Private Menopause Diagnostics

Menopause diagnostics can confirm if you’re going through menopause and help identify any menopause-related conditions to be aware of.

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What is menopause diagnostics?

Menopause usually starts between the ages of 45 and 55, but for some, it can happen earlier.

It begins when your ovaries start to make less oestrogen, and is confirmed once you’ve not had a period for at least 12 months in a row, including any spotting. As your body adjusts to these new hormone levels, it goes through a series of changes that can trigger symptoms.

Over 75% of women experience menopausal symptoms, but 25% of women describe these as severe (they have a big impact on their daily life).

Common symptoms of menopause include:

  • irregular bleeding

  • hot flushes

  • disrupted sleep

  • palpitations (a fast heartbeat)

  • changes in hair growth and skin changes

  • muscle and joint pain

  • anxiety and mood swings

  • problems with memory (brain fog)

  • headaches and migraines


Our Menopause Diagnostics package can help you understand what’s happening to your body, confirming that what you’re experiencing is menopause, providing advice on managing symptoms, and identifying any related conditions. At Welbeck, this service is delivered in our state-of-the-art Women’s Health centre.

What does menopause diagnostics involve?

Going through menopause can make you feel like your world is being turned upside down, but you’re not alone.

At Welbeck, our Menopause Diagnostics package is delivered by our leading women’s health consultants. For patients experiencing menopause or peri-menopause symptoms, the first step is to receive a consultation and a set of diagnostic tests.

Welbeck’s Menopause Diagnostics package includes:

  • an initial consultation – discuss your symptoms with a leading menopause consultant

  • diagnostic blood tests – gain insights into your hormone levels with tests including:

    • full blood count (FBC)

    • biochemistry (to assess kidney and liver function)

    • estradiol (oestrogen hormone)

    • follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

    • testosterone

    • sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG)

    • thyroid function tests

  • a detailed transvaginal ultrasound – to analyse follicle counts and ovarian volume

 

You can also opt to add on these additional services:

  • a mammogram – for breast health screening

  • breast ultrasound – for additional breast imaging

  • DEXA scan – to look at bone density and your risk of osteoporosis

If you’d prefer to receive just a consultation with one of our women’s health consultants, we can also offer this.

What menopause related conditions do we treat?

A consultation with a gynaecologist is the first step to getting help during menopause, but another specialist may be more appropriate for certain symptoms. At Welbeck, we have an array of specialties within the same building to ensure you experience a seamless and coordinated journey, receiving the care you need, when you need it. 

This means we can also offer a range of tests and treatments for menopause-related conditions, including:

  • osteoporosis – lower oestrogen levels can affect your bone health. At Welbeck, we offer advanced DEXA scans to assess bone health 

  • sleep disturbances – specialists at our Sleep Centre can assess, diagnose, and treat a range of issues you might be experiencing, such as night sweats, hot flashes, and insomnia

  • urinary incontinence – such as stress and urge incontinence due to hormonal changes. We have specialists across the building that can assess and treat these issues including pelvic floor therapy and, in some cases, surgery

  • cardiovascular diseases – at Welbeck Heart Health, our specialists can assess and treat symptoms such as palpitations, and identify risk factors

  • skin problems and hair loss – our dermatologists can help you treat and manage dry skin, hair thinning and hair loss, wrinkles/fine lines, acne, skin sensitivity, and allergies

  • diabetes and thyroid function – our team of endocrinologists can diagnose and assess any symptoms associated with metabolic changes, such as an increase in visceral (body organ) fat, as well as fatigue, weight changes, and mood swings

What are the risks of menopause diagnostics?

Menopause diagnostic tests are very safe. You may have some light bleeding or spotting after HPV screening, but this should stop within a few hours.

An ultrasound test is also very safe as it only uses a small dose of radiation. The benefits of detecting any potential problems through a transvaginal ultrasound or mammography far outweigh the minimal radiation risks.

How to prepare for menopause diagnostics

Keeping a diary of your symptoms and bringing it to your consultation can give our menopause specialist a bigger picture of what’s going on for you. 

Make a note of any symptoms and:

  • when they happen

  • any triggers you’ve noticed

  • how severe they are 

You don’t usually need to fast before menopause blood tests, but we’ll let you know if this is different for you based on any other blood tests you might need.

While there’s no other specific preparation needed, you may want to wear clothing that’s easy to remove before your ultrasound, HPV screening, and mammogram examinations.

Recovery and aftercare

There’s no recovery time or aftercare needed with blood tests, breast or HPV screening. Some women experience a little discomfort or pain during a mammogram, but this stops immediately after. 

You may also have minor bleeding or spotting after HPV screening, but this will stop within a few hours.

How much does a private menopause diagnostics test cost?

Our Menopause Diagnostics package costs £950.

If you’d like to add any optional extras, these will come at an additional cost. Please get in touch with our Women’s Health centre for more information.

Why choose Welbeck?

At Welbeck, our women’s health specialists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Booking a private menopause diagnostics test

If you would like to schedule a consultation with a menopause specialist, please get in touch to make an appointment. Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

FAQs

What’s the most common symptom of menopause?

Hot flushes are the most common symptom of menopause – about 75% of all women have them. They usually begin before a woman’s last period.

 

What can be mistaken for menopause?

Several health conditions can mimic menopause symptoms, which is why getting an accurate diagnosis is crucial. These include thyroid disorders, anxiety and depression, autoimmune disorders, and even certain cancers.

 

What is the youngest age for menopause?

Menopause is generally considered to be premature if it starts before you turn 40. If it happens before the age of 45, it's classified as early menopause.

 

What can an FSH blood test show?

This test measures the level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in your blood. Increased FSH levels may indicate a decline in ovarian function. It’s a hormone that plays an important role in sexual development and is generally used as part of the evaluation process for menopause.