Hormone Health & Healthy Ageing
Perimenopause and menopause consultations in Cork, Ireland
Menopause Specialist in Cork
Personalised Perimenopause, Menopause & HRT Care
Dr Ana Belen Rizo provides personalised gynaecological care for women experiencing perimenopause and menopause in Cork, Ireland. Consultations focus on understanding your symptoms, health history and individual needs, with evidence-based treatment options including hormone replacement therapy (HRT) when appropriate.
Perimenopause and menopause care in Cork
Perimenopause and menopause are natural life stages that usually occur between 45 and 55, with an average menopause age around 51. During this transition, fluctuating and declining oestrogen levels can trigger symptoms that affect sleep, mood, energy, intimacy and overall wellbeing.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for menopause
HRT can be an effective treatment for many women, depending on symptoms, medical history and individual risk factors. If you’re based in Ireland, I offer consultations focused on menopause care and hormone health to help you understand your options, review your symptoms and build a personalised plan.
How we approach menopause HRT
In your consultation, we take a full symptom history, review your personal and family medical history, and discuss which HRT route and regimen may be appropriate. The aim is to improve quality of life while making a safe, individualised decision—reviewed over time.
Benefits and risks
Hormone therapy is considered the most effective treatment for vasomotor symptoms (hot flushes/night sweats) and genitourinary symptoms, and it can help prevent bone loss. Because benefits and risks vary by type, dose and route, HRT should always be tailored to the individual and reviewed regularly.
Understanding HRT access in Ireland
In Ireland, HRT is available free of charge on prescription through participating pharmacies. To access free HRT, you need a Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) card or a medical card. The scheme has been available since 1 June 2025. Medical consultations, assessment and follow-up are not covered by this measure.
During your menopause consultation in Cork, Dr Ana Belen Rizo can assess your symptoms, discuss whether HRT may be appropriate for you and explain the treatment options available in Ireland.
What our consultation adds (beyond the prescription)
Whether you access HRT through the Irish system or privately, the key to good outcomes is a thorough clinical assessment and a personalised plan. In your consultation, we focus on:
Symptom review
Sleep, mood, hot flushes/night sweats, intimacy and urogenital symptoms.
Clinical assessment
Personal and family history to assess suitability and risk factors.
HRT options & routes
Discuss routes and regimens, and alternatives when appropriate.
Women’s hormone health plan
Integrating lifestyle, metabolic health and long-term wellbeing.
Follow-up & adjustments
Review response, side effects and refine the plan over time.
For some women, HRT is part of a broader plan that can include regenerative or restorative approaches aimed at improving tissue health, comfort and quality of life—especially when symptoms affect intimacy or daily wellbeing. Any recommendation is tailored to your case, your goals and clinical findings.
When should I see a menopause specialist?
You do not need to wait until your periods have stopped to seek advice. Perimenopause can begin several years before menopause, and symptoms may appear while your periods are still regular or starting to change.
A menopause consultation may be helpful if you are experiencing:
Sudden feelings of heat, sweating or night-time symptoms that disrupt your sleep.
Difficulty sleeping, waking during the night or persistent low energy.
Irritability, anxiety, emotional changes or feeling different from yourself.
Difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness or changes in mental clarity.
Cycles becoming irregular, heavier, lighter, shorter or less predictable.
Reduced sexual desire, vaginal dryness, discomfort or pain during sex.
Dryness, burning, irritation, urinary discomfort or recurrent urinary infections.
Symptoms affecting your wellbeing, relationships, work or quality of life.
Every woman experiences this transition differently. A personalised assessment can help determine whether your symptoms may be related to perimenopause or menopause, consider other possible causes when appropriate, and discuss the treatment options that best fit your health, symptoms and preferences.