Advocating for Yourself with Your GP During Menopause

I want to talk about advocating for yourself with your GP during menopause because I know many women leave GP appointments feeling unheard, dismissed, or unsure what just happened.

It's not because their symptoms aren't real. It's because walking into that room without preparation can mean the conversation goes nowhere.

Here are three tips for your next GP appointment:

1. Write down your top three symptoms and how long you've had them. Note how they are affecting your daily life. Observe your sleep, your mood, your work, your relationships. And be honest, even if it feels uncomfortable. You are not being dramatic. You are giving your doctor the information they need to help you.

2. During the appointment, don't leave without a clear next step. Whether that's a follow up, a referral, a prescription or a blood test, you are entitled to walk out with a plan.

3. And if you leave feeling unheard? You are allowed to go back. You are allowed to ask for a second opinion. You are allowed to take up space in that room.

I created Speak Up, Be Heard: Your Menopause GP Preparation Guide specifically for this moment. It walks you through exactly how to track your symptoms, prepare your questions, and approach your appointment with confidence. It's free, it's practical, and it could genuinely change the conversation you have with your doctor – for the better.

You deserve to be heard.

You can download the Free Symptom Tracker to spot patterns over time, and Speak Up, Be Heard: Your Menopause GP Preparation Guide to walk into your next appointment feeling confident and prepared.