Hi Mobsters, it’s Leah here from The House of Hormones bringing you your weekly dose of wellbeing content!
For decades, women have been quietly absorbing symptoms, doubting themselves, and being told they’re “fine”, when their bodies were clearly trying to say something else. Mood changes, sleep disruption, anxiety, hair loss, weight shifts, brain fog, heavy periods… all too often brushed off as stress, burnout, or just “getting older”. That’s why this news matters.
From 2026, NHS Health Checks for women aged 40 -74 will finally include questions about menopause and perimenopause. For the first time, hormones will be acknowledged as part of routine healthcare, not an afterthought. But here’s the thing: waiting until 40 is already late for many women. Hormonal changes can start years earlier, which means if you’re over 35, now is the moment to get informed, tuned in, and confident enough to advocate for yourself.
Perimenopause doesn’t begin with missed periods. It often starts quietly, with subtle shifts that are easy to dismiss. That’s why walking into a GP appointment prepared can be transformative. Instead of saying “I’m just not myself”, you can ask clearer, more direct questions.
Ask how your symptoms might be linked to hormonal changes, even if your cycles are still regular. Ask whether anxiety, sleep problems, or low mood could be hormonally driven rather than purely psychological. Ask what support options exist before symptoms become unmanageable. Ask about blood tests, but also understand their limitations. Ask about lifestyle support, not just medication. And yes, ask about HRT, even if you’ve been told you’re “too young”.
This isn’t about demanding treatment. It’s about having informed conversations. Too many women only learn about perimenopause once they’re already struggling, when relationships, work, and confidence have taken a hit. Knowledge earlier changes everything.
The healthcare system is finally starting to catch up, but women still have to lead the conversation. So if you’re over 35+, consider this your cue. Pay attention to your body. Write your questions down. Stop minimising what you’re feeling. You are not being dramatic, difficult, or needy, you are being proactive.
Hormonal health isn’t a future problem. It’s a now conversation. And the more prepared we are, the better care we’ll receive, not just individually, but collectively.
THOH, Making sure women’s voices shape the future of women’s health.
Join our next inHouse Study
Follow us on Instagram
Best
Leah
