Doctor's Library
Your First Menopause Consultation: What to Expect
Your first menopause consultation at VERA MD lasts an hour. It is with me, in person at the clinic in Dún Laoghaire, and it is designed to give us time to talk properly: about your symptoms, your health and what matters most to you.
Before your appointment
You don't need a GP referral; you can book directly online. A €50 deposit is taken when you book and is offset against the consultation fee. If you need to change your appointment, please give at least 48 hours' notice.
It helps to bring:
- a list of any medicines and supplements you take, including any HRT you use now or have used before
- the dates of your last few periods, or any notes you have kept about your symptoms
- results of recent blood tests or scans, if you have them
- what you know of your family history, especially heart disease, stroke, blood clots, breast cancer and osteoporosis
- the questions you want to ask
You don't need to have everything. If you have kept nothing, that is fine too.
During the consultation
We will talk about your symptoms and how they affect your daily life, your periods, your medical and family history, and any medicines you take. I will check your blood pressure.
The menopause transition is also an important time for prevention. Your consultation includes an assessment of your heart and circulation risk and a discussion of your bone health.
If you are over 45 with typical symptoms, blood tests are usually not needed to diagnose perimenopause or menopause. Sometimes tests or further assessment are helpful, and I will explain why if I suggest them.
Talking through your options
Depending on what we find, options may include hormone replacement therapy (HRT), non-hormonal treatments and practical changes to sleep, exercise and daily routine. I will explain the benefits and risks of each for you, in plain language.
Nothing is started unless you are comfortable with it. The decision is yours.
What you leave with
- a clear plan that we have agreed together
- a prescription, if we agree that treatment is right for you
- with your permission, a letter to your GP so your records stay up to date
- if you start a new treatment, a follow-up about three months later to check how it is working
After that, most women are reviewed once a year. Patients who are settled on HRT can request a repeat prescription by email; see HRT consultations.
Cost
The first consultation is €175, and a follow-up is €125. If you have a medical card or a Drugs Payment Scheme card, the HRT itself may be free at participating pharmacies, but the consultation is not covered (see Free HRT in Ireland). Many health insurance plans refund part of a consultation fee; we will give you a receipt to claim with.
Sources and further reading
This article is intended for general information and does not replace individual medical advice.