Frequently Asked Questions

To book a new or follow-up consultation, please visit our book appointment page.

Yes, we offer telephone and video consultations as well as face-to-face appointments. Telephone and video consultations are charged the same as in-person consultations. However, we cannot offer these consultations to patients living overseas due to restrictions in our insurance.

No, you do not need a referral letter from your GP. Most women self-refer.

Your first consultation can last up to 45 minutes, with follow-up consultations lasting up to 25 minutes.

Most women are scheduled for a follow-up appointment around three months after their initial visit, with further follow-up appointments advised by your clinician based on your individual needs. Please note that to continue receiving a prescription from us, an annual review appointment is required. If it has been over two years since your last visit, you will need to rebook an initial appointment.

Consultation costs vary depending on the type and length of the appointment. Please visit the pricing page for detailed information.

Treatment for menopause is not usually covered by private medical insurance but it is always a good idea to check with your insurance company.

We offer a range of treatment options including:

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): This includes natural hormones that match the structure of hormones naturally produced in your body. HRT can provide several benefits including relief of menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness, improving mood and sleep, preventing osteoporosis and supporting heart health. Learn about HRT.

Testosterone: Testosterone is often thought of as a male hormone, but it is also naturally produced in women. It plays a crucial role in sexual function, energy levels, bone strength, and cognitive health. As women age, testosterone levels fall which can lead to various symptoms. Testosterone replacement therapy may be beneficial for women who experience symptoms of low testosterone. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance advocates its use for low libido which has not improved with other treatments. Clinic data shows benefits to many other symptoms including mood, memory and energy levels. Testosterone replacement for women is typically administered through gels or creams applied to the skin. These products are often used off-label, as there are no testosterone medications specifically approved for women in the UK.

We tailor testosterone treatments to individual needs and preferences following a thorough consultation. Learn about testosterone

Although the majority of women usually benefit from taking a type of HRT, this is only one part of treatment for menopause. Some women choose not to take HRT or cannot take HRT due to medical reasons and so there are alternative treatments available. These will be discussed on an individual basis.

Most women start HRT with a private prescription for a few months, then many switch to an NHS prescription through their GP. Some choose to continue with a private prescription. HRT costs vary by medication type, and there’s a £37 dispensing fee per prescription. The admin team will be able to advise you of approximate costs at the time of booking.

We have created two visual aids to help you understand the long-term benefits and any risks of HRT. You can download the visual aids here

The natural (body identical) hormones that are now usually prescribed are not associated with risks as they are the same as the hormones produced in your body when you were younger. Any risks with HRT are with the synthetic HRT which has been chemically altered.

This varies between individuals: some women feel better within a few weeks, while others may take up to three months. It is advisable to try any treatment for three months before assessing its effectiveness.

Blood tests are not necessary to diagnose perimenopause and menopause for most women, but we often recommend them to assess hormone levels and guide treatment. Blood tests can also be part of a well-woman check or to assess other systems like thyroid function. For a full list of prices on other recommended investigations, such as bone density scans or ultrasounds, please visit our pricing page here.

Prescriptions are usually sent electronically to CloudRx, or Smartway our partner pharmacies. They will contact you to arrange payment and dispatch your medication.

At Newson Health, a £37 fee is charged for each private prescription issued. This fee covers the cost of the doctor preparing and signing the prescription, which is a legal document for which the prescribing doctor is responsible.

If, during a follow-up appointment, your prescription is placed on repeat, you may opt to pay a one-off fee of £70. This covers the duration of the repeat prescription, typically 12 months, excluding the cost of your HRT, which is charged separately. The £70 fee is non-refundable, paid upfront, and applies to your standard or any other prescribed medication from Newson Health during this period.

Please note that medication itself is charged separately and will be provided by the dispensing pharmacist, such as CloudRx or Smartway.

You can request repeat prescriptions online or during a consultation. To continue receiving prescriptions, an annual consultation is required.

If you lose your medication or need it while on holiday, contact us immediately. We will arrange for a replacement prescription to be sent to your current location if possible. One-off prescriptions can also be provided if necessary.

Yes, you can change your prescription delivery address by contacting our clinic or the pharmacy directly to update your details.

At your initial consultation with us, you may be prescribed HRT. This will then be reviewed during your follow-up appointment. If suitable, the prescription is usually placed on repeat and sent to the pharmacy, where it will be held until your next annual review.

You can order your HRT directly from the pharmacy whenever you need it. If you decide not to use the prescription—for example, if your NHS GP is able to prescribe HRT for you—the pharmacy will not charge you for it.

Please contact the Newson Health team and they will offer you the earliest appointment. Where necessary a maximum of one month’s HRT will be issued to ensure your treatment is not interrupted.

Blood tests may be required to check hormone levels, thyroid function, and other health markers. You can book a blood test by calling us on 01789 595004 or emailing here.

All our blood tests are conducted by Nationwide or Inuvi Pathology. Once your results are available, they will be reviewed and commented on by one of our clinicians. These may be shared with you during an appointment, or you will receive an email prompting you to log into the system to access your results and the clinician's comments.

Newson Health offers state of the art DEXA bone density and DEXA body composition scans at our Stratford-upon-Avon clinic which can be useful to assess your bones, muscle and body fat.

To book a DEXA scan, call us on 01789 595004 or email here. Click here to find out more.

We have a number of clinics across the UK. Visit our website for a complete list of locations and contact details, as well as information about parking and public transport options.

We are committed to ensuring that all our patients have easy access to our facilities. Below is an overview of wheelchair accessibility for each of our clinic locations.

• Stratford-upon-Avon: Clinic rooms on the first floor, accessible via staircase
• Bournemouth: Clinic rooms on the lower ground floor, accessible via staircase
• Chester: Clinic rooms on the first floor, accessible via staircase or lift
• Harrogate: Clinic rooms on the first floor, accessible via staircase or lift
• London Wimpole Street: Clinic rooms on the ground and lower ground floors, accessible via staircase or lift
• Manchester Alderley Edge: Clinic rooms on the second floor, accessible via staircase or lift
• Manchester Altrincham: Clinic rooms on the ground floor
• Southampton: Clinic rooms on the first floor, accessible via staircase or lift.

If you have specific accessibility needs, please call us at 01789 595004 ahead of your appointment so we can assist you.

All the clinicians working in the clinic have been trained as GPs, nurses or pharmacists and have a particular specialism in menopause. See all our clinicians and their qualifications here.

If your NHS GP or nurse works with us here at the clinic, you will not be able to book an appointment to see them privately. We will be happy to offer you an appointment with one of our other clinicians.

After your appointment, you will receive a letter, usually within two working days, outlining the discussion and any treatment plans. A copy of this letter will also be emailed to your GP, unless you have requested otherwise.

It is usually preferable to email rather than phone with any questions you may have following your appointment. Please complete the online form here. If you would like to speak to one of our clinicians between your scheduled appointments for clinical advice, please call us on 01789 595004. Our team can book you a 10-minute advice phone call with a pharmacist or nurse. Please visit the pricing page for detailed information.

Patient consent is obtained during consultations. Detailed information about treatments and any associated risks is provided, and consent forms are signed as necessary.

Even if you are still having periods, you can absolutely be seen at our menopause clinic. Menopause is defined as occurring 12 months after your last menstrual period, but many women experience perimenopausal symptoms for several years before their periods end. If these symptoms are affecting your quality of life, Newson Health can provide personalised advice and treatment to help you manage them effectively.

This article covers some common side effects that can occur in the first few weeks of starting HRT.

This article covers more on this topic.

Yes, we are able to see patients who reside outside the United Kingdom, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man following a first appointment, but the first appointment must be face-to-face in one of our clinics. This doesn’t currently apply to residents of the US and Canada.

Follow-up consultations can be virtual, but medication will need to be sent to a UK postal address. For more information or if you have any queries, please contact a member of our team on 01789 595004.