NHS health checks in England to have questions on menopause for first time | NHS

NHS health checks will include questions about menopause for the first time, with millions of women in England expected to benefit from this, ministers have announced.

Adults between the ages of 40 and 74 who do not have a pre-existing long-term health problem can benefit from this program. NHS health check every five years. The purpose of the checks is to identify people at higher risk for heart and kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia and stroke.

The checks will also include questions about menopause, which the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) estimates could help up to 5 million women. The questions will be written over the next few months and ministers hope the change will come into force from 2026.

Health minister Wes Streeting said the change would give women “the visibility and support they have long wanted”.

“Women have been suffering in silence for too long,” she said, “and have been left to go through menopause alone, with little support – all because of an outdated healthcare system that fails to acknowledge how serious it can be.

“No one should have to grind their teeth and continue to experience debilitating symptoms or be told it’s just a part of life.”

About three quarters of women They have menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, depression and sleep problems, with a quarter describing them as severe.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) should be offered as first-line treatment for menopausal symptoms, according to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance. It may also help maintain muscle strength and prevent osteoporosis.

But many women say they are not being listened to and are not getting the help they need.

Dr Sue Mann, NHS England’s national clinical director for women’s health, said: “By adapting NHS health checks to include questions about menopause, we hope more women will get the support they need to manage their symptoms.”

Experts welcomed the announcement but called on the NHS to improve access to checks in the first instance. Prof Ranee Thakar, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said this was “fantastic news” that would help reduce stigma, but efforts needed to be more targeted.

“For this change to have maximum positive impact, we want to see a real focus on supporting women from diverse ethnic communities and socially deprived areas to access health checks, and excellent menopause training for healthcare professionals providing health checks,” she said.

Kate Muir, author of Everything You Need to Know About Menopause (But We Were Too Afraid to Ask), said: “This is much needed, especially to provide women with evidence-based information about the benefits of HRT. GP appointments are an excellent way to get information out to all communities. NHS statistics show that 23% of white menopausal women use HRT, but only 5% of black women and Asian women only We know that 6% use HRT. This can open doors.”

Janet Lindsay, chief executive of Wellbeing of Women, said: “Women and people from marginalized communities are less likely to be aware of or attend these events. [health checks]and progress in menopause support cannot leave them behind. “Health professionals should work with grassroots organizations embedded in these communities to ensure those who face additional barriers receive the specialized care they need.”