Sex, Myths and the Menopause

[Margo51]

Is anyone watching Sex, Myths and the Menopause tonight? Its on C4 at 9pm. Davina McCall discussing menopause, HRT, taboos and myths surrounding it and how she coped with it.

She has been doing lots of work recently to raise awareness of the menopause and how hard it is.

www.channel4.com/programmes/davina-mccall-sex-myths-and-the-menopause

@JaniieJones

'Were there actual studies mentioned that demonstrated that HRT prevented dementia? I found a Finnish study (in the bmj) that found that with HRT the risk of alzheimers went up 9 - 17%'

That's what I mean, I think it was grossly irresponsible for the private neuroscientist featured to suggest it like a fact. I want to hear from nhs experts not just those with links to private clinics.

'There are 70 nhs clinics in the uk so people don’t need to rely on private but they do need to push to be refered. I guess you only get referred if very bad symptoms due to demand.'

There is one in the North. You just wonder whether in years to come the scandal will be the clinics charging a small fortune for something that the evidence is sketchy and often contradictory.

'I’m not sure women coming on here and saying hrt is bad, the experts are only wanting to make money is helping much'

I haven't said it is 'bad'. I've said we need more research and more conclusive evidence. Look at the AZ vaccine! vanishingly small risk of clots but now not given to user 40s because the risks outweigh benefits. That is what evidence based practice is all about.

The problem is that inaccurate reporting of the risks has meant thousands if not more suffer.

Please don’t add to that. But yes call for more nhs clinics, more research, more funding, better and better products 🙏

All those on here with doubts about hrt - I hope you focus as much energy on the perils of being overweight or drinking alcohol. Both of which are more risky. If you are not, pls check your agenda.

This was a great programme. Davina McCall is fantastic, raising awareness and being so honest. I think I went into peri straight after my DD was born when I was 44. I've really struggled and now I'm on hrt but not thanks to my NHS GP who fobbed me off with ADs, I went private in desperation.

@Newgirls

All those on here with doubts about hrt - I hope you focus as much energy on the perils of being overweight or drinking alcohol. Both of which are more risky. If you are not, pls check your agenda.

My point exactly but much more succinctly put by you @Newgirls, thank you.

'All those on here with doubts about hrt - I hope you focus as much energy on the perils of being overweight or drinking alcohol. Both of which are more risky. If you are not, pls check your agenda.'

Your attitude is appalling, please try not to be so patronising. It is ok to have questions and doubts, to wonder why the experts featured have private clinics and benefit financially from referrals, to ask why research and evidence is often so utterly contradictory, dementia being a prime example.

Women are allowed to question their healthcare needs! which ironically is what you seem to be advocating, yet in the next breath are practically telling those to shut up who are doing just that.

Wow how rude. Not appalling. Women have suffered for too long and this continues. For far too long there has been too little info about this and I think it is harmful for people like you to scaremonger and going against what seems to be a well researched and considered documentary - before some women have even had a chance to watch it!

'I hope you focus as much energy on the perils of being overweight or drinking alcohol'

I do. My bmi is 24 and I certainly don't drink 2 units of alcohol a day. I drink very rarely so yes I do indeed 'focus as much energy on the perils of being overweight or drinking'.

However obesity is a huge problem in this country so adding to that already existent risk is surely questionable.

I want to be convinced tbh and that programme raised more questions than it answered.

@JaniieJones

'I hope you focus as much energy on the perils of being overweight or drinking alcohol'

I do. My bmi is 24 and I certainly don't drink 2 units of alcohol a day. I drink very rarely so yes I do indeed 'focus as much energy on the perils of being overweight or drinking'.

However obesity is a huge problem in this country so adding to that already existent risk is surely questionable.

I want to be convinced tbh and that programme raised more questions than it answered.

Being overweight is 6 times riskier than women aged 50 taking hrt. Will you be popping up on the weight loss threads to tell them that? I expect not. Just want to upset women here.

'For far too long there has been too little info about this and I think it is harmful for people like you to scaremonger '

Not scaremongering. I'm asking why a programme on hrt did not even mention the small but real risk of ovarian cancer, why it didn't feature experts from NHS clinics, why it had a private neuroscientist seeming to suggest the dementia thing is a fact.

We should both agree that a discussion with questions is certain helpful, but in that discussion disadvantages are as important and relevant as advantages.

'before some women have even had a chance to watch it!'
It's telly addicts! I thought we were discussing something we'd seen..

We needed it to be twice as long to cover everything. And then more programmes!

By all means ask for more but pls don’t scaremonger. Which you are, without doubt.

'Being overweight is 6 times riskier than women aged 50 taking hrt. Will you be popping up on the weight loss threads to tell them that? I expect not. Just want to upset women here.'

Yes I do often comment on obesity threads. You must stop with your 'scaremongering/upsetting women' angst. Why are you so defensive? I want us to have the best health care!! risks are risks though, sorry if that upsets you.

Dr Newson is a GP in the West Midlands and has worked extremely hard to get the NHS to take the menopause seriously. It’s not exactly uncommon for people to work in the NHS and private practice simultaneously. I find the idea that she’s somehow prescribing unproved treatments when any drugs prescribed in the UK have to be approved by NICE very bizzare

@JaniieJones

'Being overweight is 6 times riskier than women aged 50 taking hrt. Will you be popping up on the weight loss threads to tell them that? I expect not. Just want to upset women here.'

Yes I do often comment on obesity threads. You must stop with your 'scaremongering/upsetting women' angst. Why are you so defensive? I want us to have the best health care!! risks are risks though, sorry if that upsets you.

Rubbish. It’s riskier driving. It’s riskier drinking alcohol. Hrt has benefits. You are spreading disinformation which has an anti-women tone. Pls check your bias.

@Theeyeballsinthesky

Dr Newson is a GP in the West Midlands and has worked extremely hard to get the NHS to take the menopause seriously. It’s not exactly uncommon for people to work in the NHS and private practice simultaneously. I find the idea that she’s somehow prescribing unproved treatments when any drugs prescribed in the UK have to be approved by NICE very bizzare

Absolutely.

It’s so weird to see people on here rubbishing the work of professionals without any medical training themselves. Bizarre.

I'm keen to watch this now.

My experience was that about 5 years ago, after reading some incredibly helpful threads on here about HRT, I went to a well known private doctor and was prescribed various items. I then went to my GP and asked if they could prescribe them for me instead and they could.

But my initial GP discussions before going private were disappointing. I was put on Prozac, then some very basic 2 in 1 HRT medication that made me feel worse. So disappointing that we can just be fobbed off like that.

Janiie Jones, hopefully this programme will provoke a response from NHS experts too, anything to raise more awareness about the menopause is to be welcomed! But let's agree that its good that the programme highlighted the obstacles most women face when seeking advice, support and treatment for their symptoms, and also flagged up the current lack of awareness by many G. P's. The statistics were truly shocking too ; 80% of women with vaginal dryness and possible atrophy, and only 8% receiving treatment. Only 10% on hrt and only one meno clinic North of Leeds! No wonder women are having to go to private specialists in sheer desperation. And it shouldn't be that difficult!
Thankfully this programme has started a conversation though and hopefully will help women to feel more confident and informed when speaking to their G.Ps. We need much more though, more programmes, more information, and ongoing education about the subject.

@DurhamDurham

I enjoyed it but feel it's just the tip of the iceberg and there's so much more that needs to be discussed.

I'm 50 with peri menopausal symptoms and sometimes feel like I'm going mad. I'm lucky in that I don't experience hot flushes but I have regular brain fog, I'm teary, almost constant irritation at small things, weight gain and a reduced sex drive. But if you met me you'd have no idea.

I think it's great that it's been on tv but it's left me angry that it's so unreported and unrepresented. We need more tv like this.

Durham are you on HRT yet?

'Janiie Jones, hopefully this programme will provoke a response from NHS experts too, anything to raise more awareness about the menopause is to be welcomed! But let's agree that its good that the programme highlighted the obstacles most women face when seeking advice'

Totally agree.

@FunnysInLaJardin Not yet, been fobbed off with antidepressants again. I feel empowered to go back now. I'll probably be accused of 'jumping on the bandwagon' the program has caused but I'll stand my ground.
It was heartbreaking to see how few dedicated menopause clinics there were, only one in the whole NE England area. Shocking really.

Any advice for when I visit my GP is very welcome, thanks so much.

[quote DurhamDurham]@FunnysInLaJardin Not yet, been fobbed off with antidepressants again. I feel empowered to go back now. I'll probably be accused of 'jumping on the bandwagon' the program has caused but I'll stand my ground.
It was heartbreaking to see how few dedicated menopause clinics there were, only one in the whole NE England area. Shocking really.

Any advice for when I visit my GP is very welcome, thanks so much. [/quote]
www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/menopause/the-best-way-to-approach-your-gp-about-hrt-by-dr-sarah-ball

@oneglassandpuzzled that's great, thank you!

@Tal45 It felt to me like they clearly made the point that there had been very little research into a link between a lack of oestrogen and Alzheimers and weren't making assertions. It was interesting looking at the brain images which the main hormonal changes would be the huge reduction in oestrogen in the women's brain and women are statistically more prone to Alzheimer's. Hopefully more research will be fine if we keep talking about this.

I for one am happy with the risks hrt carries. I'm happy even if I end up dying 10 years sooner. Without it I would probably have committed suicide but certainly emotionally scarred my young children with my rage and incessant crying and inability to basically be any fun at all. I would still be taking it even if I was guaranteed to die when their childhood was finished.

@Letsgetreadytocrumble a pp responded to your post about having cancer but I’m not sure if you’ve sen it?

If you go to your GP they will refer you to a specialist menopause clinic. The NICE guidelines that advice this are here

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23

The bio identical HRT that doctors like to prescribe is in patch or gel form however there have been shortages of the patches due to Brexit. Therefore some doctors prefer to start new patients on the gel. It’s bio identical and available!

Apparently the patch shortage was due to Matt Hancock (or his dept) trying to negotiate cheaper sources. That failed hence shortages. Brexit was a convenient excuse at the time.