"Doctors warn against over-medicalising menopause"

[flashbac]

"Writing in the British Medical Journal they said there was an urgent need for a more realistic and balanced narrative which actively challenges the idea that menopause is synonymous with an inevitable decline in women’s health and wellbeing..."

www.theguardian.com/society/2022/jun/15/doctors-warn-against-over-medicalising-menopause-after-uk-criticism

I must admit, the raising awareness of how shit the menopause can be has created some worry about my impending menopause, so much so that I've decided against a career change in my 40s.

Are we making too much of a big deal and being overly negative? Or are these doctors just being patronising? Anyone had an easy menopause?

@MarshaBradyo

maybe the rude pp could help post useful stuff rather than berating people

I berated no-one? I suggested that the poster would do some research to aid their own decision-making. I said in the absence of symptoms I wouldn't take HT, personally.

It's not at all rude so maybe you were confusing me with someone else (even tho it was my post you replied to).

But do the general healthy living things - it does seem to decrease the chances of you having a bad time

Untrue. And that's another dangerous myth.

I did the 'healthy living things'. Exercised, ate well, slim, very active. All good, obviously.

Made no difference to the awful debilitating symptoms I experienced.

You've no evidence for 'most women are fine'.

Equally saying women need, possibly, HT during peri menopause and menopause is not characterising them as 'messes' or saying anything negative about them.

@Discovereads

That's a fair point, thank you.

I think I'm wary where it's suggested that demonstrable physical ailments are actually psychological in origin, and should be treated as such. But your list makes sense.

It isn't concerns I have personally, but of course others will / might.

the realisation you can’t have any more DC and that phase of your life is over causes many women to grieve

Hmm I'm not sure about this one. Not many women actively want to get pregnant in their late forties/fifties. I am only just experiencing peri symptoms at 50 and decided nearly a decade ago after my last child that I was done with that phase of my life and three kids was enough.

Also what strategies do you suggest for the brain fog?!! What do I tell my boss, my customers, the people in the audience while I'm presenting - sorry, can I just have an hours rest and I'll get right back to you?

Earrings I don’t think I meant you

the pp who went on the attack due to asking why people were sure about dementia and so on

I agree with many of your points below but I also think it’s a shame pp want to shut down big topics that affect us - eg long term health not necessarily symptom related

Imo we should ask for more research and keep questioning it the large scale long term health issues, it’s in our interests to want it backed up with research and clarification

If IF you have symptoms, go to doctor and get HRT

If you don't , don't worry about it

If you are approaching menopause, eat well, look fort yourself and don't expect it to be aweful

If you are hiring a woman please don't think that all women will suffer brain fog and require endless adjustments

I don’t think I meant you

Oh ok. You quoted my post in the same post so I assumed you meant me.

I don't know anyone with children who has talked about it but I do know two women who never wanted children, both had dogs who they treated like their babies. Both had terrible problems after the menopause, one had to have a hysterectomy in mid 40s so hers was quite sudden, but they both had breakdowns and suddenly decided that all they had ever wanted was a baby. It was strange how they completely rewrote history but it was horrible to see how distressed they were.

Imo we should ask for more research and keep questioning it the large scale long term health issues, it’s in our interests to want it backed up with research and clarification

I don't disagree at all.

I'll be honest & say that I am thinking of right now, really, in my own case. I really needed the HRT & it's transformed my life.

The longer term issues interest me too but more abstractly.

I am in general a huge advocate for positive ageing. I exercise a lot & am very active and hope that continues - I am always trying to promote weight bearing exercise for women as it's so important for bone density, and ensuring stability ie fall reduction.

I'm already planning for post-retirement work, what that might look like. Financially & mentally, I feel continuing to work as long as I can, will be important.

All underpinned by staying in good health which isn't necessarily something that can be controlled.

Has anyone mentioned that transwomen use twice the amount of hrt than menopausal women?

Does the study state that we should stop prescriptions for trangender people? I doubt it. Just women being told to get use to something.

I know, women don't need those bones in old age not like men do, I just hang mine over the end of the bed for the night and dust them off and pop them over the back of the kitchen door during the day when I'm doing my kitchen chores.

It's like you've never heard of old ladies hunched over due to the lack of hormones in old age. I don't know about you but I'd quite like to be standing up and walking for as long as I can when I'm old.

Women are not being told not to go for HRT

Women (and men) are being told that bad symptoms are not the norm

I'll be honest & say that I am thinking of right now, really, in my own case. I really needed the HRT & it's transformed my life.

I think that’s hugely positive, in fact the whole issue of awareness is. We used to hide the whole thing under euphemisms and I’m pleased that has changed. Women are asking for what they need more and more.

If I do get symptoms that are worse than currently I’ll do the same in a shot.

There are I think 25% who might be in same boat as me - and could also wondering about long term health implications. I’d like to be able to ask a question without vitriol (not you but pp) because imo it’s a big issue for women.

The rest of your post sounds good, me too on those things

My yoga teacher who is the healthiest, strongest, fittest person I know has recently started HRT in her mid 50s after lots of debilitating symptoms and worry about her bone density, even with all the weight bearing exercise she does.

My mum didn't have HRT and doesn't have osteoporosis or any issues like that. On the other hand my dad had osteoporosis from his 60s onwards, and I tend to take after him, so I will be bearing HRT in mind.

If you don't understand that most women are fine then you don't understand it

What is your evidence for that?

The end of your child bearing years? The feelings some women may have associated with that?

Go look it up yourself.

But the message of that paper is exactly that - if you don't want to believe it , well me finding relevant research for you just wastes my time and won't get you to change your mind

The pharmacy industry has a reason to push for medicalisation if menopause, but we should only do that when necessary

And even Davina reported that CBT can have a huge positive impacts on women who have symptoms - the more everyone thinks it will be awful the more likely you are to have a bad time

This is also the case for other conditions eg Hypertension - some people think a change in life-style will cure it but if you have essential hypertension then you can do all that you can and still have it due to genetic factors.

The pharmacy industry has a reason to push for medicalisation if menopause, but we should only do that when necessary

What's the 'pharmacy industry'? Do you mean pharmaceutical industry?

This is a silly uninformed post.

They are not 'pushing' anything - there's a massive shortage for a start of HT products.

Most women are not "fine" and have something that goes wrong hormonally or gynaecologically at some point.

I had two really straightforward pregnancies and have always been fit and well, no period problems etc, then in my mid 30s had a cervical cancer scare, treatment for pre cancerous cells, then just before I was 40 was diagnosed with endometriosis and had a huge cyst removed. Have been fine since but only due to the right balance of synthetic hormones. Luckily I didn't have to have ovaries or womb removed or be put into early menopause.

Why though? You are happy with whatever choices you have made I assume so let others be positive about what they have chosen.

This is really a silly comparison. And nobody is suggesting women shouldn't take HRT if they need it.

It makes people uncomfortable because it's evangelical ... faith based and very pushy

women who don't need it seem to be considered incorrect by some rather than the norm

You need to talk to your GP or ask for a referral to a menopause clinic ar pay to go to one and ask them about this. They will be able to do tests on you and advise accordingly. There is no one size fits all. A few posts on here confirm to me that there are women who do worry underneath that they will end up with