

However, please speak to your GP or a specialist if you notice:

• Bleeding beyond 6 months on continuous HRT

• New bleeding after you’ve been stable on continuous HRT for ages.

• Bleeding on oestrogen-only HRT and you have had a sub-total hysterectomy.

• New heavier, prolonged (>7 days), painful or unpredictable bleeding on sequential HRT.

• Any bleeding after stopping HRT and post- menopausal.

Most bleeding has a benign cause. But persistent or new bleeding should always be checked to rule out endometrial changes, polyps, fibroids, or (rarely) cancer.

Don’t ignore it. Don’t panic either. Just get it checked 💛

Save this post for later and share it with someone who might need it.

23/02/2026

✨ New research in The BMJ ✨

A large Danish study looked at over 800,000 women from age 45 onwards to see whether menopausal hormone therapy (MHT/HRT) affects long-term risk of death. 

📌 Key takeaways:
✔️ Hormone therapy was not linked to a higher risk of dying overall. 
✔️ No clear differences were seen in deaths from heart disease, cancer, or other causes between women who used MHT and those who didn’t. 
✔️ Women who had both ovaries removed between ages 45–54 and used MHT had lower mortality than those who didn’t. 
✔️ This supports existing guidance that, when chosen with your clinician and suited to your health goals and risks, hormone therapy can be a safe option for symptom relief. 

📊 This was a large observational study, so it doesn’t prove cause and effect — but it adds reassurance for many people considering HRT.

Always talk with your GP or specialist about your symptoms, personal risks and benefits before starting or stopping hormone therapy. 💬

Like and share to help more women get accurate menopause information.
♥️

21/02/2026

Hormones & Hair Loss - What’s Really Happening? 💛

Hair grows in three main stages:
✨ Anagen – active growth (2–6 years)
✨ Catagen – transition phase (2–4 weeks)
✨ Telogen – resting phase (around 3 months)

The exact process of hair shedding isn’t fully understood, but hormones play a significant role, especially during menopause.

As oestrogen declines, androgens become more dominant. These include:
• DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone)
• Testosterone
• DHT (dihydrotestosterone)

The ovaries can continue producing androgens for up to 10 years after periods stop. These hormones are thought to interfere with important pathways that support actively growing hair follicles.

Hair follicles contain oestrogen receptors. When oestrogen levels are high, for example during pregnancy — more hairs remain in the growth (anagen) phase. When oestrogen drops, more hairs shift into the resting (telogen) phase, which can lead to increased shedding.

Oestrogen also supports:
• Hair follicle metabolism and energy production
• Healthy blood flow (it helps dilate blood vessels)
• Delivery of nutrients to the follicle

With menopause and ageing, reduced oestrogen may mean less energy production, reduced circulation, and fewer nutrients reaching the follicle — all contributing to thinning hair.

Progesterone levels also decline. Lower progesterone may allow more testosterone to convert into DHT (dihydrotestosterone). DHT binds to androgen receptors on the hair follicle and can inhibit growth.

While HRT can restore oestrogen levels, there’s currently NO clear evidence that it reliably treats hair thinning and it isn’t considered a first-line treatment for hair loss.

Hormonal hair changes are common, complex, and multifactorial and you’re not alone if you’re experiencing them 🤍

Hit ‘follow’ if you want more straight-talking hormone education.

16/02/2026

I’m passionate about improving women’s health and last week I was honoured to speak at PAUSE. A health and Wellness event in Stratford.

I spoke about the importance of addressing stress in midlife. Whether you’re on HRT or not, lifestyle and reducing stress in midlife is critical as it directly affects how your hormones work!

Stress is your body’s survival system, designed for fight or flight. But today, many of us are under constant stress, and it affects women differently than men.

💡 Did you know?

Chronic stress can lead to:
• Raised cortisol → brain fog, poor concentration
• Gut issues → constipation or loose stools
• Low libido, weight gain, high blood pressure, increased cardiovascular risk
• Poor sleep and appetite changes

Lifestyle isn’t optional — it’s non-negotiable. Here’s how to support your body and hormones:

1️⃣ Spot the early signs of stress in your body
2️⃣ Nourish your hormones – healthy fats from oily fish, avocado, nuts
3️⃣ Reduce stimulants – coffee, alcohol, sugar, to***co
4️⃣ Feed your microbiome – reduce processed foods to support serotonin (“happy hormone”)
5️⃣ Exercise – myokines from muscles act like natural antidepressants
6️⃣ Social connection – loneliness = smoking 15 cigarettes/day; laughter boosts oxytocin & reduces cortisol
7️⃣ Prioritize sleep – poor sleep raises cortisol and can lead to weight gain
8️⃣ Set boundaries – saying no protects your health
9️⃣ Practice gratitude – focus on positives and shift your mindset
🔟 Find your purpose – taking control reduces stress and improves overall health

✨ Your body is giving you signals. Listening and acting daily can boost mood, energy, and wellbeing, and make your HRT (if you’re on it) even more effective.

Save this for when stress starts creeping in and/or share it with someone who needs it.

Thank you to Lisa Cressy (Superbeing Coaching) and Jenny MacDonald (Food Freedom Fairy) who hosted the event. They are part of Socially Shared - an amazing and supportive network for women in business.

HealthyLifestyle

15/02/2026

I often see patients who have been on the same HRT for years, or who were started on a very low dose because both they and their doctor were understandably cautious.

Over time, many people aren’t sure if they actually feel better or even whether their HRT is really working.

You may:

Feel unsure about increasing your dose

Have been told there’s “only one type” of HRT

Not realise there are many different preparations, combinations, and routes

Be experiencing side effects without recognising them

Have been told you can’t change your HRT because you might bleed

You’re not alone and your HRT can usually be tweaked.

We wouldn’t start a blood pressure medication and never review your blood pressure again, HRT should be no different.

Reasons your HRT may not be working or may need changing:

1️⃣ You’re not absorbing enough
2️⃣ The preparation isn’t the right fit for you
3️⃣ You need a different progesterone to better control bleeding
4️⃣ Your medical history has changed
5️⃣ Your symptoms may be caused by something unrelated to menopause
6️⃣ You need — or no longer need — contraception
7️⃣ Your Mirena coil has been in longer than 5 years
8️⃣ Your lifestyle has changed, so your HRT needs to change too
9️⃣ It simply hasn’t been long enough yet

If this resonates, it may be time for an HRT review — either with a GP or menopause specialist.

At Time to Pause, I prioritise you as an individual. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to menopause care.
Appointments are available online from anywhere in the country or in person.

✨ Persistent symptoms are information — not failure.

❤️Share this post with anyone who you thinks need to read this.

10/02/2026

You thought perimenopause meant hot flashes and skipped periods.
So when those weren’t happening, you assumed you were fine.

But instead, you started losing words mid-sentence. Walking into rooms and forgetting why you were there. Your brain feels foggy, scattered, not like you.

Then the anxiety shows up. Out of nowhere. No clear reason. Just a low-level hum of worry you’ve never had before.

You’re more irritable. More emotional. Snapping at people you love, or feeling flat and unmotivated even though, on paper, your life is good, which somehow makes it feel worse.

Sleep is a mess. You fall asleep, then wake between 2 and 4am wide awake. Tired but wired. Workouts that used to energise you now wipe you out, and recovery takes longer than it ever did.

Your periods change, but not in the way you expected. They’re heavier. Clottier. Closer together. PMS hits harder than it did in your 20s or 30s.

Your body starts shifting even though nothing else has changed. Weight settles around your belly. Coffee makes you jittery. Alcohol hits harder. Your heart races randomly. Your joints ache. Headaches appear more often.

At night, you wake up sweaty, but during the day, you feel cold. Noise feels louder. Stress feels heavier. Things you used to handle easily now feel overwhelming.

Then there are the quieter changes no one warned you about. Drier skin. More hair in the shower. Libido doing its own unpredictable thing.

And the most confusing part?
You’re told you’re “too young.”
Or that your blood tests are “normal.”

What no one explains is that perimenopause isn’t about hormones being low, it’s about them fluctuating. And it can start years earlier than expected.

So if you’re reading this thinking, this is me, you’re not broken. You’re not imagining it.
You’re not alone. 💛

And if this resonates, follow for honest advice, support, and practical tools to help you embrace perimenopause and menopause with confidence.

06/02/2026

Menopause symptoms can be exhausting, especially when you don’t feel listened to.

The right advice, reassurance, and treatment can be genuinely life-changing. Feedback like this reminds us why expert menopause care and personalised HRT support matter.

If menopause is affecting your sleep, mood, confidence, or daily life, support is available and you don’t have to just “put up with it”.

04/02/2026

Reviews like this mean so much!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When advice, reassurance, and the right treatment come together, the impact can be life changing.

If you’re considering HRT or need expert menopause advice, we’re here to help.