What happens after you’ve put in a request with your GP?

[sunrisemorning]

I am autistic and have anxiety disorders so I find it helpful to have some idea of what to expect next. I did try searching but no luck unfortunately.

For background I am 43 and wondering if I am in perimenopause. I sent in the symptoms form to my GP and will be seen in 4-6 weeks. I couldn’t put anywhere that I was wondering about peri but I suppose either they will guess that (mentioned changes in period, mood changes, hot flushes etc) or I can tell them when they call.

Do they send you away for blood tests? Do they just go off of what you report and prescribe HRT? I’m not 100% confident that I am in perimenopause, it’s just a suspicion. For example I now need to have a small fan running at night otherwise I feel hot and stuffy, is that also considered a hot flush or something else? This has started in the past year.

Thankful for any help.

I think NICE guidelines say that if you’re over 45 with menopause symptoms, GPs should prescribe HRT without blood tests. Since you’re under that, they may want you to have blood tests but tbh they’re pretty pointless unless they test repeatedly, because your hormones fluctuate quite a lot in perimenopause. Be prepared to push for HRT if you want it.

My mother had breast cancer twice but I’ve read that these days HRT doesn’t raise the risk? I will ask the GP about this of course.

I requested a meeting and was send a link to appointment times with several female GPs. The first one is 15 Oct, I have no idea what happens then.

Did you request to have a female GP or they just do that automatically?