Dr Rachael Chrystal - Manchester Menopause Hive

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Dr Rachael Chrystal - Manchester Menopause Hive

Manchester Menopause Hive - GP & BMS Menopause Specialist

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!

13/11/2025

I’ve been delivering my ‘Thriving Through Menopause’ half day workshop today to a Stockport organisation today.

I love having the time to explain what’s happening to our bodies through hormonal change as well as share some of the evidence based lifestyle practices that help us to manage menopause - including movement, connection, nervous system support, relaxation, nutrition and more!

I also talk about HRT options including vaginal oestrogen products and non-hormonal options as I think it’s vital all women understand the options available to them - but lifestyle is the foundation of all of this.

We also committed to getting started with one lifestyle change in the next few days - mine is to get my yoga mat out asap as I’ve been neglecting my practice the last week or so and my body is feeling it! 🧘‍♀️

What are you committing to?

09/11/2025

Getting out and about in the sun this weekend ✨🦌🍁

10/10/2025

I’ve been doing an online training day today as part of the BMS Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Menopause Symptoms today which fits particularly well with this year’s theme for Menopause Awareness Month being Lifestyle Medicine.

Obviously I’m excited to be developing my skills in order to keep building the expertise and support that we offer women

With CBT for menopause being recognised in the NICE and BMS guidance, particularly for women who have experienced breast or hormone sensitive gynaecological cancers it’s vital that patients have access to CBT - which is can be a challenge currently in some areas.

Because it’s probably even more important than ever that we have a range of approaches in our toolkit to support our health (even though this isn’t always the message we get from social media around menopause and HRT!)

08/10/2025

Our final guest speaker on Sunday morning will be the fabulous .knsphysio Katie Syrett 😊

Katie is a pelvic floor physio based in Chorlton and she’ll be helping us to understand how we can keep our pelvic floor working well for us through perimenopause and menopause.

Katie is brilliant at providing practical and do-able information and tips that everyone can benefit from and I can’t wait to learn more from her.

There are just a few tickets left for Sunday morning - if you’d like to join us check out the Eventbrite page for tickets!

📅 Sunday 12th October
⏰10-1pm
📍Chorlton

01/10/2025

Why is strength training important in midlife?

💪What counts?
💪What if I’ve never done it before?
💪How much is ‘enough’?
💪How can you can you get started?
💪If you’re already doing it - how can you progress?
💪Does Pilates and yoga count?

These are common questions that come up around the topic of strength training in perimenopause and menopause and we’re delighted to have along to put the record straight and tell us what we need to know.

Mel is a local PT and as well as training women in midlife and beyond, she is also a triathlete and triathlon coach - so she definitely practices what she preaches!

I can’t wait to get the lowdown on strength training from her!

If you’d like to join us to hear Mel speak and have her answer your questions - along with the other experts we’ve got joining us:
knsphysio .helen and myself and my colleagues from

…then we’d love to have you join us!

Booking via Eventbrite
📅 Sun 12th Oct
⏰10-1pm
📍Chorlton

See you soon! 👋

28/09/2025

Why are we organising the Manchester Menopause Hive Community Menopause Morning?

Because good quality, evidence based information about different aspects of midlife health in the same place is hard to come by

And because it’s never ‘just’ about HRT, or ‘just’ about nutrition, or exercise, or a ‘natural’ approach vs a medical one. The way forward is one that integrates different elements, so women can understand their bodies and their hormones - and support themselves in the way that they need.

And so we need events and information that encompasses all of this.

Plus the connection that comes with doing this alongside other women who ‘get it’ can’t be underestimated.

We’d love to have you join us…have you got your ticket yet?

📅Sun 12th Oct
⏰10-1pm
📍Chorlton

Tickets and booking via Eventbrite

Any questions, drop us a message at info@manchestermenopausehive.co.uk

24/09/2025

Our next speaker at the Community Menopause Morning is Helen Lancaster, from .helen

Helen is a qualified health coach specialising in women’s health and midlife wellbeing. After experiencing her own perimenopause symptoms, she retrained in evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle medicine to help other women navigate perimenopause and menopause with clarity and confidence.

She now works with clients one-to-one, translating the latest science into practical habits and strategies that support energy, hormone health, and long-term vitality.

Helen’s approach is really practical and supportive, and I’m looking forward to hearing her share her expertise and tips.

If you’d like to join us, you can book your place using the Eventbrite link - we’d love to see you there!

📅 Sunday 12th October
⏰10-1pm
📍Chorlton

22/09/2025

I’m very glad the sunshine ☀️ has returned to Manchester - and Buddy and I very much enjoyed our walk earlier this morning.

It’s hard not to feel better when you’ve got some morning sun on your face, but it can be especially valuable during perimenopause and menopause because it supports the systems most affected by fluctuating hormones (sleep, mood, and energy regulation)

1. Resets Your Circadian Rhythm

☀️Bright natural light in the first 30–60 minutes after waking is an important signal to the brain’s ‘clock’ that it is morning, and so helps your body release melatonin earlier at night, improving both sleep onset and sleep quality

☀️As well as sleep, a regulated circadian rhythm helps to support energy through the day.

2. Boosts Mood and Reduces Stress

☀️Morning light helps to increase serotonin, a neurotransmitter that supports stable mood and calm focus (and is often disrupted by fluctuations in oestrogen)

3. Supports Energy & Metabolism

☀️Light exposure influences the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, which regulates cortisol.

☀️An appropriate cortisol raise in the morning (the “cortisol awakening response”) helps with energy, blood-sugar control, and inflammation, which is especially important in times of fluctuating hormones.

And we don’t need loads of sun (good job!) - just 10-20 minutes of natural light in the first hour or so can make a huge difference - have you had yours today?

(What about Vitamin D - In northern England and Scotland, we usually don’t receive sufficient UV even on sunny days in Autumn and winter - so taking a vitamin D supplement becomes extra important at this time of year for bone health, immune function and general wellbeing)

Rachael ☀️

☀️ ☀️

Address

Manchester

Website

https://manchestermenopausehive.co.uk/

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