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

The current NHS provision is utterly dire. I went private and will stick with that for as long as I can afford it.

My symptoms were depression, anxiety and loss of libido. It got so bad I was self-harming, for the first time ever.
After a year on antidepressants, which I dropped because of they exacerbated the libido problem, I went to my gp to ask about HRT. I went prepared to justify why I wanted it, and she was happy to prescribe it. But every single time I went for another prescription I had to go through the whole justification rigmarole.

After 5 years she started getting even more reluctant so I went private. At age 65 they refused more, so I changed supplier, and am have been on oestrogel and progesterone tablets for the last 3 years. It costs about £120 for 3 months supply, and is money well spent. I gave it up for a while between suppliers, but the depression roared back. I intend to keep on with for as long as I possibly can, as I don't think life would be tolerable without it.
Btw, the libido is not brilliant, but good enough, which is all I can hope for I guess.

@Seaoftroubles

What a pity every surgery doesn't have a trained menopause nurse, that would really be progress!

Many practices now are having a nurse or clinical pharmacist trained on menopause as they can often spend more time with the patients than GPs Louise Newson has acknowledged that this can work really well if done properly

I thought it was interesting but would have liked to have seen more about alternatives to HRT also. There are some people for whom HRT is not an option. My mum and sister both had estrogen driven breast cancer so that rules much out for me . That said - I would be open to getting advice on progesterone or testosterone if that is something that could help and will go private if needed for that (and agree shouldn’t need to)

I’m 49 and started having mild symptoms and have been taking alternative supplements that I’ve read loads about which seem to be working, so I don’t think that aspect should be discounted. The program seemed to imply it doesn’t work - but for some it does.

I liked the fact she focused on well being too. For me cutting out alcohol and caffeine (unfortunately) had a big effect on the hot flushes.

@Apple1971 can I ask what specifically you are taking in the way of alternatives?

[quote Poorlykitten]@Apple1971 can I ask what specifically you are taking in the way of alternatives?[/quote]
I’m experimenting with lots of stuff - so not sure which aspect is working ! But I’m taking ...

• menopol plus as it has higher levels of isoflavones (amongst other things )
• higher strength vitamin b6 and b12 and a multivitamin
• a protesterone cream called biovea that’s available without prescription and some one recommended on here
• evening primrose oil.

No idea what’s working and why but I’m sticking with this mix for now.

I also have feminapuase to try in the future if needed. It’s expensive but seems to get good reviews. Saving that one.

Oh and I’ve cut out alcohol and caffeine (after 10am) which seemed to stop the night sweats. I run and I do yoga.

Fingers crossed it keeps working for me!

I've watched the Mariella one and the Kirsty Wark one, so should watch this.
My same age as me female gp seemed v lacking in knowledge on the menopause. Kept saying I was very young to have the symptoms I had ( I was 48/49 at the time. )

There is an ongoing discussion on this on the Menopause part of Mumsnet. (Just saying.)

@JaniieJones Your posts keep mentioning ovarian cancer risk and HRT.
Have you researched figures? The risk is tiny, if at all. It's around 1 case in 2000 women over a 5 year period. (And it's not even fully established that there is a risk- the jury is out.)

Other posters have made similar points - the drs on the programme also work for the NHS. The neuroscientist who discussed dementia holds very snr positions at the top London psychiatric hospitals. Until a year ago, Dr Newson was a GP (and may still do some NHS work- not sure if it's changed.) Nick Panay is NHS and has a private practice.

What is worth thinking about is that there are risks of NOT taking HRT which in reality kill more women than using HRT.
100,000 deaths a year directly related to complications of broken bones/osteoporosis.
Heart disease - biggest killer of women.
Also, the stats on breast cancer and HRT are are done on the old types used. And - important point- there are no more deaths from breast cancer from using HRT. No one wants to get it, of course, but it's important to know the outcome is no worse than for women who have never used HRT.

'What is worth thinking about is that there are risks of NOT taking HRT which in reality kill more women than using HRT.100,000 deaths a year directly related to complications of broken bones/osteoporosis.Heart disease - biggest killer of women.'

Yes, thar is really interesting thanks jingling. I didn't mean to keep going on abut ovarian cancer I just think it should have had a brief mention.

Anyway as I've said I hope this instigates much more current relevant research, the whi thing from 20 years ago should be completely ignored by GPs!

The CEP of Alzheimer’s Society has posted this so it seems they agree with the programme

@Apple1971 thank you! 🙏

@Theeyeballsinthesky

The CEP of Alzheimer’s Society has posted this so it seems they agree with the programme

Brilliant. Let’s hope they get the funding to get more research done 👍

@upaladderagain l am the same age as you and also have to go through the rigmarole of explaining to my G. P why l wish to stay on hrt. lt gets so tedious! You mention you decided to go private but did you mean that at age 65 the private Dr then refused to continue prescribing hrt so you had to obtain it elsewhere? Sorry if l've got that wrong but l was thinking of having a private consultation myself and don't want to hear that l'm too old!

'Let’s hope they get the funding to get more research done'

Yes let's hope so because the current evidence is conflicting. For the ceo to say this publicly is irresponsible imo.

www.bmj.com/content/364/bmj.l665

I am really confused
It said there wasn't compulsory training about menopause for a GP but then the official body (can't remember the name) said there was?!

That woman who had so much trouble getting her GP to help her with the menopause. Isn't there a blood test to confirm you're in the menopause? Why couldn't the doctor do that to prove it was that? (Or as he seemed to believe, wasn't)

I never knew Davina was a heroin addict!

I'm only 20 minutes in and it just confirms to me how shit some doctors are and how not to necessarily trust any doctors and that does make me sad

@Seaoftroubles, yes, the first private clinic did stop prescribing when I reached 65, so I had to find another.
It's proving difficult to find out how long I should keep on taking it, as the all-round assumption seems to be 5 years or about age 60. I haven't managed to find any discussions on longer terms effects/benefits, and until I do I'll just keep on indefinitely.

@upalladderagain l find that shocking as NICE guidelines clearly state that there is no age limit to coming off hrt. If hrt improves your physical and mental well being then why on earth should there be a cut off point? It amazes me that some doctors seem to think that symptoms of menopause just disappear at a certain age... For many women the symptoms can be lifelong. Providing your blood pressure is OK and you have no contraindications then there is no need to stop. I am older than you and hope to stay on it for as long as l find it beneficial, it's all about quality of life after all.

@purpleme12

I am really confused It said there wasn't compulsory training about menopause for a GP but then the official body (can't remember the name) said there was?!

That woman who had so much trouble getting her GP to help her with the menopause. Isn't there a blood test to confirm you're in the menopause? Why couldn't the doctor do that to prove it was that? (Or as he seemed to believe, wasn't)

I never knew Davina was a heroin addict!

It’s an online course GPs do but not all do it. Various action groups are calling for more GP training. If anyone needs to talk a GP about peri/meno then it can be worth asking at the practise who specialises in it. This is not the same as a gynae specialist - who might not have done peri training either.

I know more than I did after watching the programme and reading the thread but I've come away a bit scared about how it all can be and all the other every things than can happen to you that you're at increased risk of from being a woman or getting older

So not sure it was a thing but hey ho

Feel a bit like I didn't know it could be quite this bad as on here and now I do it's just something more to be scared of

Purple, please don't worry. Be aware, arm yourself with as much unbiased information as you can (ie respected medical journal articles), and when/if you see your GP have notes with you if you think they will help. You may find it easier to navigate now that there is at last a conversation about menopause, but don't be fobbed off.

I too watched this programme with great interest. I was already on the bio identical prescriptions which have dealt with my disrupted sleep and flushes- what a miracle. I’m wondering exactly how much of the oestrogen gel is needed to possibly counter the Alzheimer’s risk. I’m prescribed two pumps per day but I hear anecdotally some women are on much more. I so wish there was more concrete evidence around what and how much to take specifically for brain protection.

@Babymamamama

I too watched this programme with great interest. I was already on the bio identical prescriptions which have dealt with my disrupted sleep and flushes- what a miracle. I’m wondering exactly how much of the oestrogen gel is needed to possibly counter the Alzheimer’s risk. I’m prescribed two pumps per day but I hear anecdotally some women are on much more. I so wish there was more concrete evidence around what and how much to take specifically for brain protection.

Yes there should be so much more research and info - not least because caring for women with Alzheimer’s is costly. Far better to have prevention/reduction than palliative. Let’s hope it happens soon.