You've finally worked up the courage to speak to your GP about the symptoms that have been turning your life upside down. But instead of answers, you're told your blood tests are normal, you're too young for menopause, or perhaps you just need antidepressants. Meanwhile, another woman with similar symptoms has been offered HRT without any difficulty. How can the care women receive still vary so dramatically, and what does it actually take to get the right treatment? My guest is Dr Rebeccah Tomlinson, a GP, British Menopause Society-accredited Menopause Specialist and Trainer, who leads a weekly menopause clinic within her local hospital. With experience on both sides of menopause care, from busy GP surgeries to specialist clinics and training other healthcare professionals, Rebeccah brings an important perspective to a conversation that is often dominated by frustration, conflicting advice and unanswered questions. And with World Menopause Day approaching, it's an opportunity to look beyond awareness alone and ask whether the healthcare system is actually equipped to give women the individualised care they need. From the realities of prescribing HRT to the difficult decisions clinicians face when guidelines don't neatly fit a woman's circumstances, this conversation explores why getting the right menopause care isn't always as straightforward as it should be. REBECCAH REVEALSWhy women can spend years seeking help for seemingly unrelated symptoms before anyone considers perimenopause, and what's contributing to this gap in recognition.Where current menopause guidance leaves unanswered questions about progesterone and testosterone, and why some women are offered treatments that others struggle to access.What off-label prescribing really means, why it can make some clinicians hesitant, and whether women should be concerned about medications being prescribed outside their licence.Why normal hormone blood tests don't necessarily rule out perimenopause, when testing can be useful, and how results can sometimes lead women down the wrong path.What women may not realise about moving from private menopause treatment back to NHS care, and why having an existing prescription doesn't necessarily mean their GP can continue it. BEST MOMENTS“You can understand why women feel like they are hypochondriacs, because perimenopause is such a chaotic time.” “I know sometimes you will sit down with your list and you will see the GP's eyes roll into the back of their head, but I love a list.” “We need less of that postcode lottery to who you get and less of this, well, I'm not confident in HRT, so here have an antidepressant.” “Some people might need more. Some people might need less. It's like personal shopping, isn't it? Finding something that suits you.” EPISODE RESOURCESWebsite: https://empoweralltraining.co.uk/ Corporate Training: https://empoweralltraining.co.uk/corporate-training/ Clinician Training: https://empoweralltraining.co.uk/clinician-training/ Patient Advice and Guidance Clinics: https://empoweralltraining.co.uk/patient-clinics/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@empoweralltraining?_r=1&_t=ZN-99YrEVpfJaB Want practical, evidence-informed support with menopause? Visit Panacea Pause to explore Michelle’s resources, services and ways to work with her. ABOUT MICHELLEMichelle Rowlinson is the founder of Panacea Pause, a Senior Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist, Menopause and Wellbeing Practitioner, best-selling author, and host of the Menopause - The Real Deal podcast. After spending seven years searching for answers to debilitating symptoms that were eventually recognised as perimenopause, Michelle made it her mission to help other women understand what is happening to their bodies and navigate menopause with confidence. Today, she delivers evidence-based education for women, workplaces and healthcare professionals through her CPD-accredited training, workshops and public speaking. Combining over two decades of clinical experience with her own lived experience, Michelle is passionate about translating complex science into practical, honest conversations that help women make informed decisions about their health. Through her podcast, Michelle explores the latest evidence, challenges outdated misconceptions, and asks the questions that many women, and increasingly healthcare professionals, are asking about menopause today. CONNECT WITH MICHELLEFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/michelle.rowlinson.official/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michelle_rowlinson Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-rowlinson-38330b21a YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MenopauseTheRealDeal My Book: You, me conquering perimenopause & menopause https://amzn.eu/d/hCcbjag Website: www.panaceapause.co.uk
