NOT so long ago, the menopause was something to be discussed in hushed tones well out of the earshot of those who weren’t going through it. Not anymore. We are in the midst of a revolution, with people demanding that science and society take a fresh look at a life event that can be so unpleasant that as many as .
The message seems to be getting through, at least in some countries. The UK is blazing the trail, with the inaugural meeting of the UK taking place earlier this year. It brings together politicians and clinicians to increase access to treatments for the symptoms of menopause and to tackle societal taboos. Meanwhile, a growing number of employers are implementing aimed at providing menopausal support in the workplace.
Advertisement
Like all revolutions, there is resistance. Arguments rage about the rights and wrongs of . And the shadow of decades-old studies that questioned the safety of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) still looms over decisions on whether to use it to treat menopausal symptoms or to ride them out.
Where do we go from here? A much-needed first step is to make sure that doctors are up to speed with the real risks – and benefits – of HRT. It is wrong that people are still being refused treatment on the basis of outdated evidence, or being misdiagnosed with depression and anxiety because their doctors aren’t aware of the toll menopause can take on mental health.
The prevailing message from the latest research is that, while HRT does carry some increased health risks, those are relatively small. It is time to be clear about that, and let people make up their own minds.
As for further research, we need to refine the sledgehammer approach to treatment – and there are plenty of avenues ripe for investigation. The future should be about smarter options for HRT, not whether we use it at all.
