Menopause & Peri-Menopause Advice & Treatment
Dr Hukins based in our Bournemouth clinic and Dr Freeman based in our Ashley Cross clinic are here to advise and support you no matter where you are on the peri-menopause and menopause journey.
The journey & possible symptoms along the way
Peri-menopause - The journey starts when you are just not feeling yourself anymore and you are wondering if the symptoms you have could be due to peri-menopause. While the average woman starts peri-menopause in their 40s, it can begin as early as the late 30s. This stage can last for several years and you may still have regular menstrual periods.
Menopause - This is the middle of your journey and leads up to the time that you have gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. Some symptoms can be worse in the 1-2 years leading up to your final period and affects up to 80% of women.
Post-menopause - This is the time after your menstrual periods have stopped. Many women experience a gradual decrease in symptoms, although some may linger for years. It is important to monitor at this stage any long term health problems.
Whichever stage of the journey you are at, our doctors can help, support and provide you with any required treatment.
The following symptoms are common and can be suffered at any stage.
Brain fog
Insomnia
Fatigue
Joint pain
Anxiety
Digestive issues
Hot flushes & Night Sweats
Depression
Poor immune function
Brain Fog & Poor memory
Vaginal Dryness or Itching
Headaches or Tinnitus (ringing in ears)
Unexplained weight gain
Reduced Libido & less sexual enjoyment
Heart Palpitations
Irregular Periods
Urinary Issues - Increased frequency and more UTIs
Skin & Hair Changes
How we can help
40-minute initial peri-menopause & menopause appointment - £233
Every patient's peri-menopause & menopause journey is different and it is important that you have long enough with the doctor to assess, advise and treat you. This is why our initial peri-menopause & menopause appointments are 40-minutes long.
By delving deeply into your symptoms, past history and family history, our highly experienced doctors will help guide your decisions on both Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and non-hormonal treatments. There are several ways to optimise your health and wellbeing during the menopause and we can help you with nutrition, supplements and exercise.
Before your appointment, you will be asked to complete a symptoms questionnaire and this is very important for the doctor to see on the day and will aid them during your appointment.
Appointments can be made with Dr Hukins or Dr Freeman as face to face or video consultations. The doctors may suggest a set of blood tests as it is sometimes important to rule out any underlying medical problems which may be causing your symptoms and are not necessarily hormone related. The tests will be arranged at another convenient time as soon as possible. Please note, the cost of blood tests vary depending on the laboratory charge, but we will provide you with the cost before any blood test appointment is arranged.
For more information regarding the peri-menopause & menopause appointments please click on the FAQ box below.
Follow up appointments with Dr Hukins or Dr Freeman
These can be 20 or 30 minute appointments depending on the outcome of the first appointment and any test results received. The doctor will advise the best follow-up appointment for you, but you can of course request additional follow-up appointments at any time if you have questions or concerns.
20-minute follow-up appointment - £93
30-minute follow-up appointment - £139.50
FAQs
What is the Peri-Menopause & Menopause?
The menopause is when your ovaries stop producing eggs and levels of the hormones oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone fall. The clinical definition of the menopause is when you haven’t had a period for 12 consecutive months.
The peri-menopause is the time before the menopause when your hormone levels start to decline. Your periods may still be regular or they can have changed in nature or frequency. All of this is a natural process but it can cause physical and emotional symptoms. Some women may get a couple of symptoms, but some may have many.
What are the symptoms of Peri-Menopause & Menopause?
- A change in the normal pattern of your periods (irregular)
- Low mood, lack of motivation, anxiety, mood swings and low self-esteem
- Poor mental focus or problems with concentration (brain fog)
- Hot flushes, when you have sudden feelings of hot or cold in your face, neck and chest which can make you dizzy
- Night sweats
- Tiredness and insomnia
- Headaches
- Joint Pains or numbness and tingling in arms, legs, hands or feet
- Low sex drive or changes in sexual pleasure
- Painful sexual intercourse
- Vaginal dryness or vulval soreness
- Urinary and bladder problems/infections
- Weight Gain
What age can the Peri-Menopause & Menopause start?
The average age for peri-menopause is early to mid-40s, however it can happen earlier or later for reasons such as genetics or due to surgery or treatment.
Some women experience peri-menopause over several years or it may only be for a few months before your periods stop completely.
The average age of menopause is 51. (When you have not had a period for 12 consecutive months). Menopause before 45 is known as an early menopause and menopause before the age of 40 is known as premature ovarian insufficiency (POI).
POI is more common than you may think. It affects 1 in 100 women under the age of 40 and 1 in 1000 women under the age of 30.
How can Dr Hukins at Dorset Private GP help?
You can book an initial 40-minute appointment with Dr Hukins every Tuesday at our Bournemouth clinic or Dr Lucy Freeman every Monday at our Ashley Cross clinic. An email will be sent to you at the time of booking and this requests you to complete and submit a health and medical form which also contains a symptoms questionnaire.
At your appointment with the doctor, she will go through your symptoms and medical history with you. There will be plenty of time to ask questions and discuss next steps. Both of our doctors are extremely experienced in this area and have a wealth of knowledge and passion to help women.
The doctor may recommend you have some blood testing carried out as this is important to rule out something other than hormones for causing your symptoms. Or, if you are already taking any HRT medication, then the doctor may need to check your hormone levels. We can arrange the blood testing on another day for you as soon as possible.
Blood tests are priced depending on the laboratory fee, but we will always give you the cost before booking in an appointment. There is a phlebotomy fee of £40 for the appointment plus the laboratory fee of the test(s).
How much are blood tests if they are required?
The doctor may suggest you need a blood test to check your general health. There are many different tests the doctor can choose from depending on your symptoms. The tests range from £50 to £110, depending on what is required.
If the doctor suggests some hormone blood tests, there is also a range to choose from depending on your symptoms/treatment. The prices range from £43 to £120
If a more specialised test needs to be added onto the above tests, (for example, a rheumatoid or coeliac disease test), then this will increase the overall price.
Please note the prices above are the laboratory fees and we charge a set £40 phlebotomy fee for the blood test appointment.
What are the treatments for Peri-Menopause and Menopause?
The most effective treatment for the relief of immediate symptoms is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).
The doctor can prescribe the following types of HRT. Not all of the following are always required and doses can be altered over a few months.
- Body identical oestrogen – administered trans-dermally (via the skin) using patches, gel or spray.
- Body identical progesterone – administered orally or via a Coil (which can be fitted at our clinic by Dr Rosemary Crinion)
- Testosterone replacement – administered as a cream or gel onto the skin
For any genitourinary problems such as vaginal dryness, vulval soreness, pain on intercourse or recurrent urinary infections, there is local oestrogen medication available which is administered inside the vagina or can be applied to the vulva.
As well as HRT, there are also other ways to help alleviate symptoms and these include changes to your diet and lifestyle. The doctor will be able to provide this advice and you may feel that you would also like the support of our trusted nutritional expert.
What are the long-term benefits of HRT?
HRT not only helps relieve unwanted symptoms, but it also helps protect women from multiple long-term problems.
- Protection against osteoporosis (thinning of the bones)
- Cardiovascular protection (reduces blood pressure and coronary events such as heart attacks)
- Protects cognitive function (can reduce dementia risk)
- Reduces risk of diabetes developing
How can I make a booking or ask any questions?
To make a booking online, please click here.
If you have any queries or you would like to make a booking by email or over the phone, please contact us on 01202 139578 or reception@dorsetprivategp.co.uk. Alternatively, you can fill in the Contact Form below.