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[TNM45689]

Hi

I am about to embark on the whole HRT and feel nervous and having got differing views from GPS at my surgery I am not sure if I should fork out to go privately.

Prof Studd is obviously the most well known and I would pay for a consultation but then there are all the add ons (scans, blood test etc) which I cannot afford.

I just wondered if anyone has seen these private clinics - would they recommend or should I just stick with NHS - are all the medications offered by teh NHS or can some only be got privately?Thanks
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[Salad]

Hi 

I have been lucky to have a very supportive GP - she does have an interest in Women's Health.
She has also been more than happy to refer me, on the NHS, to Nick Panay's clinic in London.

Might be worth having a chat with the GP you feel was most receptive to your needs.
Good luck!

[Hurdity]

Yes you can get oestrogen patches and gel on NHS as well as progesterone so no need to spend money on private clinics. You have to do your research and find a doctor who understand HRT and then go in and ask for the products you want and don't be fobbed off .  Thjet are all listed on this website under treatments (above tabs). Not sure where things stand re referrals to Nick Panay's NHS clinic if this is outside your area (eg in my areea there is no meno clinic!). Testosterone is a different matter - hit and miss whether you can get it on NHS as there is currently no licensed product for women even though NICE Guidelines suggest it can be prescribed off licence and many of the top gynaes now prescribe it. No need to pay for Studd necessarily anyway....there are other much cheaper private gynaes who can also prescribe the same products.

Hurdity x

[Joaniepat]

Just to add to Hurdity's post, I attend Nick Panay's NHS clinic at the Chelsea and Westminster even though I live outside London. (Never actually seen the man himself though, so far.) I was prescribed Testogel there, and have also had a DEXAscan and bloods done. You might wait quite a few weeks for an appointment if you go down the NHS route, so it all depends how soon you need to get started.

JP x

[aspie65]

I saw Professor Studd and was not overly impressed.  I got a prescription for oestrogel, utrogestan and testogel.  I didn't like the instructions or his approach so I wouldn't recommend paying to see him.  From what I've learnt on here everyone gets the o/u/t prescription so there is no magical revelation you get from seeing him.  I would just ask your GP for oestrogel and utrogestan.  If you really want to pursue testogel then you would probably need to go somewhere else as GPs don't seem happy to prescribe that.

[Mary G]

I am a patient of Professor Studd and for me it was life changing.   I wasted far too much time on rubbish forms of HRT that didn't work and it wasn't until he introduced me to Oestrogel that I finally had a breakthrough and felt normal again, something I thought would never happen.

You can go to your GP and insist on having the Oestrogel/Utrogestan combination and don't be fobbed of with anything else.   Tell them straight, you want this type of HRT and if they don't prescribe it you will have to go to another doctor who will.

If you decide on the private route make sure you take all your latest test results with you, it will save money.   If you can't afford loads of extra tests just tell them you are not prepared to pay for them.  You can also ask for a telephone consultation if that helps.   Private specialists will write to your GP with their recommended prescription and you can get your HRT on the NHS thereafter.   

[TNM45689]

Thanks ladies - I went to GP today and virtually begged her to refer me so she has given me a choice of Chelsea and Westminster or Sir John Radliffe.

I just wanted to feel like I was talking to someone who is more knowledgeable as my GP is so vague.

Thanks