Dr Lesley Ramage is a GP with a special interest in menopause, menopause after breast cancer and women's health. In this session she explains the types of menopausal hormone therapy available in Australia, focusing on the two most commonly prescribed hormones: oestrogen and progesterone.

Dr Ramage stresses that prescribing should start with five key considerations: safety, effectiveness, availability, affordability and whether the option suits the woman herself. She also explains how treatment differs depending on whether a woman is perimenopausal or postmenopausal and whether she has had a hysterectomy.

MHT comes in several forms:

• Tablets
• Patches
• Gels
• A hormone-releasing intrauterine system (IUS)

Dr Ramage outlines which options may suit different circumstances. For example, she advises avoiding oral oestrogen for women who experience migraines or have a history of blood clots.

Her key message is that there is no perfect hormone therapy. The best treatment is the one tailored to each woman's individual needs.