BBC1, 8PM Tomorrow (Monday 30/9). Panorama - The Menopause Industry.

[SebastianFlytesTrousers]

Documentary presented by Kirsty Wark investigating the multi million pound global menopause industry.

Should be interesting.

@TheStroppyFeminist I don't buy the not testing from the outset. There is no point in prescribing HRT and then doing a blood test 6 months later to find out oestrogen levels are so low, one may as well not have been taking it at all. A level from out the outset would at least show a general range from which to move upwards from. NH is expensive, their GPs are hit and miss and they don't really have any answers for women who are poor at absorbing. Consultations and blood tests every three months + astronomical pricing through CloudRX, their preferred pharmacy (who changed their pricing structure upwards) (and who also don't charge other prescribers the same pricing structure) means that it is a very expensive option for women who don't fit the norm. They aim for a minimum of 250 for heart and bone health. I've been with them now since 2021, tweaking and messing about, and would whoop with joy to reach even that level.

It’s important to understand the risks of womb thickening. I was on tamoxifen so had to have this monitored. To be fair a thickened womb lining doesn’t automatically mean you’ll end up with cancer.
Many cases resolve themselves- you can be monitored.

It’s a sign that your hormones are out of whack and that needs to be tweaked.

Less than 5% of cases will progress to cancer over 20 years.

We just need to be monitored. So any irregular bleeding needs to be checked etc.

And the 1000's of people buying weightloss drugs from online pharmacies.....

I think this is so alarming. There are so many threads all over Mumsnet at the moment with people reporting all sorts of horrendous side effects and yet if you dare to challenge them on it you get your arse handed to you on a plate (I’ve tried). It is so concerning and people just don’t see anything wrong with it. We have so many people in my health groups having really serious side effects from weight loss jabs.

Well it was the same with the Covid vaccines.

@hairbearbunches you mentioned your concerns over osteoporosis up this thread and I asked if they'd done a DEXA scan?

You said your symptoms aren't that bad. If you're worried about your bones, the way to find the right level of your HRT is to monitor your bones.

I'd find another dr to be honest. You sound very unhappy with them.
There are plenty of other private consultants working from hospitals right across the UK.

Blood tests are useless (discussed this many times with my consultant) and as you're finding they don't resolve anything. The goal is symptom-relief, (not necessarily 100%) and improvement or stability with bone density as shown on a dexa scan.

I was on hrt; I do agree that it should be available and more easily

I was lucky. I had a great gp who had done some of newsons courses.,

However, I just kept climbing the doses of oestrogen. Not feeling much better beyond the first month or so. I now know the progesterone wasn't right either. I got to 125 patches and continuous utrogetstan.

Also testosterone- this was based on blood tests which showed an almost complete absence of testosterone. That really helped but sent my thyroxine levels through the roof (lots of hair loss.) dropped thyroxine a bit and testosterone and felt a bit better. Then started bleeding every two months.

Was about to try mirena but was diagnosed with breast cancer.

It's been very very hard and very scary coming off hrt. And starting tamoxifen (after surgery to both breasts.) and radio therapy. And juggle thyroid levels again. I had to take time off.

However, a new world of different ways to manage menopausal symptoms was revealed to me via many other people such as Liz o riordan, danni brinnington which both run podcasts (Danni's is very long running - and she has also had Louise and others on talking about hrt post cancer.)

Even an oncologist said I could try hrt again but I've stuck to my guns with diet and exercise. I don't want my cancer to metastasis. I couldn't forgive myself if I was on hrt and that happened.

Bone density is a worry- but it is possible to build it post menopause with the right kinds of exercise (luckily tamoxifen may also help) (polymetrics and heavy lifting both do this. I also dance a lot at home and do things like mountain runners.)

It's been a hard ride but actually I feel mostly better now than when I was on hrt.

The conversation needs to be broader. It's too binary.

And more research

I haven’t been to the Newson clinic but I have listened to her podcasts on menopause and found them very informative.

I don’t take HRT but I do use Ovestin hormone cream for VA and it’s been a lifesaver. I suffered with awful symptoms for 6 months before reading a thread on here and realised what the issue was. Went to my GP who did some tests and had no problem prescribing it. I wish it was more widely known about.

agree @Rainyblue - I'd never even heard of vaginal atrophy until I read some threads on here. I had had several prescriptions for antibiotics for UTIs, had constant low level pelvis pain, constant itch and discomfort. GP happy to prescribe ovestin/estriol cream when I asked and a quick examination confirmed I did have atrophy. Now use the cream twice a week and it's a game changer.

It's an absolute travesty that that isn't more readily given out.

Looking back I could have done with that at times when younger, pre perimenopause.

Liz and Danni are both fantastic and a huge help to women with BC. Its sounds like you've found a path that's worked for you despite some very real challenges. Wishing you all the very best.

@JinglingSpringbells Apologies, I missed that.

Yes, the Newson experience has not been altogether positive. A nurse friend recommended a menopause consultant to me earlier this morning after reading the BBC article so I might try that path.

Thanks for the info on bone scans. I had no idea that bone levels are a good indicator of whether the body has the right amounts of oestrogen. They do DEXA scans at Newson but they are very expensive. I had an early hysterectomy (44) and, post op, was just left to get on with it with no help whatsoever, so a bone scan is probably long overdue.

Dexa bone scans are expensive everywhere unfortunately. But you could try and get your GP to refer you. Might take ages though.

Thank you for coming forward. I've read elsewhere about concerns about prescribing.

FWIW I felt much better as I titrated down off the hrt.

I think I needed a lower level and to completely overhaul my lifestyle.

Since reading and listening to much more on the gut biome, I was probably really struggling in that dept. I developed some intolerances, fodmap type and histamine etc. which made meno symptoms a lot worse. adult onset asthma had led to a number of bad chest infections over the years and courses of anti biotics .

I appear to have been able to reverse all of those issues recently, bar around my very occasional period.

I do have to look after my joints and muscles and can injure more than I used to but I've learnt a lot about all that too.

Just sharing what I've done incase anyone reads and finds themselves in the same situation

Exactly. I haven't watched the programme yet but I hope it leads to better support for women.

Newson health getting a hammering here so far

That’s basically the whole show. Wee bit at the beginning about his supplements are a waste of money, then 20 minutes hammering newson.

Watching it, it's fascinating.

It's deserved, the woman is/was dangerous.

The story told by the young woman who'd had a hysterectomy for cancer of the womb then had her HRT dose pushed up in response to her developing bleeding just about had my jaw hitting the floor.

That's okay- fast moving thread today!

Bone density falls by up to 5% each year immediately post menopause and this can go on for around 5 years after which it slows down.

HRT is used both to maintain bone density and to build it.

Comparing it to your comments about a baseline estrogen test, a bone density scan shows bones in the present, and after 2 years another one shows improvement or not with HRT. The HRT could be adjusted upwards if needed.

A DEXA scan is around £200 (may be slightly less or more depending where in the UK) but they only need doing every 2 years (or even 3 years if the first one shows no bone loss and bones are normal.)

I've yet to watch this.

How can you gave bleeding post hysterectomy? You’ve nothing left to bleed from surely.

I apologise if that was a spoiler.