Menopause Care

What We Offer

We offer evidence-based advice on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and treatment of bladder and genital symptoms associated with low oestrogen, for cis women, non-binary and transgender people.

We prescribe body-identical oestrogen and progesterone, vaginal oestrogens and testosterone, as well as lifestyle advice and non-pharmacological interventions tailored to your needs and preferences, to help with symptom control and long-term health.

What Is The Menopause?

Menopause and Perimenopause happen to all people who have ovaries. It occurs when the ovaries either stop working naturally, stop working because of treatment received, or are surgically removed. Varying degrees of symptoms are experienced, but for all, there are long-term health implications.

Age at Menopause (12 months after last Menstrual Period) UK

Average:
52 years

Early Menopause:
The last period occurs between the ages of 40-45 (5 in 100)

POI (Premature Ovarian Insufficiency/Premature Menopause):
Last period before the age of 40 1 in 100
Last period before the age of 30 1 in 1000
Last period before the age of 20 1 in 10,000
(5-10 % of people with POI may still conceive)

Symptoms

There is increasing awareness of the signs and symptoms of Menopause. These can include
ANY change in periods
Hot flushes/night sweats
Mood problems, irritability, anxiousness, palpitations, difficulty managing stress, loss of confidence
Poor sleep
Loss of libido
Brain fog and reduced concentration/losing words
Changes to skin and hair
Muscle and joint aches/increase in tendon injuries
Changes in headaches/migraines/dizziness and vertigo

Most of these symptoms can be compounded by other situations and circumstances – parents getting older and needing input, children growing up and leaving (or not leaving) home, changes in pressures at work or in a work situation, physical illness, changes in the relationship with partner or health of partner, and losing the ability to conceive is not at all the same as actively choosing not to conceive.

What Can I Do?

Far from being the beginning of the end, this change in hormone status provides an opportunity to re-evaluate all of the facets of life – lifestyle, situational, emotional and physical.
We aim to provide you with the time to discuss what is important for you, and to advise you on your options, offering evidence-based up-to-date medical evidence as well as discussing non-pharmaceutical options to help you to make the choices that are right for you as an individual.

Blood Tests

Blood tests are not required to diagnose Menopause occurring at the usual age, however, depending upon your history, investigations may be advised to exclude other causes of your symptoms.
NICE recommends blood testing for women experiencing Premature or Early menopause – these are not helpful in all cases – it is however particularly important to exclude other causes of symptoms in this group of people.

Hormone blood tests may be carried out to monitor oestrogen replacement, and are always carried out to monitor Testosterone replacement.

Appointments

All appointments can be conducted either Face to Face or by Video/Telephone. We do not offer email consultations except to clarify prescribing instructions or appointment recommendations.

All new patients will be asked to complete a medical history form, and to send clinic letters if available for past diagnoses of Breast cancer, Gynaecological Cancers (ovaries, womb, cervix) and Gynae operations.

A symptom questionnaire will be sent to you – we ask that you submit it at least 24 hours before your appointment.

Please note that we do not offer emergency services.

Booking An Appointment

New and Follow up Appointments can be booked online, by telephone on 0121 745 7400, or by emailing us at connect@shcc.co.uk.
Brief telephone appointments can only be booked by contacting the Clinic by email (preferably) or telephone.

Payment For And Cancellation Of Appointments

We understand that circumstances can change – if you wish to re-arrange or cancel your appointment, there will be no charge if this is done more than 2 working days prior to your appointment.
Full payment will be due if less than 48 working hours’ notice is provided.

Clinic Letters

A letter will be emailed to you following all appointments. We do not currently send GP letters but recommend that you send a copy of your clinic letter to your GP.

Additional Letters

A letter will be emailed to you following all appointments. We do not currently send GP letters but recommend that you send a copy of your clinic letter to your GP. If letters are required for referral to other services an administration fee will be charged

Prescriptions

Please note that we are a private clinic and cannot issue NHS prescriptions- all prescriptions are private and the pharmacy will charge you for the cost of the medications prescribed.

Prescriptions will be sent to an online pharmacy that will arrange to deliver your medication to you. If you would prefer to collect your private prescription from the clinic to take it to a pharmacy of your choice this can be arranged. Please note that prescriptions cannot be emailed to you.

There will be no additional charge for prescriptions issued within a consultation, but an administration fee will be charged for prescriptions issued between consultations.

Ordering Repeat Prescriptions

Please use our contact form here for repeat prescriptions.

Recommended Resources

www.menopausematters.co.uk

www.balance-menopause.com

www.daisynetwork.org for Premature Menopause.

Our tightly-knit team work together to provide you with the best clinical and customer service possible