The importance of GPs in menopause management
GPs play an important role in managing an individual’s day to day health. They are responsible for the overall wellbeing of a person and are a point of contact for all specialists providing an overview of a patient’s health and wellbeing.
GPs identify symptoms or indicators of potential areas which may lead to ill health. They provide suitable advice and care pathways if required, ranging from adapting lifestyle, including improvements to diet and exercise, new prescriptions, adapting current medication or further interventions such as further investigations and onward referrals.
During menopause, symptoms can range from subtle to severe. This is a time when an overall evaluation of a person is important as metabolism changes begin to affect many aspects of a person’s wellbeing. There is no one test that can be taken to diagnose if a person is menopausal, the most effective method of diagnosis is to evaluate the symptoms of each individual patient. It is important to remember 1% of women go through the menopause before the age 40.
GPs who have a special interest in menopause, are trained in general gynaecological health as well as the overall health of a person. When diagnosing a menopause patient, a GP will take a full family medical history and undertake a physical evaluation of a patient, including cholesterol, blood pressure and cardiac risk, look at diet and advise on the best forms of exercise to determine the best overall approach, not just for menopausal symptoms but to improve overall health and wellbeing.
Being able to know how to approach an overall health check for wellbeing and how to interpret broad test results is important when managing the symptoms around the time of the menopause. Understanding the background risk of a patient ensures effective and safe treatment. This is the unique role of a GP.
When seeking a GP who specialised in menopause management, ensure they practice the use of evidence-based testing and treatment to ensure the most accurate diagnosis and safest, effective treatment.
For menopause management, only the use of Body-identical HRT is supported by the British Menopause Society and is the only HRT prescribed by the NHS. Body-identical HRT has been scientifically proven to be safe and effective.
Body-identical HRT is different to Bio-identical HRT which is not supported by the British Menopause Society and has not been scientifically proven to be safe or effective in the treatment of menopausal symptoms.
Menopause management is a marathon and not a sprint. The average menopausal women will take HRT for 7 years. Some women can experience symptoms of menopause for as long as 13 years.
Finding a GP that you can trust and who is able to continually evaluate your overall health and wellbeing as your body changes throughout these years, is essential to lower your risk of illness and disease.
I am a proud member of the British Menopause Society; I am CBT trained in managing menopausal symptoms and I have over 15 years’ experience in menopause management and identifying the early symptoms of perimenopause. At Sloane Menopause Clinic, which I founded, we provide exceptional evidence-based care to all our patients.
For more information on the menopause care we offer and details on how to book an appointment, visit our Menopause Clinic page here or call the practice on 020 7730 8835.
Dr Victoria Owen