Women flock to expensive private menopause clinics due to NHS waiting lists, survey finds –

Women are flocking to expensive private menopause clinics because of the lack of treatment available on the NHS, according to one study.

The study found that five times more women last year sought medical attention for symptoms such as hot flashes and sexual distress.

In July 2021, only two percent of women admitted to opting for private treatment. Now that number has risen to one-tenth.

Results from a survey of nearly 1,000 women by a private online menopause center suggest that this trend may be due to dissatisfaction with NHS services.

Four in ten women rated their experience with menopause care on the NHS as poor or very poor, compared to just one in ten in 2021.

Nearly a third said they were not supported by their doctors on post-menopausal health.

Dr. Philippa Kaye, a high-profile primary care physician focused on improving women’s health, said the increase in demand could also be due to celebrities like Davina McCall, who advocates for greater support for menopausal women.

“More public awareness is encouraging more women to seek treatment – ​​which is good because it means more women are seeking the help they need,” she said.

“But at the same time, family medicine services are under tremendous pressure due to staff shortages. Waiting times for the NHS to speak to a menopause specialist can be up to a year.

“This created the perfect storm where patients could choose to pay for treatment at a private clinic.”

There is also an alarming increase in the number of women prescribed antidepressants as treatment options, rising from 13% in 2022 to 5% in 2021.

Dr. “Antidepressants can be used to treat menopausal symptoms, but should not be offered as first-line therapy for perimenopausal anxiety and depression,” Kaye said.

The survey found that more than 70% believed there was not enough information available to them about menopause.

Dr. Kaye added: “Women’s health continues to be under-supported, and this may lead women to believe that their concerns about menopause are being ignored by health professionals, including family doctors.

“I would like to see more independent data on this topic, particularly why people are becoming private so we can improve access to menopause treatment for everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.”