Do you need a referral for non-hormonal menopause treatment?

Non-hormonal care can include symptom-focused medicines, behavioural approaches, cooling strategies, sleep support and treatment for vaginal or urinary symptoms when appropriate. A clinician first reviews your symptoms, menstrual history, medicines, medical conditions and personal risk factors. This helps distinguish menopause symptoms from thyroid problems, anaemia, infection or another cause, and helps avoid unsuitable treatments or interactions.

Contact your primary-care clinician or an obstetrics and gynaecology service and ask whether a referral is required. If direct booking is available, prepare a symptom diary and a list of medicines and supplements. Mention the symptom affecting daily life most, whether periods have changed, and whether you have had bleeding after menopause. Ask how prescriptions, follow-up and specialist review are handled.

Arrange prompt medical assessment for bleeding after menopause, very heavy or prolonged bleeding, new pelvic pain, a breast change, chest pain, severe headache or sudden weakness. Seek urgent help for fainting, severe breathlessness or sudden neurological symptoms. Do not assume every new symptom is caused by menopause.

Ask which non-hormonal options match your symptoms, when improvement should be reviewed, what side effects to watch for, and whether another condition should be checked first.