AMA with Kate Muir about her book: Everything you need to know about the Menopause - Thursday 12pm

[JuliaMumsnet]

Hello,

We’re delighted to announce that Kate Muir, author of Everything you need to know about the menopause (but were too afraid to ask) is joining us for an Ask Me Anything on Thursday from 12 to 1pm. Kate is also a film-maker and you may remember her name from Channel 4’s Davina McCall: Sex, Myths and the Menopause last year.

Kate will be joining us - live from MNHQ! - on Thursday 3rd February to answer all your questions on the menopause

Here’s a long blurb of Kate’s book: Everything You Need to Know About the Menopause (and were too afraid to ask) is the thinking woman’s guide to the menopause, bringing you answers to all those questions that have been hidden behind a veneer of misplaced shame, bad science and centuries of patriarchy.

· What’s the perimenopause and when will it strike? (It’s sooner than you think)
· What’s happening to my body – and my mind?
· Why can’t I stop thinking about sex in perimenopause?
· How do I get my sex drive back after menopause?
· How do I look after my body and brain when my hormones disappear?

Muir draws on interviews with the leading medical experts in the field, interlaced with her own tumultuous journey through the menopause and the personal stories of women from all walks of life, sharing their varied experiences and hard-earned wisdom.

Muir also questions why the current medical establishment is getting the menopause so wrong, and why it’s essential that we understand the biology of our own bodies during this critical period that will define the latter half of our lives.

Join us on Thursday at 12pm - or post your question here in advance.

Thanks

MNHQ

Guidelines:

1. One question per MNer
2. Keep your question brief.
3. Don’t heckle if your question doesn’t get answered.
4. Do be civil/polite.
5. If one question threatens to overwhelm the AMA, MNHQ will usually ask for people to stop repeating the same question or point.

Not afraid to ask but haven't yet read anything about this: what is the relationship between PMS and perimenopause and their respective treatments?

As a sufferer of both, the treatment for the latter has brought the former back, with a vengeance. But I couldn't live with the menopausal symptoms either. What can I do?

Yes I lost my hearing due to taking HRT after an early menopause nobody told me the riskdn

Does it ever end ? (15 years in I believe I actually caused global warming)

Hello, Kate, thanks for doing this AMA and for your work on menopause and HRT.

When do you think we can expect to see HRT available in pharmacies in the UK? I saw a couple of articles on this today in the papers but they were quite vague, touching on 'proposals'.

My GP is pretty obstructive and scare-mongery about prescribing HRT, even after intervention from the Gynae consultant surgeon who removed my ovaries, and GP will only prescribe me 4 weeks supply of low-dose Estradiol (oestrogen) gel at a time and sometimes she just stops it without notice.

I imagine I would benefit from being able to access Estradiol via a different pathway.

Hi Kate,
My periods stopped about 8 years ago when I was 48. I was living overseas and couldn't get an answer really if it was the menopause- lack of bouncing baby was a huge clue I think - and ultimately didn't get a confirmation. I'm now living in the UK again, and have had no libido for the past 5 years. Would seeing the Dr be worthwhile? I had an appointment about 2 years ago, then Covid cancelled it.

Thanks

My GP practice has just started a policy whereby I have to apply each month to get my Oestrogel and it will not be included on a list of my regular meds. When I queried this, they said it was to ensure that women " take their HRT properly as many don't" and "to ensure correct monitoring". They don't do any monitoring other than the annual interrogation of "when are you coming off HRT?". Why would they possibly do this? I do notice that a poster above has raised a similar issue.

How infantilising Chicken. That’s awful. I feel quite lucky that my GP prescribes me 2 months at a time and I get it delivered via Lloyds online service, so just sign in and request a repeat every couple of months. I had to have a smear and blood pressure before the first one but for 6 months now it’s all been automated, including a phone consult to up the dosage.

For those whose GP is being obstructive what is the best course of action? Asking to see another GP at the practice who may be a bit more clued up, or an official complaint perhaps? NICE guidelines are clear about allowing women access to HRT with symptoms and age pointing to that without needing blood tests etc

@ChickenStripper

My GP practice has just started a policy whereby I have to apply each month to get my Oestrogel and it will not be included on a list of my regular meds. When I queried this, they said it was to ensure that women " take their HRT properly as many don't" and "to ensure correct monitoring". They don't do any monitoring other than the annual interrogation of "when are you coming off HRT?". Why would they possibly do this? I do notice that a poster above has raised a similar issue.

I'm experiencing the same issue. I'm wondering if this is a new NICE guideline?? It's frustrating because I only speak to the receptionist and no actual monitoring is happening.

Im perimenopausal and this started at 39. Been on HRT/Mini pill combo for 2 years and Im vastly improved in my symptoms which were mainly psychological, panic attacks/anxiety etc. But I have zero libido. My husband is incredibly understanding and there's no pressure but this can't go on forever, I'm only 46!

@ChickenStripper

My GP practice has just started a policy whereby I have to apply each month to get my Oestrogel and it will not be included on a list of my regular meds. When I queried this, they said it was to ensure that women " take their HRT properly as many don't" and "to ensure correct monitoring". They don't do any monitoring other than the annual interrogation of "when are you coming off HRT?". Why would they possibly do this? I do notice that a poster above has raised a similar issue.

Hmm I wonder if the real answer is due to shortages of gel?

Thanks for doing this kate!

Do you think HRT will be advised as a preventative soon? For women with family history of osteo, dementia etc?

Does "everything" include information for women who can't take HRT due to cancer history and/or women who have had a surgical menopause? I find we are generally a side note.

Here's a silly question: Can you start perimenopause even if your periods are still regular? I've had a bunch of symptoms for over a year that I could have sworn added up to perimenopause, but the GP and gynae tell me it's not that.

I take two/three pumps of oestrogel plus progetrone. Periods are still regular. will being on HRT mean they will remain for longer? I'm 48 but honestly have had enough :-D

I do feel much better for being on HRT and if I forget my dose (or on two pump days) i do sleep much worse so hope to continue...

Hi Kate,

I've been through the menopause (periods stopped about 5 years ago, I'm now 53) and I had relatively few symptoms. But I'm now getting pains in my joints - wrists, elbows, ankles mostly. Is this menopause-related? General aging? And do you have advice about what I should do?

Is there any point in looking at taking HRT 6 years in?

Also, as someone given a diagnosis of anxiety & depression and prescribed anti/depressants, when I was peri menopausal, despite never having had anxiety previously, do you think more should be done so that GPs consider the menopause first?

Your book sounds great, have ordered it. What's the most surprising/interesting thing you learnt when researching it?

And if I'm allowed one more - do you know much about how women in other cultures and places around deal with and view menopause? I'm so interested in this!

Why does it take so long to jump through all the hoops with the GP? I was waiting for HRT for nearly two years after first seeking help (after having had symptoms for some time before that) but I had to do so much before they would accept that bleeding through three super Tampons in an hour = menopause. I had to have thyroid tests then hormone tests then an ultrasound then see a gynae then have a Mirena coil and then wait three months before being able to get a prescription for oestrogen. I finally started it last week and I can't wait for the hot flushes, sleep, brain fog, instant rage etc. to sort themselves out.

What are alternatives to HRT if you are unable to take it? I have a gene mutation and bc at an early age so it's not possible for me.

My question is the banging-head-against-the-wall-in-frustration one of:

How do I know whether I am perimenopausal?

Or rather how do I get my GP to take me seriously and test for this; what tests can they do?

Similar to a PP above but a fee years younger.

My period started going wonky at 36. Fertility tests revealed low ovarian reserve, fertility levels in line with a woman ~10 yrs older.
Luckily I got pregnant the month after a failed IVF, but the child is now 4.5 and my periods are still variable.

Other symptoms...my main one is complete lack of libido.

Do these combine to suggest perimenopause? How will I know until its years down there and my bones have been deteriorating due to lack of correct hormone levels etc?

My GP and a hospital gynae consultant have had a couple of years of crossed wires over this and I have no idea where I am except erroneously dropped of a clinic list and left stranded.

I'd love some advice about what to do next

Suggestions for sleep needed please. I can’t and it’s killing me.

Flushes so bad I think I’m going to burst into flame, restlessness, plummeting feelings of doom, joint pain, thrashing around.

Would CBT help? An app? Anything?

@iCouldSleepForAYear

Here's a silly question: Can you start perimenopause even if your periods are still regular? I've had a bunch of symptoms for over a year that I could have sworn added up to perimenopause, but the GP and gynae tell me it's not that.

Yes! Peri is the time before your periods stop. Sorry im not Kate just trying to be helpful 👍

Place marking to keep up with the chat

Sorry, won't be able to join tomorrow.

Am I too old for HRT?

I am 68, had my first hot flush in 1999. They were tailing off until I had a compete hysterectomy 5 years ago and they came back with a vengence. I am usually OK during the day but I can tell when it's 6 pm without looking at the clock because then they start. Rushes of terrible anxiety followed by the heat, over and over again. I am lucky that I don't sweat, just get so hot. If only my DH could get them we would never need the heating on. This lasts until about 9am the following morning.

I have weeks of only about 2-3 hours sleep a night and am beyond exhaused. Absolutely no libido and my vagina has shrunk so much it makes sex excrutiating.

In the early days I was put off HRT by the reports of breast cancer, but have tried every alternative medicine/therapy going.

When I decided that enough was enough my GP would not prescribe HRT because of mine and family health issues. One locum put me on a very low dose (10mg per week, yes week) of Citalopram and this made an amazing difference much to my surprise. The rushes of anxiety stopped, which I expected but also the hot flushes which I didn't. And I could sleep! I was on these for about a year then another GP stopped them because he said I was becoming addicted.

So, is it too late for me? I'm getting to the stage where i feel any risk would be worth it just to get some sort of a proper life back for whatever time I have left.

Very grateful for any advice. (Sorry for the essay).