Newson Health and the menopause industry

[ArabellaScott]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8e5y4e83lo

Keeping an eye on this. Newson makes an awful lot of money out of HRT.

It’s not natural to take most medications. But we do, if they improve our physical or mental health.

Its normal to bleed 3 to 6 months after taking HRT I started to bleed bang on the 3 month mark. Im not stopping YOU or others from taking it I think women should absolutely have the choice It just didnt agree with me and im not putting myself through endless painful procedures just to stay on it (ive stopped taking it) my body my choice and that includes what procedures and what instruments go up inside it

But Louise Newson claims that hormones are not medication. Can you see the gist? When someone takes a medication they are supposed to read the leaflet and be aware of side effects and interactions with other drugs, including herbal teas and phytotherapy supplements. By saying that hormones are natural and that you are only replacing them, and that they are not drugs, she's implying that it's perfectly safe to take them even at 3 times the highest dose tested by manufacturers. And no matter how many times she says they're safe, quantity matters. Cells have evolved in 4 billion years to regulate the complex hormonal balance that we see today, and it's still evolving, we all know it's not perfect. Do you think a transdermal estradiol patch or gel and an oral/vaginal progesterone pill will replicate this process? It's a treatment, the drugs are semi-synthetic and the dosages are purely trial and error. Nothing natural about that.

But Louise Newson claims that hormones are not medication.

How can she say that? Does she say that? They’re licensed medicines - that’s a statement of fact.

What I think is that HRT is useful medication for me, and so does my consultant.

That's why it's very important to differentiate perimenopause from postmenopause. Most of the debilitating symptoms occur in perimenopause when oestrogen levels fluctuate significantly. Prescribing HRT for perimenopause is very difficult because of the wide range of fluctuations and individual conditions. Louise Newson is counting on this to back up the prescription of high doses. The problem is that her approach extends to postmenopausal women as well. In those women high doses aren't always necessarily good or "natural", but that's when she justifies it by saying that oestrogen will prevent terrible outcomes regarding osteoporosis, heart disease and dementia.
This is the current state of affairs. Too much guessing and too little scientific evidence.

A lot of GPs don't seem to understand that peri is where a lot of the problems occur. I was firmly told I couldn't have HRT because I wasn't in post menopause (went to a different GP after that).

From the Virgin Radio interview linked above.

"Dr. Newson’s book, The Definitive Guide to the Perimenopause and Menopause, was revised and updated in May. She said: “The evidence has really changed, and people still worry about HRT, but all the evidence against HRT is the synthetic hormones. So it was made from pregnant horses’ urine. You know, that is not natural for us to have as women, but also synthetic progesterones, they've been chemically altered. Now we prescribe the natural hormones, so it's just replacing like for likes. Of course, they don't have risks. So women are understanding it actually sometimes quicker than healthcare professionals."

Does this sound like the definition of a medication?

Where do the hormones come from then?

It’s not natural to have that amount of oestrogen after memo.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562873/

I had problems with chicken, which back in the 80s and 90s was hormone fed to speed up maturation. For years I could only eat organic meats. Another trigger was tartrazine which I think is now banned. It is another oestrogen mimic.
Generally UHP foods are not your friend if you have endo.
Oestrogen is the hormone that causes problems with endo, progesterone is your friend, in the form of the Mirena coil.

After a lifetime of hormone related problems I’m quite glad to be rid of them.
Post menopause your levels drop down to that of an 8YR old. My moods are pretty level, I no longer suffer with fluctuating anxiety and can deal with pretty much everything life throws at me. it may not suit most women but having survived breast cancer I probably have a different outlook on life. I don’t give a f@*k about aging, in fact I embrace it because three yrs ago I was worried that I may not make it past 60. You just alter your expectations. I also think that many women forget that along side the menopause you are also aging and many of the symptoms are just the body aging and no amount of HRT will prevent that. I actually find taking a couple of paracetamol daily helps all the aches and pains more than HRT did when I took it.

I say this having recently found out that my DSis has been diagnosed with advanced stage 4 ovarian cancer ( another one that is hormone related) and will probably no longer be with us by Christmas. It sort of puts everything in perspective.

What's the Scarborough diet?

Exactly!
It's an opt-in topic for GPs to choose to learn about.
Yet 50% of the population will be affected in some way and very likely seek medical advice due to the changes their bodies are going through.
It's insane.

Exactly this! 💯

Yup

Sounds like my GP

I'm very sorry to hear about your sister, Angrymum.

A lot of GPs don't seem to understand that peri is where a lot of the problems occur.

Completely agree. And in my experience stress makes the ups and downs worse.

bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-13-23

Scarborough Fair diet

Yes. IMO there's nothing HRT can fix that wouldn't be easily sorted by early retirement, free childcare, a driver, a PA, butler, gardener, therapist, opiate dealer, unlimited alcohol, private island, kittens, a lovely house, chef, and personal trainer team.

Yep 😄

https://saveourbones.com/scarborough-fair-study-reconfirms-the-save-our-bones-program-diets-rich-in-fruits-vegetables-and-herbs-reduce-bone-turnover-helping-to-prevent-and-reverse-osteoporosis-and-osteopenia/

Foods included in the diet.

Matches with the whole "30 plants a week thing" if you're throwing a bunch of herbs into everything.

I am also very sorry to hear about your sister angrymum.

Does this sound like the definition of a medication?

She’s pointing out that the formulation of the medication has changed for the better, not trying to define anything. Your point is unclear.

Whatever it is, I’m sure it’s bracing.

That’s the Skegness diet

Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme?

Newson clinic have written to all patients to explain the dosing thing.
Interestingly they said that manufacturers recommended dose is based in very small cohort studies and didn't take into account absorption rates for gels etc. I have also heard elsewhere from respected medical professionals the issues around absorption rates varying (not in HRT context).
Full disclosure I have used newson clinic in the past (now prescribed by GP) and I did find them helpful and I don't take over standard dosage!