Menopause
Half of UK women have never seen a doctor about menopause, study finds
Women across the UK are routinely delaying treatment for perimenopause and menopause symptoms – often due to a lack of knowledge, poor health literacy, and uncertainty about where to seek help, new research has revealed.
The findings from a survey of 2,000 UK women highlight a significant gap in menopause care and education, with nearly half (46 per cent) of women admitting they knew little about menopause or perimenopause until experiencing symptoms themselves.
The research was conducted by Menopause Care, a menopause clinic founded by hormone specialist and menopause expert Dr Naomi Potter.
Potter said: “Far too many women are navigating perimenopause and menopause without the knowledge, support or care they deserve.
“This research highlights just how vital it is that we not only improve education and open up the conversation, but also ensure better access to specialist support and a more compassionate, individualised approach from healthcare professionals.”
Symptoms are often unexpected and misunderstood.
For 39 per cent of women, perimenopause began earlier than they anticipated, while 10 per cent reported never learning about menopause at all – including common symptoms, timing, and treatment options.
These knowledge gaps are major contributing factors to delays in care, the report found.
Half of women (50 per cent) have never seen a doctor about menopause-related symptoms, and 45 per cent confess to putting off a GP visit related to their perimenopause or menopause symptoms for as long as they could.
At the same time, only 54 per cent of women feel confident they know what Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is and how it works – a figure that drops to 45 per cent among those aged 35 to 44.
When women do seek medical help, their experiences often fall short.
Among those aged 35 to 44, the most common initial advice given by GPs is a lifestyle change.
One in five (22 per cent) report their GP didn’t suggest any treatment at all during the initial appointment, and another one in five (20 per cent) say their symptoms weren’t diagnosed correctly on the first visit.
At the same time, according to the updated guidance from NICE, HRT should be offered as the first treatment option to ease menopause symptoms.
Overall, only 56 per cent of women felt supported and understood during their first GP appointment related to perimenopause or menopause.
Specialist care is, unfortunately, still rare: just 7 per cent of women see a menopause specialist as their first point of contact.
However, this is improving among younger women – 14 per cent of those aged 35 to 44 first consulted a specialist, compared to only 3 per cent of women aged 65 and over.
On average, women see 1.83 healthcare professionals before receiving treatment they are satisfied with; for 20 per cent this takes two different providers, and for 9 per cent, three or more.
There is also a clear preference among women regarding the type of care they want.
A third (33 per cent) say it’s important their GP has lived experience of menopause.
More than a quarter (26 per cent) worry their doctor won’t be able to help, and 39 per cent say they would only feel comfortable speaking with a female GP about their symptoms.
Potter said: “Every woman’s experience of menopause is different – and they all deserve to be equipped with the right information and options to confidently manage this stage of life.”
Digital diagnostics company Medichecks has acquired specialist menopause health platform and clinic My Menopause Centre.
The deal is part of Medichecks’ move into clinical services and follows its earlier purchase of Leger Clinic, creating what the company describes as a hormone health offering for women and men across the UK.
Medichecks and My Menopause Centre will combine digital services with clinical governance. The acquisition aims to enhance Medichecks’ ability to deliver integrated testing, diagnosis and ongoing clinical support.
The combined group plans to grow its specialist hormone health services, supporting patients across the UK with clinical care throughout different stages of their hormone health journey.
Helen Marsden, co-founder of Medichecks, said: “At Medichecks, our mission is to make healthcare more accessible, evidence-based and patient-centred.
“Helen and Clare have built an outstanding, clinically credible platform that is transforming menopause care for women across the UK.
“Medichecks now owns two CQC Outstanding-rated clinics, the only clinics in their respective sectors to achieve this rating, and we are deeply committed to delivering safe, compassionate and patient-centric care.
“We’re proud to continue the founders’ legacy while supporting the next stage of growth, ensuring more women can access high-quality menopause care when they need it most.”
The CQC, or Care Quality Commission, is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.
The acquisition supports Medichecks’ plans to make hormone healthcare more accessible by delivering integrated testing, diagnosis and ongoing clinical support for patients across the UK.
Helen Normoyle, co-founder and chief executive of My Menopause Centre, said: “We set out to build something resilient, clinically credible and scalable, not just fast.
“Our mission has always been to make menopause care compassionate, accessible and grounded in evidence. Medichecks shares that vision.
“Their digital platform, commitment to clinical excellence and patient-centred care make them the ideal partner to take My Menopause Centre into its next chapter.
“This milestone reflects not only a strong product, but a remarkable team and community.
“I’m deeply proud of what we’ve built and excited to see My Menopause Centre grow further under Medichecks’ leadership.”
Menopause specialist Dr Mary Claire Haver has been appointed as the first chief agewell officer at virtual care clinic Midi Health.
In the role, Dr Haver will work with Midi’s clinical team to develop the AgeWell platform, described as a proactive health model that integrates perimenopause and menopausal care with metabolic health, bone density, brain health and cardiovascular risk assessment.
The platform aims to provide preventative care targeting what the company describes as the primary drivers of female mortality and disability: heart disease, bone loss and cognitive decline.
Joanna Strober, chief executive and co-founder of Midi Health, said: “Longevity care has historically ignored women’s biology, especially during the critical windows of midlife and menopause.
“At Midi Health, we are committed to extending healthspan, not just lifespan, and making that care accessible to millions of women as a core pillar of their health.
“By collaborating with Dr Haver, we are ensuring women continue to have access to care designed for their bodies, their hormones, and their real lives.”
Dr Haver is board-certified in obstetrics and gynaecology, a Menopause Society certified practitioner, a certified culinary medicine specialist and an adjunct associate professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at The University of Texas Medical Branch.
After a career in academic medicine, Dr Haver founded The Pause Life, described as a science and education-based resource for women navigating perimenopause and the menopause transition.
Through her books, unPaused podcast and digital platform, she has provided education on midlife health.
Dr Mary Claire Haver said: “I have spent my career advocating for women to receive the science-backed, no-nonsense guidance they deserve.
“I chose to partner with Midi Health because they are the only platform with the scale and medical rigour to deliver the kind of care women deserve, regardless of their zip codes.
“Together, we are setting a new standard for proactive, preventative care that meaningfully extends both lifespan and healthspan for women.”
Mira has integrated with Oura, letting users see sleep, readiness and temperature trends alongside hormone readings in the Mira app.
The integration lets Mira users view Oura sleep, readiness and temperature trends next to hormone data to show how hormonal shifts affect daily wellbeing. Oura members must consent to share their data with Mira.
Oura is a smart ring that tracks sleep patterns, heart rate and body temperature.
Sylvia Kang, chief executive and founder of Mira. said: “Hormones affect nearly every system in the body, yet are rarely measured or contextualised with daily health signals.
“By bringing these data streams together in one app, Mira and Oura help women move beyond isolated metrics to understand patterns.
“By connecting hormone data with daily health signals, we’re giving women insights they can act on, whether managing fertility, navigating perimenopause, or addressing hormonal imbalances.”
The integration supports several health journeys.
In perimenopause and menopause, users can track temperature and sleep with hormone changes to spot disruptions and improve rest.
For fertility and menstrual cycle awareness, combining hormone data with temperature and wellness signals can help confirm ovulation and clarify cycle patterns.
Users can also link fatigue or poor sleep with hormonal shifts to inform clinical discussions.
Dr Chris Curry is clinical director of women’s health at Oura.
Curry said: “Hormonal changes play a critical role in how women feel each day and are a through line that connects so many aspects of health, from first periods, to menstrual cycles, pregnancy, perimenopause and beyond.
“By combining Mira’s lab-grade hormone data with Oura’s continuous biometrics, we’re helping women see how hormonal shifts show up in their everyday lives.
“This integrated view supports our goal of always supporting body literacy.”
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