Transitioning into perimenopause and menopause, it can be challenging to find good care. When you’re suffering from hot flushes, broken sleep, anxiety, and brain fog, while also trying to just get through your day, finding and having regular appointments with a specialised healthcare professional can prove near impossible. But this is where trying to find fast and convenient help online can be a lifesaver. It can help you get on top of symptoms, get complete hormone tests and see an endocrinologist, explore Menopausal Hormone Treatment and get regular support, while minimising additional stress. Read on for a list of telehealth and specialised services, as well as what to look out for.
Virtual menopause symptom help options
Virtual menopause symptom help options
Navigating Virtual Menopause Care Options in Australia
Where to Start
If you’d like to learn more about symptoms and possible solutions, you may want to check out some of the websites below. Some of them offer free resources and tools for you to start making sense of what is going on – without committing to a specific doctor or service.
NSW Government's Perimenopause and Menopause Toolkit [1]:
This site is shockfull of free tools, from symptom checklists, workplace kits, podcasts, links to studies, and much more. It is a great starting point if you don’t know where to start.
Australasian Menopause Society [2]:
Evidence-based information is at the core of this society. You can find webinars, videos, factsheets, books, studies, and lists of specialised professionals on this government-trusted information provider.
Jean Hailes for Women's Health [3]:
Women’s health information, not limited to menopause, can be found at this not-for-profit based in Melbourne. From webinars to studies to specialists (in-person).
Finding your Menopause Support
Getting through the onslaught of symptoms requires not just a specialist doctor but also one you click with. Choosing whether to go natural, use MHT, or try other interventions is a deeply personal choice, so you want to make sure you click with your provider and have continuity of care. Here are a few online providers that offer different approaches but free initial assessments or consultations, making it easier to choose and commit.
- The Australian Menopause Centre could be a great starting point, as it offers a fully bulk-billed initial consultation with a doctor, naturopath, or nutritionist, has been around since 2003, and provides a range of support options. Ongoing monthly support costs $99 for unlimited consultations but is bulk-billed for eligible patients. It’s your one-stop shop with plenty of experience.
- WellFemme offers a free questionnaire-based assessment and report that is emailed to you and will highlight your most important health concerns. The service also has a free webinar on its homepage, a great starting point to inform yourself before committing to any service. While this newer provider bulkbills, the fees are much higher than The Australian Menopause Centre’s: a new patient appointment costs $330 ($185 concession card holders). Medicare rebate is $125.10. Reviews are roughly the same cost after the rebate as the AMC’s monthly plan.
- Viv Health takes more of a modern telehealth approach, similarly based around plenty of free information available as well as a free assessment, expert consultations, and continued support. The site takes quite a different approach, with a magazine-style, yet highly informative content. Initial appointment costs $295 with a $122 rebate for eligible patients.
- Clinic 66 Online is the telehealth arm of a more general Women’s Health site with a specific focus on menopause. It takes more of a GP clinic approach with a questionnaire, initial consultation ($290, rebate: $125.10), tests, follow-up, and 3-monthly check-in. If you like their approach, they also offer testosterone therapy and incontinence- and libido-specific assistance for menopause.
- NextClinic is one of the most highly ranked general telehealth providers in Australia. Available from 6 am to midnight and offers MHT-specific appointments (as well as other menopause- and general health appointments) within minutes. This one is a good choice if you want a more generalised provider with hardly any wait times that can fit around your schedule.
These are just a sample of virtual options for menopause care. On MediCompare, we also have full reviews of individual providers to compare cost, availability, and user reviews.
What to Watch out For
You want to pick a provider that you resonate with. Sometimes, just reviewing the site and the language used as well as the available doctors’ profiles can give you a good idea. But depending on your individual needs, here are other things to consider.
- Individual Care and Plans: Make sure the provider offers personalised service rather than just a one-size-fits-all approach. This is one of the most significant hormonal changes of your life; make sure you get the proper support.
- Evidence-Based Approach: When checking out the providers, ensure that they refer to the latest research and up-to-date resources, as there has been plenty of very recent evidence. (One example is that Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is now generally referred to as Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT).)
- Accessibility and Ongoing Support: Selecting a telehealth provider should provide you with more convenience in terms of times available, shorter wait, and scheduled ongoing support, if you wish.
- Pricing: As you can see in my list above, the pricing can range from fully bulk-billed to several hundred dollars for an appointment. Check if you need to get a referral online via your GP or an online GP, whether the first appointment is free, and what the ongoing costs are. Based on my research, your out-of-pocket cost could be almost fully covered, if you are eligible, or as low as around $100 privately for unlimited monthly support.
In summary, it pays off to read up and shop around, if you can. The telehealth options I listed should help you make informed choices and find a good fit for yourself to tackle this journey into your menopausal life well-supported and informed.
Disclaimer
Please note that this text is for informational purposes only and does not represent medical advice. Always do your own research and check the most current prices and services for your preferred telehealth provider. Telehealth should not replace the care of your primary doctor, but can help you access care more conveniently and in a more timely manner. Please get in touch with your GP for medical advice and ask any provider you use to pass on your medical records to your GP for better continuity of care.