It is generally acknowledged that a deterioration in short-term memory performance is a common symptom of the menopause in women 'of a certain age', and remembering to take an HRT pill or change a patch on the correct day can present a significant challenge to those so affected.
So the news that scientists have developed a toothpaste that is capable of delivering the daily dose of hormones into the bloodstream via the lining of the cheek could come as a welcome relief. Even the most absent-minded of us is unlikely to forget to brush our teeth.
The toothpaste is infused with the synthetic oestrogen estradiol, according to details revealed to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. In tests conducted by researches from Eastern Virginia Medical School on 15 women aged from 40 to 65, brushing with the paste once a day for a week was found to deliver enough oestrogen to relieve menopausal symptoms in 12 of the patients.
The special toothpaste would, however, have to be kept out of the reach of children and men. According to the researcher, Dr David Archer, men who used the paste once by accident were unlikely to be affected, but a daily oestrogen dose could lead to them developing breasts and a loss of libido. But a passionate kiss with a woman who used the toothpaste wouldn't do any harm.
Perhaps this will be the start of a new 'brush-off': not tonight, darling, I've got a toothache.