Millions of women across England will benefit from menopause advice being added to free NHS health checks, a landmark step in improving women’s health.
For the first time, questions and advice about menopause will be included in routine NHS Health Checks for adults aged 40 to 74. The move aims to help women recognise symptoms earlier, access support, and get the treatment they need.
The update is part of the Government’s wider plan to build an NHS fit for the future and ensure women’s health is given the attention and resources it deserves.
Under the new system, clinicians will raise menopause awareness during health checks, offering advice and directing women to services and treatment options. This change will support millions of women including those in Portsmouth, who too often have felt overlooked or unsupported when seeking help.
Amanda Martin MP for Portsmouth North said: “This is a major step forward for women’s health and something I strongly welcome. For too long, women experiencing the menopause have been made to feel that their symptoms should be endured in silence.
Including menopause advice in routine NHS Health Checks will help ensure women are listened to, supported, and able to get the right care when they need it.
As your MP, I’ll continue to champion better health services for women here in Portsmouth, and to make sure this progress is felt in our local community, not just on paper but in every GP surgery and NHS service.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Women have been suffering in silence for far too long and haven’t been encouraged to open up about the symptoms they’re experiencing. This government is overhauling women’s healthcare and giving those experiencing menopause and perimenopause the visibility and support they have long been asking for.”
The inclusion of menopause checks comes alongside other major changes in women’s healthcare, including:
-
Cutting gynaecology waiting lists for the first time in years;
-
Plans to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040;
-
Making emergency contraception free at pharmacies from late 2025; and
-
Introducing “Jess’s Rule”, ensuring patients are not dismissed without a diagnosis after three GP visits.
This latest measure means menopause will finally be part of everyday healthcare conversations helping women get the understanding, advice and dignity they deserve.
