For patients
Women’s Health Concern (WHC), established in 1972 and the patient arm of the BMS since 2012. WHC provides independent advice to inform and reassure women about their gynaecological, sexual and post reproductive health.
Quick links to online help and advice
- WHC factsheets and other helpful resources: evidence-based resources for women and their partners, regularly reviewed and updated.
- Menopause Wellness Hub: lay the foundations for good health through perimenopause, menopause, and the years to come.
- BMS TV: a series of short videos for both healthcare professionals and women and their partners.
Menopause: Giving you confidence for understanding and action
A series of factsheets on menopause and related issues, incorporating recommendations from both national and international guidelines.
The factsheets are evidence-based and are regularly reviewed and updated by the British Menopause Society medical advisory council, providing a trusted source of information for women and their partners.
Latest news
Menopause Wellness Hub
Lay the foundations for good health through perimenopause, menopause, and the years to come.
@womenshealthconcern on Instagram
Nutrition advice can feel confusing, particularly when menopause brings changes to your body and health.
The good news is that you don`t need a restrictive diet or a cupboard full of supplements to get started.
During perimenopause and menopause, focus on the basics:
• Include fibre-rich foods such as oats, wholegrains, fruit, vegetables and beans.
• Eat a variety of protein sources to support muscle health.
• Include calcium-rich foods to help maintain healthy bones.
• Choose unsaturated fats more often to support heart health.
• Follow UK guidance on vitamin D supplementation during autumn and winter.
There is no single diet that works for everyone. Your nutritional needs, health and preferences all matter.
Save this guide for reference and read our Nutrition in menopause factsheet for more practical advice.
Find trusted information via the link in bio.
#WomensHealth #MenopauseNutrition #MenopauseSupport #BoneHealth #EvidenceBasedHealth
Perimenopause and menopause: what’s the difference?
Perimenopause is the transition leading up to menopause. Hormone levels fluctuate, periods may become irregular and symptoms can start while periods are still happening.
Menopause is usually identified after 12 consecutive months without a period, when there isn`t another explanation for the change.
Symptoms vary widely. Some people experience few symptoms, while others find changes to their sleep, mood, concentration or physical health affect everyday life.
For most people aged 45 or over, a healthcare professional can identify menopause from symptoms and menstrual history without hormone blood tests.
If you`re unsure what your symptoms mean or they`re affecting your quality of life, seek advice from a healthcare professional.
Save this post for reference and read our factsheet via the link in bio.
#Perimenopause #MenopauseEducation #MenopauseSymptoms #WomensHealth #EvidenceBasedHealth
Today is #SurgicalMenopauseAwarenessDay. Surgical menopause happens when both ovaries are removed before they`ve stopped working naturally. Reasons can include cancer risk, endometriosis, or other gynaecological conditions.
Unlike natural menopause, where hormone levels fall gradually over several years, surgical menopause causes a sudden drop in estrogen. This often means a faster, more intense onset of symptoms, and (if hormones aren`t adequately replaced) an increased long-term risk of osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, stroke, dementia and earlier mortality for women having surgery under 45.
That`s why current guidance recommends that women under 45 having surgical menopause are offered HRT at least until the average age of natural menopause (around 51), even if they aren`t experiencing symptoms, unless there`s a specific medical reason not to.
Removal of the ovaries can also reduce testosterone production by around half, which for some (though not all) women affects sexual function and wellbeing. Another reason clear information and follow-up support matter so much.
If you`re facing, or have had, surgical menopause, you deserve full information before and after your procedure, and ongoing support from your healthcare team.
Read our Surgical menopause factsheet - link in bio.
#SurgicalMenopause #MenopauseEducation #EvidenceBasedHealth #WomensHealthConcern
Understanding your hormones makes it much easier to make sense of your symptoms, and to have a focused conversation with your healthcare professional. Here are five things we wish every woman knew about their hormones.
Save this to refer back to, and share with a friend who`s started asking is this perimenopause?
#HormoneHealth #PerimenopauseFacts #MenopauseEducation #WomensHealthConcern #EvidenceBasedHealth
Today is #WorldPOIDay
Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) is when the ovaries stop working normally before the age of 40.
POI can happen naturally, or be caused by medical treatment such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Because it happens earlier than typical menopause, the long-term health implications (including bone and heart health) mean hormone replacement is usually recommended at least until the average age of natural menopause, unless there`s a specific medical reason not to.
If you’d like further support with POI, @thedaisynetwork is a UK charity dedicated to supporting people with POI, providing medical and psychological support and promoting research into its causes and treatment.
#Menopause #PrematureOvarianInsufficiency #MenopauseSupport #WomensHealthConcern
This week with @royalosteosoc, we`ve been looking at osteoporosis risk. Today we`re focusing on early menopause and bone health. If menopause happens before 45, the risk of osteoporosis is higher, and the earlier it happens, the bigger the impact on bone density over time.
The good news: there`s a lot you can do. Most adults need 700mg of calcium a day (more if you`re at higher risk), alongside vitamin D and regular impact exercise. If you went through menopause early, it`s worth talking to your GP about whether a bone density scan is right for you.
Read more in the WHC factsheet on osteoporosis and bone health. Link in bio.
#WOD #AreYouThe1in2 #WorldOsteoporosisDay #BoneHealth #EarlyMenopause
Gender Language Policy
Women’s Health Concern (WHC) recognises that patients have diverse gender identities. In our publications, literature, and other printed and digital materials, WHC uses the word “woman” (and the pronouns “she” and “her”) to describe patients or individuals whose sex assigned at birth was female, whether they identify as female, male, or non-binary.
As gender language continues to evolve in the scientific and medical communities, WHC will periodically reassess this usage and will make appropriate adjustments as necessary. When describing or referencing study populations used in research, WHC will use the gender terminology reported by the study investigators.
NICE menopause guideline – patient information
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guideline Menopause: identification and management (NG23) was updated for healthcare professionals on 7 November 2024.
The guideline is designed to ensure that menopause or the time leading up to it is identified by healthcare professionals as early as possible, so that you get the support you need.
Support us
If you would like to make a donation to support the work of Women’s Health Concern, we would love to talk to you.
Please contact the WHC team using our website contact form and we will be in touch.
Website last reviewed: