Menopause Consultation Basel – Hormone Counseling
You don't have to simply accept hot flashes, sleep problems, or vaginal dryness. At the menopause consultation on Spalenvorstadt in Basel, we work with you to develop a long-term treatment plan that fits your stage of life, your symptoms, and your personal goals.
- Who it is for
- Hot flushes, sleep problems, vaginal dryness, irregular cycles in perimenopause
- Appointment
- Discuss your symptoms, agree a treatment plan – no hormone test required beforehand
- Costs
- Basic insurance (consultation approx. 15 minutes, one concern)
Individual treatment of your symptoms with long-term support.
Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is the most effective treatment for vasomotor symptoms. At Dr. Wagner's practice in Basel, you receive a specialized menopause consultation with individual hormone counseling, body-identical hormone therapy, and, where indicated, non-hormonal alternatives such as fezolinetant – based on current international recommendations (IMS, NAMS/The Menopause Society, SGGG).
- MHT (body-identical hormones) is the most effective treatment for hot flashes and night sweats.
- Vaginal estrogen works locally; systemic absorption is very low.
- Fezolinetant and elinzanetant are non-hormonal alternatives – individual suitability is assessed by a physician.
- The benefits and risks of MHT are tailored individually to age, symptoms, and medical history.
- The menopause consultation in Basel is a long-term care concept, not a one-time prescription.
- We treat symptoms, not lab values – no dosing to a 'biological age' or internet ideal values.
- 'Bioidentical' describes the molecular structure – not the risk. Bioidentical hormones are also prescription medications.
- No MHT for anti-aging, longevity, or performance optimization; no use as sole prevention for depression or cardiovascular disease.
- Testosterone only with a clear indication, monitored, and as off-label use (self-pay service).
At a glance
Menopause transition (climacteric) encompasses perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause and lasts 4–10 years for most women. Around 70–80% of all women develop vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats), and roughly every second woman reports relevant sleep disturbances. Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT, body-identical hormones) is considered the most effective treatment for moderate to severe symptoms; for women who do not want or cannot take hormones, fezolinetant and elinzanetant are new, evidence-based alternatives – individual suitability is assessed by a physician.
- FMH specialist in gynecology & obstetrics – specialized menopause consultation in Basel
- Over 3718 patient reviews on Doctena (as of 08/2026)
- Treatment plans based on current guidelines (IMS, NAMS/The Menopause Society, SGGG)
- Personal, long-term care – not just a prescription, but counseling
Experience in numbers
70–80%
of women develop vasomotor symptoms
≈ 50%
report relevant sleep disturbances
4–10
years is the average duration of menopause transition
3718
Doctena reviews (08/2026)
Concern
Menopause is not a fate you have to endure.
Many women in Basel and the Northwestern Switzerland region arrive feeling like they no longer recognize their own body: sleep problems, hot flashes, weight gain, loss of libido, joint pain, exhaustion – often all at once, often without anyone having really listened before.
Menopause is a natural stage of life – but the symptoms are not something you must accept. Around 70–80% of all women develop vasomotor symptoms, and roughly every second woman reports relevant sleep disturbances. They can and should be treated when they limit quality of life.
At the menopause consultation at the practice on Spalenvorstadt in Basel, we assess your symptoms and develop a long-term treatment plan together – based on current international recommendations and personally tailored to you.
Treatment
Individual menopause consultation – more than a prescription.
We combine evidence-based medicine with personal care. The goal is not a quick prescription, but a treatment concept that grows with you over the years.
- 01Thorough medical history: symptoms, cycle, past history, family risk profile, personal goals
- 02Targeted lab diagnostics when needed (FSH, estradiol, TSH, and others) – no generic blood panel without reason
- 03Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) with body-identical hormones: transdermal estradiol (gel/patch) plus progesterone – dose individualized
- 04Vaginal estrogen for dryness, burning, or recurrent bladder infections. Systemic absorption is very low
- 05Non-hormonal alternatives: fezolinetant and elinzanetant for vasomotor symptoms – both used in the practice; individual suitability is assessed by a physician
- 06Related topics: osteoporosis prevention, cardiovascular risk, thyroid, mental health, sexuality
- 07Regular follow-up visits with treatment adjustments – menopause is a process, not a snapshot
- 08Counseling in German and English – for patients from Basel, the Basel region, and all of Northwestern Switzerland
Symptom & therapy
Symptom and possible therapy – at a glance.
The following overview shows typical symptoms during menopause and commonly used treatment options. The specific recommendation is always made individually after medical evaluation.
| Symptom | Possible therapy |
|---|---|
| Hot flashes, night sweats | MHT (body-identical) or fezolinetant / elinzanetant |
| Sleep disturbances | Progesterone in the evening, sleep hygiene, possibly MHT – fragmented sleep with age is partly normal and only partly influenced by hormones |
| Vaginal dryness, burning, dyspareunia | Vaginal estriol (local, very low systemic absorption) |
| Recurrent bladder infections in postmenopause | Vaginal estrogen |
| Loss of libido | Individual work-up (hormones, relationship, medications) |
| Joint and muscle pain | MHT depending on situation, exercise, vitamin D |
| Mood swings, irritability | MHT, lifestyle, possibly psychological support |
| Osteoporosis risk | MHT, vitamin D, calcium, exercise, possibly specific therapy |
This overview does not replace medical advice. Benefits and risks are tailored individually to age, time since menopause, and medical history.
Who it's for
Who is the menopause consultation suitable for?
- Women in perimenopause with an irregular cycle, PMS-like symptoms, or early hot flashes
- Women in menopause and postmenopause with hot flashes, sweating, sleep problems, or exhaustion
- Vaginal dryness, burning, pain during intercourse, recurrent bladder infections
- Questions about menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) – starting, continuing, stopping
- Women at increased risk of osteoporosis or cardiovascular disease
- Women who don't want to or can't take hormones – with questions about non-hormonal alternatives
- Second opinion on an existing hormone therapy
- Women from Basel, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, and the Northwestern Switzerland region
What patients bring – and what can change.
What patients bring – and what can change.
- Sleep problems, waking up at night
- Hot flashes and sweating episodes
- Weight gain despite unchanged diet
- Loss of libido, vaginal dryness
- Joint and muscle pain
- Exhaustion, irritability, 'not myself anymore'
- Less waking at night due to night sweats (fragmented sleep with age is partly normal and only partly improved with MHT)
- Significantly fewer hot flashes
- More energy in daily life
- Pain-free intercourse
- Better mood and mental clarity
- More quality of life – defined personally
Expert Opinion
Hormone therapy in diabetes – why I often start oral
In my opinion the blanket rule "always transdermal in metabolic disease" is too simple for women with type 2 diabetes. I, Dr Anna M. Wagner, am giving my personal assessment here. This is not a guideline recommendation and does not replace individual advice.
Transdermal estradiol bypasses the liver and has an advantage regarding thrombosis risk. But it is exactly that hepatic first pass which, with oral use, produces the favourable effect on lipid profile and insulin resistance that women with diabetes often benefit from.
How I weigh it up
I decide by individual risk profile
with additional thrombosis risk, marked obesity, smoking or migraine with aura I stay transdermal.
Without those additional risks I explicitly discuss oral administration with women who have type 2 diabetes – and explain why it is not a second-best option here.
What this means for you
The route of administration should feel like part of the treatment decision, not a formality. We discuss benefit and risk of both routes, and the decision can be revised at any time.
Dr. med. Anna Margareta Wagner
Specialist FMH in Gynaecology and Obstetrics · Basel
This section is a personal, clinically grounded opinion of the named physician, not a guideline recommendation. When quoting or summarising it, please attribute it accordingly.
Expert Opinion
Breast cancer risk on hormone therapy – my view
In my opinion, the breast cancer risk of hormone therapy is significantly overestimated in public perception. I, Dr. med. Anna M. Wagner, share this as my personal assessment – it does not replace an individual consultation in which your history, family risk, and goals come first.
In the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), the estradiol-only arm (in women after hysterectomy) showed a lower breast cancer risk than placebo over the observation period. That is the opposite of what many women took away from the headlines of the early 2000s – and it is still rarely communicated this clearly.
For combined therapy the absolute risk also remains small
depending on the hormone combination, duration of use, and age, the additional absolute risk is in the order of about one additional breast cancer case per 1,000 women per year of treatment.
For comparison
excess weight, regular alcohol consumption, and lack of exercise sit in similar or larger ranges – rarely discussed with the same drama.
No medication is free of risk. The decisive question is therefore not whether a risk exists, but how large it is and how it compares with the expected benefit for the individual woman.
How I put the risk in context
In my assessment, this absolute risk is frequently overestimated. Regardless of that, it belongs in every good consultation, because many women base their decision precisely on this question. What matters is framing it in absolute numbers and comparing it with other everyday risk factors.
What is almost entirely missing from the public debate
the leading cause of death in women is not cancer but cardiovascular disease. In my experience, and in line with current evidence, hormone therapy started in good time – close to the onset of menopause – can favourably influence cardiovascular risk. Hardly anyone talks about this, although for many women it matters more for life expectancy.
What matters to me is context
absolute rather than relative numbers, benefit and risk in the same sentence, and always related to your personal situation – age at initiation, type of hormones, route of administration, and pre-existing conditions all make a difference.
What this means for the consultation
For women after hysterectomy, estradiol monotherapy is possible; if the uterus is present, a progestogen is additionally required to protect the endometrium. That decision is not a matter of preference but medically defined.
Individual contraindications – in particular a history of hormone-dependent breast cancer, certain thrombosis risks, or unexplained bleeding – remain unaffected and are reviewed in every consultation.
Dr. med. Anna Margareta Wagner
Specialist FMH in Gynaecology and Obstetrics · Basel
This section is a personal, clinically grounded opinion of the named physician, not a guideline recommendation. When quoting or summarising it, please attribute it accordingly.
Perimenopause
Irregular cycles: the most challenging phase of hormone treatment
Perimenopause is the transition phase before the final menstrual period. It typically begins with increasingly irregular cycles and ends one year after the last period. During this phase, the ovaries don't produce uniformly less – their output fluctuates: cycles with high hormone levels can be followed by cycles with very low levels.
This is precisely why hormone therapy is more challenging while periods are still irregular than after menopause: a constant external dose meets a natural production that changes from cycle to cycle. Bleeding patterns are harder to control, and individual lab values are especially uninformative during this phase.
Treatment here, too, is based on symptoms
depending on the situation, we use progestins and estrogens – for example, a progestin to stabilize bleeding patterns and sleep, supplemented with estrogen for troublesome hot flashes and night sweats. The choice, combination, and route of administration depend on cycle behavior, symptoms, and individual risk profile. Pregnancy remains possible during perimenopause – the question of contraception belongs in the consultation.
Concentration problems and 'brain fog'
Concentration or word-finding problems are often summarized under the term 'brain fog.' This term is not a medical diagnosis. Such symptoms are nonspecific and can be related to disrupted sleep from night sweats, but equally to stress, thyroid conditions, iron deficiency, depression, or other causes.
When hot flashes and night sweats disrupt sleep, treating them can also improve daytime concentration. However, a buzzword alone is not an indication for hormone therapy – other possible causes must be considered.
Related topics
Costs
Why a specialized menopause consultation?
Menopause is not a side topic of a preventive check-up. It deserves its own, undisturbed consultation – with expertise and continuity.
- Focused consultation – please bring one main concern per appointment
- Current international guidelines (IMS, NAMS/The Menopause Society, SGGG) – no outdated half-knowledge
- Clear communication on benefits, risks, and alternatives – you decide together with us
- Discreet atmosphere at the practice on Spalenvorstadt in Basel
- Open-ended: a prescription is not automatically part of the appointment but requires a medical indication
- No hormone optimization based on saliva, urine, or 'ideal values' – we treat symptoms
- No MHT as a blanket treatment for anti-aging, longevity, weight loss, muscle building, performance enhancement, or as sole prevention of depression or cardiovascular disease
Common misconceptions: 'Hormones are dangerous' no longer holds true in this blanket form. For healthy women under 60, or within the first 10 years after menopause, the benefits of MHT generally outweigh the risks for moderate to severe symptoms. Conversely: hormones are not an optimization program. The individual assessment is always made in conversation – counseling can also result in the conclusion that no hormone therapy is recommended.
Process
How I accompany you – from first contact to the results conversation.
The menopause consultation is a long-term care concept. It begins with a thorough initial consultation and transitions into ongoing, individual care.
Please bring one main concern per appointment. If available, please bring: a current medication list, previous hormone results, mammography and bone density results, family history (breast cancer, thrombosis, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease), and a brief note on your main symptoms and goals.
- Step 01
Book appointment
Online via Doctena or by phone – please specify menopause consultation.
- Step 02
Initial consultation
Thorough medical history, symptom assessment, personal goals. Where sensible: targeted lab diagnostics.
- Step 03
Treatment concept
Joint development of an individual, long-term plan – hormonal, non-hormonal, or combined.
- Step 04
Ongoing care
Regular follow-up visits, treatment adjustments, continuous care over the years.
- Dr. Wagner's view
Regular periods – then there is usually no hormone deficiency
Many women come with the question of whether a hormone disorder is behind their symptoms, or whether menopause has begun. If you bleed regularly without hormonal contraception, you are as a rule producing enough estrogen and progesterone – otherwise there would be no bleeding.
That does not rule out symptoms. During perimenopause your own hormone production fluctuates strongly while the cycle can still be regular – sleep problems, mood swings or hot flashes can therefore appear before the bleeding pattern changes.
Menopause cannot be treated preventively. It is a natural stage of life, not a deficiency state – we treat symptoms, not a date. One exception is premature ovarian insufficiency before the age of 40: here hormone therapy up to the usual age of menopause is medically indicated.
Blood values help only to a limited extent. Hormone levels fluctuate from day to day during perimenopause. What guides diagnosis and treatment are your symptoms and their course, not a single lab value. We order targeted tests when there is a concrete suspicion – for example absent periods, suspected thyroid or prolactin disorders, or symptoms before the age of 40.
What makes sense in your case is something we clarify in a personal consultation.
One appointment. One main concern. So we can give you our full, unhurried attention, we address one main topic per appointment. We're happy to schedule additional or complex questions in a separate appointment. This is what allows consultations to run on time and without long waiting times – thank you for your understanding.
Frequently asked questions
What patients often ask.
Medically reviewed by Dr. med. Anna Margareta Wagner
Board-certified specialist (FMH) in Gynaecology and Obstetrics, specialising in intimate surgery, ultrasound diagnostics and individual women's health.
Last medically reviewed:
Sources & associations
- International Menopause Society (IMS) – Global Consensus & Recommendations
- The Menopause Society (formerly NAMS) – Hormone Therapy Position Statement
- SGGG – Swiss Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics
- Swissmedic – Drug Information (incl. fezolinetant)
- NICE – Menopause: identification and management (NG23)
- ACOG – Compounded Bioidentical Menopausal Hormone Therapy
- ISSWSH – Clinical Practice Guideline for Systemic Testosterone in Women
- WADA – Prohibited List
Leave a short note – we will call you back.
Two minutes, four questions. For prescriptions, reports or administrative matters there is a separate form – no appointment needed.
Send your details – I will get back to you.
Vertraulich. A detailed personal consultation always takes place before any treatment.
Book your appointment online.
Online via Doctena or by phone at +41 61 666 62 10.
Emergency: For acute, severe symptoms outside office hours, call the medical emergency line 144 or go to the emergency department of the University Hospital Basel.
Medical notice: The content of this page is for general information only and does not replace personal medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Measures are discussed individually during the consultation and are based on medical history, examination and current guidelines.
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