It is a shame that the British Menopause Society have taken such an extreme stance against compounded products, they also mention saliva testing which is nothing to do with UK BHRT clinics so I'm not sure where theyre getting their info from? Maybe the US.
NICE do not hold such strong views against BHRT, they just say that practitioners should make it clear to patients that BHRT is not regulated, they do not state that it should not be prescribed.
The BMS is not a government organisation, simply a society that menopause practitioners (not just docs) can choose to pay to join for advertising their services, industry updates and access to seminars etc. They are supported by the practitioner fees and seminars but they also receive occasional funding from the regulated HRT manufacturers (like Besins) so there could be financial conflict of interests at play.
Im sure that Prof Studd would like to be able to offer the 50mg progesterone but then he couldn't be promoted by the BMS as, although you can be a member for the other benefits, you can't be on the practitioners list if you prescribe BHRT.
Im not saying that the BMS should promote online products (although they do promote Sylk and YES) but they could be open to products made in specialist compounded pharmacies via GMC registered UK doctors, for example.
Fortunately, on an open forum we can learn from each other and not be restricted by corporate vested interests.
Gosh you're going for the BMS now?
Extreme stance?! I am sure the BMS would find that laughable that they are considered by some as an extremist organisation! I must say at this point that these "extreme" views are also shared (In addition to MM and NHS) internationally by the American FDA, North American Menopause Society (NAMS), the Australasian Menopause Society and probably the International Menopause Society and the European one too so it's pretty universal. In my first post in this thread I linked to the thread started by Forum Admin Emma in 2017 in response to controversies back then. If you look at this thread and in particular the long post by Dana you will see the statements of some of these organisations:
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,37209.0.htmlNot sure where you got all that information about them dangermouse but it is important to put the record straight re BMS especially as your post has been highly praised.
Here is what BMS stands for (from their website):
https://thebms.org.uk/"
The British Menopause Society (BMS), established in 1989, educates, informs and guides healthcare professionals in all aspects of post reproductive health.
This is achieved through an annual programme of lectures, conferences, meetings, exhibitions and our interactive website. We offer a range of publications including our quarterly journal Post Reproductive Health and the definitive handbook Management of the Menopause."
"...simply a society that menopause practitioners (not just docs) can choose to pay to join for advertising their services, industry updates and access to seminars etc. They are supported by the practitioner fees and seminars but they also receive occasional funding from the regulated HRT manufacturers (like Besins) so there could be financial conflict of interests at play."
Please read a bit more about what they do! They are the main menopause organisation in UK. You can see what they do - I don't think any of it is "simply" anything. For those who aren't aware they are the
professional academic society concerned with post-reproductive health and as such publish a quarterly peer-reviewed scientific journal of the same name (formerly Maturitas). Not just a little club for interested people to join. There exist such learned academic societies across the scientific world most of which publish the journals of research into whatever their discipline is. To refer to them in such dismissive terms is to do them a great disservice.
As for the funding - although it sounds like some members will obtain some funding through pharma etc for research, they do have a policy on declaration of interests which you can read here:
https://thebms.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/BMS-Declaration-of-Interests-01.pdf . They are also a charity so are governed by the rules of charities.
Where on earth did you get the idea that practitioners join to advertise their services? Yes this is one place you can find an recognised Menopause Specialist but far from being a negative service this is one way you can be assured that you're not visiting some sort of self-made quack!
https://thebms.org.uk/menopause-specialists/overview/.
The find a specialist page on this very website - menopause matters links with the BMS find a specialist page. I am a bit puzzled dangermouse because if you don't agree with any of that - why are you here? I don't mean that impolitely in any way whatsoever, I am genuinely curious because all of the above forms the basis of current recognised menopause management, education and advice.
I've got a lot more to say on other posts but this one I will keep to the one topic
Hurdity x