Sex, myths and the menopause - channel 4 tonight

It still feels as if there’s something frivolous about taking HRT, almost as if you didn’t women up and just deal with it

My GP is forever telling me I need to come off it now... 'you've had it long enough, but I know what you ladies are like, wanting to hang onto it to try and keep youthful looks, so vain'.

Yes, he actually said that

This is on the ever closer horizon for me, I watched with interest. I had no idea so few women were on HRT, or that they were fobbed off with anti depressants.

On one hand I couldn't believe how crap women's healthcare is, but then I realised yes actually I did - cause it's women.

That one woman got it right when her daughter said if menopause was a men's thing, it would have been sorted already.

I don't want my periods to restart. They were incredibly heavy and hard to manage. When I started patches, you couldn't reliably get hold of them. I'd have gaps between packs, have to ring round pharmacies to find it, have to change patch early because one fell off and I didn't have a replacement for it. It was confusing and complicated and I didn't have the headspace to negotiate it.

Unfortunately I can't process information well at the moment, and feel a bit overwhelmed by the amount of stuff I'd need to know to be well informed. I have so many questions!

The oestrogen cream for VA, is that classed as HRT?

So cross I forgot the pictures:

These pictures are of the info leaflets in my HRT.

Oestrogen HRT relieves the distressing symptoms of menopause.

Oestrogen HRT prevents osteoporosis.

Oestrogen HRT is associated with an increased risk of an extra 4-6 cases of breast cancer per 1000 women in the age category. A risk which disappears 5 years after stopping taking it.

What's the risk of osteoporosis? What's the cost to the NHS of osteoporosis?
What's the cost to the NHS of the woman's breaking down due to her symptoms?
What's the cost to society of relationship breakdowns and the woman's inability to function due to her symptoms?

But an extra 4-6 cases per 1000? Oh no, you can't possibly be allowed to decide your own priorities - silly woman!

I am going through peri menopause and until I spoke to a work colleague I didn't even know this was a thing. So much information for girls and women about puberty and starting periods at school and nothing at all about the other end and peri menopause and menopause. I am on HRT but still haven't found the right dose or brand to get rid of all my symptoms.

I didn't watch the show but will today on catch up.

@JellySlice it’s a joke isn’t it? GP said to me that I could only take HRT for a short time because of increased risk of breast cancer, so I should wait till I’m really bad. I remember the breast cancer headlines Davina talked about so I believed him, why wouldn’t I?

I’ve been going to docs off and on since I was 40 with various symptoms and it’s always ‘it’s just your age’.

I was going to wait for face to face appointments before trying again, but I think I’ll call today, seeing as my internal boiler woke me up at 4am.

I am glad that the menopause is going to be discussed as part of the school curriculum. Even it is many years away for most girls, their mums might be about to or going through the menopause.

www.gov.uk/government/consultations/womens-health-strategy-call-for-evidence

Ah, I didn't watch it. I was put off by the title and it being Davina - I thought it was going to be sensationalised and trivial. You can never tell with channel 4! I will watch on catch up.

BTW, there's a government consultation taking place on women's healthcare with calls for evidence/fill out a survey.

Here's the link [https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/womens-health-strategy-call-for-evidence]

I'm furious about the map that shows one small red dot in the whole of the north of England for clinics.

Amazing documentary- well done Davina for opening up about her vaginal symptoms that can’t have been easy for her

It's brilliant. I'm 45 and I recognise myself... I have so many of the symptoms. My husband has watched it with me and held my hand all the way through it bless him.

Excellent stuff.

It's on again now on 4+1 and I'm watching again.

It was great! So interesting about the lack of research into oestrogen deficiency and Alzheimer's

This was such a great programme. I hope doctors' surgeries are inundated with calls tomorrow.

I was also too young at 47 for HRT because of increased breast cancer risk. Anti D for depression. I’ve given up going to GP.

Shocking how bad treatment is.

Yay for the weight training 💪 they could have made more of the exercise and lifestyle advice