Frequently Asked Questions

How do I schedule a consultation?

To schedule an appointment, you are able to book online by clicking here or feel free to liaise with the administrator on 01235 634606 or via enquiries@oxfordmenopause.com. Clinics are held at The Carriage House Health & Wellbeing Centre in Ardington and we offer virtual appointments on request.

What are the costs involved?

An initial consultation is £250, with subsequent consultations £195. Blood tests may be required as part of your specialist care, these may be necessary to assess other issues that may be contributing to your symptoms or to assess any treatment suggested. In the majority of cases blood tests are not required to diagnose the menopause or perimenopause. Click here to see our transparent fees.

Do you consult patients living overseas?

Patients living overseas are welcome to access the clinic, we cannot offer remote consultations however so first appointments and subsequent follow-ups would be face to face.

How often will I need to be seen?

After the initial assessment, most women will be reviewed in 3 months. Thereafter women may be reviewed at 3-6 month intervals until treatment is optimised. Once treatment is optimised, annual review is usually all that is required either in the clinic or with your usual NHS GP.

Do you offer testosterone therapy?

For some women, testosterone therapy is needed alongside HRT to improve libido (sex drive) and sexual function. At the moment, there are no licensed female preparations of testosterone available on the NHS in the UK. NHS clinics commonly use products manufactured and approved for men at very low doses. In this clinic we prescribe a testosterone cream, AndroFeme, which is specifically made for women in Australia. This is available via private prescription from the clinic.

Where can I obtain my medication?

Many clients obtain an NHS prescription from their usual GP and a local pharmacy can then dispense the medication. An alternative is to use an online pharmacy to dispense the medication with a prescription from either the NHS GP or this clinic. Testosterone cream is not able to be prescribed via this route as it only available privately. Oxford Menopause works closely with The Independent Pharmacy who are able to dispense testosterone cream, some clients also prefer to use this pharmacy to obtain all their medication.

Who will I see at my appointment?

Appointments are scheduled with either our founder, Dr Katie Barber, GP and Menopause Specialist, or Dr Helen Kennedy, Womens Health and Menopause Specialist.

Where is the clinic?

Consultations take place at The Carriage House Health & Wellbeing Centre in Ardington, Southern Oxfordshire. Ample free parking is available. Click here for directions.

Are there any access issues?

The practice is easily accessed from the car park without any steps. The consulting rooms and toilet facilities are on the ground floor. If you have any particular requirements, please inform us of these in advance of your appointment so we can do our best to accommodate your needs.

How do I receive communications and blood results from the clinic?

You will receive a letter within 48 hours of your appointment in the clinic. This will detail the consultation and treatment provided. You are welcome to share this with your NHS GP, if you would like us to send your GP a copy of the letter directly, please let the clinician know. All our blood testing is performed by The Doctor’s Laboratory. As soon as results are available, your doctor will review and comment on the results. You will receive a letter with the results and the doctor’s comments.

How much will the medication cost?

In the majority of patients, the clinic will prescribe medication for a 3 month period. Most of the medication prescribed in the clinic is available on the NHS and therefore subsequent prescriptions can be obtained from your usual NHS GP via NHS prescription. Some women however choose to continue receiving their medication by private prescription from the clinic. Costs of treatment vary depending on the type of medication prescribed, on average £15 per item. Testosterone therapy is more expensive costing around £80 for a tube of cream which lasts 3-4 months depending on dosage. A prescription dispensing fee of £35 will be charged for each private prescription (one fee regardless of number of items prescribed).

Who can book a consultation?

The service is open to any women who have concerns or who are seeking treatment to deal with the menopause or other aspects of women’s health. As Dr Kennedy is also a registered NHS GP she may not see patients privately who are registered with her NHS surgery. You can however still have a consultation with Dr Barber.

Can I have a remote consultation?

To ensure the highest quality of care we prefer to see patients face to face. Your initial appointment may require examination and, in some cases, blood tests to complete a thorough assessment and provide the most appropriate advice, maintaining the high standards we wish to achieve in the clinic. We do provide remote (virtual) consultations, these can be booked online or please email enquiries@oxfordmenopause.com or call 01235 634606 if you wish to discuss this option with us.

Do I need a GP referral letter?

You do not need a letter of referral from your GP or specialist to be seen in the clinic. Most women self-refer. If you do have any information or blood results from other consultations then it is useful to bring copies of these with you to the appointment.

Will you prescribe HRT?

In the clinic we discuss both hormonal (HRT) and non-hormonal treatment options. There are other aspects of the menopause that we review in the clinic which may need other treatments. In addition, some women are unable to take HRT due to other medical issues or choose not to take HRT, treatment discussions are individualised to the patient and we will explore all options at your appointment.

How long does the treatment take to work?

Responses to HRT/non-hormonal treatment options are extremely variable. Some women find they notice an improvement very quickly (within a few weeks) whereas others find it can take some months for the full benefit to be evident. We would encourage women to continue for 3 months with any therapy suggested before considering an alternative.

Where can I access more information about the menopause?

There are various websites which offer extensive information about the menopause. For more information please visit the following websites:
womens-health-concern.org daisynetwork.org
menopausematters.co.uk