Private menopause clinic - is it worth it?

[Libre2]

Hi, I am beyond exhausted at the moment, anxious the entire time and have no libido. I know that I am horrible to live with and whilst DH is understanding and kind, if I were him, I'd be off. I am assuming (hoping?) that I'm not just an arsehole but that it is perimenopause - I am 50.

I did have a call with a GP about a year ago now who prescribed me iron and propranolol but said that I wasn't in menopause. I am considering going to a menopause specialist clinic as a. I still feel like I am wasting GP time on this and b. they won't have time to give me and I would like a proper conversation.

I have looked and they are about £290 for the first consultation. Is it worth it and if so, how do you choose which one?

we don't have the energy to fight it do we?! so we shouldn't;t feel bad. The only thing I feel bad about is I have the option of going to private if I choose, and not every woman does and hopefully I feel better soon and can join Davina in the fight, just not yet! Glad to hear you had a good experience at Newson, its in my list of considerations.

memory is a big problem for me too, is this quite common with peri?

Private care is worth it if you are getting something your GP can't offer. It's also worth knowing that private insurance won't cover menopause but it will cover symptoms that need investigating and could be menopausal (or something else.)
If your GP isn't up to much re. menopause, you could try taking in the NICE guidance and using your own knowledge to ask for what you want.
If you do decide to pay for private treatment, if it's that or a holiday or new clothes (and not everyone can afford those either) decide what's of more value.

I haven’t read all the thread, however my wife went to one, I think around the same cost. No examination, nothing apart from selling her a load of some form of HRT. Tablets and cream I think.
This didn’t appear to help matters. However on an appointment with me with at the NHS doctor, she bought this up, the doctor was displeased with the lack of examination etc. Gave her a prescription for patches and all been fine ever since.

What examination do you think is necessary at an appointment to discuss menopause @takeaflight ? Because that isn’t standard procedure. Do you mean height/weight/blood pressure? I had that done before going in to see the GP but I hadn’t been seen for anything at that practice before and they had nothing recent on record from my previous GP.

You don't need to be examined to be prescribed Hrt.

And at a standard appointment you would come away with HRT - probably 2 different meds, and vaginal oestrogen- also probably 2 different meds.

That's not selling, it's standard. And if they don't work That's why you have follow up to check on doses and side effects.

While admittedly I haven’t looked it up, I would expect to pay quite a lot for a specialist nurse consult.

I’m an accountant and you’d pay £1,250 to get an hour of my time - and no one’s health is in my hands.

What’s unfortunate is the NHS poor offering, not the private clinics filling the gap.

Seriously? £1, 250?

An actual specialist, yes I can and have paid for. The last one was £185 for the appointment, an ophthalmologist. I have seen an endocrinologist before, £100-200. A nurse, to discuss menopause at Newson for half hour, is £185, compared to their GP's, I think £260. Neither are specialists. The nurse appointment is far too much in comparison.

I've been on the waiting list to see the specialist for nearly 2 years on NHS wish I had just gone private!

Yes. It is one of a suite of symptoms of peri menopause and menopause. Of course it is possible to have memory issues and it not be menopause.

I’m an accountant and you’d pay £1,250 to get an hour of my time - and no one’s health is in my hands.

Surely not.

I know friends who've used top City divorce lawyers not charging that.

The rate for a medical consultant is around £275-£350 and for that you get 45 mins usually, sometimes stretching to an hour.

I think Newson is pricy in that the nurses and GPs charge consultant fees.

I pay £90 a tube which lasts me 2 months, my dose is 0.75ml, no supply issues. It's called androfeme xx

Thanks all- that is ally really helpful. I have filled in an e-consult for my GP's surgery (I say "my" GP, I have never seen the same person twice so have no idea who my GP actually is) and will wait and see what comes out of it. DH said if there's "any dicking around from the NHS just go private" which I think is what I shall do - I just don't have the energy any more, which sounds a bit pathetic I know.

Not at all pathetic. We shouldn't have to feel we need to go into battle to get help....but we do time and time again

Yep, for me it was the first sign of peri. It got so bad, I thought I was having early onset of dementia. I messed up banking, admin, left pans on the hob to dry boil etc. It took a friend to point out my age + these symptoms could well be peri.

I started HRT last year and it’s been so much better.

I’m going to a Newson clinic next week. I’ve reached the end of the road with my GP who has been good throughout peri but things have changed a lot in the last year and I’m struggling and there’s very little relief.
I can’t take progesterone as pills due to bad reactions, patches are ok but limited in the amount of oestrogen. My GP couldn’t get a coil in due to a tiny cervix so I’m on a long waiting list for a special gynae clinic and in the meantime my symptoms are back plus new ones (libido has dropped off a cliff and my ability to orgasm has vanished). I can’t have more oestrogen because there’s no matching progesterone that I can tolerate and GO won’t prescribe testosterone until I’ve tried higher oestrogen which I cant have until I get a coil.

I’m dipping into savings for initial appointment £295, and hopefully coil insertion £395 and whatever it costs for prescription ongoing to address my issues.

Has anyone tried a private GP instead? There is one near me that charges £45 for a consultation (albeit only 15 minutes so not as in depth as the private clinics) but will prescribe testosterone and higher doses of HRT.

Watching with interest x

I’ve used a private Gp for other things but I didn’t feel that I would get the same in-depth service as I got from the menopause specialist. Both of these Are literally a couple of streets away from each other on the edge of the town centre.

Said I would follow up after my appt. Mine with GP via Newson Clinic. Very pleasant, straightforward consultation. I’m 46 with text book symptoms and no other health issues. Dr was pretty quick to suggest Oestrogen plus progesterone. Discussed various oestrogen options and I’ve gone for 4 day patch plus progesterone on days 15-28. Review in 3 months . Expect HRT to be delivered tomorrow. Cost 295 consultation, 37 prescription and 170 HRT x 16 weeks. Dr said 6 weeks for HRT to kick in - i wonder if that is what everyone else has experienced?

The private gynae menopause specialist who I saw was less use than my GP, didn't listen to me, plus was patronising. Obviously they vary.

Unless you have other health issues which complicate things, your GP should prescribe HRT at your age and symptoms. You'll likely be offered transdermal HRT these days whether private or NHS.

Read the relevant bits of the NICE guidelines and book to speak to another GP. As you are 50, no blood tests are required, and there should be no issues. Refer your GP to the NICE guidelines if they don't cooperate.

You are not wasting NHS time.

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/ifp/chapter/About-this-information

Here are the key bits:

I have pmd you

'NHS HRT' is a one size fits all. What complete and utter nonsense!! Amongst my friend group we are all on different strengths/ types all NHS. All adjusted to suit our individual needs. I've only just started... my experience was we discussed different types pros and cons and I chose what suited best. I'll be going back for a review after three months. If necessary dosage will be changed or I can try a different type. But. So far so good. Please don't spread nonsense like this. As we've seen it can be tough enough to get HRT via GP. Spreading untruths could put other women off attempting (who can't afford paying ££ private) if they think they'll be getting something inferior.

For those saying in person appt, not sure that's necessary. I've done everything online and it's been fine. GP should diagnose peri meno through symptom description rather than blood tests anyway given your age.
So you could make another online appt and be specific that you want to discuss HRT and have that convo with the GP specifically. Don't just expect them to know what you want but say I am peri menopausal and I want to have HRT.
Private specialist clinics are very good obviously as they really are exper. I found a combo of both GP and private helpful (ultimately I needed testosterone as well so get that privately). I went to Newson and I think their nurse practitioners are excellent and cheaper than GP appt so you could try that. They are equally expert, can prescribe and I thought gave better advice generally. Well mine did at least.