Blood tests and the menopause [with sign language]

Dr Louise Newson discusses whether blood tests are needed to diagnose the menopause

Video Transcript:

I am Dr. Louise Newson. I am a GP and Menopause Expert in West Midlands.

The guidelines that came out are very clear about how to diagnose the menopause and in the past, a lot of doctors were doing blood tests regardless of the woman’s age but now if they are over the age of 45 and have menopausal symptoms, they don’t need investigations. And that’s great because I can get on and treat people very quickly, whereas in the past I had to send them for a blood test, wait for the result, make an appointment and come back. So these women were suffering for longer. So I can start the treatment very quickly and that’s great.

So it’s very important that they get the right sort of treatments very quickly.