FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Our FAQs are helpful if you have questions about HRT, lifestyle changes, or how to arrange an appointment with us. We have organised them into the following categories or you can use the search bar. If you cannot find an answer to your question, you can submit a new question at the bottom of this page, which we will endeavour to answer.
Top 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions
Dr Carys Sonnenberg is trained in nutrigenomics and can work with a clinic and a nutritionist to offer you completely individual approach to your health. What is Nutrigenomnics?
Genomics is changing the future of health and medicine. Developments in genetic testing enables us to look in detail at our DNA – the chemical instructions present in every body cell that make us who we are and drive every body function.
This biological code tells the body how to do everything, including how well you absorb and use specific nutrients like vitamins, affecting your nutrient needs. It impacts production of sex hormones, reproduction and fertility, and neurotransmitters, influencing thinking and emotional wellbeing. It regulates how well your cells can grow and repair, even how efficiently they produce energy, or how readily you store excess energy as fat.
Common variations in our genetic code, called SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms), result in small but important differences in function, affecting, for example, how much of a chemical in the body is made, how well it works or how our cells respond to it. These SNPs don’t create ill-health in themselves, but in combination they can affect our energy, mental wellbeing, detoxification and beyond, impacting health and contributing to development of specific health conditions. Looking at your genetic differences unlocks a personal health blueprint, offering a detailed insight into your unique biological strengths and weaknesses and a deeper understanding of your health.
The environment plays a big part too. What we do and what we are exposed to interacts with our body’s ability dynamically.
Nutrigenomics looks at how these nutrition and lifestyle factors impact our genetic potential. We can’t change our genes, but we can change what we do to make them less significant. Nutrigenomic testing gives us an understanding of how our life choices interact with what makes us tick, so we can make positive changes that align with our genetics and optimise our health and wellbeing.
There are thousands of potential genes and SNPs, this is complex. Dr Carys Sonnenberg has completed the training with LifecodeGX and she can advise you about this, referring you to a reputable clinic and nutritionist to give you a completely individual approach to your health. Common nutrigenomics testing questions.
These nutrigenomics reports give you an individual assessment of your body, your DNA:
- The Nutrient core report - this test analyses how gene variants can affect food tolerance (and intolerance), appetite control and blood sugar balance, vitamin and mineral needs, detoxification ability, and susceptibility to inflammation and infection
- The Metabolics report - This presents the genes that can powerfully influence key pathways driving human metabolism. It incorporates over 40 genes and 50 SNPs across 6 pathways, including appetite regulation, nutrient sensing, sugar and fat metabolism, cholesterol and bile, mitochondria and inflammation.
- The hormones report - this analyses genes involved in the regulation, synthesis, signalling, transport and metabolism of corticosteroids and sex steroids hormones. It looks at how gene variants affects hormones imbalance and details the nutrients and environmental factors that can influence and improve their balance.
- The Methylation report - Methylation is the process of adding methyl groups, consisting of one carbon and three hydrogen atoms, to other molecules. It is involved in almost every metabolic process in the body, occurring billions of times every second in our cells and contributing to numerous crucial functions. Imbalances in methylation - too little or too much - can increase susceptibility to chronic health conditions such as heart disease, circulatory problems, chronic fatigue, infertility, immune and autoimmune conditions, food and chemical sensitivities, and mood and psychiatric disorders, as well as cancer and premature ageing. The Methylation test examines genes involved in five sub-cycles - folate, methionine, neurotransmitter, transsulphuration and urea. Genetic results will inform whether someone is likely to be poor or overly efficient at processing cofactors - B6, B9 (folate) and B12 (cobalamin), methionine, betaine, choline, zinc and magnesium; and inhibitors - chemicals, moulds, drugs, hormones and heavy metals and provide guidance on how to support or bypass bottlenecks or weaknesses.
- Histamine intolerance report - This test analyses the genes and nutrients needed to breakdown and remove histamine, showing where disruptions occur and how to support optimal function.
- Oestrogen balance report - This test analyses genes involved in the oestrogen lifecycle. It looks at how gene variants affects production, activation and elimination of oestrogens as well as detailing the nutrients and environmental factors that can influence and improve their balance. The Oestrogen Balance report is recommended for women who suspect oestrogen-linked conditions.
- The Detoxification report - this report identifies personalised nutritional support required to optimise detoxification.
- The nervous system report - this analyses gene variants that impact serotonin (contentment) and melatonin (sleep), dopamine (motivation), noradrenaline and adrenaline (fight or flight); glutamate (the major excitatory neurotransmitter); GABA (the major inhibitory neurotransmitter) which is critical for relaxation; and endocannabinoids (AEA/ anandamide) which regulate other neurotransmitters. The report provides detailed recommendations for nutritional support to alleviate symptoms and to optimise mental health.
- APOE report - the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is best known for its role in lipid (fat) metabolism by helping to remove cholesterol from the bloodstream. It can exist in three main forms known as E2, E3 and E4. The E4 form of the APOE gene has been associated with increased plasma cholesterol and triglycerides and susceptibility to cardiovascular disease - heart attacks or strokes due to atherosclerosis, insulin resistance and Alzheimer’s disease. However, having an E4 genotype is one of many risk factors and does not mean you will develop any of these conditions. In addition to APOE, this test examines genes involved in methylation, inflammation, toxicity and neuroprotection, to enable individuals to take preventative action by adopting personalised nutrition and lifestyle changes to optimise their future, long term health.
- Thyroid balance report - This report analyses the genes involved in the thyroid hormone lifecycle: synthesis - centrally (in the thyroid) and in activation in peripheral tissues, transport and metabolism, processing of cofactors (vitamins D and A) and inhibitors (stress and toxins). It also examines genes that confer susceptibility to inflammation and autoimmunity.
We highly recommend you watch some of the crowdcast videos from LifecodeGx as they are absolutely fascinating.
Do make an appointment if you would like to talk more about this.
Dr Carys Sonnenberg Rowena health
To begin with, on the website booking page please book a 45 minute new patient video consultation.
If you are booking a follow-up appointment please book a 30 minute follow-up video appointment.
Virtual appointments
For out virtual appointments, via our secure on-line patient system, you can be seen from the comfort of your own home or at work, as long as you are on UK soil at the time of your appointment.
Once you have booked your appointment you will receive a link in your email to use for the video appointment. The video link is provided through our secure patient platform.
At the time of the consultation please make sure you have a good WiFi connection and that you find a place where you are comfortable and can talk in private. If there are any problems with video connection, don't worry, we will call via the telephone number you have provided to continue our consultation.
We recommend clicking on the video link a few minutes before the consultation to check it is all working and that you know how to mute and unmute and switch your camera on and off.
We will need to see Photo ID at the start of the consultation to verify your identity as your appointment cannot proceed without showing this proof. We will also ask who is present during our consultation and check you are in a safe place for us to talk. We will check if there is anything sensitive you would like us to be aware of before we start. If there is anything you would like to be made aware of please do not hesitate to let us know. We will check your GP details are correct and we will ask for the telephone number of a person we can call if there is an emergency during your appointment.
Telephone appointments
For existing patients who have a simple query in between appointments, a 10 minute telephone appointment is available.
Email
Email is perfect for simple logistical queries, we are sorry but we are not able to provide detailed clinical advice via email. Please allow up to 5 working days for response to an email.
Please email [email protected] if you have any questions and we will be delighted to help you.
Emergency appointments
We are sorry but Rowena Health is not able to offer emergency appointments, we will do our best to accomodate your needs but we offer routine care only.
When your appointment is booked what happens
All appointments are easily booked via the website booking page. The cost of each appointment is stated there.
Payment is taken at the time of booking and you will receive booking confirmation, details of your appointment and a booking questionnaire. Please leave 15 minutes to complete your questionnaire and ensure it arrives with us at least 48 hours before your appointment to give Dr Sonnenberg time to review it before she sees you.
We really look forward to meeting you at Rowena Health.
Dr Carys Sonnenberg GP and British Menopause Society Menopause Specialist and founder of Rowena Health
Within 7 days of your new patient or follow-up appointment, we will send a detailed clinic letter, with a comprehensive list of evidence based resources and we encourage you to visit this first, if you have questions.
We reserve email communication to clarifying appointments, or reinforcing prescribing advice. We are not able to conduct consultations, or give detailed clinical advice via email and, as we feel it is important to have a consultation to safely and effectively manage your care.
We offer telephone consultations, lasting up to 10 minutes, which can be booked via the website to manage questions between follow-up appointments.
If you do send an email to [email protected] we will reply within 5 working days. You may receive a reply more quickly, but please allow 5 working days as Dr Sonnenberg may be away from the office.
Please do contact your GP, 111 or 999 in case of an emergency. We do not provide emergency care and request that you contact your GP or the emergency services if you feel that you need this.
Thank you for working with us so that we can best help you and our other patients.
Dr Carys Sonnenberg Rowena Health
We are a small bespoke clinic and due to this we are not able offer emergency care, and ask that you contact your own GP or 111, or call 999 in case of an emergency.
If you email us, we are happy to answer simple logistical questions, but due to practice policy we are not able to answer detailed clinical questions via email, and ask that you book a telephone appointment to talk with us. Please allow 5 working days for a response to an email.
If you need repeat medication, please allow 5 working days for your prescription to be processed.
Thank you for working with us to help us support you and our other patients.
Please click this link to take you to our article about this.
There are many ways of managing your menopause symptoms and support your wellbeing that do not involve adding hormones. Many women do not want to take hormones, or are unable to take hormones. They can be made to feel that there are no other options for them to help reduce their symptoms.
At Rowena Health we take a holistic, patient centred approach and this involves us listening to what is important to you, what you have experienced in the past and together we can talk through all of the options to help guide you to decide on the right treatment for you. There are many options which do not involve taking hormone replacement therapy.
Few complementary and alternative treatment options have proven evidence to show how effective they are, and although they do not stand up to scrutiny from a robust and evidence-based perspective, there are individual women who benefit from these treatments.
Bio-identical hormones should not be considered an ‘alternative’ to HRT. There is limited evidence about their effectiveness and safety.
Healthy lifestyle choices
See our lifestyle FAQ for helpful information about the lifestyle pillars. There might be some changes you can make to your lifestyle to help relieve your symptoms.
Stopping smoking, keeping alcohol intake low, wearing light cotton layers, avoiding caffeine and spicy foods, and using cooling aids such as gel packs or fans at night can all help reduce hot flushes. High-impact exercise can sometimes make flushes worse.
Regular moderate-intensity exercise is beneficial. Aim for at least 30 minutes 5 times a week, but to manage weight loss and maintain your weight, increasing this level to an hour a day (300 minutes a week or more) can be helpful. High-intensity activity, particularly in the evening or close to bedtime, can sometimes make it harder to sleep. Adding strength exercise 2-3 times a week. Practice balancing to help you avoid falls later in life and don't forget those pelvic floor exercises.
Gentle activities such as yoga, Pilates, and Tai Chi can ease joint stiffness, lift mood, improve energy, and support mental focus.
There’s increasing evidence that gut health plays a role in joint pain and other menopause symptoms. Eating in a way that supports a healthy gut, reducing saturated fats and ultra-processed foods may also have positive effects on mood and cognition.
Managing other health factors like blood pressure, blood sugar, hearing, weight, mood, and social connection can help protect cognitive function. Although losing weight can be more difficult during menopause, even small reductions can improve joint pain and hot flushes. Interestingly, newer medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists (used for weight management and diabetes) may also help reduce the frequency and intensity of flushes.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
CBT can help to improve anxiety, depression, sleep, and vasomotor symptoms (hot flushes and night sweats). CBT can be arranged as individual 1-1 therapy, in a group session or by using an online course or a book to support you.
- Women's health concern fact sheet CBT
- Book: Managing hot flushes and night sweats by Myra Hunter
- Sleep CBT for insomnia: have a look at Sleep station, Sleepful or Sleepio
Non-hormonal prescribable medications
Health professionals can prescribe medications which are not hormonal to help relieve hot flushes and night sweats. We need to ensure these medications are right for you, that they will not interact with medication you are taking and that you are aware of any side effects which you might experience and how long the side effects might last.
- Women's Health concern fact sheet Complementary and alternative therapies
- British Menopause Society: Prescribable alternatives to HRT
Neurokinin 3 receptor antagonists are available privately at the moment and are effective in the relief of hot flushes. This link takes you to the BMS statement.
Supplements over the counter
Please discuss the use of any supplements with your health care professional to ensure they are safe for you to use. If you choose to use herbal medicine, in our opinion at Rowena Health, it is safest to see a medical herbalist. Please refer to the National Institute of Medical Herbalists.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D taken as a 1000 IU daily supplement or obtained from foods such as oily fish and eggs can help reduce joint inflammation, strengthen bones and support cartilage production.
Vitamin D is a fat soluble pro-hormone. It is obtained through the action of sunlight on skin and from the diet. The action of sunlight (ultraviolet radiation wavelength 290–310 nm) on skin converts 7‑dehydrocholesterol to previtamin D3, which is then metabolised to vitamin D3. Dietary vitamin D exists as either ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) or cholecalciferol (vitamin D3).
The liver enzymes convert vitamin D2 and D3 (obtained either from diet or from the action of sunlight on skin) to the main circulating form of the vitamin, 25 hydroxyvitamin D (also known as 25(OH)D). This is then converted by the kidney and other tissues to the active form of the vitamin 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D.
Magnesium
Extensive food processing reduces the magnesium content of many foods. Good dietary sources include dark chocolate, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, leafy greens, and whole grains. A systematic review of small observational studies found that magnesium glycinate supplementation (around 350 mg per day) was associated with better sleep quality, including improvements in fatigue, snoring, and sleep duration. Although evidence remains limited, magnesium threonate may also help reduce feelings of anxiety.
Melatonin
Perimenopausal and postmenopausal women have reported improved ability to fall asleep with 2 mg of melatonin. It may also support mood and reduce symptoms of depression although caution is advised in those with autoimmune conditions.
Sage
In a study of 71 women, taking a once-daily tablet containing fresh sage leaves for eight weeks led to a steady weekly reduction in hot flush intensity by about 50% after four weeks and 64% after eight weeks. Sage has proconvulsant effects and should be avoided in people with epilepsy. It may also have mild oestrogen-like properties, so further evidence is needed before recommending it for women with oestrogen-sensitive cancers.
Complementary treatments
It is important to see a qualified specialist in their field if you are considering any therapy.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness-based practices can improve quality of life and are associated with improved sleep quality and perceived stress.
Hypnotherapy
A type of psychological therapy using hypnosis help treat some mental and physical health conditions and to change habits. Reduces vasomotor symptoms and self hypnosis can improve sleep.
Acupuncture:
There is conflicting evidence for benefit but some women report finding this helpful. There may be more benefit for reduction of hot flushes with this treatment in those who have had breast cancer, if treatment is given by a menopause trained practitioner. Evidence also showed an improvement in joint pain in those on aromatase inhibitors.
The British Medical Acupuncture Society
Yoga:
Yoga may have a broad impact on coping with menopausal changes and improving well-being rather than specifically controlling hot flushes.
Herbal medicine
We always recommend you see a specialist to ensure you are taking products that are safe for you.
Treatments they provide can include liquid extracts and tinctures, requiring small, individualised doses.
Examples of herbs they may consider include sage, black cohosh and wild yam for night sweats; chaste tree berry for PMS symptoms; shatavari for hot flushes and vaginal dryness; blue skull cap for anxiety, valerian and passionflower for insomnia, St John’s wort and rose for anxiety, rage and mood swings.
Example of adaptogens (help the body adapt to stress) they may consider include ashwagandha to calm and promote healthy sleep and rhodiola, to improve energy, mood and cognitive function.
Some herbs may interact with medications and need to be taken with guidance if you have medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, a thyroid condition or a history of hormone sensitive cancer, for example.
Black cohosh may relieve vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause but it can interact with medications, multiple preparations are available, and safety is uncertain
St John’s Wort can relieve anxiety and low mood associated with menopause, but there is uncertainty about variation in nature and potency of preparations. It can interact with other drugs such as anticonvulsants, anticoagulants and tamoxifen. St John’s Wort interacts with HRT and should not be used alongside HRT for this reason.
Download a free guide to herbal medicine
Other sources of information
- The British complementary medicine association
- British Menopause Society short video: Complementary and alternative therapies
- International menopause society - non hormonal treatments
- European Menopause and Andropause Society article
This information is for general guidance and for you to discuss with us at your appointment or your Dr to see if these might be suitable for you. Please do not start to take any of these medications until you have checked they are suitable for you.
Updated November 2025 Dr Carys Sonnenberg
References:
We have a an article which explains all about the different types of hormone replacement therapy. Please click this link to be directed to it.
In the event of the doctor being unable to provide an appointment, we will inform you as soon as possible and we will work with you to be as flexible as we are able to be to provide another appointment as soon as possible, or to refund your fee if this is not suitable for you.
New patient and follow-up consultation prices
A new patient to Rowena Health consultation is currently £275 for a 45 minute appointment. This does not include the cost of prescribed medication, or costs of recommended investigations.
A follow-up patient consultation is currently £175 for a 30 minute appointment. This appointment can review your care and is usually booked after 8-12 weeks and annually. This does not include the cost of prescribed medication or costs of recommended investigations.
For a quick question, we are delighted to offer a trouble shooting, telephone appointment, lasting up to 10 minutes, which is perfect for questions in-between appointments. This costs £95 and is perfect to discuss a blood test result, or ask a quick question. Please do not book a 10 minute telephone appointment to have your follow-up or annual review as this does not give us enough time to carry out these reviews safely.
Please note that booking confirmation emails may go into your junk email box. You should receive an email on booking your appointment from [email protected]
Prescription administration costs and medication costs
We do not charge an administration cost if a private prescription for a medication like HRT, is issued during your consultation. You will be charged for the cost of the medication itself and if prescriptions are posted to your home, a small additional charge will apply for postage and handling. Prices of HRT products vary depending on the product and dose, typically ranging from £10 to £40 per item per month.
If further prescriptions are requested by you, outside your consultations, then we charge a £35 administration cost. Please use the request a repeat prescription button on the website to request your medication. We review all notes before prescribing to ensure safe prescribing.
The cost of privately prescribed HRT from our clinic is not covered by the NHS or the HRT prepayment certificate.
Emails between appointments
We do not charge for emails but we are only able to deal with logistical issues by email. Any clinical concerns we ask that you book an appointment, as per our practice policy.
Additional letters requested for other specialists £30, we will send an invoice to you if you request this. A copy of your clinic letters will be sent to your GP free of charge so they are aware of our care and recommendations.
Private blood tests
We offer a range of profiles for blood tests and only arrange ones which are necessary for you. Sometimes more investigations are needed we are ruling out some other causes for your symptoms.
Profile 1: FBC, ferritin, U+E, lipids, TSH, free T4, Hba1c, oestradiol, testosterone, SHBG, Vitamin B12, folate and Vitamin D
Profile 2: oestradiol, SHBG, testosterone, TSH, free T4
Profile 3: oestradiol, SHBG, testosterone
Profile 4: FBC, ferritin, TSH, free T4, testosterone, SHBG
Profile 5: SHBG, testosterone
Costs being confirmed with our online phlebotomy service to ensure competitive prices.
If you need to cancel your appointment:
These will be fully refunded if at least 48 hours notice during the working week is given. After this time it will be difficult for us to fill your appointment time so a refund will not be possible.
If you need to reschedule your booked appointment more than 48 hours before your appointment time please email us and we will arrange this.
We reserve the right to change our pricing in future without prior notice.
We are sorry that we do not offer discounts, and believe our prices to be fair and competitive.
We are delighted to see you at Rowena Health. Dr Carys Sonnenberg
All of the HRT we prescribe is regulated, we do not prescribe compounded bioidentical hormones as there is a lack of evidence about their effectiveness and safety.
The term 'bio-identical' can cause confusion. There are two type of bio-identical HRT. Bio-identical means having the same structure as a substance produced in the body.
Compounded bio-identical HRT
This uses exact duplicates of human hormones, made by specialist pharmacies, but they do not follow the same MHRA regulatory pathway as conventional regulated bio-identical HRT. There is not enough evidence to justify the multiple expensive serum and saliva hormone tests which are recommended to precisely individualise this type of treatment.
Regulated bio-identical HRT
This uses exact duplicates of human hormones which are made in a conventional way by the pharmaceutical industry and are authorised by the regulators such as the MHRA in the UK. This type of HRT can be prescribed by our clinic at Rowena Health, and by your GP on the NHS. This type of HRT is also known as 'body identical' HRT. The dose of these hormones can be adjusted to individualise them to you. Examples include oestradiol (oestrogen), in the form of patches, gels and sprays and micronised progesterone (progesterone).
Regulated HRT includes other types of progestogens, which are not bio-identical/body identical, but are widely used, and have different benefit and risk profiles.
When you book an appointment at Rowena Health we consider many things to help guide our choice about the best type of progestogen for you. This includes your past response to hormones (for example in hormonal contraception) your history of premenstrual syndrome and your medical conditions. There is no one size fits all with our recommendations.
Updated October 2025 Dr Carys Sonnenberg Rowena Health
Menopause
There are many ways of managing your menopause symptoms and support your wellbeing that do not involve adding hormones. Many women do not want to take hormones, or are unable to take hormones. They can be made to feel that there are no other options for them to help reduce their symptoms.
At Rowena Health we take a holistic, patient centred approach and this involves us listening to what is important to you, what you have experienced in the past and together we can talk through all of the options to help guide you to decide on the right treatment for you. There are many options which do not involve taking hormone replacement therapy.
Few complementary and alternative treatment options have proven evidence to show how effective they are, and although they do not stand up to scrutiny from a robust and evidence-based perspective, there are individual women who benefit from these treatments.
Bio-identical hormones should not be considered an ‘alternative’ to HRT. There is limited evidence about their effectiveness and safety.
Healthy lifestyle choices
See our lifestyle FAQ for helpful information about the lifestyle pillars. There might be some changes you can make to your lifestyle to help relieve your symptoms.
Stopping smoking, keeping alcohol intake low, wearing light cotton layers, avoiding caffeine and spicy foods, and using cooling aids such as gel packs or fans at night can all help reduce hot flushes. High-impact exercise can sometimes make flushes worse.
Regular moderate-intensity exercise is beneficial. Aim for at least 30 minutes 5 times a week, but to manage weight loss and maintain your weight, increasing this level to an hour a day (300 minutes a week or more) can be helpful. High-intensity activity, particularly in the evening or close to bedtime, can sometimes make it harder to sleep. Adding strength exercise 2-3 times a week. Practice balancing to help you avoid falls later in life and don't forget those pelvic floor exercises.
Gentle activities such as yoga, Pilates, and Tai Chi can ease joint stiffness, lift mood, improve energy, and support mental focus.
There’s increasing evidence that gut health plays a role in joint pain and other menopause symptoms. Eating in a way that supports a healthy gut, reducing saturated fats and ultra-processed foods may also have positive effects on mood and cognition.
Managing other health factors like blood pressure, blood sugar, hearing, weight, mood, and social connection can help protect cognitive function. Although losing weight can be more difficult during menopause, even small reductions can improve joint pain and hot flushes. Interestingly, newer medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists (used for weight management and diabetes) may also help reduce the frequency and intensity of flushes.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
CBT can help to improve anxiety, depression, sleep, and vasomotor symptoms (hot flushes and night sweats). CBT can be arranged as individual 1-1 therapy, in a group session or by using an online course or a book to support you.
- Women's health concern fact sheet CBT
- Book: Managing hot flushes and night sweats by Myra Hunter
- Sleep CBT for insomnia: have a look at Sleep station, Sleepful or Sleepio
Non-hormonal prescribable medications
Health professionals can prescribe medications which are not hormonal to help relieve hot flushes and night sweats. We need to ensure these medications are right for you, that they will not interact with medication you are taking and that you are aware of any side effects which you might experience and how long the side effects might last.
- Women's Health concern fact sheet Complementary and alternative therapies
- British Menopause Society: Prescribable alternatives to HRT
Neurokinin 3 receptor antagonists are available privately at the moment and are effective in the relief of hot flushes. This link takes you to the BMS statement.
Supplements over the counter
Please discuss the use of any supplements with your health care professional to ensure they are safe for you to use. If you choose to use herbal medicine, in our opinion at Rowena Health, it is safest to see a medical herbalist. Please refer to the National Institute of Medical Herbalists.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D taken as a 1000 IU daily supplement or obtained from foods such as oily fish and eggs can help reduce joint inflammation, strengthen bones and support cartilage production.
Vitamin D is a fat soluble pro-hormone. It is obtained through the action of sunlight on skin and from the diet. The action of sunlight (ultraviolet radiation wavelength 290–310 nm) on skin converts 7‑dehydrocholesterol to previtamin D3, which is then metabolised to vitamin D3. Dietary vitamin D exists as either ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) or cholecalciferol (vitamin D3).
The liver enzymes convert vitamin D2 and D3 (obtained either from diet or from the action of sunlight on skin) to the main circulating form of the vitamin, 25 hydroxyvitamin D (also known as 25(OH)D). This is then converted by the kidney and other tissues to the active form of the vitamin 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D.
Magnesium
Extensive food processing reduces the magnesium content of many foods. Good dietary sources include dark chocolate, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, leafy greens, and whole grains. A systematic review of small observational studies found that magnesium glycinate supplementation (around 350 mg per day) was associated with better sleep quality, including improvements in fatigue, snoring, and sleep duration. Although evidence remains limited, magnesium threonate may also help reduce feelings of anxiety.
Melatonin
Perimenopausal and postmenopausal women have reported improved ability to fall asleep with 2 mg of melatonin. It may also support mood and reduce symptoms of depression although caution is advised in those with autoimmune conditions.
Sage
In a study of 71 women, taking a once-daily tablet containing fresh sage leaves for eight weeks led to a steady weekly reduction in hot flush intensity by about 50% after four weeks and 64% after eight weeks. Sage has proconvulsant effects and should be avoided in people with epilepsy. It may also have mild oestrogen-like properties, so further evidence is needed before recommending it for women with oestrogen-sensitive cancers.
Complementary treatments
It is important to see a qualified specialist in their field if you are considering any therapy.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness-based practices can improve quality of life and are associated with improved sleep quality and perceived stress.
Hypnotherapy
A type of psychological therapy using hypnosis help treat some mental and physical health conditions and to change habits. Reduces vasomotor symptoms and self hypnosis can improve sleep.
Acupuncture:
There is conflicting evidence for benefit but some women report finding this helpful. There may be more benefit for reduction of hot flushes with this treatment in those who have had breast cancer, if treatment is given by a menopause trained practitioner. Evidence also showed an improvement in joint pain in those on aromatase inhibitors.
The British Medical Acupuncture Society
Yoga:
Yoga may have a broad impact on coping with menopausal changes and improving well-being rather than specifically controlling hot flushes.
Herbal medicine
We always recommend you see a specialist to ensure you are taking products that are safe for you.
Treatments they provide can include liquid extracts and tinctures, requiring small, individualised doses.
Examples of herbs they may consider include sage, black cohosh and wild yam for night sweats; chaste tree berry for PMS symptoms; shatavari for hot flushes and vaginal dryness; blue skull cap for anxiety, valerian and passionflower for insomnia, St John’s wort and rose for anxiety, rage and mood swings.
Example of adaptogens (help the body adapt to stress) they may consider include ashwagandha to calm and promote healthy sleep and rhodiola, to improve energy, mood and cognitive function.
Some herbs may interact with medications and need to be taken with guidance if you have medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, a thyroid condition or a history of hormone sensitive cancer, for example.
Black cohosh may relieve vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause but it can interact with medications, multiple preparations are available, and safety is uncertain
St John’s Wort can relieve anxiety and low mood associated with menopause, but there is uncertainty about variation in nature and potency of preparations. It can interact with other drugs such as anticonvulsants, anticoagulants and tamoxifen. St John’s Wort interacts with HRT and should not be used alongside HRT for this reason.
Download a free guide to herbal medicine
Other sources of information
- The British complementary medicine association
- British Menopause Society short video: Complementary and alternative therapies
- International menopause society - non hormonal treatments
- European Menopause and Andropause Society article
This information is for general guidance and for you to discuss with us at your appointment or your Dr to see if these might be suitable for you. Please do not start to take any of these medications until you have checked they are suitable for you.
Updated November 2025 Dr Carys Sonnenberg
References:
HRT
All of the HRT we prescribe is regulated, we do not prescribe compounded bioidentical hormones as there is a lack of evidence about their effectiveness and safety.
The term 'bio-identical' can cause confusion. There are two type of bio-identical HRT. Bio-identical means having the same structure as a substance produced in the body.
Compounded bio-identical HRT
This uses exact duplicates of human hormones, made by specialist pharmacies, but they do not follow the same MHRA regulatory pathway as conventional regulated bio-identical HRT. There is not enough evidence to justify the multiple expensive serum and saliva hormone tests which are recommended to precisely individualise this type of treatment.
Regulated bio-identical HRT
This uses exact duplicates of human hormones which are made in a conventional way by the pharmaceutical industry and are authorised by the regulators such as the MHRA in the UK. This type of HRT can be prescribed by our clinic at Rowena Health, and by your GP on the NHS. This type of HRT is also known as 'body identical' HRT. The dose of these hormones can be adjusted to individualise them to you. Examples include oestradiol (oestrogen), in the form of patches, gels and sprays and micronised progesterone (progesterone).
Regulated HRT includes other types of progestogens, which are not bio-identical/body identical, but are widely used, and have different benefit and risk profiles.
When you book an appointment at Rowena Health we consider many things to help guide our choice about the best type of progestogen for you. This includes your past response to hormones (for example in hormonal contraception) your history of premenstrual syndrome and your medical conditions. There is no one size fits all with our recommendations.
Updated October 2025 Dr Carys Sonnenberg Rowena Health
We have a an article which explains all about the different types of hormone replacement therapy. Please click this link to be directed to it.
Lifestyle
Please click this link to take you to our article about this.
Dr Carys Sonnenberg is trained in nutrigenomics and can work with a clinic and a nutritionist to offer you completely individual approach to your health. What is Nutrigenomnics?
Genomics is changing the future of health and medicine. Developments in genetic testing enables us to look in detail at our DNA – the chemical instructions present in every body cell that make us who we are and drive every body function.
This biological code tells the body how to do everything, including how well you absorb and use specific nutrients like vitamins, affecting your nutrient needs. It impacts production of sex hormones, reproduction and fertility, and neurotransmitters, influencing thinking and emotional wellbeing. It regulates how well your cells can grow and repair, even how efficiently they produce energy, or how readily you store excess energy as fat.
Common variations in our genetic code, called SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms), result in small but important differences in function, affecting, for example, how much of a chemical in the body is made, how well it works or how our cells respond to it. These SNPs don’t create ill-health in themselves, but in combination they can affect our energy, mental wellbeing, detoxification and beyond, impacting health and contributing to development of specific health conditions. Looking at your genetic differences unlocks a personal health blueprint, offering a detailed insight into your unique biological strengths and weaknesses and a deeper understanding of your health.
The environment plays a big part too. What we do and what we are exposed to interacts with our body’s ability dynamically.
Nutrigenomics looks at how these nutrition and lifestyle factors impact our genetic potential. We can’t change our genes, but we can change what we do to make them less significant. Nutrigenomic testing gives us an understanding of how our life choices interact with what makes us tick, so we can make positive changes that align with our genetics and optimise our health and wellbeing.
There are thousands of potential genes and SNPs, this is complex. Dr Carys Sonnenberg has completed the training with LifecodeGX and she can advise you about this, referring you to a reputable clinic and nutritionist to give you a completely individual approach to your health. Common nutrigenomics testing questions.
These nutrigenomics reports give you an individual assessment of your body, your DNA:
- The Nutrient core report - this test analyses how gene variants can affect food tolerance (and intolerance), appetite control and blood sugar balance, vitamin and mineral needs, detoxification ability, and susceptibility to inflammation and infection
- The Metabolics report - This presents the genes that can powerfully influence key pathways driving human metabolism. It incorporates over 40 genes and 50 SNPs across 6 pathways, including appetite regulation, nutrient sensing, sugar and fat metabolism, cholesterol and bile, mitochondria and inflammation.
- The hormones report - this analyses genes involved in the regulation, synthesis, signalling, transport and metabolism of corticosteroids and sex steroids hormones. It looks at how gene variants affects hormones imbalance and details the nutrients and environmental factors that can influence and improve their balance.
- The Methylation report - Methylation is the process of adding methyl groups, consisting of one carbon and three hydrogen atoms, to other molecules. It is involved in almost every metabolic process in the body, occurring billions of times every second in our cells and contributing to numerous crucial functions. Imbalances in methylation - too little or too much - can increase susceptibility to chronic health conditions such as heart disease, circulatory problems, chronic fatigue, infertility, immune and autoimmune conditions, food and chemical sensitivities, and mood and psychiatric disorders, as well as cancer and premature ageing. The Methylation test examines genes involved in five sub-cycles - folate, methionine, neurotransmitter, transsulphuration and urea. Genetic results will inform whether someone is likely to be poor or overly efficient at processing cofactors - B6, B9 (folate) and B12 (cobalamin), methionine, betaine, choline, zinc and magnesium; and inhibitors - chemicals, moulds, drugs, hormones and heavy metals and provide guidance on how to support or bypass bottlenecks or weaknesses.
- Histamine intolerance report - This test analyses the genes and nutrients needed to breakdown and remove histamine, showing where disruptions occur and how to support optimal function.
- Oestrogen balance report - This test analyses genes involved in the oestrogen lifecycle. It looks at how gene variants affects production, activation and elimination of oestrogens as well as detailing the nutrients and environmental factors that can influence and improve their balance. The Oestrogen Balance report is recommended for women who suspect oestrogen-linked conditions.
- The Detoxification report - this report identifies personalised nutritional support required to optimise detoxification.
- The nervous system report - this analyses gene variants that impact serotonin (contentment) and melatonin (sleep), dopamine (motivation), noradrenaline and adrenaline (fight or flight); glutamate (the major excitatory neurotransmitter); GABA (the major inhibitory neurotransmitter) which is critical for relaxation; and endocannabinoids (AEA/ anandamide) which regulate other neurotransmitters. The report provides detailed recommendations for nutritional support to alleviate symptoms and to optimise mental health.
- APOE report - the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is best known for its role in lipid (fat) metabolism by helping to remove cholesterol from the bloodstream. It can exist in three main forms known as E2, E3 and E4. The E4 form of the APOE gene has been associated with increased plasma cholesterol and triglycerides and susceptibility to cardiovascular disease - heart attacks or strokes due to atherosclerosis, insulin resistance and Alzheimer’s disease. However, having an E4 genotype is one of many risk factors and does not mean you will develop any of these conditions. In addition to APOE, this test examines genes involved in methylation, inflammation, toxicity and neuroprotection, to enable individuals to take preventative action by adopting personalised nutrition and lifestyle changes to optimise their future, long term health.
- Thyroid balance report - This report analyses the genes involved in the thyroid hormone lifecycle: synthesis - centrally (in the thyroid) and in activation in peripheral tissues, transport and metabolism, processing of cofactors (vitamins D and A) and inhibitors (stress and toxins). It also examines genes that confer susceptibility to inflammation and autoimmunity.
We highly recommend you watch some of the crowdcast videos from LifecodeGx as they are absolutely fascinating.
Do make an appointment if you would like to talk more about this.
Dr Carys Sonnenberg Rowena health
What we do
Throughout the Rowena Health website, we use the term women when describing the changes seen in perimenopause and menopause. We acknowledge that it is not only women who need access to menopause information. Some non-binary people, trans men, intersex people or people with variations in sex characteristics may also experience menopausal symptoms. We warmly welcome everyone to Rowena Health who needs the support we can provide.
Dr Carys Sonnenberg is trained in nutrigenomics and can work with a clinic and a nutritionist to offer you completely individual approach to your health. What is Nutrigenomnics?
Genomics is changing the future of health and medicine. Developments in genetic testing enables us to look in detail at our DNA – the chemical instructions present in every body cell that make us who we are and drive every body function.
This biological code tells the body how to do everything, including how well you absorb and use specific nutrients like vitamins, affecting your nutrient needs. It impacts production of sex hormones, reproduction and fertility, and neurotransmitters, influencing thinking and emotional wellbeing. It regulates how well your cells can grow and repair, even how efficiently they produce energy, or how readily you store excess energy as fat.
Common variations in our genetic code, called SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms), result in small but important differences in function, affecting, for example, how much of a chemical in the body is made, how well it works or how our cells respond to it. These SNPs don’t create ill-health in themselves, but in combination they can affect our energy, mental wellbeing, detoxification and beyond, impacting health and contributing to development of specific health conditions. Looking at your genetic differences unlocks a personal health blueprint, offering a detailed insight into your unique biological strengths and weaknesses and a deeper understanding of your health.
The environment plays a big part too. What we do and what we are exposed to interacts with our body’s ability dynamically.
Nutrigenomics looks at how these nutrition and lifestyle factors impact our genetic potential. We can’t change our genes, but we can change what we do to make them less significant. Nutrigenomic testing gives us an understanding of how our life choices interact with what makes us tick, so we can make positive changes that align with our genetics and optimise our health and wellbeing.
There are thousands of potential genes and SNPs, this is complex. Dr Carys Sonnenberg has completed the training with LifecodeGX and she can advise you about this, referring you to a reputable clinic and nutritionist to give you a completely individual approach to your health. Common nutrigenomics testing questions.
These nutrigenomics reports give you an individual assessment of your body, your DNA:
- The Nutrient core report - this test analyses how gene variants can affect food tolerance (and intolerance), appetite control and blood sugar balance, vitamin and mineral needs, detoxification ability, and susceptibility to inflammation and infection
- The Metabolics report - This presents the genes that can powerfully influence key pathways driving human metabolism. It incorporates over 40 genes and 50 SNPs across 6 pathways, including appetite regulation, nutrient sensing, sugar and fat metabolism, cholesterol and bile, mitochondria and inflammation.
- The hormones report - this analyses genes involved in the regulation, synthesis, signalling, transport and metabolism of corticosteroids and sex steroids hormones. It looks at how gene variants affects hormones imbalance and details the nutrients and environmental factors that can influence and improve their balance.
- The Methylation report - Methylation is the process of adding methyl groups, consisting of one carbon and three hydrogen atoms, to other molecules. It is involved in almost every metabolic process in the body, occurring billions of times every second in our cells and contributing to numerous crucial functions. Imbalances in methylation - too little or too much - can increase susceptibility to chronic health conditions such as heart disease, circulatory problems, chronic fatigue, infertility, immune and autoimmune conditions, food and chemical sensitivities, and mood and psychiatric disorders, as well as cancer and premature ageing. The Methylation test examines genes involved in five sub-cycles - folate, methionine, neurotransmitter, transsulphuration and urea. Genetic results will inform whether someone is likely to be poor or overly efficient at processing cofactors - B6, B9 (folate) and B12 (cobalamin), methionine, betaine, choline, zinc and magnesium; and inhibitors - chemicals, moulds, drugs, hormones and heavy metals and provide guidance on how to support or bypass bottlenecks or weaknesses.
- Histamine intolerance report - This test analyses the genes and nutrients needed to breakdown and remove histamine, showing where disruptions occur and how to support optimal function.
- Oestrogen balance report - This test analyses genes involved in the oestrogen lifecycle. It looks at how gene variants affects production, activation and elimination of oestrogens as well as detailing the nutrients and environmental factors that can influence and improve their balance. The Oestrogen Balance report is recommended for women who suspect oestrogen-linked conditions.
- The Detoxification report - this report identifies personalised nutritional support required to optimise detoxification.
- The nervous system report - this analyses gene variants that impact serotonin (contentment) and melatonin (sleep), dopamine (motivation), noradrenaline and adrenaline (fight or flight); glutamate (the major excitatory neurotransmitter); GABA (the major inhibitory neurotransmitter) which is critical for relaxation; and endocannabinoids (AEA/ anandamide) which regulate other neurotransmitters. The report provides detailed recommendations for nutritional support to alleviate symptoms and to optimise mental health.
- APOE report - the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is best known for its role in lipid (fat) metabolism by helping to remove cholesterol from the bloodstream. It can exist in three main forms known as E2, E3 and E4. The E4 form of the APOE gene has been associated with increased plasma cholesterol and triglycerides and susceptibility to cardiovascular disease - heart attacks or strokes due to atherosclerosis, insulin resistance and Alzheimer’s disease. However, having an E4 genotype is one of many risk factors and does not mean you will develop any of these conditions. In addition to APOE, this test examines genes involved in methylation, inflammation, toxicity and neuroprotection, to enable individuals to take preventative action by adopting personalised nutrition and lifestyle changes to optimise their future, long term health.
- Thyroid balance report - This report analyses the genes involved in the thyroid hormone lifecycle: synthesis - centrally (in the thyroid) and in activation in peripheral tissues, transport and metabolism, processing of cofactors (vitamins D and A) and inhibitors (stress and toxins). It also examines genes that confer susceptibility to inflammation and autoimmunity.
We highly recommend you watch some of the crowdcast videos from LifecodeGx as they are absolutely fascinating.
Do make an appointment if you would like to talk more about this.
Dr Carys Sonnenberg Rowena health
At Rowena Health we are a small online health clinic providing virtual consultations if you are in the UK, with an in person clinic in Guildford, Surrey. Your health and wellbeing are the the heart of our consultations.
We are proactive at giving you holistic care and advice so that you can improve your symptoms, your understanding of your hormones and how these can affect you, and to you help to improve your physical, mental, sexual and your future health.
We are are delighted to provide care to people 18 and older, who are having:
- Symptoms of perimenopause
- Early menopause (40-45 years)
- Premature ovarian insufficiency, POI (menopause below the age of 40)
- We may refer to a specialist clinic for investigations and support with fertility after discussion with you.
- Surgical menopause (menopause after an operation to remove the ovaries)
- Menopause
- Premenstrual syndrome at any age above 18 years
- Advice for those who experience menopause after cancer
- Advice about the holistic care options to manage perimenopause and menopause including hormonal treatments, non hormonal treatments, alternative and complementary treatments
- Advice about contraceptive choices
We can work with your GP to help support you.
We provide holistic care, listening to you and helping guide you using evidence-based information and advice, to support you with your symptoms and treatment, for as long as you need us.
We work with an extensive team of selected holistic experts in their field who work in alternative and complementary medicine as we believe education and choice is so important.
We can prescribe Hormone Replacement Therapy, hormonal contraception and non hormonal treatments to support your symptoms.
We can arrange blood tests and investigations like ultrasound scans if necessary.
We can refer on to specialist consultants for advice or further treatment if needed. We can see you once or see you ongoing for further care, let us know what you need.
We write to you and your GP, with your consent, so everyone is involved in your care.
We are delighted to see you in-person, or using online, via video consultation, from the comfort of your own surroundings.
If you are not sure whether we can help you, or you cannot find an appointment time to suit you, please email us on [email protected] and we will do our best to be flexible and find a time to help.
In some cases, after an assessment, if we feel your care is better being provided by a different specialist clinic, due to you own individual needs we will discuss this with you and will recommend a different clinic, with specialists to help you.
We are looking forward to meeting you. Dr Carys Sonnenberg Rowena Health
Appointments
To begin with, on the website booking page please book a 45 minute new patient video consultation.
If you are booking a follow-up appointment please book a 30 minute follow-up video appointment.
Virtual appointments
For out virtual appointments, via our secure on-line patient system, you can be seen from the comfort of your own home or at work, as long as you are on UK soil at the time of your appointment.
Once you have booked your appointment you will receive a link in your email to use for the video appointment. The video link is provided through our secure patient platform.
At the time of the consultation please make sure you have a good WiFi connection and that you find a place where you are comfortable and can talk in private. If there are any problems with video connection, don't worry, we will call via the telephone number you have provided to continue our consultation.
We recommend clicking on the video link a few minutes before the consultation to check it is all working and that you know how to mute and unmute and switch your camera on and off.
We will need to see Photo ID at the start of the consultation to verify your identity as your appointment cannot proceed without showing this proof. We will also ask who is present during our consultation and check you are in a safe place for us to talk. We will check if there is anything sensitive you would like us to be aware of before we start. If there is anything you would like to be made aware of please do not hesitate to let us know. We will check your GP details are correct and we will ask for the telephone number of a person we can call if there is an emergency during your appointment.
Telephone appointments
For existing patients who have a simple query in between appointments, a 10 minute telephone appointment is available.
Email
Email is perfect for simple logistical queries, we are sorry but we are not able to provide detailed clinical advice via email. Please allow up to 5 working days for response to an email.
Please email [email protected] if you have any questions and we will be delighted to help you.
Emergency appointments
We are sorry but Rowena Health is not able to offer emergency appointments, we will do our best to accomodate your needs but we offer routine care only.
When your appointment is booked what happens
All appointments are easily booked via the website booking page. The cost of each appointment is stated there.
Payment is taken at the time of booking and you will receive booking confirmation, details of your appointment and a booking questionnaire. Please leave 15 minutes to complete your questionnaire and ensure it arrives with us at least 48 hours before your appointment to give Dr Sonnenberg time to review it before she sees you.
We really look forward to meeting you at Rowena Health.
Dr Carys Sonnenberg GP and British Menopause Society Menopause Specialist and founder of Rowena Health
New patient and follow-up consultation prices
A new patient to Rowena Health consultation is currently £275 for a 45 minute appointment. This does not include the cost of prescribed medication, or costs of recommended investigations.
A follow-up patient consultation is currently £175 for a 30 minute appointment. This appointment can review your care and is usually booked after 8-12 weeks and annually. This does not include the cost of prescribed medication or costs of recommended investigations.
For a quick question, we are delighted to offer a trouble shooting, telephone appointment, lasting up to 10 minutes, which is perfect for questions in-between appointments. This costs £95 and is perfect to discuss a blood test result, or ask a quick question. Please do not book a 10 minute telephone appointment to have your follow-up or annual review as this does not give us enough time to carry out these reviews safely.
Please note that booking confirmation emails may go into your junk email box. You should receive an email on booking your appointment from [email protected]
Prescription administration costs and medication costs
We do not charge an administration cost if a private prescription for a medication like HRT, is issued during your consultation. You will be charged for the cost of the medication itself and if prescriptions are posted to your home, a small additional charge will apply for postage and handling. Prices of HRT products vary depending on the product and dose, typically ranging from £10 to £40 per item per month.
If further prescriptions are requested by you, outside your consultations, then we charge a £35 administration cost. Please use the request a repeat prescription button on the website to request your medication. We review all notes before prescribing to ensure safe prescribing.
The cost of privately prescribed HRT from our clinic is not covered by the NHS or the HRT prepayment certificate.
Emails between appointments
We do not charge for emails but we are only able to deal with logistical issues by email. Any clinical concerns we ask that you book an appointment, as per our practice policy.
Additional letters requested for other specialists £30, we will send an invoice to you if you request this. A copy of your clinic letters will be sent to your GP free of charge so they are aware of our care and recommendations.
Private blood tests
We offer a range of profiles for blood tests and only arrange ones which are necessary for you. Sometimes more investigations are needed we are ruling out some other causes for your symptoms.
Profile 1: FBC, ferritin, U+E, lipids, TSH, free T4, Hba1c, oestradiol, testosterone, SHBG, Vitamin B12, folate and Vitamin D
Profile 2: oestradiol, SHBG, testosterone, TSH, free T4
Profile 3: oestradiol, SHBG, testosterone
Profile 4: FBC, ferritin, TSH, free T4, testosterone, SHBG
Profile 5: SHBG, testosterone
Costs being confirmed with our online phlebotomy service to ensure competitive prices.
If you need to cancel your appointment:
These will be fully refunded if at least 48 hours notice during the working week is given. After this time it will be difficult for us to fill your appointment time so a refund will not be possible.
If you need to reschedule your booked appointment more than 48 hours before your appointment time please email us and we will arrange this.
We reserve the right to change our pricing in future without prior notice.
We are sorry that we do not offer discounts, and believe our prices to be fair and competitive.
We are delighted to see you at Rowena Health. Dr Carys Sonnenberg
The most important thing about your consultation is that you feel comfortable and relaxed. Dr Sonnenberg will take time to listen to how you have been feeling and to talk through all of your symptoms. She has been a GP for over 20 years and started Rowena Health to give women support. So please take time to sit with in the comfort of your own home, and talk through all the options to find a way to manage your symptoms that is best for you and your life.
Prior to your consultation you will have completed the patient questionnaire that was emailed to you, which ensures she has key information that she needs. This allows her to really focus on the areas that matter most to you. Please also ensure you have included a full list of all your past medical history, family history and medications/supplements.
It is helpful to have copies of results or letters with you that may also be relevant. During your consultation she will discuss your symptoms, concerns and questions take time to listen. She will then guide you through the best options and address any questions that you may still have. With that in mind, it is often useful for you to write down any questions that you may have beforehand, that you may not have included in your questionnaire, to ensure she covers them.
She may discuss ways to adapt your lifestyle and she will decide together with you making, your personalised care plan, which she will ask that you share with your GP. If appropriate she will prescribe your medication, such as HRT, ensuring we properly cover any risks and benefits to treatment, based on the British Menopause Society recommendations. This is issued at the consultation but it may take a day or so to have the prescription delivered to you.
She will make a plan for your future care and will write to you within 7 days of your appointment to summarise your personal plan. If you do not receive this please let us know and check your junk mail, very occasionally things do end up there. It will come from [email protected]
If there is anything you need clarification on or you have concerns about please do not hesitate to ask, we would love to talk with you early and believe that good communication is the key to a supportive relationship for us both.
Rowena Health is a small clinic and Dr Sonnenberg is delighted to be part of a much bigger peer group supporting continued education in menopause, at the highest level, with other accredited British Menopause Society Menopause Specialists from all over the UK who run similar clinics, and are equally passionate and dedicated to women's health and menopause care. This group discuss cases regularly looking at latest evidence and best practice in order to provide the best care. Dr Sonnenberg also runs an NHS women's health clinic at her GP surgery so she is experienced at dealing with all of your symptoms and at guiding you, if something doesn't seem like a menopause symptom.
In the event of the doctor being unable to provide an appointment, we will inform you as soon as possible and we will work with you to be as flexible as we are able to be to provide another appointment as soon as possible, or to refund your fee if this is not suitable for you.
At Rowena Health we are a small online health clinic providing virtual consultations if you are in the UK, with an in person clinic in Guildford, Surrey. Your health and wellbeing are the the heart of our consultations.
We are proactive at giving you holistic care and advice so that you can improve your symptoms, your understanding of your hormones and how these can affect you, and to you help to improve your physical, mental, sexual and your future health.
We are are delighted to provide care to people 18 and older, who are having:
- Symptoms of perimenopause
- Early menopause (40-45 years)
- Premature ovarian insufficiency, POI (menopause below the age of 40)
- We may refer to a specialist clinic for investigations and support with fertility after discussion with you.
- Surgical menopause (menopause after an operation to remove the ovaries)
- Menopause
- Premenstrual syndrome at any age above 18 years
- Advice for those who experience menopause after cancer
- Advice about the holistic care options to manage perimenopause and menopause including hormonal treatments, non hormonal treatments, alternative and complementary treatments
- Advice about contraceptive choices
We can work with your GP to help support you.
We provide holistic care, listening to you and helping guide you using evidence-based information and advice, to support you with your symptoms and treatment, for as long as you need us.
We work with an extensive team of selected holistic experts in their field who work in alternative and complementary medicine as we believe education and choice is so important.
We can prescribe Hormone Replacement Therapy, hormonal contraception and non hormonal treatments to support your symptoms.
We can arrange blood tests and investigations like ultrasound scans if necessary.
We can refer on to specialist consultants for advice or further treatment if needed. We can see you once or see you ongoing for further care, let us know what you need.
We write to you and your GP, with your consent, so everyone is involved in your care.
We are delighted to see you in-person, or using online, via video consultation, from the comfort of your own surroundings.
If you are not sure whether we can help you, or you cannot find an appointment time to suit you, please email us on [email protected] and we will do our best to be flexible and find a time to help.
In some cases, after an assessment, if we feel your care is better being provided by a different specialist clinic, due to you own individual needs we will discuss this with you and will recommend a different clinic, with specialists to help you.
We are looking forward to meeting you. Dr Carys Sonnenberg Rowena Health
On our first patient consultation questionnaire we ask that you consent for us to share your letter with your GP.
Dr Sonnenberg is a practicing NHS GP with 25 years experience and understand the importance of good communication in managing the health of patients. For this reason we are not be able to prescribe medication for you at Rowena Health unless you consent with this information being shared with your GP.
Ongoing care
We are a small bespoke clinic and due to this we are not able offer emergency care, and ask that you contact your own GP or 111, or call 999 in case of an emergency.
If you email us, we are happy to answer simple logistical questions, but due to practice policy we are not able to answer detailed clinical questions via email, and ask that you book a telephone appointment to talk with us. Please allow 5 working days for a response to an email.
If you need repeat medication, please allow 5 working days for your prescription to be processed.
Thank you for working with us to help us support you and our other patients.
Thank you for attending your appointment with Rowena Health. We are delighted to help you, whenever you need support, and are committed to providing your ongoing care. We hope that you have found your appointment beneficial and we would be delighted if you would support us by giving feedback, we will send you details of how to do this.
Booking appointments
We offer an online booking system which is easy to use and which takes payment immediately for all appointments including follow-up appointments.
You will receive email confirmation of your booking, please check your emails (and junk). Your email will contain a link to a pre-consultation questionnaire. Please complete the pre-consultation questionnaire at least 48 hours prior to your consultation.
If you need to change your appointment please email [email protected]. To avoid disappointment, please check the appointment cancellation policy.
At each appointment we will discuss your ongoing care, confirm how you prefer to receive your ongoing prescriptions and ask you how you would like to arrange your future care with us, or your GP. If you would like to see us at Rowena Health for future consultations we send one reminder by email, for our agreed follow-up plan. If you do not book an appointment we assume that your GP is managing your ongoing care and we will not send subsequent emails.
Your clinic letter
You will receive a securely encrypted email, attaching a clinic letter following your appointment, outlining everything you discussed with Dr Sonnenberg.
This will be sent within 7 days from [email protected]. Please let us know if there is anything you would like to change about your letter, it will be detailed with links to other websites for your information and support.
This letter and all relevant correspondence will also be shared with your GP surgery to keep them informed of your care. If you do NOT wish for them to know, please tell us on your booking questionnaire and at your appointment.
At the appointment we will agree with you a future plan. You should leave having a clear understanding of what will happen next, how to obtain your medication, if appropriate, and when your next follow-up appointment is due.
Prescribing private prescriptions at your appointment
There is no extra administration charge to you if we prescribe medication during your appointment, but you will have to pay for the cost of the medication, to the pharmacy. This is usually between £10-40 per month per product.
If we are prescribing your medication we will share your prescription with your consent, which is given in your booking questionnaire, with CloudRx or SignatureRx, our online pharmacies.
CloudRX will contact you to arrange for payment of your medication, and arrange for it to be delivered to your home address, where you may need to be in to sign for it.
SignatureRX will give you the flexibility to collect your medication from a local pharmacy, a prescription token will be sent to you. Please ensure the medication you collect from the pharmacy is correct.
We are only able to prescribe medication for you if you are happy for us to share this information with your GP, unless there are extenuating circumstances. We feel this is safest for you and your GP in case they prescribe anything which could interact with a medication which is prescribed by us.
Repeat medications
If you need us to prescribe your ongoing medication outside the time of an appointment please let us know 5 working days in advance.
Repeat prescriptions can be obtained by clicking the repeat prescription button on the website. An administration fee of £35 will be requested, and a questionnaire sent to you, to complete. Once this has been received by us and checked, we are happy to prescribe your medication. It is important to write exactly what medication and what dose you require on the questionnaire when you complete it, to avoid any errors. We check patient notes every time we prescribe to ensure we are prescribing safely.
For safe menopause prescribing practices, medication can only be issued to women who are actively under the care of Rowena Health.
If you haven’t had a consultation in the past year, or if you haven’t had a three-month review following the start of your treatment or any changes to your treatment, a follow-up appointment will be necessary before issuing a menopause prescription.
We only prescribe up to 3 months of medication at a time. If we are prescribing antidepressants we limit our prescriptions to 2 months as a maximum.
Your GP may be able to prescribe your medication ongoing. If you wish them to do this then please make an appointment with them to discuss your clinic letter and our recommendations. You may then be able to use an HRT prepay certificate which will make obtaining your HRT significantly cheaper for you than if it is issued privately.
Please tell us of any side effects to your HRT, or change in your medical or family history so we are sure we are safely prescribing.
Blood tests
Private blood tests: we can use Nationwide pathology to arrange your private blood tests. We will inform them of the blood test profile we recommend and provide you with the phone number to call and provide payment and arrange for the blood test to be taken at a local clinic (extra £40 phlebotomy fee) or at your home (extra £60 phlebotomy fee). The results are then returned to us and we will inform you of the result and any action required.
If a blood test is arranged by us then the results will be sent back to us and we will share them with you, and include any advice or recommendations.
Emails
Email communication is limited to the clarification of appointments or the reinforcement/clarification of prescribing advice.
Please allow 5 working days for a response to your email.
We are not able to provide emergency care
We do not have an emergency service or a telephone service, so in the event of an emergency please contact your GP, 111 or 999.
If you have a question between appointments
We offer a 10 minute telephone appointment to help support you with questions between follow-up appointments, which can be booked via the website.
These telephone appointments are not suitable for a follow-up consultation.
How did we do?
We strive to offer the highest quality of care and service to our patients and your feedback really matters. All feedback is welcomed so please let us know how we did at your appointment. We have a feedback questionnaire which is returned to us, and is available at the bottom of your clinic letter, and we have a google feedback, which we would be delighted if you would complete.
Tell a friend
Talking about the menopause is important. If you've benefited from our care, you can help your friends and family by spreading the
word. As well as high quality individual care we also offer corporate support and training for businesses and public sector organisations so do get in touch if you would like further information.Rowena Health Ltd is a company registered with company number 14277302
Rowena Health Ltd is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC)Please see our booking page to book an appointment.
Within 7 days of your new patient or follow-up appointment, we will send a detailed clinic letter, with a comprehensive list of evidence based resources and we encourage you to visit this first, if you have questions.
We reserve email communication to clarifying appointments, or reinforcing prescribing advice. We are not able to conduct consultations, or give detailed clinical advice via email and, as we feel it is important to have a consultation to safely and effectively manage your care.
We offer telephone consultations, lasting up to 10 minutes, which can be booked via the website to manage questions between follow-up appointments.
If you do send an email to [email protected] we will reply within 5 working days. You may receive a reply more quickly, but please allow 5 working days as Dr Sonnenberg may be away from the office.
Please do contact your GP, 111 or 999 in case of an emergency. We do not provide emergency care and request that you contact your GP or the emergency services if you feel that you need this.
Thank you for working with us so that we can best help you and our other patients.
Dr Carys Sonnenberg Rowena Health
New patient and follow-up consultation prices
A new patient to Rowena Health consultation is currently £275 for a 45 minute appointment. This does not include the cost of prescribed medication, or costs of recommended investigations.
A follow-up patient consultation is currently £175 for a 30 minute appointment. This appointment can review your care and is usually booked after 8-12 weeks and annually. This does not include the cost of prescribed medication or costs of recommended investigations.
For a quick question, we are delighted to offer a trouble shooting, telephone appointment, lasting up to 10 minutes, which is perfect for questions in-between appointments. This costs £95 and is perfect to discuss a blood test result, or ask a quick question. Please do not book a 10 minute telephone appointment to have your follow-up or annual review as this does not give us enough time to carry out these reviews safely.
Please note that booking confirmation emails may go into your junk email box. You should receive an email on booking your appointment from [email protected]
Prescription administration costs and medication costs
We do not charge an administration cost if a private prescription for a medication like HRT, is issued during your consultation. You will be charged for the cost of the medication itself and if prescriptions are posted to your home, a small additional charge will apply for postage and handling. Prices of HRT products vary depending on the product and dose, typically ranging from £10 to £40 per item per month.
If further prescriptions are requested by you, outside your consultations, then we charge a £35 administration cost. Please use the request a repeat prescription button on the website to request your medication. We review all notes before prescribing to ensure safe prescribing.
The cost of privately prescribed HRT from our clinic is not covered by the NHS or the HRT prepayment certificate.
Emails between appointments
We do not charge for emails but we are only able to deal with logistical issues by email. Any clinical concerns we ask that you book an appointment, as per our practice policy.
Additional letters requested for other specialists £30, we will send an invoice to you if you request this. A copy of your clinic letters will be sent to your GP free of charge so they are aware of our care and recommendations.
Private blood tests
We offer a range of profiles for blood tests and only arrange ones which are necessary for you. Sometimes more investigations are needed we are ruling out some other causes for your symptoms.
Profile 1: FBC, ferritin, U+E, lipids, TSH, free T4, Hba1c, oestradiol, testosterone, SHBG, Vitamin B12, folate and Vitamin D
Profile 2: oestradiol, SHBG, testosterone, TSH, free T4
Profile 3: oestradiol, SHBG, testosterone
Profile 4: FBC, ferritin, TSH, free T4, testosterone, SHBG
Profile 5: SHBG, testosterone
Costs being confirmed with our online phlebotomy service to ensure competitive prices.
If you need to cancel your appointment:
These will be fully refunded if at least 48 hours notice during the working week is given. After this time it will be difficult for us to fill your appointment time so a refund will not be possible.
If you need to reschedule your booked appointment more than 48 hours before your appointment time please email us and we will arrange this.
We reserve the right to change our pricing in future without prior notice.
We are sorry that we do not offer discounts, and believe our prices to be fair and competitive.
We are delighted to see you at Rowena Health. Dr Carys Sonnenberg
Prescriptions
Thank you for attending your appointment with Rowena Health. We are delighted to help you, whenever you need support, and are committed to providing your ongoing care. We hope that you have found your appointment beneficial and we would be delighted if you would support us by giving feedback, we will send you details of how to do this.
Booking appointments
We offer an online booking system which is easy to use and which takes payment immediately for all appointments including follow-up appointments.
You will receive email confirmation of your booking, please check your emails (and junk). Your email will contain a link to a pre-consultation questionnaire. Please complete the pre-consultation questionnaire at least 48 hours prior to your consultation.
If you need to change your appointment please email [email protected]. To avoid disappointment, please check the appointment cancellation policy.
At each appointment we will discuss your ongoing care, confirm how you prefer to receive your ongoing prescriptions and ask you how you would like to arrange your future care with us, or your GP. If you would like to see us at Rowena Health for future consultations we send one reminder by email, for our agreed follow-up plan. If you do not book an appointment we assume that your GP is managing your ongoing care and we will not send subsequent emails.
Your clinic letter
You will receive a securely encrypted email, attaching a clinic letter following your appointment, outlining everything you discussed with Dr Sonnenberg.
This will be sent within 7 days from [email protected]. Please let us know if there is anything you would like to change about your letter, it will be detailed with links to other websites for your information and support.
This letter and all relevant correspondence will also be shared with your GP surgery to keep them informed of your care. If you do NOT wish for them to know, please tell us on your booking questionnaire and at your appointment.
At the appointment we will agree with you a future plan. You should leave having a clear understanding of what will happen next, how to obtain your medication, if appropriate, and when your next follow-up appointment is due.
Prescribing private prescriptions at your appointment
There is no extra administration charge to you if we prescribe medication during your appointment, but you will have to pay for the cost of the medication, to the pharmacy. This is usually between £10-40 per month per product.
If we are prescribing your medication we will share your prescription with your consent, which is given in your booking questionnaire, with CloudRx or SignatureRx, our online pharmacies.
CloudRX will contact you to arrange for payment of your medication, and arrange for it to be delivered to your home address, where you may need to be in to sign for it.
SignatureRX will give you the flexibility to collect your medication from a local pharmacy, a prescription token will be sent to you. Please ensure the medication you collect from the pharmacy is correct.
We are only able to prescribe medication for you if you are happy for us to share this information with your GP, unless there are extenuating circumstances. We feel this is safest for you and your GP in case they prescribe anything which could interact with a medication which is prescribed by us.
Repeat medications
If you need us to prescribe your ongoing medication outside the time of an appointment please let us know 5 working days in advance.
Repeat prescriptions can be obtained by clicking the repeat prescription button on the website. An administration fee of £35 will be requested, and a questionnaire sent to you, to complete. Once this has been received by us and checked, we are happy to prescribe your medication. It is important to write exactly what medication and what dose you require on the questionnaire when you complete it, to avoid any errors. We check patient notes every time we prescribe to ensure we are prescribing safely.
For safe menopause prescribing practices, medication can only be issued to women who are actively under the care of Rowena Health.
If you haven’t had a consultation in the past year, or if you haven’t had a three-month review following the start of your treatment or any changes to your treatment, a follow-up appointment will be necessary before issuing a menopause prescription.
We only prescribe up to 3 months of medication at a time. If we are prescribing antidepressants we limit our prescriptions to 2 months as a maximum.
Your GP may be able to prescribe your medication ongoing. If you wish them to do this then please make an appointment with them to discuss your clinic letter and our recommendations. You may then be able to use an HRT prepay certificate which will make obtaining your HRT significantly cheaper for you than if it is issued privately.
Please tell us of any side effects to your HRT, or change in your medical or family history so we are sure we are safely prescribing.
Blood tests
Private blood tests: we can use Nationwide pathology to arrange your private blood tests. We will inform them of the blood test profile we recommend and provide you with the phone number to call and provide payment and arrange for the blood test to be taken at a local clinic (extra £40 phlebotomy fee) or at your home (extra £60 phlebotomy fee). The results are then returned to us and we will inform you of the result and any action required.
If a blood test is arranged by us then the results will be sent back to us and we will share them with you, and include any advice or recommendations.
Emails
Email communication is limited to the clarification of appointments or the reinforcement/clarification of prescribing advice.
Please allow 5 working days for a response to your email.
We are not able to provide emergency care
We do not have an emergency service or a telephone service, so in the event of an emergency please contact your GP, 111 or 999.
If you have a question between appointments
We offer a 10 minute telephone appointment to help support you with questions between follow-up appointments, which can be booked via the website.
These telephone appointments are not suitable for a follow-up consultation.
How did we do?
We strive to offer the highest quality of care and service to our patients and your feedback really matters. All feedback is welcomed so please let us know how we did at your appointment. We have a feedback questionnaire which is returned to us, and is available at the bottom of your clinic letter, and we have a google feedback, which we would be delighted if you would complete.
Tell a friend
Talking about the menopause is important. If you've benefited from our care, you can help your friends and family by spreading the
word. As well as high quality individual care we also offer corporate support and training for businesses and public sector organisations so do get in touch if you would like further information.Rowena Health Ltd is a company registered with company number 14277302
Rowena Health Ltd is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC)Please see our booking page to book an appointment.
Information about prescriptions and repeat prescriptions at Rowena Health. We prescribe medication according to guidance from the British Menopause Society and The Royal Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
If we decide together to prescribe a medication you have two options:
You can choose to get your prescription issued on the NHS by your GP, and use your HRT Prepay certificate, if you take HRT. You will need to arrange for this, with your GP surgery, using the letter sent to you, and them, after our consultation. Your clinic letter will be sent to you within 7 days of your consultation.
or
We are happy to issue you with a private prescription for your medication. If we prescribe medication privately you will need to pay the cost of the medications, as this is not covered by your HRT prepay certificate. This payment is made to the pharmacy or online pharmacy.
Your private prescription will be sent by us, to one of our pharmacy providers after your consultation with us. We do not charge a prescription administration fee for any prescriptions issued during a consultation with you. If you request medication and outside of your consultation, there is an extra administration prescription fee chargeable, of £35.
We use CloudRx and SignatureRx, our online prescription services, where, with your consent, which is given on your initial booking form, we share your private prescription. Our private prescriptions can be delivered to your home via CloudRX, or we can send the prescription to you via SignatureRX, so that you can collect it from a local pharmacy, if that is more convenient.
We will discuss with you if we are prescribing medications out of license.
Repeat prescriptions
Repeat prescriptions can be requested using the repeat prescription button on our website. This takes an administration payment and sends you a questionnaire to complete, once we have checked this and are sure it is safe to prescribe we will issue your medication.
For safe menopause prescribing practices, medication can only be issued to women who are actively under the care of Rowena Health and are up to date with their reviews.
If you haven’t had a consultation in the past year, or if you haven’t had a three-month review following the start of your treatment or any changes to your treatment, a follow-up appointment will be necessary before issuing a menopause prescription.
Please allow 5 working days for prescriptions to be processed, please do make requests in advance of running out of medication, taking into account holiday periods. Our advice is to request when you have 2 weeks of medication left and put a reminder on your phone or diary.
A prescription will be generated and sent to our pharmacy services, above. They will need administration time to issue your medication and send it to you, or send you the prescription to take to your own local pharmacy.
We are afraid that we are not in control of any medication supply shortages, and will do our best to provide an alternative medication, if you are unable to get yours.
We prescribe up to 3 months of HRT medication on each prescription.
We prescribe up to 2 months of antidepressants on each prescription once you are stable on treatment, until then we prescribe one month of medication, in order to practice safe prescribing.
Thank you for supporting us to care for you and our other patients by giving us time to issue your medication. If you think you are running out in an emergency then please email us on [email protected]. We check emails during working hours only.
Dr Carys Sonnenberg Rowena Health booking page
Links to: out of license prescribing & HRT prepay certificate.
New patient and follow-up consultation prices
A new patient to Rowena Health consultation is currently £275 for a 45 minute appointment. This does not include the cost of prescribed medication, or costs of recommended investigations.
A follow-up patient consultation is currently £175 for a 30 minute appointment. This appointment can review your care and is usually booked after 8-12 weeks and annually. This does not include the cost of prescribed medication or costs of recommended investigations.
For a quick question, we are delighted to offer a trouble shooting, telephone appointment, lasting up to 10 minutes, which is perfect for questions in-between appointments. This costs £95 and is perfect to discuss a blood test result, or ask a quick question. Please do not book a 10 minute telephone appointment to have your follow-up or annual review as this does not give us enough time to carry out these reviews safely.
Please note that booking confirmation emails may go into your junk email box. You should receive an email on booking your appointment from [email protected]
Prescription administration costs and medication costs
We do not charge an administration cost if a private prescription for a medication like HRT, is issued during your consultation. You will be charged for the cost of the medication itself and if prescriptions are posted to your home, a small additional charge will apply for postage and handling. Prices of HRT products vary depending on the product and dose, typically ranging from £10 to £40 per item per month.
If further prescriptions are requested by you, outside your consultations, then we charge a £35 administration cost. Please use the request a repeat prescription button on the website to request your medication. We review all notes before prescribing to ensure safe prescribing.
The cost of privately prescribed HRT from our clinic is not covered by the NHS or the HRT prepayment certificate.
Emails between appointments
We do not charge for emails but we are only able to deal with logistical issues by email. Any clinical concerns we ask that you book an appointment, as per our practice policy.
Additional letters requested for other specialists £30, we will send an invoice to you if you request this. A copy of your clinic letters will be sent to your GP free of charge so they are aware of our care and recommendations.
Private blood tests
We offer a range of profiles for blood tests and only arrange ones which are necessary for you. Sometimes more investigations are needed we are ruling out some other causes for your symptoms.
Profile 1: FBC, ferritin, U+E, lipids, TSH, free T4, Hba1c, oestradiol, testosterone, SHBG, Vitamin B12, folate and Vitamin D
Profile 2: oestradiol, SHBG, testosterone, TSH, free T4
Profile 3: oestradiol, SHBG, testosterone
Profile 4: FBC, ferritin, TSH, free T4, testosterone, SHBG
Profile 5: SHBG, testosterone
Costs being confirmed with our online phlebotomy service to ensure competitive prices.
If you need to cancel your appointment:
These will be fully refunded if at least 48 hours notice during the working week is given. After this time it will be difficult for us to fill your appointment time so a refund will not be possible.
If you need to reschedule your booked appointment more than 48 hours before your appointment time please email us and we will arrange this.
We reserve the right to change our pricing in future without prior notice.
We are sorry that we do not offer discounts, and believe our prices to be fair and competitive.
We are delighted to see you at Rowena Health. Dr Carys Sonnenberg
Blood tests
New patient and follow-up consultation prices
A new patient to Rowena Health consultation is currently £275 for a 45 minute appointment. This does not include the cost of prescribed medication, or costs of recommended investigations.
A follow-up patient consultation is currently £175 for a 30 minute appointment. This appointment can review your care and is usually booked after 8-12 weeks and annually. This does not include the cost of prescribed medication or costs of recommended investigations.
For a quick question, we are delighted to offer a trouble shooting, telephone appointment, lasting up to 10 minutes, which is perfect for questions in-between appointments. This costs £95 and is perfect to discuss a blood test result, or ask a quick question. Please do not book a 10 minute telephone appointment to have your follow-up or annual review as this does not give us enough time to carry out these reviews safely.
Please note that booking confirmation emails may go into your junk email box. You should receive an email on booking your appointment from [email protected]
Prescription administration costs and medication costs
We do not charge an administration cost if a private prescription for a medication like HRT, is issued during your consultation. You will be charged for the cost of the medication itself and if prescriptions are posted to your home, a small additional charge will apply for postage and handling. Prices of HRT products vary depending on the product and dose, typically ranging from £10 to £40 per item per month.
If further prescriptions are requested by you, outside your consultations, then we charge a £35 administration cost. Please use the request a repeat prescription button on the website to request your medication. We review all notes before prescribing to ensure safe prescribing.
The cost of privately prescribed HRT from our clinic is not covered by the NHS or the HRT prepayment certificate.
Emails between appointments
We do not charge for emails but we are only able to deal with logistical issues by email. Any clinical concerns we ask that you book an appointment, as per our practice policy.
Additional letters requested for other specialists £30, we will send an invoice to you if you request this. A copy of your clinic letters will be sent to your GP free of charge so they are aware of our care and recommendations.
Private blood tests
We offer a range of profiles for blood tests and only arrange ones which are necessary for you. Sometimes more investigations are needed we are ruling out some other causes for your symptoms.
Profile 1: FBC, ferritin, U+E, lipids, TSH, free T4, Hba1c, oestradiol, testosterone, SHBG, Vitamin B12, folate and Vitamin D
Profile 2: oestradiol, SHBG, testosterone, TSH, free T4
Profile 3: oestradiol, SHBG, testosterone
Profile 4: FBC, ferritin, TSH, free T4, testosterone, SHBG
Profile 5: SHBG, testosterone
Costs being confirmed with our online phlebotomy service to ensure competitive prices.
If you need to cancel your appointment:
These will be fully refunded if at least 48 hours notice during the working week is given. After this time it will be difficult for us to fill your appointment time so a refund will not be possible.
If you need to reschedule your booked appointment more than 48 hours before your appointment time please email us and we will arrange this.
We reserve the right to change our pricing in future without prior notice.
We are sorry that we do not offer discounts, and believe our prices to be fair and competitive.
We are delighted to see you at Rowena Health. Dr Carys Sonnenberg
Costs & payment
- We offer full refunds if there is a change or cancellation to your booking two full working days (48 hours, not including weekends) in advance of the appointment. Please see our Terms and Conditions. If you wish to reschedule an appointment within this 48 hour window this may be possible, there will be an administration charge to cover our costs, as we may not be able to fill an appointment at short notice. Should you cancel an appointment with less than two full working days (48 hours, not including weekends) of an appointment then we are unable to offer a refund. This is because it is unlikely, we will be able to rebook the missing slot. You can, however switch your appointment to an online one at no extra charge. Refunds are returned via your original payment method and can take up to 10 days to complete, this is governed by our payment system and cannot be expedited.
New patient and follow-up consultation prices
A new patient to Rowena Health consultation is currently £275 for a 45 minute appointment. This does not include the cost of prescribed medication, or costs of recommended investigations.
A follow-up patient consultation is currently £175 for a 30 minute appointment. This appointment can review your care and is usually booked after 8-12 weeks and annually. This does not include the cost of prescribed medication or costs of recommended investigations.
For a quick question, we are delighted to offer a trouble shooting, telephone appointment, lasting up to 10 minutes, which is perfect for questions in-between appointments. This costs £95 and is perfect to discuss a blood test result, or ask a quick question. Please do not book a 10 minute telephone appointment to have your follow-up or annual review as this does not give us enough time to carry out these reviews safely.
Please note that booking confirmation emails may go into your junk email box. You should receive an email on booking your appointment from [email protected]
Prescription administration costs and medication costs
We do not charge an administration cost if a private prescription for a medication like HRT, is issued during your consultation. You will be charged for the cost of the medication itself and if prescriptions are posted to your home, a small additional charge will apply for postage and handling. Prices of HRT products vary depending on the product and dose, typically ranging from £10 to £40 per item per month.
If further prescriptions are requested by you, outside your consultations, then we charge a £35 administration cost. Please use the request a repeat prescription button on the website to request your medication. We review all notes before prescribing to ensure safe prescribing.
The cost of privately prescribed HRT from our clinic is not covered by the NHS or the HRT prepayment certificate.
Emails between appointments
We do not charge for emails but we are only able to deal with logistical issues by email. Any clinical concerns we ask that you book an appointment, as per our practice policy.
Additional letters requested for other specialists £30, we will send an invoice to you if you request this. A copy of your clinic letters will be sent to your GP free of charge so they are aware of our care and recommendations.
Private blood tests
We offer a range of profiles for blood tests and only arrange ones which are necessary for you. Sometimes more investigations are needed we are ruling out some other causes for your symptoms.
Profile 1: FBC, ferritin, U+E, lipids, TSH, free T4, Hba1c, oestradiol, testosterone, SHBG, Vitamin B12, folate and Vitamin D
Profile 2: oestradiol, SHBG, testosterone, TSH, free T4
Profile 3: oestradiol, SHBG, testosterone
Profile 4: FBC, ferritin, TSH, free T4, testosterone, SHBG
Profile 5: SHBG, testosterone
Costs being confirmed with our online phlebotomy service to ensure competitive prices.
If you need to cancel your appointment:
These will be fully refunded if at least 48 hours notice during the working week is given. After this time it will be difficult for us to fill your appointment time so a refund will not be possible.
If you need to reschedule your booked appointment more than 48 hours before your appointment time please email us and we will arrange this.
We reserve the right to change our pricing in future without prior notice.
We are sorry that we do not offer discounts, and believe our prices to be fair and competitive.
We are delighted to see you at Rowena Health. Dr Carys Sonnenberg
We take payment online at the point of booking using all major credit and debit cards.
Some health insurance policies do not, unfortunately, cover menopause. Please check with your provider, that they cover menopause and that they cover you to be seen by a British Menopause Society accredited Menopause Specialist who sits on the GP register with the GMC, before booking the appointment. We are able to provide you with an invoice to claim back from your insurer.
We are delighted to see that more policies are recognising the importance of menopause and offering cover - in particular WPA and Aviva both cover this service.
If your provider suggests an alternative clinician please check that they hold the BMS Menopause Specialist qualification to ensure you get the best quality holistic care.
Other
Unfortunately, new patients who live outside the UK cannot be seen by us because our medical indemnity insurance only covers patients who are on UK soil at the time of the appointment. We will ask you to confirm this as part of our questionnaire.
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