If you are going to the dr about menopause read the NICE guidelines

[PollyPerky]

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/chapter/recommendations

I'm linking to these a lot. I'm happy to pass on the things I've learned on my meno journey but there is loads online too.

Menopause Matters is a great site and the Nice guidelines tell GPs how they should treat symptoms.

A very helpful link - thank you.

Thank you! I'm just about to make an appointment, and I'm worried I'm going to be fobbed off with ad's like last time 😞.

Menopause Matters is a great place for women to discuss menopause. Nice to see Polly too.

@swizzlestar - I do get fed up when I hear GP do not take women seriously. My GP has been very supportive and I am post-menopausal now. Still have the odd symptom.

Can you not see another GP?

I actually had an appointment this morning to discuss my symptoms and thankfully it seems my lovely GP had already read those guidelines!

I asked time and time again for testosterone for sexual problems and was just a) ignored b) told it isn't available in the UK c) discuss it another time as GP was too bussy to discuss this in one session.
I might still be married now if this had been sorted out.

I don't think testosterone is available on the NHS anymore but I read somewhere that it is available privately and costs approx £30 per month.

You're absolutely right Polly. As someone who had a surgical menopause at 36, it's really important to know what the guidelines are. I'd also add that asking for a referral to a specialist menopause clinic is a good move - especially if you're non-typical.

Thanks Polly - very useful to have the link to hand.

Testosterone is available on the NHS. See the NICE guidelines! I am sure that somewhere it says 'consider testosterone in women with low libiodo'.

It's not licensed for women as such but they can give the 'male' type but advise women to use a small amount. There are many women on the Menopause Matters forum posting on this and some have got it from NHS GPs.