Before contacting the clinic, you may want to have a read of the questions we get asked most frequently and be aware of this information before contacting us or booking a consultation.
If your question is not answered below and you have referred to the wealth of material available on our balance website, please feel free to submit your query via the patient contact page. If you are not a patient of ours please refer to the balance website.
Search our archives of questions to get your questions answered faster.
To book a new or follow up consultation, please visit our book appointment page.
We offer telephone and video consultations as well as face-to-face appointments in our clinics. Telephone and video consultations are charged at the same price as face-to-face consultations.
We are unfortunately unable to offer telephone or video consultations to patients living or visiting from overseas due to restrictions in our insurance. All our overseas patients must be seen in our clinic in the UK for their initial appointment. This does not apply to those from the US or Canada who cannot register with us as a patient.
You do not need a GP or another doctor’s referral letter to be seen in our clinic. The majority of women self-refer and do not need a letter.
If you have any blood test results or letters from previous relevant medical consultations, then it is useful to bring copies of these with you when you attend for your appointment or email or complete the online form here ahead of your appointment.
Your first consultation can last up to 45 minutes, with follow-up consultations lasting up to 25 minutes. This usually provides sufficient time for women to explain their situation and be given individual, specialist advice and choices regarding their treatment, including HRT.
The majority of women are seen again around three months after their initial appointment and their clinician will advise when to have any further follow ups. To obtain a prescription from us you will need to be seen annually. You will need to have an appointment every 2 years to remain as an existing patient. If you have not been seen in over 2 years you will be booked in as a new patient at the cost of a new appointment.
Treatment for the menopause is not covered by private medical insurance but it is always a good idea to check with your insurance company.
Although the majority of women usually benefit from taking a type of Hormone Replacement Therapy, this is only one part of treatment for the menopause. Some women choose not to take HRT or cannot take HRT due to medical reasons and so there are alternative treatments available. These will be discussed on an individual basis.
Women who are likely to benefit from taking HRT are usually given a private prescription for the first few months. The majority of women subsequently receive the HRT (other than the testosterone) from their GPs on an NHS prescription. Some women continue to have HRT as a private prescription from us.
Costs for a month's supply of HRT will vary depending on the type of medication prescribed. After your appointment, if your clinician has prescribed for you, you can speak to one of the team about the cost of your HRT.
In addition, a prescription dispensing fee of £37 will be charged for each prescription, regardless of the number of items on the prescription.
Clinicians often talk about the relative risks and benefits of HRT – but what do the numbers actually mean?
And what are the benefits of using transdermal oestrogen and body identical progesterone compared with the more old-fashioned HRT formulations (oral oestrogen and synthetic progestogens)?
We have created two visual aids to help you understand the long-term risks and benefits of HRT. These aids can be downloaded and printed and used by clinicians in consultations to inform shared decision making based on the best, currently available evidence. The aids will be updated as and when new evidence comes to light.
Understanding the major long-term benefits of HRT covers the following topics:
Understanding the risks of HRT covers the following topics:
Click here to download the visual aids on the balance website
Women really vary with how they respond once they start HRT. Some women find they feel better quickly whereas for other women it can take three months to feel the full effects. It is worth persevering with any treatment you are given for three months before deciding how it suits you.
Some women do develop breast tenderness initially which often settles. Some women do experience some bleeding which usually settles within the first few months.
If you are still experiencing symptoms after three months then it may be that the dose or type of HRT needs to be changed.
Blood tests can offer valuable insights into your health, including hormone levels and other key markers. While they are not always necessary for diagnosing perimenopause or menopause, for some women, testing hormone levels can help guide treatment decisions.
Beyond perimenopause and menopause care, blood tests can be part of a general health check, such as vitamin levels, thyroid function, and metabolic health. They can also help identify conditions that may mimic or worsen perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms, ensuring you receive the right treatment for your long-term health.
Based on your symptoms, medical history, and health goals, your clinician will recommend the most suitable blood tests to support your care. Explore our available blood test packages [here].
Blood tests are available at various locations across the UK as well as at your home. Our team will help you to make the necessary arrangements. Please note that there will be a fee payable directly to the centre or service provider where your blood sample is taken.
We prioritise accuracy and reliability, which is why we take blood from a vein rather than using finger-prick tests, which may not always provide dependable results - particularly for measuring oestradiol (the primary form of oestrogen).
Follow these simple steps to ensure the most accurate results:
If you use HRT gels or creams, avoid applying them to your arms on the day of the test to prevent sample contamination.
Timing is usually not usually critical. However, your clinician will advise you if you need to have them at a specific time in your menstrual cycle.
Your appointment should take around 15 minutes. A phlebotomist will collect your sample and ensure you feel comfortable throughout the process.
Feeling anxious about blood tests can be completely normal. Let your phlebotomist know in advance, and they will take extra care to help you feel at ease.
Once processed, your blood test results will be sent to your clinician at Newson Clinic, they will review your results and email you with any relevant comments.
10: Understanding your blood test results
Blood test results can vary widely among individuals and even fluctuate over time in the same person. While these measurements provide valuable insights about your health, they are only one part of your care. They usually help to guide treatment rather than provide a definitive diagnosis, which is why your clinician will carefully review your results in the context of your overall health, medical history, and any current symptoms you may have. They will explain what the results mean for you and discuss any next steps or treatment options. For general information on what different blood tests measure and why they matter, visit ‘Understanding your blood test results’.
Blood tests are not necessary to diagnose the perimenopause and menopause for most women. However, we often recommend blood test to assess hormone levels which can guide treatment. Blood tests are also sometimes recommended as part of a well woman check or to assess other systems, for example thyroid function tests.
Our women’s health profile (which includes full blood count, kidney function, liver function, thyroid tests, vitamin D level, iron level, vitamin B12 and folate levels, cholesterol and hormone levels) costs £129.
Blood test results and other test results submitted by a different clinic or by a GP may be reviewed only if you are unable to use our preferred pathology lab.
Prices for other recommended investigations for some women, such as a bone density scan or ultrasound, can be given on request.
| Name of Profile | Blood Tests | Cost* |
| Newson Health 1a | FBC, Kidney Function, Liver Function, Lipids, Ferritin, Thyroid function, HbA1c, Oestradiol, Testosterone, SHBG, Vitamin B12, Folate, Vitamin D | £129 |
| Newson Health 1b | Full blood count, Kidney Function, Liver Function, Lipids, Ferritin, HbA1c, Oestradiol, Testosterone, Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG), Vitamin B12, Folate, Vitamin D and Full Thyroid Panel Inc Anti-thyroglobulin and Anti-peroxidase Antibodies (TSH, T4, T3, TGA, TPA) | £139 |
| Newson Health 2 | Oestradiol, SHBG, Testosterone | £99 |
| Newson Health 3 | SHBG, Testosterone | £85 |
| Newson Health 4 | Oestradiol, SHBG, Testosterone, Thyroid Function (including T4 and T3) | £99 |
| Newson Health 5 | Full Thyroid Panel Inc Anti-thyroglobulin and Anti-peroxidase Antibodies (TSH, T4, T3, TGA and TPA) | £99 |
| Newson Health 6 | Oestradiol, Testosterone, Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG), Thyroid function (TSH, T4 and T3) Vitamin D | £99 |
| Cost for using a satellite phlebotomy clinic | From £35 |
*We reserve the right to change any of our advertised prices without prior notice.
Full details of our blood services and costs can be found here. If your clinician has requested you have a blood test there are a number of options available to you:
You can call us on 01789 595004 or email us to make us aware of your preferred option. Our administrators are available to talk you through the options in more detail and advise on the best solution for you.
Please read the advice to patients on HRT when having a blood test here.
All our blood testing is done by Nationwide Pathology. As soon as your results are available they will be reviewed and commented on by one of our clinicians. You will then receive an email asking you to log onto the system so that you will be able to access your results and also the clinician's comments.
