Menopause Checks in NHS Health Check for Women Over 40
Campaigners and members of the UK Parliament are advocating for women to be offered “menopause checks” by general practitioners once they reach the age of 40. The Menopause All-Party Parliamentary Group suggests that this should be a part of the NHS Health Check, which is currently available every five years for individuals between the ages of 40 and 74. Lawmakers point out that many women over 40 consult their GPs for symptoms without realizing that they are undergoing menopause.
Mariella Frostrup, who leads the Menopause Mandate campaign, expressed that it’s absurd for menopause information to be excluded from the NHS Health Check. The existing free health check focuses on conditions like heart disease and diabetes. Frostrup emphasized that the majority of women self-diagnose their menopause, with only 12% receiving a diagnosis from a healthcare professional. She argues that this is unacceptable in modern times.
The Menopause All-Party Parliamentary Group also stated that medical professionals often overlook menopause symptoms. The group calls for more efforts to ensure doctors feel “capable and confident” in prescribing all forms of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which can alleviate menopause symptoms. Carolyn Harris, the chairwoman of the group, mentioned that there are still numerous challenges to overcome in providing adequate support for women going through menopause.
