I just wanted to post about other services available outside of the NHS for those who may be concerned about using private services.
Just because the NHS, who can only fund basic treatment, doesn't offer a specific drug or treatment it doesn't follow that the drug or treatment is thus questionable or that the doctors/therapists are to be mistrusted (or worse deemed charlatans!) who are only out to take advantage of people.
As a psychotherapist myself, you either choose to train with the BMA or BMA approved training or you train privately and both options require extensive funding and years of commitment. Yes there are weekend courses in certain complementary therapies but these are usually add ons for experienced practitioners and could never form the basis of a career (or certainly not past the first month if you really were out to con the general public!).
99.99% of practitioners would not be so dopey as to spend thousands of pounds just to later try to make a quick buck. Training is painfully expensive and not taken on lightly. Practitioners are there to help and many are deeply passionate in their efforts and research to help their patients/clients.
Please don't, therefore, be overly suspicious of non-NHS practitioners, just give everything a try until you find what you need and, sensibly, try the NHS first as it will save you money and it will have had more thorough testing as the NHS want to ensure they get the most effective treatments.
Perimenopause, unfortunately, is not catered for by the NHS so you have to use the pill or ERT to suppress the cycle until estrogen stops surging about. Private BHRT clinics can offer more personalised options but it will cost because the NHS can only offer simpler hormone treatments such as topping up
low oestrogen.
I hope this helps to settle people's minds about going off piste if necessary!