MPs told NHS should give meno check at 45

[PalatineHill]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-63212957

Sounds like a great idea. (Though I’ve never heard of anyone being offered a health check at 40). Would you welcome this? If so.. write to your MP!
The Women’s Health Strategy was the UK government’s first ever attempt to help women across so many key health issues but seems to have been completely ignored since the arrival of Truss and Coffey. Worth mentioning that to your MP too to put pressure on the government to carry out its aims. Truss and Coffey weren’t voted in so they have no mandate for dropping it.
I think we all know by now that if we don’t ask, we don’t get. And too often, when we do ask, we still don’t get. It doesn’t have to be like this.

I would rather they put money into encouraging GPs to set up specialist clinics, and training doctors or nurses to run the clinics, then women can access should they choose to do so.

There is no point in having a menopause appointment with someone who does not have the first clue about menopause.

Everyone is offered a health check at 40 a far as I'm aware - we certainly were.

What the heck is a meno check?

The start of the menopause and peri menopause varies so much in women I think the money would be better spent training GPs and nurses how to deal with it better when women approach. Not a one size fits all tactic. I’m very lucky that my GP understands, but when I asked him how long the symptoms last, even he just shrugged and said, “Could be 6 months, could be 6 years. I honestly can’t tell you.”

Familytree I agree, not not sure that this isn’t that. It doesn’t specify who would do the check.

A health check is cardiovascular health screening. We don't have time or the training to go into menopause questions. That's for the GP.

My last ‘health check’ at my GP surgery consisted of a very overweight HCA giving me healthy eating advice, a quick blood pressure test and asking me about my smoking habits. Never smoked, am a sensible weight and check my own blood pressure every month or so.

My HRT review was carried out by a GP who gave me completely incorrect information.

Personally I think the NHS has a very long way to go before this is a good idea.

I was told by my GP when highly symptomatic at 44, to come back and ask them for HRT when I was 51, the average age of menopause.
So I agree it’s individually variable, but I think that a baseline check would raise awareness and preparedness in both professionals and patients which is a good thing.

You should have had a whole set of bloods done to check lipids, liver and kidney function, glucose etc. That's the most valuable part of the whole thing tbh.

Yes when I approached the GP about HRT first aged 49, 5 years after my hysterectomy, I was sent off with a prescription for folic acid and a recommendation to look at Headspace. Totally useless.

I agree with @GreenFingersWouldBeHandy .
I didn’t start peri-menopause until I was 52 so I’m not sure how a check-up when I was 40 would have had any use. What are they going to check? Or will it just be talking about recognising the signs and symptoms?
It would be better to train GPs and health care professionals to respond when women present themselves.
It just sounds like a tick box exercise so the government can say they are addressing the issues.

I didn't have a health check at 40. Feeling deprived.

I think specialist clinics would be a good idea. Often women seem to be told that this is just normal by GPs. I think having an informed place to turn to would be a good idea.

this is exacty why the idea is nonsense.

You were 41 and needed intervention. My SIL in a similar position was shocked to be told she needed HRT and was menopausal, as she was not expecting it.

I am 55 and have never had any symptoms, and I have no periods because I have a mirena coil.

There is no one age that people go through menopause, so a random 45 check is meaningless

Hardly think this is an appropriate use of GPs time when face to face appointments are so scarce.

If anyone is in Scotland, Kaye Adams is discussing this on her BBC Scotland show this morning. She also just said that the report says current menopause support is "woefully inadequate" which I think we can all agree with.

I was offered a healthcheck at 40. Between 3pm and 5pm Monday to Friday. Just when I was collecting the children from school. Chocolate teapot sprang to mind. There was no flexibility. I didn't have it.

Last couple if years am 60 now - I have been offered things they get quota money for: blood pressure, bowel cancer, etc., but impossible to get an appointment if one is ill - dealing with a lesion for example.

My last ‘health check’ at my GP surgery consisted of a very overweight HCA giving me healthy eating advice, a quick blood pressure test and asking me about my smoking habits. Never smoked, am a sensible weight and check my own blood pressure every month or so

Heh. At mine my medical records showed I'd gone from 92kg to 75kg over a few years and the HCA asked me how I'd done it 🙂

I think it's a good thing for women to be offered a menopause check. It's not compulsory, nor is it a waste of time or money. It will pick up symptoms that could become much more serious later. But it isn't compulsory. Unless my endrometriosis flares up again or I start getting symptoms I won't need a menopause check until I'm 55 as I'll be on the pill until then.

I'm in Scotland, I do not get regular health checks.

I do see the nurse at the asthma clinic every so often, and they keep writing to me to go for a smear, on a cervix I no longer have.

Presumably like the 40+ check, it will be 45+, so you can have one at any time after the age of 45 as and when you need it. It will not be assumed that you are menopausal nor forced.

Oh and I totally agree that a menopause check is GOOD THING. As long as it's properly trained nurses or GPs doing the check.

Nearly all GPs have a Well Woman clinic. It should be offered by the GP runs this. Or through specially trained nurses outside the GP system.

My health check at 40 involves several things including blood test, urine sample, lifestyle questionnaire, BMI, cardiovascular screening etc. This was 5 years ago.

Nearly all GPs have a Well Woman clinic. It should be offered by the GP runs this. Or through specially trained nurses outside the GP system.

That’s great she said that FamilyTreeBuilder it’s very true!

My NHS over 40 check said I had zero chance of cardiac problems in the next ten years, even though I was still slightly overweight. I thought that was quite confident of them!

I think this is a good idea IF it means that all HCPs will start to be properly informed about menopause and stop giving out wrong, outdated, contradictory and highly variable advice depending on who you speak to. I think ALL women should be informed about what menopause is, when it is likely to happen, what the symptoms are, and how they can be treated, if women wish to access treatment.

The women I know who are well-informed about menopause currently are the ones who've informed themselves, which is ridiculous. There has to be more correct, up-to-date information available and there should be proper teaching for all HCPs that is compulsory, not some optional module that most of them didn't bother to take, because hey, it's just old women right?