What are group menopause consultations?

• Group consultations are led run by a facilitator and will have between 4-8 women during each session
• They can last around 90 minutes and are done online via MS teams
• Our team will contact you via text and invite you to join on a date convenient for you
• We will ask you to fill in a form with some basic information regarding yourself and your symptoms
• The facilitator ensures that before the clinician arrives, each individual is clear about what they want to discuss with the clinician and there is an opportunity to discuss your experiences with other participants
• The clinician joins 20 – 30 minutes or so into the group consultation. Here you can ask questions between yourselves and to the clinician. This is usually very relaxed and we hope informative
• In the last 10 minutes of the consultation the clinician then holds brief individual consultations with each of the participants in the group setting. Everyone listens and learns from the conversation
• Prescriptions are then issued or follow up made at this point
• The facilitator closes the session; summarises with the group individual goals, building on what the clinician agreed with each person

Why are we doing group menopause consultation here at Granta

• Greater continuity of GP/clinician care
• More time with your GP/clinician
• Connection with others in similar situations which builds confidence and gives hope (we hope!)
• Sets up on-going peer support networks
• Confidence to take control and self-manage condition
• Improved health outcomes and improved care experience

The impact of the menopause

The average age of the menopause in the UK is 51 with a normal range of 45-55. The menopause transition can have a significant impact on many women, with more than 75% experiencing menopausal symptoms, a quarter describing severe symptoms, and a third experiencing long-term symptoms. A significant proportion of women may experience troublesome menopausal symptoms while still perimenopausal (the phase proceeding the menopause where women experience menstrual cycle irregularities +/- menopausal symptoms)

• Vasomotor symptoms (hot flushes/night sweats).
• Cognitive symptoms and mood disorders (low mood, labile mood, anxiety, irritability, loss of confidence, low self-esteem, difficulties with short-term concentration and memory (‘Brain fog’), and difficulties in multi-tasking).
• Sleep disturbances (insomnia and disturbed sleep).
• Fatigue, tiredness and low energy levels. Loss of sexual desire and libido. Joint and muscle pains.
•  Headaches
• Genitourinary symptoms (vaginal dryness, irritation, discomfort, burning, itching, dyspareunia. This may also include urinary symptoms such as urinary frequency urgency, dysuria and recurrent lower urinary tract infections).

We look forward to see you there.