Quality standard

Quality statement 4: Reviewing treatments for menopause-associated symptoms

Quality statement 4: Reviewing treatments for menopause-associated symptoms

Quality statement

Women, trans men and non-binary people registered female at birth having treatment for menopause-associated symptoms have a review 3 months after starting each treatment and then at least annually.

Rationale

A review 3 months after starting a treatment for menopause-associated symptoms ensures that changes to dosage or formulation can be made if there are persistent side effects such as bloating, nausea and breast discomfort. Once treatment is established, further review is needed to assess new or pre-existing health problems, to carry out basic health checks (for example, measuring weight and blood pressure), and to inform and engage women in national screening programmes. Review should take place at least once a year, but may be needed more often if there are clinical indications for this. For most women, trans men and non-binary people registered female at birth, menopause-associated symptoms respond well to treatment. However, for some whose symptoms do not improve or side effects are troublesome, review will identify if they need to be referred for help and support from a healthcare professional with specialist training and expertise.

Quality measures

The following measures can be used to assess the quality of care or service provision specified in the statement. They are examples of how the statement can be measured, and can be adapted and used flexibly.

Process

a) Proportion of women, trans men and non-binary people registered female at birth having treatment for menopause-associated symptoms who have a review 3 months after starting treatment.

Numerator – the number in the denominator who have a review 3 months after starting treatment.

Denominator – the number of women, trans men and non-binary people registered female at birth having treatment for menopause-associated symptoms.

Data source: Data can be collected from information recorded locally by healthcare professionals and provider organisations, for example from patient records.

b) Proportion of women, trans men and non-binary people registered female at birth receiving treatment for menopause-associated symptoms who have an annual review within 12 months of the 3-month review or last annual review.

Numerator – the number in the denominator who have an annual review within 12 months of the 3-month review or last annual review.

Denominator – the number of women, trans men and non-binary people registered female at birth receiving treatment for menopause-associated symptoms.

Data source: Data can be collected from information recorded locally by healthcare professionals and provider organisations, for example from patient records.

What the quality statement means for different audiences

Service providers (primary care) ensure that women, trans men and non-binary people registered female at birth having treatment for menopause-associated symptoms have a review 3 months after starting each treatment and then at least annually.

Healthcare professionals (such as GPs and practice nurses) ensure that they offer women, trans men and non-binary people registered female at birth a review 3 months after starting each treatment for menopause-associated symptoms, and then at least annually.

Commissioners ensure that they commission services in which women, trans men and non-binary people registered female at birth having treatment for menopause-associated symptoms have a review 3 months after starting each treatment and then at least annually.

Women, trans men and non-binary people registered female at birth having treatment to help with menopause-associated symptoms have a review 3 months after starting each treatment, and then have a review at least once a year. The aim of a review is to check that the treatment is working and that side effects are not a problem.

Source guidance

Menopause: identification and management. NICE guideline NG23 (2015, updated 2024), recommendation 1.9.2

Definitions of terms used in this quality statement

Menopause-associated symptoms

Menopause-associated symptoms include the following:

  • no or infrequent periods (taking into account whether the person has a uterus)

  • vasomotor symptoms (hot flushes and night sweats)

  • effects on mood (for example, depressive symptoms)

  • genitourinary symptoms (for example, vaginal dryness)

  • musculoskeletal symptoms (for example, joint and muscle pain)

  • sexual difficulties (for example, low sexual desire).

[Adapted from NICE's guideline on menopause, context section and recommendations 1.2.2 and 1.3.1]