Menopause consultation | Menopause test

Menopause Consultation | Menopause Test | Private HRT Treatment 

When it comes to menopause, everyone has a different experience. Your symptoms will be unique to you so that means your treatment also needs to be unique. That’s why we have put together a specialist menopause package to ensure you can get the right treatment for your individual needs. This specialist consultation is available to anyone who needs it and we advise it for people who are:

• Experiencing menopause or perimenopause symptoms
• Exploring starting HRT
• Wanting to change their HRT
• Looking to stop using HRT
• Wanting to have an in-depth discussion about how to manage their menopause or perimenopause symptoms.

 

Our Initial Menopause Consultation

Our menopause clinics run out of our Chislehurst and Oxford Street locations. You will have a 45 minute appointment with a menopause specialist during which we will:

• Talk through your symptoms and full medical history with a specialist menopause  GP
• Conduct a full well person blood test profile
• Complete blood tests to check your hormone levels including your FSH
• Conduct an examination as necessary
• Discuss treatment options and where appropriate dispense HRT medications
• Provide a full report at the end of your consultation with tailored expert advice

The menopause consultation will cost £429 and includes all of the above tests. If you require any additional tests or examinations, this will be discussed in your appointment.

 

Our menopause specialists

Starting HRT

If HRT is suitable for you then we may be able to dispense medication in clinic and get you started on your treatment straight away. There are multiple ways to take HRT and we will discuss your unique case in detail to find the right course of treatment. This may be:

• HRT tablets
• HRT patches
• Transdermal gels, creams and pessaries

There are some cases where HRT would not be suitable and in these cases we will explore all other available options which may include but are not limited to:

• Lubricants – this relieves symptoms of vaginal dryness. This includes oestrogen creams, lubricants and moisturisers.
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) – these are widely used as antidepressants and anxiety medications that can help control low mood.
• Talking therapy – this can also be used to help with low mood and anxiety

 

Additional Tests and Treatments

In some instances, it may be necessary to conduct additional tests these may include:

• Testosterone levels
• Smear Tests
• Vaginal Swabs
• Sexual Health Test
• A mammogram or breast ultrasound (referral)
• A DEXA Bone Scan (referral)

 

Follow up appointment

In your follow-up appointment, your menopause symptoms will typically be reviewed by the specialist menopause GP you saw for your initial appointment.

Please be aware this appointment is only suitable if you have had an appointment with one of our Specialist Menopause GPs, and they have requested that you be seen for a follow-up.

 

Understanding menopause

Menopause is when a woman stops having her menstrual cycle and is no longer able to get pregnant naturally. This is a natural part of the ageing process and occurs as the women’s oestrogen level declines. Once the ovaries stop producing as much oestrogen then an egg is no longer released each month.

The average age for menopause is around 51, however, it can happen at any time between the age of 45 to 55 years old. For some women, menopause can occur before they are 40 and this is considered premature menopause.

Menopause symptoms

Symptoms vary from woman to woman and can also range in severity. Symptoms often begin months or years before menstruation stops and can last for around 4 years post your last period. Some women can also experience them for much longer.

Common symptoms include:

• Hot flushes
• Night sweats
• Low mood including depression and anxiety
• Insomnia
• Poor memory and concentration
• Vaginal dryness and discomfort during sex
• Reduced libido

Perimenopause

Perimenopause is the first stage of menopause and refers to the changes in the body as key female hormones start to change. This transitionary period is usually when menopause symptoms start and can last for years. For most women, perimenopause can start as early as mid-30s and as late as mid-50s. For some, it only lasts a few months and for others, it can continue for between four and eight years.

The most common symptoms of perimenopause are:

• Irregular periods
• Hot flushes
• Vaginal dryness (also known as vaginal atrophy)

This is because your ovaries are producing less oestrogen as your body prepares to stop releasing eggs. This is a natural progression of female ageing and the reproductive cycle. During perimenopause, though your fertility is decreasing, pregnancy is still possible. Therefore, if you are not planning to have any more children it is advisable to continue to use contraception. You’re into menopause once you have 12 consecutive months without a period.

How do your hormones change during perimenopause?

Oestrogen levels start to decline which throws off the balance with progesterone, which is also produced in the ovaries. As the two hormones are responsible for ovulation and menstruation, this causes an imbalance and leads to fluctuations in hormones levels impacting both physical symptoms and your mood.

Symptoms to look out for

Hormones fluctuations that cause irregular periods during perimenopause are completely normal. However, some conditions can cause abnormal menstrual bleeding and these need to be investigated. If you experience any of the following, then you should speak to a healthcare professional as soon as possible:

• Experiencing pain during sex or spotting after sex
• Spotting or bleeding after your period
• Unusually heavy periods and/or blood clots
• Period lasting several days longer than usual
• Periods occurring closer together

Potential causes will be discussed with your doctor following examinations which sometimes include an ultrasound.

 

Diagnosing Perimenopause and Menopause

For most women, managing symptoms at home and with the help of your doctor is all that is required during this transitionary period. A formal diagnosis is provided if your symptoms are interfering with your everyday life want to rule out other causes of your symptoms. This can be done via a menopause test or blood profile.

What is a menopause test?

A menopause test isn’t as simple as it sounds. We will conduct a menopause test through a series of blood tests and examinations. There a multiple ways to test for menopause, however you do not always need to have a blood test or examination to receive your diagnosis. The options we have available as a menopause test outside of our full consultation includes:

 

FSH (follicle stimulation hormone) Blood Tests

Testing the FSH levels can indicate whether you are in menopause if you have a consistently high level. However, testing FSH levels alone can be misleading if you are still within perimenopause when your hormone levels are still fluctuating. FSH levels are also affected by birth control pills or any hormone therapy, as well as hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) and high prolactin.

 

Treatment for perimenopause and menopause symptoms

If your symptoms are affecting your day-to-day life, then you can speak to one of our doctors about treatments to help ease the symptoms.

• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) – this relieves symptoms by replacing oestrogen. Options include tablets, skin patches, gels and implants.
• Lubricants – this relieves symptoms of vaginal dryness. This includes oestrogen creams, lubricants and moisturisers.
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) – these are widely used as antidepressants and anxiety medications that can help control low mood.
• Talking therapy – this can also be used to help with low mood and anxiety

As well as the above treatment options, our GPs will also advise you on dietary and exercise needs as staying fit and healthy can help improve some menopausal symptoms.

Further reading

Menopause – NHS

What is Menopause? – National Institute of Aging

Early Menopause/Premature Menopause

 

Reviewed by: Dr Preethi Daniel, GP & Clinical Director at London Doctors Clinic

Published: April 2022

Review Date: April 2025