Who We Are
The Menopause Network is a UK-based information and support network connecting women with trusted menopause specialists and resources. We operate the website themenopausenetwork.co.uk.
We are the data controller for the personal information we collect and process in connection with this website. This means we decide how and why your data is used, and we are responsible for handling it appropriately under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Our contact details
- Email: admin@themenopausenetwork.co.uk
- Phone: 07444 782286
What This Policy Covers
This privacy policy explains:
- What personal data we collect when you use our website
- Why we collect it and what we do with it
- How long we keep it
- Who we share it with, and why
- Your rights under UK data protection law
- How to contact us if you have questions or concerns
Please read this policy alongside our Cookie Policy, which explains how we use cookies and similar technologies on our site.
What Data We Collect
3.1 Information you give us directly
When you register, sign in, subscribe to our newsletter, or contact us, we may collect:
- Your first name and last name
- Your email address
- Your phone number (where provided)
- Your town or city
- Your professional details, if you register as a specialist (such as your clinic name, website, and professional background)
- Any message you send us through a contact form
3.2 Information we collect automatically
When you browse our website, we may automatically collect:
- Your IP address
- The pages you visit and the time you spend on them
- The device and browser you use
- How you arrived at our site (for example, via a search engine or social media link)
This is collected through cookies and similar tracking technologies. Please see our Cookie Policy for details.
3.3 Health-related information
Our website includes content about menopause symptoms, treatment options, and wellbeing. Some of our tools, such as the Symptom Checker, may ask you about symptoms you are experiencing.
Under UK GDPR, information about your health is classed as special category data. We take extra care with this. Where we collect this type of information, we will always make clear what we are collecting and why, and we will ask for your explicit consent before doing so.
We do not use health information provided through our tools to make automated decisions about you, and we do not share it with third parties for marketing purposes.
How We Use Your Information
We use your personal data only for the purposes described in this policy. The legal basis for each use is noted below.
4.1 To provide our services to you
Legal basis: Contract- Creating and managing your account if you register
- Giving you access to member-only areas of the site
- Processing your registration as a specialist or community member
- Helping you find a local menopause specialist
4.2 To communicate with you
Legal basis: Legitimate interests / Consent- Responding to messages or enquiries you send us
- Sending you our newsletter, if you have subscribed
- Sending you updates about events, content, or services we think may interest you (only where you have consented)
4.3 To run and improve our website
Legal basis: Legitimate interests- Analysing how the site is used so we can improve it
- Monitoring for technical issues or security threats
- Understanding which content is most useful to our visitors
4.4 To comply with legal obligations
Legal basis: Legal obligation- Keeping records we are required to maintain by law
- Responding to lawful requests from regulators or enforcement authorities
Cookies
We use cookies on our website to help the site function correctly, understand how visitors use it, and improve your experience over time.
Some cookies are strictly necessary for the site to work. Others are used for analytics or to remember your preferences. Where non-essential cookies are used, we will ask for your consent before placing them.
You can manage or withdraw your cookie consent at any time through your browser settings or our cookie preference tool. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect how the website works for you.
For full details of the cookies we use and how to control them, please see our Cookie Policy.
Marketing & Newsletters
We use Mailchimp to manage our newsletter. If you subscribe, your name and email address will be stored on Mailchimp's platform in accordance with their privacy policy.
We will only send you marketing emails if you have given us your consent to do so. You can withdraw that consent at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any email we send you, or by contacting us directly at admin@themenopausenetwork.co.uk.
Withdrawing your consent will not affect the lawfulness of any processing we carried out before you withdrew it.
Who We Share Your Data With
We do not sell your personal data. We do not share it with third parties for their own marketing purposes.
Service providers
Companies who help us operate the website and deliver our services. This includes our hosting provider, email platform (Mailchimp), and analytics tools. These providers only process your data on our instructions and are bound by data processing agreements.
Specialist members of our network
If you use the Find a Specialist directory and choose to contact a listed specialist, your enquiry will be passed to that specialist. They become a separate data controller for any information you share with them directly.
Legal and regulatory authorities
We may disclose your information if required to do so by law, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of The Menopause Network, our members, or others.
Transfers Outside the UK
Some of our service providers, including Mailchimp, are based in the United States or other countries outside the UK. Where we transfer data internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as standard contractual clauses approved by the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
If you would like more information about how we protect your data during international transfers, please contact us.
How Long We Keep Your Data
We keep your personal data only for as long as is necessary for the purposes described in this policy, or as required by law.
- Account information: retained for as long as your account is active, and for up to two years after you close it
- Newsletter subscriptions: retained until you unsubscribe, after which we retain a suppression record to prevent re-adding you in error
- Contact form messages: retained for up to two years
- Website analytics data: retained in anonymised form
- Specialist registration data: retained for the duration of the membership and for up to three years afterwards
Once the retention period has passed, we securely delete or anonymise your data.
Your Rights
Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights in relation to your personal data:
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at admin@themenopausenetwork.co.uk. We may need to verify your identity before responding to your request.
How to Complain
If you are unhappy with how we have handled your personal data, please contact us first at admin@themenopausenetwork.co.uk. We will do our best to resolve your concern.
If you remain dissatisfied, you have the right to complain to the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO):
Telephone: 0303 123 1113
Post: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF
Security
We take the security of your personal data seriously. We use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect it against unauthorised access, loss, or disclosure.
No method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, however. If you have reason to believe that your interaction with us is no longer secure, please let us know at admin@themenopausenetwork.co.uk as soon as possible.
Children
Our website is not directed at children under the age of 16, and we do not knowingly collect personal data from anyone under 16. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us and we will delete it.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time as our services change or as required by law. When we do, we will update the date at the top of this page. For significant changes, we may notify you directly by email.
We encourage you to review this policy periodically so you are always aware of how we handle your information.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this policy or how we handle your data, please get in touch:
- Email: admin@themenopausenetwork.co.uk
- Phone: 07444 782286
- Website: themenopausenetwork.co.uk