How to talk to your GP about menopause
What we hear
Lots of women tell us that they know something’s happening. Their body doesn’t look and feel like it used to. They feel like their former self is slipping away. They have brain fog, loss of concentration, problems keeping on top of their work, joint aches and body pain, weight gain, emotions all over the place, and intimate relationship suffering.
It sounds like hell and feels horrible.
What to do
The first port of call is often the doctor also known in the UK as a GP which is short for General Practitioner. Making an appointment with an NHS doctor can be a challenge in itself, let alone figuring out what to say when you get into the short consultation.
But be careful, because we hear horror stories of doctors who haven’t been trained in menopause. Or don’t take it seriously. Or misdiagnose as depression. (Please know that antidepressants don’t address the root cause of menopause: hormonal changes to levels of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone.) As these hormone levels drop, menopause symptoms can emerge.
Some women go through menopause without noticing. Others have a horrendous time.
So if you are suffering, your doctor can help.
Preparation is key
So preparation is key to an effective conversation with your doctor.
It’s worth finding out if there’s a doctor at your local surgery who has a special interest in menopause. If so, ask for that doctor!
Keep records of your symptoms. Write down when your last period was, any changes you’ve noticed which are physical, emotional, sexual, professional. Doctors respond well to evidence and the imact this is having on your life.
What’s helpful to know in advance
Know that the official healthcare guidelines¹ for menopause start with HRT – Hormone Replacement Therapy – not anti-depressants. Say this. Even if HRT isn’t right for you, task your doctor with exploring other medical interventions that might help you.
Even if you’re underwhelmed with your doctor’s response. You can still help yourself by looking into ways to improve your sleep, stress levels, work routine. The usual advice of good nutrition and low-exertion exercise like walking or yoga are really good ideas. So is taking a broad-spectrum multi-vitamin.
This will help you:
You’re unique, so a tailored response is required, just for you.
Our advice is encapsulated in a free resource: Questions to ask your doctor about HRT
To take a deeper dive into these themes, check out our ebooks for more detail.
¹ NICE guidelines [NG23] published in 2015 by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence