How to talk to your GP about menopause

A common theme we hear amongst people going through perimenopause and the menopause transition is that they are not heard or validated by their treatment professionals. They also are bombarded by mixed messages, mis-information and companies often promoting a “quick fix”. There is no quick fix so if it looks too good to be true, it likely is.

People going through perimenopause and the menopause transition deserve optimal health and care. It starts with your GP, not on the internet (unless you are following reputable sources, experts in their fields and backed up with evidence - but this should complement your medical treatment, not be in place of).

If you have been putting off having a conversation with your GP or specialist about your symptoms, here we will share some good information to assist you in confidently being able to advocate for yourself. This includes:

✅ A menopause symptoms checker you can take to your GP and how to make the most of your consultation

A good menopause checklist will go over all the symptoms and signs you may get when you are starting to enter the perimenopause transition. You will be able to tick off the ones you are getting and maybe even rate them on a severity scale. Our favourite one is the one from Jean Hailes which you can access here.

You can also look at the menopause assessment tool from Wellfemme here.

Also make sure you book a longer consultation. Tell the medical receptionist what it is for and get them to book a longer visit - as at 1st July 2025 there is a new medicare item number especially for this - MBS item 695.

Ask questions about their experience and if they specialise. If not, ask if they feel they are open to helping and working through it with you or can they provide a referral to another GP. Ask what menopause treatment options there might be. There are many more treatments and investigations that need to be done besides assuming you are depressed or anxious so anti-depressants should not likely be the first line of treatment - especially if you dont feel you are chronically depressed or anxious. If this is recommended your GP should complete a thorough assessment and consider a variety of other options, especially if you feel your mood and health has changed quickly and you are late 30’s - early 40’s and older.

If you aren’t happy or don’t feel heard, seek a second opinion. You can look for an experienced menopause GP through the Australasian Menopause Society directory here.

✅ Top tips for your chat with your GP

Do your homework - refer to the above and utilise the symptoms checklist or assessment tool and take them with you.

Try and be assertive, not aggressive - majority of GP’s will want to help you even if they don’t know all the information. Try and approach it as a team effort and collaborate. Take your information, listen to what they say and work together.

Know your family and medical history. Some things you might want to know are:

• when did you mum go through menopause? It is likely you will likely start to show symptoms around the same age

• what other illnesses does your family have? ie: cardiovascular disease, thyroid conditions, diabetes, mental health issues, iron deficiency and more - these are important health issues to be aware of

• what other lifestyle things might impact your health? Did you even smoke, take a certain medications for a long time, work in a high risk industry, have any major accidents or illnesses and/or surgery?

Be open minded. You might have a friend or family member that has had seen her GP for menopause and gone down a certain treatment line. Or you might have seen something recommended on social media. This does not mean that will be right for you. Listen to all options your GP might suggest especially lifestyle changes, although they can be challenging. If you haven’t covered the basics, medication might not necessarily help. You should be aiming to not smoke, not drink too much alcohol, be eating well, be exercising and getting enough sleep - these are primary things to work on. Sometimes medication might make it easier to achieve lifestyle goals so medical and lifestyle changes can likely be implemented simultaneously.

Don’t settle - as outlined above, you should seek a second opinion if you don’t feel heard.

✅ How to discuss Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) with your GP

Again, do your research. Record or track your symptoms, have a look at your countries menopause guidelines and what is available for use and what it is indicated for. MHT is not indicated for all menopause symptoms and this is based on rigorous research. Your GP cannot prescribe it for reasons that are vastly outside what it is indicated for, although may prescribe off label (like a lot of medications), if there might be some strong evidence it might be efficacious.

Go prepared. Have an idea about what you would like to get out of the appointment and what you feel you would like to try MHT for. The appointment, although extended, will still likely only be 20-30 minutes and there might be alot to cover. Be clear and concise.

Expect some further medical investigations and that you may not be prescribed MHT in your initial appointment. Your GP will likely need to do a full blood test and might want to check for thyroid conditions, other reasons you might be fatigued (if that is a symptom), your blood glucose function, your cholesterol and will need to know medical history in case you have any contraindications. You might also need a mammogram or pelvic investigations depending on individual factors. There aren’t many contraindications but some women aren’t able to take MHT due to medical risk factors.

Try and make a joint decision. Your GP will want to start you on the lowest possible dose and work up from there, like all medication. Be open to listening to that and understand they do need to follow best practise guidelines.

And finally, again, if you don’t feel heard always seek a second opinion. Keep trying. You know your body best but work with a good GP for optimal care.