Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that women who are diagnosed with early menopause are (a) referred to specialists and (b) receiving regular checks.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for menopause were updated in December 2019 and include criteria for the diagnosis, investigation and treatment of early menopause. NHS England and NHS Improvement expect all providers to give due regard to NICE’s guidance.

After diagnosis has been confirmed in primary care, women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) or early menopause are generally referred to a specialist menopause clinic. The clinic will conduct further tests and, where appropriate, women will be offered treatment and fertility advice. After the initial consultations, women with POI should be reviewed after three months to assess the efficacy of their treatment. Further appointments should then be tailored to the needs of the individual.