Fifteen UK women with perimenopausal symptoms and a history of domestic abuse often could not tell whether their problems came from menopause, existing mental health conditions or trauma linked to abuse, in a BJGP Open study published on 1 July 2026. Menopause awareness has increased demand for GP appointments and menopausal hormone therapy, but access to care remains uneven, and routine consultations still miss chances to ask about safety at home.
Women from a national domestic abuse survivors’ group took part in online semi-structured interviews and focus groups. Many participants described confusion over symptoms that left them unsure whether they were dealing with perimenopause, pre-existing illness or the effects of violence. That confusion had direct clinical consequences: some women avoided medical help altogether, while others said they felt dismissed or misunderstood once they did seek care. Several described being prescribed antidepressants instead of hormone replacement therapy.
Women identified menopause-related appointments where domestic abuse could have been recognised, but was not. Abuse is widespread: the Office for National Statistics estimated that 2.3 million people aged 16 and over in England and Wales experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2024, including 1.6 million women, and police recorded 851,062 domestic abuse-related crimes in the same period.
Menopause consultations need to be trauma-informed and holistic, asking about relationships and safety, checking whether medication is being taken as prescribed, and leaving room for a disclosure that may not come unless a clinician asks directly.
On 23 October 2025, the government said menopause questions and help would be added to routine NHS Health Checks for the first time, reaching eligible adults aged 40 to 74 every five years and benefiting nearly 5 million women. UK guidance from AVA and IRISi treats menopause appointments as a key point of intervention because 80% of women in a violent relationship seek help from health services, often as their first or only contact.
British Menopause Society data shows 50% of women say menopause symptoms affect their home life, 70% to 80% experience symptoms, about a quarter describe them as severe, and the average duration is around seven years. Women’s Aid works with about 170 organisations and just under 300 local services.