Online menopause clinics?

[campuspulse]

Can anyone recommend any online clinics where I can get get an HRT prescription? Having increasing issues with my GP surgery making it hard for me to get for no other reason than being "too young" for HRT even though I am in my 40's. Hopefully it will work out ok but I need a back up plan if they try to stop my prescription. Thanks!

Does it have to be online?
Have you considered looking at consultants working in your area, who offer consultations from local private hospitals? Or travelling into a city for more choice? Most gynae consultants now also work remotely by video.

If you're under 45 they will probably want to do a blood test (as NICE guidance) so face to face may be needed or at least a private blood test.

There are masses of online doctors but you have to choose carefully.
Many GPs have jumped onto the meno bandwagon and are offering online HRT. Some will be good but others have done a minimum of HRT training.

Have you started googling and seeing what comes up locally?

@JinglingSpringbells Thanks, I live quite rurally and can't travel easily so online would be better for me.

BUPA. £300 for a year. Really good helpilne. You don't need to have a policy to make use of it.

I don't recommend the clinics run by Louise Newson's team. I was prescribed twice the limit for oestrogen. When my GP read my prescription they were suddenly very interested as they were worried that I'd sue them if I developed uterine cancer. My previously not engaged GP is now supportive and I have regular checkins.

@ChristmasLightsLover Thanks the £300 a year sounds affordable for me, does your GP then issue the prescriptions or do you pay for that as well?

Regarding the Louise Newson clinics were you prescribed that much oestrogen right from the start or did the dose go up incrementally?

Its such a shame that menopause treatment is such a lottery for women and so many doctors are uninformed and have out of date information or are too gung ho! It would be ideal to have womb lining checks with HRT use at least now and again.

Once you get going with BUPA or similar the paperwork is shared with your GP, who then usually accept the recommendation that comes in.

With Newson Health, I started on 2 pumps but despite having the mirena coil the bleeding didn't stop. It just grew from there. My GP just happened to look over my prescription and that's why they got in touch with me.

Hi all, glad I have came here. Not taking HRT, useful to find I can go online for help too. Heard about Louise Newson, might consider BUPA. Thx

@ChristmasLightsLover Thanks that's really useful info!

I have heard that both Boots and Superdrug do online menopause consultations and will prescribe @campuspulse

Personally I'd not choose that simply because I know that more qualified doctors can offer more flexibility on doses and also have more experience. My HRT is through a private gynaecologist but I accept that if someone wants something with very little cost and 'just' HRT it may be worth looking into.

Well it depends on the cost, I think I can manage the £300 from bupa but I don't have a lot of money to spend on this unfortunately. I wish my GP surgery was better equipped and educated to help me but I can't really function with out HRT so I will just what I need to to get it.

I will look at Boots as well!

I hope you get help OP.
If you're in your 40s, you should have no problems getting HRT.

Most doctors would want to do a blood test if you're just over 40 only to rule out other things and get a baseline reading.

You said you can't function without HRT. What kind of symptoms are you experiencing? Is there any chance you could have other issues apart from peri menopause?

For reference, £300 is about the norm for a private consultation, from a consultant.
Some consultants may be happy to do a one-off and write to a GP with their recommendations then you get your prescriptions from your GP/NHS.

I used Spiced Pear Health for a very detailed online consultation with an experienced GP and found them very good. Got lots of advice, careful listening to my past gyne issues and a private careplan sent to my NHS GP who was happy to sort out HRT prescription. I recommend them.