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Women's Hormone Check
For under-45s with symptoms, or if testosterone is being considered: your core hormones and thyroid.
from £90 one-off · finger-prick kit, venous kit, nurse or clinic
11 markers across 3 areas of healthMenopause & HRT clinic, online across the UK
Feel like yourself again. Menopause care, led by doctors.
Perimenopause and menopause take pieces away slowly: sleep, focus, patience, confidence. A GMC-registered doctor helps you put them back, with HRT or the alternatives, and stays with you as things change.
- GMC-registered doctors
- Guided by NICE
- No blood test needed if over 45
- 1Doctor consultation£99
£150, by video - 2Membership, if you start treatment£69 a month, four reviews a year
- 3Medication and testsPay as you go · bloods from £90
Menopause symptoms
Which of these sound like you?
Most women have more than one symptom, and many don't realise they're hormonal. Tap every one you recognise and we'll build a picture as you go.
Tap a symptom to add it to your picture, or tap the arrow to read more about it.
Free three-minute symptom check
Not sure which symptoms are hormonal? Take the menopause quiz.
Rate 21 common symptoms on the Greene Climacteric Scale and see which are affecting you most. Private, nothing is stored.
Your first consultation
Talk to a doctor who has time to listen.
now £99 was £150 one-off video consultation Save £51
A UK GMC-registered doctor reviews your symptoms, explains your options and agrees a plan with you. No commitment to go further.
- Full symptom and health history review
- HRT and non-hormonal options explained
- Risks and benefits discussed for you
- Prescription if treatment is right for you
- Written plan after your appointment
Stages
Perimenopause, menopause, post-menopause. Where are you?
It's a stage, not a single moment. Knowing where you are helps you understand your symptoms and what will help.
Stage 1 of 4
Pre-menopause
Usually before 40s
What's happening
Regular cycles and stable hormone levels.
What helps
Nothing to treat. A good time to learn what to look out for and build strength and sleep habits.
Stage 2 of 4
Perimenopause
Typically mid-40s, lasting 4 to 8 years
What's happening
Hormones rise and fall unpredictably. Periods change, and symptoms like poor sleep, anxiety, brain fog and flushes often begin, sometimes years before periods stop.
What helps
HRT, CBT and lifestyle changes can all help. Over 45, you usually do not need a blood test to be diagnosed. You may still need contraception.
Stage 3 of 4
Menopause
Average age around 52 in the UK
What's happening
The point when you have not had a period for 12 months.
What helps
Symptoms often peak around this time. Treatment is reviewed and adjusted, for example moving to a no-bleed HRT regime.
Stage 4 of 4
Post-menopause
The years after
What's happening
Hot flushes usually ease over time, but vaginal and urinary symptoms can get worse, and bone and heart health need more attention.
What helps
Vaginal oestrogen can be used long term. Regular reviews check that your treatment is still right for you.
Treatments
HRT: the complete guide Treatment that fits you.
Your doctor explains every option, including the risks and benefits for you, and you decide together.
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Oestrogen patches
A small patch on the skin, changed once or twice a week. Steady oestrogen with no daily routine.
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Oestrogen gel and spray
Applied to the skin once a day. Easy to adjust, and no patch to stick on.
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Progesterone and progestogens
Protects the lining of the womb if you still have one. Taken as a capsule, tablet, patch or coil.
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Vaginal oestrogen
Low-dose oestrogen used locally for dryness, discomfort and urinary symptoms.
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Testosterone for women
The part of HRT most women are never offered. Considered where symptoms persist on oestrogen and progesterone.
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Non-hormonal options
For women who can't or prefer not to take HRT. Medicines, CBT and lifestyle support.
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HRT alongside weight medication
Taking both is common. There are a few things your doctor needs to know about first.
Testosterone for women
The part of HRT most women are never offered.
Most women who come to us already have oestrogen, and progesterone if they need it. They still do not feel right. Testosterone is usually the piece that was left out.
There is no testosterone licensed for women in the UK, so it is prescribed off-licence, at a fraction of a male dose, with blood tests to keep levels in the normal female range. It takes confidence to prescribe and proper monitoring to do safely. That is the gap we fill.
Symptoms we review it for
Low sexual desire has the strongest evidence behind it. Other symptoms are commonly reported and worth reviewing, but the evidence is weaker and we will say so.
Blood tests
All blood tests Home blood tests, read by a doctor.
Most women over 45 do not need a blood test to start HRT. When one does help, for example under 45, before or during testosterone, or to rule out thyroid or iron problems, a UK GMC-registered doctor reviews your results.
The full picture
Advanced Well Woman Blood Test
Your hormones plus iron, vitamins, thyroid, cholesterol and a general health check, from one sample.
from £110 one-off · venous kit, nurse or clinic
23 markers across 7 areas of health
Most comprehensive
Female Ultimate Panel
Our widest check, adding advanced heart and metabolism markers such as Lp(a), ApoB and hs-CRP.
from £299 one-off · venous kit, nurse or clinic
21 markers across 7 areas of health How it works
From first appointment to feeling better.
Four clear steps. A doctor is involved in every one.
Step 1 of 4
Tell us what's going on
Answer a few questions about your symptoms, periods, medical history and family history, from home and in your own time. Your doctor reads it before your appointment, so the conversation starts where you are.
- Symptoms and what bothers you most
- Your cycle and medical history
- Family history that affects your options
Step 2 of 4
Talk to a doctor
A UK GMC-registered doctor goes through your symptoms and priorities, explains your options including HRT and the alternatives, and talks through the risks and benefits for you. You decide together.
- Time to ask everything
- Options explained in plain English
- No pressure to start treatment
Step 3 of 4
Start your plan
If treatment is right for you, your doctor prescribes it and you get a written plan: what you are taking, how to use it, and what to expect in the first weeks.
- Written plan after your appointment
- Delivered to your door
- Clear guidance on using it
Step 4 of 4
Review at three months
It can take up to three months to feel the full effect. Your review checks what is working and adjusts what is not, then we keep reviewing as your body changes.
- Dose and treatment adjustments
- Regular reviews after that
- Message the clinical team
Your options
Choosing where to get HRT.
There's more than one route. Here's an honest comparison so you can choose what's right for you.
| Feature | Arc HRT | NHS GP | Online pharmacy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who you see | GMC-registered doctor | Your GP | Often a pharmacist, by questionnaire |
| Appointment | Video consultation with time to talk | Usually around 10 minutes | Often no live appointment |
| Planned reviews | At three months, then regularly | Varies by surgery | Varies |
| Choice of HRT types | Full range, explained | Depends on local formulary | Limited to what they stock |
| Cost | Consultation and plan fees | Free appointment, prescription charges apply | Medicine price plus fees |
NHS care is free and many GPs are excellent at menopause care. If you're happy with your GP, stay with them.
Our team
Meet the team The doctors behind your care.
Every plan is made by a UK GMC-registered doctor, not an algorithm.
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HRT Doctor
Dr Lauren Airey
- GMC 7559644
- HRT Doctor
GMC-registered doctor leading menopause and perimenopause care at Arc HRT, from first consultation through to ongoing reviews.
Lauren is a GMC-registered doctor and one of the clinical leads across the Arc Clinics group. At Arc HRT she sees women through perimenopause and menopause: the first consultation, the decision about whether HRT is right for you, and the reviews that follow.
Read full profile -
Medical Director
Dr Chris Airey
- GMC 7490533
- Medical Director
GMC-registered doctor and Medical Director, responsible for the clinical standards Arc HRT works to.
Chris is a GMC-registered doctor and the clinical lead across the Arc Clinics group, which includes Arc TRT, the group's doctor-led testosterone clinic. He is responsible for the clinical standards Arc HRT works to: how patients are assessed, when treatment is appropriate, how it is monitored, and where we refer rather than treat.
Read full profile -
HRT Doctor
Dr Simba Gwatsha
- GMC 7456121
- HRT Doctor
UK doctor with over 10 years of clinical experience, offering personalised, evidence-led hormone care focused on long-term wellbeing.
Dr Masimba (Simba) Gwatsha (MBBS, BMedSci Hons, GMC 7456121) is a UK doctor registered with the General Medical Council. He has over 10 years of clinical experience and a dedicated interest in testosterone and hormone replacement therapy, general wellbeing and preventative medicine.
Read full profile -
HRT Treatment Coordinator
Ursh
- Patient support
- HRT Treatment Coordinator
Your first point of contact — appointments, prescriptions, blood tests, and keeping things moving between you and your doctor.
Ursh is our Treatment Coordinator at Arc, supporting patients throughout their treatment journey as a key point of contact between patients and clinicians. She is the person you will speak to about booking your consultation, arranging a blood test, chasing a prescription, or anything that needs sorting between appointments.
Read full profile
Our guidance
All articles The journal.
Clear, doctor-reviewed reading on perimenopause, HRT and everything around it.
- Getting HRT
How much does HRT cost in the UK? NHS and private prices compared
Read article - Menopause & HRT
Foods high in oestrogen: what phytoestrogens can and cannot do
Read article - Menopause & HRT
Does HRT make you look younger? What it does for skin, hair and collagen
Read article - Getting HRT
HRT on the NHS vs private: how to get HRT and which route suits you
Read article
FAQs
Your HRT questions, answered.
Do I need a blood test before starting HRT?
Not usually. If you are over 45 and have menopausal symptoms, NICE guidance says perimenopause and menopause can be diagnosed from your symptoms, without a hormone blood test. Hormone levels swing from day to day in perimenopause, so a single test can be misleading. Blood tests are more useful if you are under 45, if testosterone is being considered, or if your doctor wants to rule out other causes.
Who is Arc HRT for?
Women and people who menstruate who are experiencing perimenopause or menopause symptoms and want a doctor to review their options. If you are under 40 and your periods have stopped or become irregular, we will usually recommend blood tests and may refer you, as this needs a different approach.
Is HRT safe?
For most women under 60, the benefits of HRT for symptom relief outweigh the risks. The risks depend on your age, health history, and the type of HRT. For example, oestrogen through the skin (patches, gel or spray) does not raise the risk of blood clots in the way tablets can. Your doctor will go through your personal risks and benefits so you can decide together.
Will you tell my GP?
With your consent, we share a summary with your GP so your medical record stays complete. This is good practice and helps keep your care safe.
Can I get testosterone as well as HRT?
Often yes. Many women are prescribed oestrogen and progesterone but never offered testosterone, usually because there is no product licensed for women in the UK and prescribing it takes confidence and monitoring. We assess it properly and prescribe where it is appropriate, with blood tests to keep your levels in the normal female range. Read more about testosterone for women.
I am already on HRT. Can I move my care to Arc HRT?
Yes. See our switch HRT clinic page. A doctor will review your current treatment and history, then take over your care if it is safe to do so.
How long will I need to take HRT?
There is no fixed limit. Many women take HRT for several years, and some for longer. Your doctor reviews your treatment regularly and talks through whether it is still right for you.
Can I cancel my ongoing care plan?
Yes, you can cancel at any time. If you are taking prescribed treatment, please speak to your doctor first so you have a safe plan for stopping or continuing care elsewhere.
How much does it cost?
£99 for your initial consultation (currently reduced from £150). If you and your doctor decide to start treatment, it is then £69 a month, covering four scheduled reviews a year with your doctor and access to the clinical team in between. Medication is not included and is pay as you go, at what it costs us plus a small margin. A full female hormone blood test, where you need one, is £110. See pricing for the detail.
Hormones matter.
Let's treat them properly.
Medical care that puts you back in control, with a doctor who listens, clear options and treatment tailored to you.
