Breaking the Silence: NHS Health Checks to Include Menopause Questions for Millions of Women

The NHS health check program in England will include questions about the menopause for the first time. This change is set to benefit up to 5 million women aged 40 to 74. The checks currently screen for risks of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

Ministers announced the change, stating that women have been “suffering in silence for far too long.” Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the goal is to give women the “visibility and support they have long been asking for.” The new questions are expected to take effect starting in 2026.

The change is crucial because about three-quarters of women experience menopause symptoms, and a quarter describe them as severe. Symptoms can include hot flushes, depression, and sleep problems. Many women report feeling unheard and lack the support they need.

However, experts also stressed the need to improve overall access to the checks. They highlighted that women from diverse ethnic and socio-economically deprived communities are less likely to attend. The change is expected to help reduce stigma and improve awareness of treatments like Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)