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[Mary G]

I thought some might be interested in Professor Studd's observations on various menopause issues:

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The Daily Telegraph and the Mail today have front page stories about HRT and breast cancer with the risk being less than the discredited Oxford study of 10 years ago but still present. They fail to mention that all studies show no excess risk or even a decreased risk with oestrogens alone. The problem is with high levels of the synthetic progestogen such as Norethisterone which we never use but rely on the natural progesterone Utrogestan for seven to fourteen days each month for endometrial protection. We often add testosterone for libido and mood, but this has no effect on breast cancer.

However we can be sure that HRT is effective for hot flushes, night sweats, insomnia, tiredness, “brain fog” and libido. It also reduces the risk of heart attacks, osteoporosis and probably dementia in later years. For more information on this please go to our podcasts by googling “HRT is good for you podcast” or just click https://www.buzzsprout.com/984268.
Start with 10 reasons to be happy with HRT.

The Covid numbers are bad and getting worse but my colleagues Mr Mike Savvas and Mr Neale Watson are still able to see patients on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday with the appropriate safeguards and Miss Beverley Benster does Zoom and telephone consultations from home on Thursdays, and Friday is also covered by telephone and Zoom consultations. As you know I have retired, not before time aged 80, but the clinic is well covered by experts who were all research fellows and trainees of mine with 20 plus years of menopausal, infertility and endocrinological experience behind them.

As co-founder and vice president of the Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS) I maintain an interest in bone health and we have at 46 Wimpole Street a Holologic bone density machine in order to diagnose osteopaenia or osteoporosis in our post menopausal patients. Low bone density is common even in apparently healthy active women as it is related to body weight. It is less common in overweight women although they may suffer from osteoarthritis of the knees or hip as estrogen is made in the body fat and this protects the bones. It is the healthy thin women who are at risk. Beware the healthy slim 60-year-old who walks the dog for 2 hours a day and beware the skinny exercise freak with daily gym or slim athletes or dancers. Anorexia when younger is another risk factor. These should all be treated with transdermal estrogens.

What about low bone density in men?  We see many men with libido or erection problems. Some have very low testosterone, and these can be helped with testosterone gels or injections. But what is fascinating is that these men who come with sexual dysfunction also have low, very low bone density no doubt because of years of inadequate testosterone -the equivalent of the menopause in women. Testosterone rapidly improves bone density reducing the risk of fracture.

 
With best wishes,

John STUDD, DSc, MD, FRCOG
Professor of Gynaecology

[CLKD]

 

[Perinowpost]

Good article Mary G thanks for sharing it. I learnt a few things reading it, especially about the slim women who does a lot of walking because that’s me x

[Catcc]

Thanks for posting.  As I slim dancer/exercise freak just diagnosed with osteopenia, I have just discovered this myself :-)

[Mary G]

I'm glad you are finding it interesting.   I was particularly interested to hear how men are affected by low testosterone in later life and how HRT could help them.