Menopause Treatment in Coimbra
Speak with an English-speaking doctor online in Coimbra for perimenopause and menopause support. We discuss treatment options and prescribe HRT when clinically appropriate.
About Menopause
Menopause is confirmed after 12 consecutive months without a period, while perimenopause involves fluctuating hormone levels leading up to this transition. Common symptoms such as hot flushes and sleep disturbance can disrupt daily life. Our doctors assess your health history and symptoms by video to discuss HRT or non-hormonal options, prescribing medication when appropriate.
Common Causes
- Natural fall in ovarian estrogen levels
- Fluctuating hormones during perimenopause
- Premature ovarian insufficiency or early menopause
- Surgically induced menopause from removal of both ovaries
- Hormone treatment for breast cancer (needs specialist care, not an online prescription)
- Menopause symptoms returning after stopping HRT
Symptoms to Watch For
When to Seek Medical Attention
While many cases of menopause can be treated online, you should seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- •Any unexplained vaginal bleeding, including bleeding after your periods have stopped for a year (needs an in-person check before any HRT)
- •Heavy bleeding on HRT, bleeding beyond the first 6 months (or 3 months after a change), or after a bleed-free spell (prompt in-person check)
- •A new breast lump or concerning nipple discharge or change (needs a prompt in-person check)
- •Painful swollen leg, sudden chest pain or breathlessness (call 112)
- •Sudden weakness on one side, severe headache or vision loss (call 112)
- •Yellowing of the skin or eyes, or signs of liver problems (stop HRT and see a doctor promptly)
For emergencies, call 112 or go to the nearest hospital in Coimbra.
Menopause Treatment Options in Coimbra
Our doctors can provide comprehensive treatment including diagnosis, prescriptions, and follow-up care
Combined HRT with estrogen and micronised progesterone
Estrogen-only HRT for women who have had a hysterectomy
Estradiol as a transdermal gel, spray, patch or oral tablet
Vaginal estrogen cream, pessary, tablet or ring for local symptoms
Tibolone tablets for postmenopausal women
Non-hormonal fezolinetant with liver blood tests, if suitable for you
Cognitive behavioural therapy and non-hormonal vaginal moisturisers
Review of current HRT or referral for in-person evaluation
How to Get Menopause Treatment in Coimbra
Get treated in 3 simple steps—start your consultation in minutes
Describe Your Symptoms
Tell us about your menopause symptoms and medical history
Video Consultation
Connect with a licensed, English-speaking doctor via video call
Get Your Prescription
Receive your prescription digitally—pick it up at any pharmacy in Coimbra
Healthcare in Coimbra: what visitors and residents should know
How local care works in Coimbra and across Centro, Portugal — and where an online doctor fits alongside it.
Coimbra is served by ULS de Coimbra, formed in the 2024 reorganisation around the city's university hospital centre together with the surrounding health centres. Portugal restructured its health service on 1 January 2024: the five regional health administrations (ARS) were dissolved and replaced by 39 Unidades Locais de Saúde (ULS), each combining hospitals and health centres under one management. For non-emergency symptoms the national triage line SNS 24 (808 24 24 24) assesses you by phone and directs you to self-care, a health centre or an emergency department. EHIC and UK GHIC holders access state care on resident terms. Out of hours, pharmacies run a rota — the farmácia de serviço — posted at every closed pharmacy. Coimbra is Portugal's principal medical and academic city: the University of Coimbra dates from 1290 and the city has long been the country's centre of medical training and tertiary referral, so specialist provision here is unusually deep for a city of its size and patients are referred in from across central Portugal. The flip side is a large transient student and international-exchange population — arriving each autumn, unregistered, needing contraception, repeat prescriptions and mental-health support in a second language. The city sits inland on the Mondego between Lisbon and Porto, so it is a common stopping point for travellers moving between the two, and its academic calendar rather than the tourist season drives the rhythm of demand.
- UNESCO World Heritage university
- Large international student population
- Central location between Lisbon and Porto
Areas we cover around Coimbra and Centro
An online consultation is not a substitute for emergency care. If you are in Coimbra and your symptoms are severe or life-threatening, call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Menopause Treatment FAQs
Common questions about menopause treatment in Coimbra
Can I get an HRT prescription online in Coimbra?
Our doctors assess your menopause symptoms and review your full personal and family medical history by video. If HRT is clinically suitable, a private electronic prescription is sent as a PDF by email. If an in-person physical examination or specialist care is needed, our doctors will refer or advise you.
Do I need to see a specialist to be prescribed HRT?
In Spain, any licensed doctor can prescribe hormone replacement therapy when it is medically indicated. However, our doctors refer you for in-person or specialist care instead of prescribing online if you have, or have had, menopause symptoms or periods stopping before 40; current or past breast cancer or another estrogen-dependent cancer (this also applies to non-hormonal menopause medicines); unexplained vaginal bleeding; a past blood clot or a clotting disorder; a stroke, heart attack or angina; or active liver disease.
Do I need a blood test to diagnose menopause?
For otherwise healthy women aged 45 or over not using hormonal contraception, blood tests are not needed to diagnose perimenopause or menopause. Doctors identify the transition from symptoms and cycle changes. Hormone blood tests are generally considered only for women under 45 or when premature menopause is suspected.
Can I continue HRT prescribed in the UK or the US?
In Spain, pharmacies cannot dispense prescriptions from the UK or US under the EU cross-border rule, so a Spanish prescription is required. Some foreign HRT products have different names or no direct equivalent in Spain. Our doctors can review your current treatment and prescribe an appropriate local alternative when suitable.
Do I still need contraception while taking HRT?
HRT is not a contraceptive and pregnancy remains possible during perimenopause. You should continue using contraception until two years have passed without a period if you are under 50, or one year if you are over 50. Most women can stop contraception at age 55. Bleeding, or no bleeding, while taking HRT does not show whether your natural periods have stopped, so agree with your doctor when to stop contraception; if in doubt, contraception is usually continued until 55. If you use hormonal contraception, speak with your doctor.
How quickly does HRT work and when is it reviewed?
Symptoms usually start to improve within the first few weeks, though response varies. Our doctors recommend a follow-up review at around three months to evaluate how well the treatment is working and assess any side effects, followed by regular annual check-ups while you continue therapy. Our doctors discuss the benefits and risks with you, including that combined HRT slightly increases the risk of breast cancer and that estrogen tablets can raise the risk of blood clots in a way that patches and gels do not.
Licensed Doctors
All doctors are licensed to practice medicine in Portugal
English-Speaking
No language barriers when discussing your health
Valid Prescriptions
Prescriptions valid at any pharmacy in Coimbra
Need Menopause Treatment in Coimbra?
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Menopause Treatment also available in other Portugal cities