"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?

Have you?

Have they been through the menopause and if so did they sail through it?

The worst midwife I had was a women who had just returned after maternity who had laboured in 2 hours no tears no pain relief. She actually actually said I was making a fuss over nothing.

This is all they are saying
”We argue that medicalisation of menopause risks collapsing the wide range of experiences at the average age associated with this natural process into a narrowly defined disease requiring treatment. Medicalisation tends to emphasise the negative aspects of menopause and, while effective treatments are important for those with troublesome symptoms, medicalisation may increase women’s anxiety and apprehension about this natural life stage. Changing the narrative by normalising menopause and emphasising positive or neutral aspects such as freedom from menstruation, pregnancy, and contraception, together with information about managing troublesome symptoms might empower women to manage menopause with greater confidence.”

I dunno I think they have a point. Sadly Dr Newsons rapid response is poorly written and misrepresents what they wrote:
“We are appalled and quite frankly saddened to read this article that is peddling a very dangerous narrative – that because menopause is a ‘natural’ part of the ageing process, that women should avoid any medical treatments.”

They didn’t say that at all.

Have I what? Been through menopause? I’m in the thick of it. No idea how long it will last for.

I’ve just started on Estrogel after some peri symptoms. I’ve got my libido back, great skin, fabulous tits, more energy and I’ve dropped a dress size.

Those who fuckers will have to prize my HRT from my cold, dead hand.

This.

They may find that putting women on HRT as standard will probably do the future NHS the world of good, what with the fewer numbers of broken hips & shoulders, dementia cases, poor muscle tone and cognitive function it would give the next generations.

Male doctors should have minimal input in womens care at every level. Because the bias is getting too much. Now we can't even age disgracefully 🤷🏼‍♀️

This - the feckers can go do one

HRT isn't just for the normal symptoms, it helps prevent a lot of age related issues. For me it also cured my dry eyes, and lots of aches and pains

Uh oh, HRT shortage. How can we fix this?

I know, gents, let's demedicalise menopause!

I think that, without HRT, I might be dead. The feeling of utter dread was driving me mad. The pit of my stomach constantly churned. I don’t know how much longer I could’ve coped with it.

Except the authors are women not gents.

I've had an easy time and so no HRT but my Mum had a terrible experience and gave up work as a result. Her GP 'didn't believe in HRT'.
If I felt rough I'd take it and believe all women should have the choice.

OP - if incoming menopause has made you change your mind about a career change then that is batshit in the extreme - please change your career as you wish.

I don’t think it’s an either or, you can welcome a new stage of life and no more pregnancy worries while wanting not to have hormone ups and downs, a dry Fanny, dry skin, stiff joints and a disappearing libido.

Dr Aussie Lady is being selective - a lot of women still want to manage meno because they have concerns about HRT. Fair enough, but the solution is to work on making it saver not not have it.

ALL TOGETHER NOW - IF MEN WENT THRO THE MENO WE’D BE 25 YEARS AHEAD OF WHERE WE ARE NOW

Exactly, if it is needed it must be available but not everyone will need it.

6 years of incandescent rage. SIX WHOLE YEARS.

No sex drive, no concentration.

2 weeks of HRT and I no longer wanted to murder everyone. It was Davina’s documentary that sent my to the GP.

I had awful periods and was told it was normal and to put up with it.
I had horrible pregnancies and grinned and bore it.
I’m finally getting treatment for the shit the female body goes through and those doctors can bloody do one.

Light bulb moment, I suffered from dry eyes but just lived with it. Am now on HRT and reading your post I've realised I don't get it any more!

HRT has been a game changer for me - some people sail thorough others are living in a nightmare.

Even if you sail through the menopause you will still have a lack of oestrogen. HRT has so many benefits- for the bones, heart, dementia, skin, mood etc.

I didn't have a difficult time so no HRT. Had hot flushes for a while but only at night. No flooding. Had an annoying urgency with my bladder which genuinely was my worse bit but it got sorted with botox. Joined a gym and took vitamins , no alcohol or coffee as they seemed to increase flushes and urgency. . I wasn't that focused on it to be honest. Just continued with my life. In 60s now and feel great.
I wouldn't let it decide what job l would take.

So it's absolutely fine for women to take hormones for years so that men don't have to 'lose sensation' by wearing a condom, but god forbid we take hormones to relieve symptoms that can be debilitating for many

I suppose people are reacting to the fact that we've gone from not talking about the menopause at all to a lot of messages that it's pretty awful. The message needs to be that not all people will struggle with symptoms, but that there is medication if you are struggling (along with education about what those symptoms are).

So... basically what they are saying is that the menopause is a natural process that happens to all women, and is therefore not something that should be considered as a medical issue?

Fuck that for a game of soldiers.

Easy? Well relatively.
I had a hysterectomy at 45, but kept ovaries. They kept on for 4 years. Started getting symptoms, GP gave me HRT. After 2 years got symptoms again. GP upped the dose.
Following lockdown and wfh, was utterly convinced I was losing my mind, couldn't focus, felt terrible. Thought it was menopause but actually was a severe vitamin d deficiency.
From a poll of my friends (early 50s), it depends very much on your GP.in fact several have changed gp for that very reason.

Were they all born women?

Do you appreciate without HRT you may die younger, have poorer bone density and also a higher risk of dementia?

Just a thought 🤷🏼‍♀️ think about future you.

I went through it over ten years ago. No problems whatsoever. Neither did any family members, friends or colleagues.

It seems to be a big trend nowadays to blame everything on the menopause when many 'symptoms' that I read about on the internet that women have mostly appear to be related to diet and exercise, and just generally getting older.

The inevitable decline in a woman’s health and well-being - when women can reach menopause in their 40s and live longer than men so effectively having a poor quality of health/life for almost half their life

when that doesn’t have to be the case

just BS