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New government drive to make menopause advice a part of free health checks will help millions of women get the care they need
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Menopause questions and help to be included in routine NHS health checks for first time nationally, raising awareness of symptoms and giving women the confidence to seek help
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Marks major shift in women’s healthcare as Government overhauls outdated systems as part of mission to build an NHS fit for the future
Millions of women across England will benefit from the menopause being included in routine NHS health checks for the first time – marking a landmark step forward in women’s healthcare.
Routine appointments will now tackle one of society’s most overlooked health challenges, ensuring women experiencing perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms get the right information and support, while also raising awareness earlier so more women recognise the signs and seek help sooner if needed.
The addition of dedicated questions to NHS Health Checks about the menopause – free assessments offered to eligible adults aged 40-74 every five years – will benefit nearly 5 million women.
Too often, women’s experiences of menopause have been minimised or misunderstood, with symptoms sometimes mistaken for other conditions or attributed to stress or lifestyle factors. Today’s announcement will help bring menopause into the mainstream of healthcare conversations – delivering on the government’s Plan for Change by building an NHS fit for the future.
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This often means they’re left to navigate menopause alone, with very little support – all because of an outdated health system that fails to acknowledge how serious it can be.
No one should have to grit their teeth and just get on with what can be debilitating symptoms or be told that it’s simply part of life.
This government is overhauling women’s healthcare and giving those experiencing menopause and perimenopause the visibility and support they have long been asking for.
NHS Health Checks are aimed at identifying people with health risks including cardiovascular disease, stroke, kidney disease, type 2 diabetes and dementia.
By making menopause a part of these health checks, we’re raising awareness of symptoms and giving women the confidence to seek help. Women reporting symptoms will be directed to services, information and treatment options to provide relief.
The move marks a crucial shift in women’s healthcare, as it empowers clinicians to proactively address concerns that often go unrecognised, ensuring women feel heard and supported during what can be a challenging transition.
Questions in the health checks will be developed over the coming months with health experts feeding in.
Menopause affects all women differently, with most experiencing the transition between ages 45 and 55, though symptoms can begin earlier during perimenopause.
Three quarters of women experience symptoms – from physical changes like joint pain, weight gain and hot flushes to cognitive effects such as memory issues and brain fog – which can last an average of seven years and significantly impact daily life. Yet fewer than one in ten feel they have enough information to deal with it.
Dr Sue Mann, National Clinical Director in Women’s Health for NHS England, said:
Far too often we still hear women say their concerns aren’t listened to or that they aren’t getting enough support for the debilitating symptoms that can come with the menopause, many of which can have a big impact on their lives and can be invisible to others.
We want to change that – no-one should have to put on a brave face or feel they are facing symptoms of menopause or perimenopause on their own.
By tailoring NHS Health Checks to include questions around menopause, we hope more women will get the support they need to manage their symptoms – and this is testament to our ongoing commitment to improving treatment, care and quality of life for women.
Mariella Frostrup, Menopause Employment Ambassador, said:
The first hurdle is helping women to understand this phase of life better. Including menopause as a key part of the NHS 40+ Health Check is a major leap forward — for women and for business. When women understand their own biology and the changes that come with midlife, they’re better equipped to look after their health and their careers.
It’s good for women, good for the economy, and good for employers who want to retain experienced talent. I’m delighted that menopause will now be a central part of health checks for every woman walking into midlife.
Professor Ranee Thakar, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists President, said:
It is fantastic news that menopause conversations will now be included in routine NHS Health Checks for women over 40 years old. Everyone’s experience is different, but menopause can seriously impact a woman’s health, their enjoyment of life and their ability to work. Creating space for women to get information about menopause symptoms, support and treatments will break down barriers, reduce stigma, and help many women live more happily and healthily in middle age.
For this change to have maximum positive impact we’d like to see a real focus on ensuring women from diverse ethnic communities and socially deprived areas being supported to access Health Checks, and excellent menopause training for healthcare assistants providing Health Checks. Women’s Health Hub’s are the ideal place to make this new support accessible, personal and impactful.
Women’s Health Ambassador, Dame Lesley Regan, said:
Some 400,000 women in the UK will become menopausal this year, but the vast majority of them will have very little knowledge of what underlies the many and varied symptoms women may experience as they transition from the perimenopause into menopause and the start of their post reproductive lifespan.
There is an inevitability that every girl and woman who has menstrual periods will become menopausal, some earlier than others. Which is why it is so important that we provide all girls and women with the information and supportive healthcare they need to deal with their menstrual health and their menopausal health and wellbeing so that they are not disabled or disadvantaged by easily treatable symptoms that prevent them contributing to society.
When we get it right for women, everyone benefits.
Laura Biggs, Menopause Mandate, Founding Director, said:
We’re absolutely delighted that our two-year campaign has culminated in the Health Secretary’s historic decision to include menopause information in the NHS 40+ Health Check. It’s a move we at Menopause Mandate have been tirelessly campaigning for, and we’re grateful to the government for listening to women and taking action.
Our 2025 Mega Menopause Survey of over 15,000 women revealed that only 14% learned about menopause from a healthcare professional — yet 99% wanted menopause included in their health checks.
This practical and preventative step will transform the experience of millions of women entering their peri- and menopausal years, helping them make informed choices about symptoms and treatment, while saving the NHS significant unnecessary costs.
It marks another major victory for Menopause Mandate — founded just three years ago — following the introduction of the HRT pre-payment certificate, and represents a huge step towards bringing menopause out of the shadows and into the mainstream of women’s healthcare.
The government has made significant strides in women’s health since taking office, including:
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Gynaecology waiting lists beginning to fall for the first time in years, with the government investing additional funding to tackle the backlog of cases.
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We have set out how we will eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 through the new cervical cancer plan for England, and emergency hormonal contraception is due to be made available free of charge on the NHS at pharmacies from the end of this month.
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The government has also introduced Jess’s Rule which ensures GPs in England ‘think again’ if they see a patient three times and cannot identify a diagnosis, or find symptoms are getting worse.
Overhauling women’s healthcare is a key part of the government’s Plan for Change to build an NHS fit for the future, ensuring healthcare services are personalised and preventative.
