The Maypole Menopause Clinic is the first dedicated private menopause clinic in Northern Ireland offering this service. A menopause consultation will start with a detailed medical history, symptom and lifestyle assessment including blood pressure/body mass index measurement.
The Maypole Menopause Clinic is the first dedicated private menopause clinic in Northern Ireland offering this service. A menopause consultation will start with a detailed medical history, symptom and lifestyle assessment including blood pressure/body mass index measurement.
Dr Siobhan Kirk, who runs the Clinic, is one of two doctors in Northern Ireland recognised as a ‘menopause specialist’ by the British Menopause Society. She works in the only dedicated NHS menopause service in Northern Ireland and has recently developed The Maypole Menopause Clinic, the first exclusive private menopause clinic in Northern Ireland.
Dr Kirk has extensive experience gained over 14 years encompassing all aspects of menopause care. Her other clinical interests include
• adolescent gynaecology
• postmenopausal bleeding
• contraception
Dr Kirk is a Fellow of both the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare.
She has presented research at national and international conferences, is regularly invited to speak at local Women’s Health meetings and teaches menopause care to GPs and gynaecologists in Northern Ireland.
Menopause in the workplace is topical and in collaboration with the Human resources department in Belfast HSC Trust Dr Kirk has developed an online menopause toolkit for staff and managers. Women may spend over a third of their lives after the menopause and are now talking more openly about their experiences.
Many women are keen for help with distressing symptoms such as
• anxiety
• low mood
• poor concentration and memory
• hot flushes
• night sweats
• insomnia
• vaginal dryness
These symptoms may start months or years before a woman’s periods have stopped. There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about menopause and the treatment options available. The benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) outweigh the risks for the majority of women. It is vital women are given accurate information to help them make an informed choice as to how best manage their symptoms and improve their general health and wellbeing.
The Maypole Menopause Clinic is the first dedicated private menopause clinic in Northern Ireland offering this service. A menopause consultation will start with a detailed medical history, symptom and lifestyle assessment including blood pressure/body mass index measurement.
A comprehensive management plan will then be agreed after counselling about all options available. It is important to bring details of any significant medical problems and previous HRT prescribed. Blood tests, gynaecological examination and transvaginal ultrasound may be clinically indicated in some women and are not included in a menopause consultation but can be arranged.
Please note Dr Kirk only recommends regulated licensed products in line with safe evidence-based prescribing. The British Menopause Society advise against the use of unregulated unlicensed ‘bioidentical hormones’.
Further information visit www.menopausematters.co.uk or www.womens-health-concern.org.
To book a consultation with Dr Kirk please contact us via the links above.