Around 13 million women in the UK are currently peri- or post-menopausal, and NICE's 2024 updated guideline on menopause has widened the mainstream case for hormone replacement therapy considerably. But NHS access remains uneven: some ICBs offer specialist menopause clinics with three-week waits, others have no dedicated service at all. This guide covers what a private menopause clinic offers in 2026, what HRT actually costs privately, when the NHS is the right route, and how to avoid unregulated compounded-hormone providers.

What a private menopause clinic does

A defensible private menopause service, whether in-person or telehealth, should include:

• A detailed symptom review across vasomotor (hot flushes, night sweats), psychological (mood, sleep, cognition), genitourinary (vaginal dryness, urinary symptoms), and musculoskeletal domains.
• A full medical and family history covering cardiovascular risk, breast and ovarian cancer history, VTE risk, migraine history, and current medications.
• Baseline investigations where clinically indicated, blood pressure, BMI, and in specific cases bloods (FSH is not routinely required for women over 45).
• A personalised HRT recommendation aligned with the NICE NG23 menopause guideline, covering estrogen route (transdermal vs oral), progestogen choice, and testosterone consideration where relevant.
• A written follow-up plan covering the standard 3-month review and annual assessments thereafter.
• A clear route to shared care with your NHS GP for long-term prescribing where possible.

What HRT costs privately in the UK

The economics of private menopause care hinge on whether you self-fund long-term or transfer to NHS prescribing after stabilisation:

Item	Typical price
Initial consultation (45 to 60 min)	£180, £395
Follow-up review (20 to 30 min)	£95, £195
Baseline blood panel (if indicated)	£120, £280
Private HRT prescription, monthly cost	£25, £85 depending on regimen
NHS HRT (post-shared-care), annual PPC	~£20.60 (HRT-specific PPC)
Testosterone (private, off-label)	£30, £60 per month

The HRT Prescription Prepayment Certificate introduced in 2023 caps NHS HRT costs at around £20.60 per year for unlimited HRT prescriptions. If your private specialist can hand prescribing back to your NHS GP once you're stable, this is by far the cheapest long-term route.

When a private menopause clinic is the right call

• Your NHS GP is uncertain about initiating HRT and wants specialist input.
• You need a longer consultation than the standard NHS 10-minute slot allows for a genuinely complex history.
• You want testosterone consideration, available on the NHS for menopause but often only through specialist menopause clinics that have long waits.
• You have a complex risk profile (migraine with aura, personal or family history of hormone-sensitive cancer, VTE history) that needs specialist review.
• You've had a negative NHS experience and want a second opinion on symptom attribution before further investigations.

When the NHS is the right call

• You already have a supportive NHS GP who is comfortable initiating and reviewing standard HRT, the NHS route with an HRT PPC is by far the cheapest.
• Complex gynaecological issues requiring imaging, biopsy, or surgery, the NHS pathway remains the appropriate route.
• Urgent red-flag symptoms, postmenopausal bleeding, sudden severe symptoms, need NHS investigation, not a private consultation.

The compounded-hormone warning

A number of unregulated online providers market "bioidentical hormone replacement therapy" (BHRT) using compounded hormones, pharmacy-mixed preparations that are not regulated by the MHRA. The British Menopause Society position statement is clear: regulated body-identical HRT (transdermal estradiol, micronised progesterone) is available on both the NHS and private prescription, is fully regulated, and has an established evidence base. Compounded BHRT does not.

Signs of an unregulated provider:

• Prescriptions dispensed only from a specific compounding pharmacy the provider recommends.
• No CQC registration or the CQC number cannot be verified.
• No GMC-registered prescriber named on the platform.
• Claims of "customised" hormone doses based on saliva tests, which have no clinical validity.
• No offer to transfer to NHS shared care.

What to check before you book

• CQC registration for the clinic and GMC registration for the prescriber.
• British Menopause Society membership or an equivalent professional body affiliation for the specialist.
• Written prescribing policy, regulated body-identical HRT should be the default; compounded BHRT should be actively avoided.
• Shared-care support, can the clinic transfer prescribing to your NHS GP once you're stable, and do they provide a template letter for your GP?
• Testosterone policy, if this is on the table, ensure they follow the British Menopause Society testosterone guidance.
• Follow-up structure, a single consultation with no built-in review is not menopause care.

What Take a Seat does differently

Every menopause specialist listed on Take a Seat is a GMC-registered clinician, prescribes only MHRA-regulated body-identical HRT, and holds British Menopause Society-aligned credentials or equivalent specialist training. We publish each provider's shared-care policy, testosterone-prescribing approach, and typical follow-up cadence on their profile, so you can see exactly what long-term care looks like before you book.

If you'd like a shortlist matched to your symptoms, medical history and preferred appointment format, start our 90-second pathway.

Frequently asked questions

How much is private HRT in the UK per month?

Private HRT prescriptions typically cost £25, £85 per month depending on the regimen (transdermal estradiol plus micronised progesterone is the most common). Once transferred to NHS shared care, an HRT Prescription Prepayment Certificate caps costs at roughly £20.60 per year.

Can I get testosterone for menopause privately?

Yes. Testosterone is prescribed off-label in the UK for menopause-related low libido and is available privately through most specialist menopause clinics. Cost is typically £30, £60 per month. NHS prescribing exists but usually requires specialist menopause clinic access, which has long waits in many areas.

Is bioidentical HRT the same as body-identical HRT?

No. Body-identical HRT (transdermal estradiol, micronised progesterone) is MHRA-regulated, evidence-based, and available on both the NHS and private prescription. Compounded "bioidentical" HRT (BHRT) is pharmacy-mixed, not regulated by the MHRA, and not recommended by the British Menopause Society.

Will my NHS GP take over HRT prescribing after a private consultation?

Usually yes, once you're stable on a regimen. Most NHS GPs will accept shared care for standard body-identical HRT with a clear letter from the private specialist. Testosterone shared care is more variable, some GPs will continue it, others require the private specialist to continue prescribing.

Do I need blood tests before starting HRT?

For women over 45 with typical menopausal symptoms, NICE guidance says FSH testing is not required, diagnosis is clinical. Blood tests may be indicated for younger women, complex symptom pictures, or when other conditions need excluding.

How long does menopause treatment last?

There is no fixed duration. Current guidance supports continuing HRT for as long as the benefits outweigh the risks for the individual, reviewed annually. There is no arbitrary "stop at 5 years" rule.