Best Perimenopause Clinics in the UK: NHS and Private Options
A guide to the best perimenopause clinics in the UK, covering NHS menopause services, private clinics, telehealth options, costs, and what questions to ask.
Why Specialist Perimenopause Care Matters
Many women spend years trying to get their perimenopausal symptoms taken seriously. A 2023 survey by the Menopause Charity found that over half of women had to visit their GP more than three times before receiving appropriate support. Specialist menopause clinics, whether NHS or private, offer longer appointments, clinicians with specific training in menopause, and a more holistic approach to symptom management. Getting to the right place can save months of frustration and lead to treatment that genuinely improves quality of life. Whether you go NHS or private depends on your location, budget, and how long you are willing to wait.
What to Look for in a Menopause Clinic
When evaluating any menopause clinic, look for clinicians who hold a menopause specialist qualification, such as the British Menopause Society (BMS) registered practitioner credential or equivalent. Good clinics offer full consultation time (typically 45 to 60 minutes for an initial appointment), discuss all treatment options including body-identical HRT, non-hormonal options, and lifestyle approaches, and do not pressure you into or out of any single approach. Follow-up access is important; symptoms shift over time and prescriptions may need adjusting. Check whether the clinic is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) if based in England.
NHS Menopause Clinics
NHS England issued a policy framework in 2023 committing to specialist menopause services in every integrated care system. Many NHS trusts now have dedicated menopause clinics, though referral pathways and waiting times vary significantly by area. To access NHS menopause care, speak to your GP and ask for a referral to a specialist menopause service. Your GP can also prescribe HRT directly; specialist referral is typically for complex cases, women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), or those for whom standard treatment has not worked. The NHS website has a tool to find menopause services near you. Waiting times can be 3 to 12 months in many areas.
Newson Health
Newson Health is one of the UK's largest private menopause clinics, founded by Dr Louise Newson and operating across multiple sites as well as online. It offers video and face-to-face consultations with BMS-registered menopause specialists. Initial consultations typically cost around 200 to 250 pounds, with follow-ups at lower rates. The Newson Health website also provides a large library of free educational resources. The Balance app, developed by Newson Health, is a widely used tool for tracking symptoms and preparing for consultations. Booking can sometimes be done within 2 to 4 weeks, making it faster than most NHS pathways.
Other Private Menopause Clinics and Telehealth
Several other high-quality private options exist in the UK. The Marion Gluck Clinic specialises in body-identical hormone therapy and has been operating since 2005. The Menopause Care clinic offers online-only appointments with specialist practitioners. Peppy Health and Hers UK provide telehealth menopause consultations that can be accessed through employers or directly. Costs vary widely, from around 150 pounds for a telehealth follow-up to over 400 pounds for a face-to-face initial appointment at a central London clinic. Telehealth has made specialist access possible for women in rural areas or those with mobility limitations.
Questions to Ask at Your Appointment
Preparing questions before your consultation maximises the value of the time. Ask: which type of HRT is most appropriate for my symptom profile and health history? What are the realistic risks and benefits for someone with my history? If I have tried HRT before and it did not work, what else can we try? How will we monitor my response to treatment? What non-hormonal options are available? How often will we review my prescription? Bringing a list of your current symptoms, their severity, and how long you have had them helps enormously. If you track your symptoms using an app, bringing a summary printout or screenshot can give the clinician useful context.
Using Apps to Prepare and Monitor
Going into a menopause clinic appointment with documented symptom history gives you and your clinician a much clearer picture than memory alone. The PeriPlan app lets you log symptoms and track patterns over time, which can surface patterns you might not have noticed, such as symptoms worsening at particular times of the month or correlating with sleep quality. The Balance app by Newson Health also includes a symptom tracker designed specifically for menopause consultations. Using either for at least 4 to 6 weeks before your appointment gives meaningful data. After starting treatment, continuing to log symptoms helps you evaluate what is working and gives your clinician useful information at follow-up.
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