Speaking to your GP about Menopause
Talking to your GP about Perimenopause / Menopause
It’s time to speak to your GP if your menopausal symptoms are getting in the way of you leading your normal life and before they become intolerable. Here are some ways you can prepare fully for your appointment:
• When making the appointment ask for the practice GP that specialises in female
health issues or if there is a practice nurse that is menopause trained.
• See if you can book a double appointment (either a telephone call or an in-person
appointment).
• Prepare for your appointment so that you can provide your GP with the maximum
amount of information on your symptoms.
• Use a menopause symptom checker to determine which symptoms you are
experiencing and the extent to which you are having them.
• Also keep a record of your menstrual cycle so that you can identify any changes in
the cycle length, and amount of blood flow.
• If you feel comfortable take your partner or a friend with you so they can help
support you during the appointment and during this stage in your life.
What should you expect from your GP? (as per NICE Guidelines 05/12/2019)
• Provide individualised care:
o Adopt an individualised approach at all stages of diagnosis, investigation
and management of menopause
• Provide a diagnosis of perimenopause / menopause typically without
recommending blood tests in healthy women aged over 45 who have:
- vasomotor symptoms and irregular periods
- not had a period for at least 12 months and are not using hormonal
contraception
- are without a uterus.
• Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) tests are typically only used to diagnose
menopause:
o in women aged 40 to 45 years with menopausal symptoms, including a
change in their menstrual cycle
o in women aged under 40 years in whom menopause is suspected
• Your GP should provide you with an explanation of the stages of menopause
• Discuss your symptoms and other common symptoms
• Determine your lifestyle and if there are any changes or interventions that could
help with your general health and well-being and in managing your symptoms.
• Discuss the benefits and risks of different treatments for menopause symptoms,
such as hormone replacement therapy and other non-medical options.
(More detailed information on NICE guide lines for GP’s and menopause symptoms and
prescriptions can be found here:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/chapter/Recommendations#individualised-care)
What your GP should not do!
• Tell you that it’s just that time of your life. Yes menopause is a natural life stage
but it doesn’t mean that you should have to put up with symptoms that impact
upon your quality of life.
• Decline to prescribe HRT. It’s up to you what you want to try and for them to say
whether it could be right for you, depending on your medical history.
• Impose time restrictions on prescribing HRT e.g., they’ll only prescribe this once
or for a year or two. This is an ongoing conversation and if your symptoms persist,
you’ll still need help to manage them.