With NHS menopause care under enormous pressure — months-long waits for specialist clinics, 10-minute GP slots for a 30-minute conversation — thousands of women now start HRT privately. Sensible move; but private menopause pricing ranges from reasonable to eye-watering for essentially the same medicine. Here's what things genuinely cost in 2026, what you should get for your money, and how The Vesey's approach in Sutton Coldfield compares.
The Three Costs That Make Up Private HRT
1. The consultation. Market range: £90–£300+ for an initial appointment. Dedicated menopause-brand clinics cluster at £200–£300; GP-led services like The Vesey start at £90 for a 30-minute women's health appointment. What matters isn't the badge but the time (30 minutes minimum for a first HRT consultation) and the prescriber's currency with modern body-identical regimens.
2. The prescription. The medication itself is the cheap part: standard body-identical regimens (oestradiol gel/patch + micronised progesterone) typically cost £10–£30 per month from any pharmacy on a private script. Beware clinics that dispense in-house at marked-up prices, or push compounded 'bioidentical' creams at £50–£150/month — see our guide to body-identical vs 'bioidentical' HRT for why that's a double loss.
3. Follow-up and reviews. Expect one review around 3 months (dose adjustment is normal, not failure), then annually. Follow-ups typically run £60–£150 privately. Ask upfront how reviews and repeat prescriptions are priced — this is where 'cheap' headline consultations sometimes claw it back.
Realistic First-Year Totals
A sensible benchmark for year one, done properly: initial consultation + one follow-up + 12 months of medication + a repeat prescription or two. At The Vesey that's roughly £250–£400 all-in depending on regimen and whether baseline bloods are added (from £32 per test). At premium menopause brands the same year commonly totals £600–£1,000+.
Worth adding where relevant, not by default: baseline blood work (thyroid, ferritin, HbA1c, lipids — the mimics and the cardiovascular baseline), and testosterone review where libido remains low on established HRT. Worth actively avoiding: saliva hormone testing, hormone 'mapping' packages, and long prepaid programmes sold at the first visit.
One more route worth knowing: once you're stable on a regimen, you can ask your NHS GP to take over prescribing — many will, with a clear clinic letter, converting your ongoing cost to NHS prescription charges. A good private clinic supports this rather than locking you in; The Vesey writes that letter as standard.
Why Women Go Private for HRT
Speed and time, mostly: same-week 30-minute appointments versus months of waiting; prescribers who work with menopause daily; continuity (the same GP for reviews); and — at a hospital-based service — everything adjacent under one roof: blood tests with results in 24–48 hours, pelvic ultrasound if bleeding needs assessment, bone health and cardiology if the wider picture calls for it.
What private care doesn't buy is different medicine: the HRT is the same regulated medication the NHS prescribes. You're paying for access, time and expertise — which is why overpaying for the consultation layer, or being upsold unregulated compounds, makes no sense.
The Vesey's Pricing, Plainly
Initial 30-minute women's health/HRT consultation: from £90. Follow-up reviews from £90. Private prescriptions at pharmacy prices (typically £10–£30/month — no in-house markup). Optional baseline bloods from £32. Testosterone assessment available. NHS-handover letters written as standard.
Open 7 days, 8am–8pm, free parking, no referral needed. Book online or call 0121 387 3727.
Seen this week, prescribed properly, no markup
CQC-regulated · Rated 4.87/5 on Doctify · Open 7 days 8am–8pm · No referral needed
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does private HRT cost per month in the UK?
The medication itself typically costs £10–£30 per month on a private prescription for standard body-identical regimens. The main costs are consultations: £90–£300 for an initial appointment depending on the clinic, plus periodic reviews. At The Vesey the initial 30-minute consultation is from £90 with prescriptions at normal pharmacy prices.
Is private HRT better than NHS HRT?
The medication is identical — regulated body-identical HRT is available on both. Private care buys speed (same-week vs months), longer appointments, and prescriber experience. Many women start privately and later transfer prescribing to their NHS GP once stable; The Vesey provides the handover letter as standard.
What should a first private HRT appointment include?
At least 30 minutes covering your symptoms, medical and family history, risk-benefit discussion personalised to you, treatment options including non-hormonal routes, and a clear plan for review at around 3 months. Be wary of clinics that lead with saliva hormone testing or compounded creams — neither is evidence-based.
Can my NHS GP take over my private HRT prescription?
Often yes. Once you are stable on a standard regulated regimen, many NHS practices will continue prescribing with a clear clinic letter documenting the assessment and treatment plan. This converts your ongoing cost to NHS prescription charges while keeping the private route available for reviews if you want it.