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[Turkish delight]

I can't comment on Newson in a personal sense as I'm not under her care.

She has stuck her neck out very far publically, and now they are coming after her and want to chop it clean off.

I'm not even a fan of hers tbh but she should be allowed a fair hearing.
I'm more pssd off that Basins(Oestrogel manufacturer)have dodged a massive bullet. In my eyes and many others' opinions, they altered/watered down the formula of Oestrogel when the Davina effect took off and demand outweighed supply. They have never accepted this but they did I believe admit that some bottles were not dispensing the correct
metered dose, causing many of us to raise the amount taken to get the same payoff. This may be a reason for LN clinic prescribing higher than the licenced dose, I don't know.

Obviously some women saying their symptoms returned after being stable for a long period are anecdotal, but some who had bloods done had hard evidence of big drops in estrogen with no other explanation than a change in formula or metered doses being lowered to meet demand.

I guess we will have to wait and see if Newson is hung out to dry or "cancelled" none of which I wish on her or anyone for that matter, but I think the panic highled by this programme will have a ripple effect on us all and probably set the whole hrt movement back.
In an ideal world, it would result in more studies into the effects of higher than the licenced dose, but I don't think we are there yet.

TD

[Gilla999]

Did they water down the formula?! I didn't know that... that's terrible!!

[Turkish delight]

Did they water down the formula?! I didn't know that... that's terrible!!

Hia,

Only allegedly, not by admission.

I am one of the ones who felt it very keenly in that my symptoms returned and I crashed and burned after being stable.I didn't get bloodwork as not something one can demand on the NHS.

But as I said some have bloodwork showing a big drop in estrogen with seemingly no other explanation.
Many reported this to the yellow card scheme too.

TD

[Kathleen]

Hello ladies.

I was told by an NHS consultant about two years ago that there wasn't enough research data to prove the safety of the regimes offered by the private clinics.  I expect this topic will be covered in tonight's programme.

I will be watching with interest.

Take care ladies.

K.

[sheila99]

If the NHS treated menopausal women properly, fewer would need to go to private clinics.

This ^^^
IMO Newson is a symptom of inadequate treatment by the NHS, inadequate research in menopause and an inadequate range of treatments.
  The 100mcg limit may be fine for most women but the NHS are far too hung up on the amount that goes on your skin whilst completely ignoring how much or how little is absorbed. Most women don't go to her because they like spending money, they do it because the NHS hasn't given them appropriate treatment. The 6-12 months wait for an NHS specialist is pie in the sky too, it's over a 18 months in my area so no surprise people go elsewhere if they can afford it.
  Newson has recently stopped advocating half the dose if utrogestan if used vaginally so presumably they or the NHS have found it's inadequate for many women. There need to be more options for progestogens without side effects but this isn't happening either.
 
 

[CLKD]

Statement by the British Menopause Society:


BBC One – Panorama: The Menopause Industry
30 September 2024

It is possible that the issues raised in the BBC One Panorama programme may be causing you to be concerned about your menopause treatment. Taking HRT, which is prescribed in line with national guidance, generally provides more benefits than risks. The type and duration of use can be discussed at your next routine review (which should be at least annually). If you have any concerns about your menopause treatment, please contact your own GP or other health professional.

How much can be covered correctly in a 30 mins programme?

How many can access Face2Face GP appts. and now that there is another 'scare' story, waiting lists will be longer 

[CLKD]

British Menopause Society
Registered Charity No. 1015144.
Registered Company No. 2759439.


I wasn't aware that the BMS is a Charity  until Louise mentioned it.

[Peach8]

How are people feeling about this article? I feel I need the individualised treatment I get privately but I'm now concerned that I'm putting myself at risk.

[Gnatty]

You can watch the programme now online/ iPlayer

[CLKD]

Peach8 - we have to consider Quality of Life.  Everything has a risk, even getting out of bed ;-).  If a regime helps then stick with it.

The Pharmacist at the GP Surgery does an annual review: he would have to wrest off my therapies ......... because without my ADs and anti-anxiety go2 medication I wouldn't be here. 

[Gnatty]

I have just watched the programme. It's pretty damning tbh re the high doses of oestrogen and lack of research surrounding the safety. Some interviews by ex Newson doctors, ex patients and undercover 'patients'.  Definitely worth a watch.

[JS79]

I'm a Newson patient, only been with them since July after constantly going to GP with various symptoms. When I got the all clear from MRI fro MS the neuro consult suggested perimenopause as my symptoms all got worse around my period,  I kept an accurate symptom diary. I went back to GP with this and they agreed, then gave me some sertraline to take for 6months. I went to Newson and got my prescription within days, at that point 2pumps of oestrogel and 2 capsules of progesterone 14 day on/off. I was allowed to go up to 3pumps after 6wks which I have. My GP have now took over my prescription as I haven't contacted them since I started het compared to at least once a week from Jan this year.
I have read of people on very high doses but what's the alternative, stick to the NHS GPs who won't offer HRT because of scare mongering yrs ago about risks.
People will just start looking to the black market and self prescribing doses themselves without proper follow ups.
If Newson and other clinics are in the wrong then they deserve to be dealt with, if their actions have caused illness or death then they deserve to be punished but if NiCE are with holding/restricting treatment guidelines for women then they deserve the same

[Peach8]

Peach8 - we have to consider Quality of Life.  Everything has a risk, even getting out of bed ;-).  If a regime helps then stick with it.

The Pharmacist at the GP Surgery does an annual review: he would have to wrest off my therapies ......... because without my ADs and anti-anxiety go2 medication I wouldn't be here.

I agree and I feel the same with some of my meds but I've been told recently by an NHS consultant that "you can get anything you want if you're willing to pay for it". How do we strike a balance between getting what we need when we can't get it through NHS but still be safe in the knowledge that our private provider is looking after us properly?

[Elliebee]

Clkd   Dr Louise Newson has also lost her British Menopause Society accreditation, over the prescribing of high doses of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

[HellsBells]

I had a problem with Newsom as I found there was too rigid a protocol. No testosterone unless Estrogen reached a certain level, no transdermal progesterone, rigid dosing.

I found with the private clinics (Gluck et al) they were prepared to start me on very low dose as I am sensitive to everything. They would prescribe a low combination to get me started. As it happens I did not continue but I can relate to the mega dose 'one size fits all' approach from the Newsom clinic. They did not appreciate me doing my own research (there are papers to suggest very low dose is good for bones for example) and would not consider any flexibility even though the low dose is LESS of a risk...