To be absolutely sick of the ‘natural menopause is good’ narrative!

[Lightsideofthemoon]

This article was all over the media yeaterday:
https://unherd.com/2024/03/has-hrt-propaganda-misled-women/

It makes me so angry! Why is it that suddenly seeking treatment for symptoms in menopause being framed like this? In no other area of health is it considered acceptable to not seek treatment if you have debilitating symptoms. It’s utter misogyny.

Its ok for men in mid life to get treatment for their erectile dysfunction but women, ‘battle on through with some yoga and vitamins and stop complaining’

It reminds me a bit of the slightly toxic NCT ‘natural births and breastfeeding’ are the best way making any women who had a medical birth and couldn’t breastfeed an utter failure.

How is this narrative acceptable for women’s Heath? Menopause is absolutely fucking awful for some women - if you sail through with no symptoms, all power to you, but HRT is a lifesaver for many women.

14% of women take HRT. The idea that women are flocking yo their GP to get HRT & it’s handed over without a query is just nonsense

its interesting that with 86% of women not taking HRT, there still apparently needs to be a narrative telling us it isn’t a panacea (obvs with us being daft wims who only listen to celebrities we need to be told this)

@EarringsandLipstick I’m tired of how staff were portrayed as a bunch of bullies as a collective whole. It’s not true.

I agree with you OP. GPs are not equipped to know about menopause or peri menopause either.

When I started peri, I had some awful symptoms. Went to my GP and he insisted I went on anti depressants. I told him I didnt need them- I wasn't depressed but the only thing he'd give me was citalopram, which has other side effects so hardly "natural" by any means.

I didnt take it, went to see a private doctor and got bio identical hormones. It fixed the issue within 2 months. If I hadn't gone out and done my own research I'd still be on citalopram wondering why I still felt so rubbish. It wasn't just my mood either, I was having flooding every month.

It makes me so angry that doctors seem to have no clue about this and seem so unwilling to help or to explore other options. My GP never suggests anything natural anyway like relaxation or meditation- he's obsessed with just putting everyone on an anti depressant.

I would add the cause to this. Taking paracetamol and continuing to not drink enough / not get fresh air / not wear glasses / sit in a chair which causes bad posture etc etc is pointless

this is from your own bloody chancellor:

www.sussex.ac.uk/broadcast/read/56597

The analogy of the headache is if you have symptoms for anything that can be treated then help should be offered.

Of course.

And part of treatment may be non-medical. My GP took a full list of symptoms, prescribed HRT, and 3 months later, reviewed the symptoms with me. It was amazing to hear all my very debilitating symptoms and how HRT had, thankfully, alleviated them.

However, I see women thinking taking HRT obviates the need to exercise, manage their diet or address other endocrine issues that are more prevalent in middle-age.

I thought the article was interesting

HRT as with all medication needs to be monitored especially as our bodies are going through changes this really doesn’t happen for most women

I know for women the change has been huge for many just eased symptoms so they were bearable others it hasn’t helped at all but we still need to make changes to our lives and that takes effort I am really struggling with this bit

I accept my body and how I feel has changed forever I think some women really struggle with this part of accepting and HRT doesn’t solve that we are not meant to have the energy levels we did earlier in life it’s crap but I’m still here

However, I see women thinking taking HRT obviates the need to exercise, manage their diet or address other endocrine issues that are more prevalent in middle-age

Not the case for me- I run pretty much every day, eat lots of oily fish, am gluten free, perfect BMI etc still had horrific peri symptoms

@flippertyjibbets ex chancellor. Still doesn’t mean it’s everyone either.

A problem I see with the current HRT obsession is that it is being promoted as prevention for a range of things from osteoporosis to heart disease to dementia. Women may therefore think they should take it, even if they have no/mild symptoms. Extensive clinical research shows the only thing it can help prevent is osteoporosis, in women at high risk (those with known risks and those who don’t exercise).

14% of all women or 14% of those who are experiencing menopause? Because the statistical significance of that is very different depending on the answer

Agree with you op.
I was refused HRT.
I carried on until I felt suicidal and at my wits end.
Saw a different gp who prescribed it immediately.
Its only females who are treated in this way.
Men would not be told to “Practise breathing techniques and take multi vitamins.”

I'm sure it's not. Uni of Sussex has, what, 3,000 + staff? I do not believe each one bullied KS.

But you are being disingenuous.

As an institution, it failed to accord KS protection and her employment rights, or her academic freedom of expression, and it actively enabled harassment and intimidation of her.

I'm well-aware that most people are not perfect and no-one will do everything right.

But it's shameful you can start a thread advocating for women, and not stand up for a woman who by any standards, including admissions by the University itself, was shockingly treated, culminating in her having to leave her job.

@sorrynotathome I agree that more research is needed. The failed HRT study from years ago is still being quoted in a lot of places

14% of women take HRT. The idea that women are flocking yo their GP to get HRT & it’s handed over without a query is just nonsense

That could be because GPs won't give it to you. Mine wouldnt- he kept going on about anti depressants. My friend had exactly the same experience- asked multiple times for HRT, 6 months later is still waiting for a referral to the "menopause clinic". Its not that easy for us to get access to it- obv depends on your GP but not everyone can afford to go private

Yes exactly - and yet still there are numerous articles telling us HRT isn’t a panacea as if 90% of women were on it

@flippertyjibbets

I keep cross posting with you - but yes! Re the Chancellor's statement - how much more clear does @Lightsideofthemoon want it to be? 🤨

It’s 14% of women aged 45-64

14% of women in menopause

Your figures don’t mean much if you don’t put them in the context of women who might be going through menopause, or women who might be experiencing symptoms. Presumably you wouldn’t expect 100% of women to be taking HRT?

oh, they had the good sense to
leave? Well done them!

This.

I have been having mild hot flushes and exploring natural remedies (dietary changes, sage pills) and have been taken aback by the passion with which other women and medical practitioners have been pushing hrt at me. I know it’s been a lifesaver for many women with severe symptoms and am delighted they have been helped, but people seem to forget or deny there are other options.

It doesn't have to be every single person

It's the institutional whole

You've implied that Kathleen Stock was not unfairly treated, and there's another side - but given no facts or not backed up your point. That's disgraceful.

Yes exactly - and yet still there are numerous articles telling us HRT isn’t a panacea as if 90% of women were on it

Exactly. I even agree that it's not a panacea, as there could be multiple reasons for someone experiencing anxiety for example. But, when you get sudden anxiety for no reason, sleeping difficulties, feeling exhausted, combined with sudden heavy flooding periods every month, it's utter madness to suggest a fcking anti depressant for that.

The point is @sorrynotathome is that is a very low % of women who take HRT. Now whether that’s through choice or because they can’t access it or they’re not having debilitating symptoms, its still a low a % and yet even with these low numbers, we apparently still need to be told that it’s not the answer as if a massively high % took it and we needed to reduce its usage