A new Menopause Support short film series highlights the lack of care and support for many of those plunged into surgical menopause.
In recent months, Menopause Support founder Diane Danzebrink has been working with five women who are in surgical menopause to create a series of short films to highlight their experiences, and those of the hundreds of women who completed our 2024 surgical menopause survey, (more information below).
Our sincere thanks go to the incredible Dianna, Rhiannon, Tasha, Tia and Vaishali for sharing their experiences of surgical menopause with us for this project. We would also like to thank our film editor, the wonderful Amy, and our funders, including the Rosa fund, who have helped us to turn the idea for this project into a reality.
If you, or someone you know, would benefit from information or support for surgical menopause, please email hello@menopausesupport.co.uk
We will premiere each film over the next few days on social media, after which they will appear here.
Thanks to Dianna for sharing her experience of surgical menopause.
2024 Surgical Menopause Survey: Women Failed by a Lack of Information, Care and Support
The findings of the 2024 Menopause Support Surgical Menopause Survey revealed that many women plunged into surgical menopause are not receiving the essential information, care and support they need to protect their short- and long-term health.
“Betrayed”, “abandoned”, “struggling” and “alone”.
These are the words used by women across the UK to describe their experiences of surgical menopause after having their ovaries removed.
The survey highlights a significant and serious lack of information before surgery, alongside inadequate follow-up care and support afterwards. For many women, the consequences have been life-changing, leaving them struggling to access the information, treatment and specialist care they need.
The findings are particularly concerning given the potential short- and long-term health consequences associated with premature menopause.
A shocking lack of information before surgery
The online survey, completed by 521 UK-based women aged 20–59, revealed that 74.5% of respondents said healthcare professionals had not informed them of the potential side effects of having both ovaries removed. This included not being told that the surgery would trigger premature menopause.
The survey also exposed significant gaps in discussions about hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Of the women who were eligible for HRT, 62% said it had not been discussed with them before surgery, while only 36% were prescribed HRT immediately afterwards.
These findings raise serious questions about the information women receive before undergoing surgery that can have profound and lasting implications for their health and wellbeing.
Diane Danzebrink, founder of Menopause Support and the Make Menopause Matter campaign, who organised the survey, said:
“It is clear from the survey results that an urgent review of surgical menopause care is needed across the NHS. We must ensure that all clinicians understand how to prepare their patients for surgical menopause, that essential health information is provided before surgery, and that a clear plan for follow-up care is in place.”
Where is the clinical guidance for surgical menopause?
The survey findings prompted Diane to investigate what clinical guidance was available to healthcare professionals caring for women undergoing surgical menopause.
When she was unable to find relevant guidance on the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) website, she contacted the College directly. She was informed that specific guidance did not exist.
Diane subsequently requested that clinical guidance be developed but was told that the College did not consider this necessary because resources were available from other sources. She asked for this decision to be reconsidered.
Diane said:
“I find it difficult to comprehend how an organisation that states it ‘pushes for a commitment to excellence in all O&G practices’ cannot have clinical guidance for the healthcare professionals it represents, some of whom will be responsible for removing women’s ovaries.”
The absence of dedicated clinical guidance raises important questions about how consistently women are being prepared for surgical menopause and supported through its immediate and longer-term consequences.
Inadequate follow-up care leaves women struggling
The survey revealed further significant gaps in post-operative care and support:
- 39.7% of women said they had no follow-up appointment after surgery.
- Just 36.5% were advised to see their GP after hospital discharge for further advice, support and treatment.
- 83.5% said they did not believe their GP was knowledgeable enough about surgical menopause to provide appropriate care and support.
- Only 23% of women who had undergone surgery to remove their ovaries were referred to an NHS menopause specialist clinic.
These figures paint a troubling picture of women being left to navigate a major and potentially life-changing health transition without adequate follow-up or access to specialist support.
The consequences are clear. 42% of respondents said they had not received the help they needed from the NHS, with many reporting waits of months or even years to access appropriate care and treatment. More than a quarter (26.3%) said they had waited between one and five years to see a menopause specialist following surgery.
For women experiencing the effects of sudden menopause, these delays can mean prolonged periods without the support and treatment they need.
Women forced to pay for the care they cannot access
Faced with inadequate follow-up care and limited access to NHS support, many women felt they had no option but to seek help privately.
More than half of respondents (52.8%) said they felt they had no choice but to turn to a private clinic, often at considerable personal expense.
The financial burden was substantial:
- Almost 28% spent more than £1,000 on private care.
- 3.3% spent more than £5,000.
- Thirteen women reported spending more than £10,000.
These costs are simply beyond the reach of many women, creating an unacceptable risk that access to appropriate care will depend on a person’s ability to pay.
Women should not have to choose between going without essential healthcare and taking on significant financial costs to obtain it.
Turning to social media for support
In the absence of adequate information, follow-up care and professional support, many women have been left to seek answers elsewhere.
The survey found that 60% of respondents had joined online groups to access the support they needed.
While online communities can provide valuable peer support and reassurance, women should not have to rely on social media to fill the gaps left by healthcare services.
Diane said:
“It is an absolute disgrace that women are undergoing significant, potentially life-changing surgery without the right information, care and support. Nobody should feel that they have no choice but to turn to social media, or to pay for private care, to get the help and support they need and deserve.”
Urgent action is needed
The 2024 Surgical Menopause Survey highlights serious concerns about the information, treatment and ongoing support available to women undergoing surgical menopause.
Before surgery, women need clear, comprehensive information about the consequences of ovary removal, including the immediate onset of menopause, potential health implications and the role of HRT where appropriate.
After surgery, they need timely follow-up, informed primary care, access to specialist menopause services where needed, and a clear pathway for ongoing treatment and support.
Surgical menopause must not be treated as an afterthought.
Women deserve to be fully informed before surgery and supported throughout their recovery and beyond. No woman should be left feeling abandoned, forced to fight for treatment, or compelled to pay privately for care that she needs.
Urgent action is required to ensure that healthcare professionals are equipped to counsel women appropriately before surgery and provide consistent, compassionate and evidence-based care afterwards.
Every woman deserves to understand what surgical menopause means for her health, to have a plan for her care, and to receive the support she needs — not to be left to navigate the consequences alone.