A flexible guide for dipping in, diving deep, and building forward.

This course is designed to support you—whether you're a patient, practitioner, or somewhere in between. Here's how to make it work for your needs:

• Dip in and out: Follow your curiosity. There’s no one right way to learn here.
• Deeper dives: If you've purchased the micro-courses, you might want to explore the more in-depth modules/next steps afterward. They're designed to build on what you've learned. If you have bought the full course, then you can work through as and when you wish - or jump straight to the nuanced info!!
• PDFs & Worksheets: Use the downloadable tools to reflect, consolidate, or communicate what you're learning.
• Ask questions: You're encouraged to engage—whether that’s in your own reflections, with your healthcare team, or in community spaces.
• Dual perspectives: You can approach this as someone living the experience and as someone supporting others. The resources are set up to meet both needs. This is also because we believe womens health, and life needs a village.

This is your space to learn, to consolidate what you already know—and hopefully, to take that knowledge further if and when you are ready. Let’s begin.

What will we work through?

This course is designed to build both confidence and clarity around the use of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), across a range of hormonal experiences. It offers a practical, culturally safe, and biopsychosocial approach that equips participants to support real-world care with clinical confidence and respect for individual variation.

1. Introduction to HRT

Understanding the what, why, and when of hormone therapy.

• What hormone therapy is and what it’s for
• Why hormonal changes affect mood, energy, cognition, sleep, and physical health
• How historical stigma and evolving science have shaped current practice
• Framing MHT within a whole-person, strengths-based care model

2. Risks and Benefits of HRT

What the evidence really tells us—and how to explain it.

• Key benefits: symptom relief, long-term prevention (bone, brain, heart)
• Risk conversations: breast cancer, clots, and context
• Clarifying fears with facts
• Supporting informed decisions with respect and transparency

3. Types of MHT – A Practical NZ-Focused Guide

What’s available, what it does, and how to choose.

• Types of MHT: estrogen-only, combined, progestogen
• Delivery methods: patches, gel, oral, Mirena
• Brand and formulation differences (e.g. Estradot vs Climara)
• Matching treatment to symptoms, safety, and preference

4. How to Use It – Expectations and Early Days

Starting well, staying supported, and knowing what’s normal.

• When to start and how (cyclical vs continuous)
• What to expect in the first few weeks
• Why follow-ups matter and how to structure them
• What to do if you don’t feel better right away

5. Troubleshooting – When Things Don’t Go to Plan

Side effects, symptoms, and what to adjust.

• Managing common issues (bleeding, breast pain, mood shifts)
• Understanding patterns vs one-off reactions
• When to adjust, when to investigate, and when to refer
• Normalising the need to tweak and individualise

6. Using MHT Alongside Other Tools

Beyond the basics: layering care for better results.

• Vaginal estrogen, Mirena, and oral contraceptives
• Why newer contraceptive pills (like Slinda or Zoely) matter
• Integrating treatments with real life, contraception needs, and symptom timing
• Safe, thoughtful, combined approaches

7. Special Cases – When It’s More Complex

Tailoring care for unique life stages and health histories.

• Surgical or medical menopause
• Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)
• Migraine, progesterone sensitivity, or breast cancer context
• Supporting women with bone health concerns (osteopenia/osteoporosis)
• Proactive care when the stakes are higher

8. Summary & Communication – Making It Work in Practice

Helping people feel informed, prepared, and empowered.

• What to say in an appointment, and how to ask for what you need
• Reducing overwhelm with checklists, summaries, and shared goals
• Partnering well with GPs, pharmacists, and specialists
• Encouraging confident, respectful, two-way conversations