A private menopause clinic typically charges £200–£400 for an initial consultation and £100–£200 for follow-up reviews. Budget for the ongoing costs too: private HRT prescriptions commonly run £20–£60 a month unless your NHS GP takes over prescribing. The NHS route is free but expertise and appointment time vary widely between practices.
- ✓Initial private menopause consultations typically cost £200–£400; follow-up reviews £100–£200.
- ✓Private HRT prescriptions add £20–£60 a month unless your NHS GP takes over.
- ✓The NHS GP route is free — but menopause expertise and appointment time vary by practice.
What a private menopause clinic costs
Private menopause care is usually delivered by GPs with specialist menopause accreditation or consultant gynaecologists, in dedicated clinics or online. Expect £200–£400 for an initial consultation — typically 30–45 minutes, noticeably longer than a standard GP appointment — and £100–£200 for follow-up reviews. Most clinics recommend a review around three months after starting or changing HRT, then annually once settled.
| Appointment or item | Typical private cost |
|---|---|
| Initial consultation (30–45 min) | £200–£400 |
| Follow-up review | £100–£200 |
| Hormone blood panel (if used) | £80–£200 |
| Private HRT prescription | £20–£60 per month |
| Annual review (once stable) | £100–£200 |
What happens at a private menopause consultation
The appointment is longer and more structured than most women have experienced on this topic. The clinician takes a full history — symptoms and their impact, periods, medical and family history including breast cancer and clot risk — and talks through options properly: types and doses of HRT, body-identical versus older formulations, non-hormonal alternatives, and lifestyle factors. Blood tests aren't usually needed to diagnose menopause over 45; some clinics use them for younger women or complex cases. A symptom diary covering a few weeks makes the appointment noticeably more productive.
- Before: no GP referral is needed — menopause clinics accept self-referral, and many run entirely online with video appointments, so location doesn't limit your choice of specialist.
- During: 30–45 minutes to cover symptoms, risks and preferences, ending in an individualised plan — commonly transdermal oestrogen with progesterone, plus testosterone in some cases.
- Prescriptions: issued privately at first, so you pay the drug cost — commonly £20–£60 a month depending on the products, and clinics will quote before prescribing.
- After: a letter to you and your NHS GP, and a review around three months to adjust dose.
The letter to your GP matters financially: many NHS practices will take over prescribing a stable, standard HRT regimen at NHS charges, keeping the private clinic for annual reviews or discharging you entirely. Ask the clinic upfront whether their prescriptions usually transfer — most standard regimens do, though testosterone for women is prescribed off-label and some GPs decline it.
Private clinic vs NHS GP: the honest comparison
Menopause care is free on the NHS through your GP, and NICE guidance means any GP can diagnose and prescribe HRT. For many women that route works well. The honest caveat is that it's variable: menopause training among GPs is uneven, standard appointments run ten minutes, and referral to an NHS specialist menopause clinic — where your area has one — can involve a wait of months. Women with complex histories, or who feel dismissed, are the ones who most often go private.
| Private menopause clinic | NHS GP route | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | £200–£400 initial, then reviews and prescriptions | Free (standard prescription charges) |
| Appointment time | 30–45 minutes with a menopause specialist | ~10 minutes; expertise varies by practice |
| Access | Days, self-referral, often online | GP availability; specialist NHS clinics can mean months |
| Testosterone | Commonly considered where appropriate | Availability varies; some GPs and areas decline |
| Best for | Complex cases, prior dismissal, wanting a specialist plan fast | Straightforward cases with an engaged, informed GP |
Compare cover with menopause support
Does health insurance cover menopause clinics?
Generally not as standard: most insurers treat routine menopause management as ongoing care rather than the acute, curable treatment private medical insurance is built around. But the picture is improving — several insurers now offer menopause support lines, digital GP appointments that can discuss HRT, and some plans include dedicated menopause pathways or a set number of specialist consultations. Where symptoms trigger investigation (unexplained bleeding, for example), that's claimable as normal diagnosis under outpatient cover.
If menopause support matters in your policy choice, compare deliberately — inclusion varies more here than almost anywhere else. Our menopause cover guide compares what each insurer actually includes, and women's health insurance covers the wider picture.
Keeping the ongoing cost down
- Move prescribing to your NHS GP. The single biggest saving: a stable regimen transferred to NHS prescribing cuts £250–£700 a year to standard charges — and an NHS prescription prepayment certificate for HRT caps the year at under £20.
- Use online clinics for reviews. Video follow-ups sit at the lower end of the £100–£200 range and suit dose adjustments well.
- Don't over-test. Hormone panels are rarely needed to diagnose menopause over 45 — decline routine testing that doesn't change the plan.
- Try an informed NHS GP first. Ask your practice whether any GP has a menopause interest; a good free consultation may be one phone call away.
And check the clinician's credentials whichever route you take: look for British Menopause Society recognition or a place on the BMS specialist register. Menopause has attracted a wave of new online clinics of varying quality — accreditation, not marketing, is the filter that matters.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a private menopause clinic cost?
Typically £200–£400 for an initial 30–45 minute consultation and £100–£200 for follow-up reviews, with a review usually around three months after starting HRT and annually once stable. First-year costs commonly total £400–£800 in appointments plus prescription costs.
Do I need a GP referral for a private menopause clinic?
No — menopause clinics accept self-referral, and many operate entirely online with video consultations. The clinic will write to your NHS GP after your appointment, which matters for transferring prescriptions to NHS charges later. Insurers' policies rarely fund routine menopause care, so referral rules seldom apply.
How much does HRT cost privately?
Commonly £20–£60 a month on private prescription, depending on the products — patches, gels and body-identical formulations vary in price. If your NHS GP takes over a stable regimen, costs fall to standard NHS charges, and an HRT prescription prepayment certificate caps the year at under £20.
What happens at a private menopause consultation?
A 30–45 minute structured assessment: your symptoms and their impact, medical and family history, then a proper discussion of options — HRT types and doses, non-hormonal alternatives, and risks personalised to you. You leave with an individualised plan, a prescription where appropriate, and a letter to your NHS GP.
Will my NHS GP take over prescribing HRT from a private menopause clinic?
Usually, for standard regimens — the clinic's letter sets out the plan and most practices will prescribe a stable, licensed HRT combination at NHS charges. Testosterone is the common exception: it's off-label for women, and some GPs and areas decline it, leaving that part on private prescription.
Is a private menopause clinic better than seeing my NHS GP?
Not automatically. NHS menopause care is free and many GPs deliver it well — but training is uneven, appointments are short, and NHS specialist clinics can carry waits of months. The private fee buys guaranteed specialist time within days. If your practice has a menopause-interested GP, that's worth trying first.
Does health insurance cover private menopause clinic fees?
Rarely as standard — insurers treat routine menopause management as ongoing care rather than acute treatment. Some now add menopause support lines, digital GP access or specialist pathways, and investigation of symptoms like unexplained bleeding is claimable as normal diagnostics. Cover varies widely, so compare deliberately.
Do private menopause clinics prescribe testosterone for women?
Many do, where clinically appropriate — typically for low libido that persists after oestrogen is optimised. It's prescribed off-label for women in the UK, which is why availability on the NHS varies and why this part of a regimen most often stays on private prescription at the clinic.
Are blood tests needed at a private menopause clinic?
Usually not if you're over 45 — NICE guidance says menopause is diagnosed on symptoms, and a good clinic won't push routine hormone panels that don't change the plan. Testing (£80–£200) has a role for women under 45, suspected premature ovarian insufficiency, or complex cases.
How often will I need reviews at a private menopause clinic?
Typically one review around three months after starting or changing HRT to check response and adjust dose, then annually once you're settled — at £100–£200 each, with video reviews at the lower end. If your NHS GP takes over prescribing, annual checks can happen there instead, free.