How to Talk to Your GP About Menopause

Plenty of women leave the GP feeling rushed, unheard, or told their symptoms are "just stress". A short appointment is hard, especially when symptoms are wide-ranging and personal. The good news is that a little preparation makes a real difference, and going in organised is the single best thing you can do to be taken seriously.

Before the appointment

• •Write down your symptoms, how long you've had them, and how much they affect your daily life, work and sleep.
• •Note your periods: how they've changed and the date of your last one.
• •List any medications you take and relevant family or medical history.
• •Decide your top two or three priorities, in case time is short.

What to say

Be specific and concrete. Rather than "I've not felt myself", try "for the last six months I've had night sweats, broken sleep and low mood, and it's affecting my work." Concrete examples are harder to dismiss and help your GP see the pattern. It's also fine to say directly that you think your symptoms may be related to perimenopause or menopause.

What you can ask

You're entitled to a proper conversation. For context, British Menopause Society (BMS) guidance says a diagnosis of perimenopause or menopause in women over 45 can usually be made on symptoms alone, often without a blood test. Reasonable things to ask include what your GP thinks is going on, what the options are, and whether a follow-up or referral would help.

If you feel dismissed or unheard

Feeling brushed off is common, but it doesn't have to be the end of it. If you don't feel listened to, you can ask for a longer follow-up appointment, request to see a different GP at the practice, or ask whether a referral to a menopause specialist would be appropriate. Bringing your written symptom summary (and, if it helps, a partner or friend) makes it harder for your concerns to be waved away.

You're allowed to advocate for yourself, and you can always seek a second opinion. Being prepared and specific is the most effective way to be taken seriously.

Any decision about treatment is one to make together with a clinician who knows your history. Your job is simply to arrive with a clear picture, and that's exactly what preparation gives you.