Navigating menopause conversations with your doctor

It’s not uncommon for women to feel their concerns are not listened to when they’re discussing women’s health issues, particularly during the perimenopause and menopause. Sometimes, it can leave you feeling unhappy with your care (or lack of it), and that’s not ok. If you’ve had a not-so-great consultation with your doctor, consider trying these tips next time:

1. Find the right person:

Your go-to should be the GP who understands and may specialise in women’s health. This may be the GP dealing with contraception appointments at the surgery. The receptionist usually knows who this person is. You will need to explain clearly why you specifically need a menopause consultation. This can make sure you see exactly the right person.

2. Be a web detective:

Dive into the internet and social media. There is so much excellent information about the menopause at our fingertips. Doctors appreciate it when you’ve done a bit of homework and you know a little about treatment options and maybe even have an idea of what you’d like to start taking. Doing your research beforehand also makes it easier to think of those pesky questions that usually appear after you’ve left the doctor’s surgery.

3. List those symptoms:

Menopausal brain fog is real. This combined with anxiety about seeing a doctor can mean you struggle to think about what you want to say when you have an appointment. It can be helpful to write down the symptoms you want to talk about. It’s like a cheat sheet for your memory, and it means you can dive straight into the important stuff without wasting time.

4. Take notes:

Take a notepad or make notes on your phone during your appointment, even without menopausal brain fog, it’s difficult to remember everything that’s been said. Having your own record of advice and action points is like having a personalised menopause game plan.

5. Ask for a golden ticket:

If getting help is feeling like a maze, and you’ve seen more doctors than you can remember at your surgery, ask for a referral to a specialist NHS menopause clinic. These are usually in large teaching hospitals and run by menopause experts who have seen hundreds of women just like you. Unfortunately waiting times for these NHS appointments can be long. If you have the resources to see a menopause specialist privately, this may be a better (and quicker) option.

Remember, it’s your health journey, so own it. Do a bit of research, speak to friends and family who have been through the same thing, be honest with your doctor and if you need to, request a referral to a specialist. Bear in mind that perimenopause blood tests are not usually helpful particularly if you are still having regular periods. Also, although symptoms usually start around 45, they may well start before this. The help you need is definitely out there and it can make a huge difference to how you feel.