Stella FAQs
Our most frequently asked questions about Stella.
What is Stella?
Stella is an online menopause clinic that offers fast relief for your symptoms.
We have partnered with Tesco Pharmacy to help you access specialist menopause care privately. You pay Stella if you have an online appointment. You pay Tesco Pharmacy for any prescribed medication.
Here’s how to get started:
– Create a Stella account and complete our health history questionnaire – it’s free and takes 15 minutes
– Stella clinicians recommend treatment or ask you to book an appointment if they need more information to prescribe
– Online appointments cost £45
– Choose your treatment, which is approved by Stella clinicians
– Stella emails you a prescription ID to collect your medication from Tesco Pharmacy, or any pharmacy in England, Wales or Scotland
– Show your prescription ID to the pharmacy to collect your medication. You can check medication costs before paying. Prices range from £11-£70 for 90 days of HRT, similar to other pharmacies
We prescribe hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and testosterone (prices vary).
Once you have paid, you have access to Stella’s menopause app for 12 months. It offers lifestyle guidance, coaching, a menopause library and online events with our experts.
How much does menopause care with Stella cost?
You pay Stella for an appointment if more information is needed to prescribe or if you want to book one. Online appointments with a Stella clinician cost £45. Not everyone will need an appointment.
You pay Tesco Pharmacy for any prescribed medication, or you can use any pharmacy in England, Wales or Scotland. You can check medication costs before paying. Prices range from £11-£70 for 90 days of HRT, similar to other pharmacies.
We prescribe hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and testosterone. Medications prescribed privately do not have standardised costs like the NHS. Prices vary depending on what is prescribed.
Our customer care team is here to answer any questions you have, email hello@onstella.com.
What is menopause?
Menopause is a natural part of ageing and typically happens between ages 45 and 55, although some experience it earlier. Menopause can also follow cancer treatment or surgery to remove your ovaries or uterus.
Menopause stages
– Perimenopause is when your body’s hormone levels change, such as oestrogen. You may notice irregular periods and other symptoms, such as mood changes, sleep issues, hot flushes, weight gain, joint pain and more. This stage lasts 4-8 years on average
– Menopause is when you have not had a period for 12 months. This is typically in your early 50s. This can be hard to work out if you are using hormonal contraception
– Postmenopause is the time after menopause and symptoms can continue. There are more than 30 symptoms, such as sleep issues, hot flushes, mood changes, joint pain, weight gain and bladder problems. What you experience can be affected by your health history, lifestyle and age
Remember, you do not have to wait until symptoms severely affect your life before seeking treatment – you deserve support to feel better.
What treatment can help my symptoms?
Healthier habits help many menopause symptoms including weight gain, sleep disturbance, bladder problems, and joint pain. Sometimes, lifestyle changes aren’t always enough.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
HRT is prescribed for mood problems, sleep disturbance, hot flushes, night sweats and vaginal dryness. It can also help joint pain and changes that affect your genital area, such as:
-Urinary incontinence
-Urinary tract infections
-Vaginal skin thinning, irritation, and tightening of your vaginal walls
-Painful sex
Typically, you can notice positive effects after 4-6 weeks when starting HRT – it can take some trial and error to find the right prescription. Its effectiveness can depend on your lifestyle, family history and medical conditions. You may notice side effects shortly after starting HRT, which usually wear off after 1-3 months.
Non-hormonal treatment
HRT is not suitable for everyone. There are also several safe and effective non-hormonal medications that can help reduce menopause symptoms like hot flushes and mood swings. These medications may be a good alternative.
Why don't I need a blood test?
We rarely need to test your hormones to identify your menopause stage. We will perform a blood test if your assessment indicates it would be helpful, but most women do not need any tests before starting treatment.
If you have not had a period for 12 months, you can be very confident that you are in menopause and confirmation by testing your hormone levels is rarely required. Likewise, there isn’t a reliable hormone test to find out if you are in perimenopause, but bleeding patterns and symptoms are accurate in people over age 44. You can read more in this article.
You may have seen that some clinics and providers recommend one or more hormone tests, but this may be more about generating revenue than understanding your health. It is difficult to get a reliable understanding of your reproductive hormone levels from single tests as they are constantly fluctuating in perimenopause. Your FSH, estradiol, and progesterone levels could be radically different even by the next day. The danger is that you and your healthcare provider will make the wrong decisions based on a false-positive or false-negative test.
A large study concluded that the most accurate way to decide whether you are in perimenopause or menopause is by careful evaluation of your bleeding history and symptoms. Currently available hormone tests do not increase the accuracy of diagnosis. Symptoms include:
- Hot flushes
- Fatigue
- Mood changes, including low mood, anxiety, and irritability among others
- Sleep issues
- Problems with memory and concentration, including brain fog
- Weight gain
- Vaginal symptoms, including burning, tightness, dryness, painful sex, itching
- Urinary symptoms, including recurrent infections, needing to pee more often and pain when peeing
Our assessment evaluates all of these symptoms. Read more about testing for menopause.
What if I need to change or renew my medication?
Changing medication
You may notice side effects shortly after starting HRT, which usually wear off after 1-3 months. If side effects do not settle or your symptoms haven’t improved, your medication may need to be adjusted or changed. Email Stella’s care team at hello@onstella.com for support.
If you need to speak to a Stella clinician, online appointments cost £45.
Repeat prescriptions
Your first prescription is for 90 days. Stella will email you before your prescription runs out to invite you to complete a repeat assessment. We check that your treatment is working, if you have new symptoms and if your health history has changed.
Stella will renew your prescription for 90 days if treatment is easing symptoms. You may need to speak to a Stella clinician, online appointments cost £45.
Stella’s customer care team is here to answer any questions, email hello@onstella.com.
How do I talk to a clinician?
You can talk to our menopause-trained clinicians about your symptoms or if you are unsure about your options by booking an online appointment. Our clinician appointments are online and use a secure video platform where you can see the clinician during the consultation.
When you book your appointment, we send you a secure video link that takes one click to join. You can use a laptop or mobile phone.
What types of HRT do you prescribe?
We prescribe hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and testosterone.
We prescribe HRT medications that are proven to be safe and effective treatments for menopause symptoms, including hot flushes, mood changes, sleep problems, painful sex and bladder symptoms.
We prescribe body identical forms of oestrogen and progesterone first, including gels and patches. We recommend body identical progesterone capsules.
When body identical HRT is produced by regulated pharmaceutical companies, there are strict quality control processes in place to guarantee the strength, purity, and safety of the product supplied. These medications are manufactured to exacting standards that are constantly monitored.
Does Stella’s service replace my GP?
No, Stella does not replace your GP and the service they provide for your general health queries and support. Stella offers a fast, hassle-free way to evaluate if medication is suitable to ease your symptoms during menopause.
With your consent, we will send a clinical letter to your GP. It is important they update your healthcare records about any new prescriptions as it may affect other medications or medical conditions.
