Talking to your GP about HRT treatments

Menopause causes a range of physical and emotional symptoms that can affect the quality of your everyday life. These symptoms affect everyone differently, but sleep disturbance, hot flushes and weight gain are some of the most frequently reported changes.

Although menopause symptoms can be managed with lifestyle changes, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help reduce their impact.

HRT is only available with a prescription, so you’ll need to speak to your doctor about it and the benefits it could have for you.

The average GP appointment lasts for 10 minutes. Although you may be able to schedule a longer appointment, preparing some talking points before your appointment can help you make the most of your time.

Ahead of your GP appointment, you can:

• - Write down the symptoms you’re experiencing and the impact they have on your life
• - List any medications or supplements you are currently taking
• - Write down 2 or 3 questions that are of the most importance to you

If you need an interpreter, this can be arranged ahead of your appointment. Before any appointment, your GP practice should find out what your preferred language is (including British Sign Language) and whether you need an interpreter’s support.

You can invite your own interpreter to your appointment, but an NHS interpreter will be able to accurately translate medical information without judgment.

Yes. Even if you are not sure whether the symptoms you are experiencing could be related to menopause, your GP will be able to help you understand your current medical condition.

Women of different backgrounds have different cultural, societal and educational backgrounds. This means that not everyone will know what the symptoms of menopause are or how to identify them. Roughly 55% of D/deaf women do not know the symptoms of menopause, and up to 90% aren’t aware of the treatment options available in the UK. In ethnic minority communities, women are less likely to speak about their health concerns than other groups and may lack an understanding of menopause and HRT.

If you feel like you don’t understand the ways that menopause can affect your life, there is help available that may help you prepare for your appointment.

It’s important that you get the answers you need during your appointment. Talking about your menopause symptoms might involve discussions about your intimate or sexual health. For example, you may have vaginal dryness or painful sex.

Although they can be sensitive topics to discuss, you can let your GP know that you’re feeling your feeling nervous or anxious. Your appointment will be completely confidential, and your GP will provide you with judgment-free advice and support.

Try to be as specific as possible about your symptoms. If you can give your doctor detailed information about your experience, they will have a clearer understanding of your current needs and the way that HRT could be of benefit to you.

If you need support during your appointment, you can take a friend or family member. This can be helpful because they can advocate for you, ask questions you might have forgotten to ask or help clarify information that you haven’t understood. If you are concerned about the ways that your family or friends might react to the content of your appointment, you can opt to go alone. This might help you manage any feelings of shame or embarrassment that you might have.

You should also remember to refer to any notes you have taken ahead of your appointment. This will ensure that your major concerns are addressed and your symptoms are clearly communicated.

If your doctor has refused to prescribe HRT, you must ask the reasons why. This will help you understand your current medical situation better. They should also be able to suggest alternatives if they think HRT isn’t right for you.

You can have HRT if:

• You are still having periods
• You are overweight (a BMI of 28 or more)
• You are over the age of 55
• You have used HRT for 5 years already
• You use vaginal estrogen

GP appointments can be short. If you feel like you didn’t have enough time to talk about your menopause symptoms and HRT or have new questions, you can always schedule another appointment.

Regardless of whether you choose to use HRT or not, recording your symptoms can help you understand how they are changing. If you notice that the frequency or severity of your symptoms has increased, you should speak to your doctor about it.

If your GP appointment didn’t meet your expectations, you can get support for your menopause symptoms from other healthcare professionals, like nurses or pharmacists. Although they will not prescribe HRT for you, they can advise on the non-hormonal medications and lifestyle changes you can make to improve your quality of life.