Menopause is making headlines. From Humberside Fire and Rescue becoming the first UK fire service to be formally recognised for completing menopause training, to Oprah Winfrey’s upcoming TV special, Menopause Revolution, featuring Halle Berry and Naomi Watts, awareness is at an all-time high.
With more conversations taking place, more women are seeking help for symptoms that can drastically affect their health, wellbeing, and quality of life. Yet, despite this momentum, too many women still struggle to get the right support. Many healthcare professionals (HCPs) report feeling underprepared to manage menopause confidently, leading to inconsistent care and avoidable specialist referrals.
The British Menopause Society (BMS) is working to change that.
Established in 1989, the BMS has long been the UK’s leading authority on menopause and post-reproductive health, providing education and guidance to healthcare professionals across both primary and secondary care. But as awareness of menopause grows, so too does the demand for specialist training — something traditional competency-based programmes have struggled to keep up with. Long waiting lists have made it harder for HCPs to access the education they need, creating gaps in care.
A breakthrough in menopause education
To bridge the menopause training gap, the BMS has launched the BMS Management of the Menopause Certificate — a fully online qualification designed to give HCPs the knowledge and confidence to manage 95% of menopause cases, ensuring only the most complex require specialist referral.
By equipping more clinicians with expertise, it reduces pressure on specialist services and helps women access the right care faster.
Since its launch in June 2024, the certificate has seen huge uptake:
- 1,556 healthcare professionals enrolled
- 444 have already completed the qualification
- 140 signed up in January 2025 alone
- 113 more have enrolled in February
The figures speak for themselves — demand for expert menopause training is stronger than ever.
What the programme covers
Available to registered UK and Ireland-based doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, physician associates, and paramedics, the programme builds on the BMS’ existing educational resources. It offers approximately 38 hours of online learning across six interactive modules, covering:
- Assessing women with menopausal symptoms
- Practical prescribing of HRT
- Premature ovarian insufficiency
- Menopause and HRT: health effects, benefits, and risks
- Breast cancer
- Abnormal bleeding: perimenopausal, postmenopausal, and unscheduled bleeding on HRT
Each module is peer-reviewed and evidence-based, incorporating national and international best practices. The dynamic learning system includes videos, quizzes, real-world case studies, and optional webinars, ensuring an engaging and interactive experience.
With 12 months to complete the programme, learners can study at their own pace, allowing time to absorb the content and build real confidence in menopause care.
RELATED: Humberside Fire & Rescue becomes first fire brigade to be recognised for menopause training
The impact: Transforming menopause care at every level
Upon completion, HCPs will earn the BMS Management of the Menopause Certificate, confirming their expertise in delivering evidence-based menopause care. This will position them as the go-to professionals within their practice or service for all menopause-related matters.
Crucially, this programme will enable more HCPs to deliver BMS gold-standard care, allowing specialist menopause trainers to focus on those who require advanced certification for complex cases or leadership roles in specialist menopause services.
For HCPs looking to advance further, the BMS PPMC Advanced Certificate remains available, but is only necessary for those leading specialist services or dealing with particularly complex cases. With this new structure, the BMS is ensuring that menopause education is accessible, practical, and impactful — helping to create a healthcare system where every woman receives the care she deserves.
Menopause care is evolving — and with the right training, HCPs can lead the transformation.
For more details on the BMS Management of the Menopause Certificate and how to register, visit the BMS website. There, you’ll also find a wealth of free resources, including the BMS PPMC Resources Toolkit. This comprehensive collection features videos, consensus statements, infographics, clinician tools, fact sheets for women, and links to other trusted sources — all available through the British Menopause Society and Women’s Health Concern (WHC) websites.
WHC was established in 1972 and has been the patient arm of the BMS since 2012. WHC provides a confidential, independent service to advise, inform and reassure women about their gynaecological, sexual and post reproductive health.
