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[Junie]

Hi
Can anyone advise please.
I am 60 and still struggling with
Menopause.
I read an article about
Bioidentical hormone therapy.
I would like to try this, as an alternative to hrt.
I went to discuss this with my GP,
She has never heard of it, she looked on the nhs website and said oh it is not been trailed enough so they are saying it is not a good idea. She was not very good at explaining the menopause at all.

What can I do

Thanks in advance
Junie

[Cassie]

Lots of us are on it I use the gel and for the progesterone part I use Utrogestan she doesnt sound well informed at all, perhaps a referral to someone more clued up? Its def the way to go when it comes to HRT in my opinion, esp the transdermal delivery route.

[Kkay]

Hello Junie

Bio- identical hormone therapy is HRT. It just means that it is a type of hormone therapy that is identical to the kinds of hormones that our body makes, and not a synthetic hormone like the older kinds of HRT (for example Premarin) which is made from horses' urine. (It works very well for many women, I am not trying to knock it, just stating a fact). The accepted wisdom these days is that bioidentical hormones that are absorbed through the skin like gels or patches are the safest, as they do not pass through the liver initially as pills taken through the oral route do.

Important point number 1: The British Menopause Society and the National American Menopause Society and in fact almost every scientific body specialised with menopause are equivocal in their position that HRT is safe when used properly and actually protects menopausal women from heart attacks, strokes, cognitive decline, osteoporosis and other conditions. The NICE guidelines posted here on this site are quite clear about this and the fact that your GP is not aware of this is shocking.

The misconception that HRT is universally harmful comes from irresponsible reporting of the findings of a single study - called the Women's Health Initiative - that came out in 2003 or 2004 - which claimed that there were excess deaths from breast cancer in the women who were taking HRT. In fact that study looked at a single type of HRT - Premarin - which is not a biodentical HRT. The study also only looked at women who were over a certain age (I think it was 65) and it is wrong - as many scientists and menopause specialists pointed out at the time - to extrapolate the findings to younger women and to other kinds of HRT, like bio-identical HRT.

In fact the study's lead author published just this last year that the results were misreported and misinterpreted; a fact that menopause specialists around the world have known for a long time.

Important point number 2: You need to find someone to advise you who knows more about HRT than your GP seems to. I do not live in the UK but I know that there is a list on this site of specialists arranged by their geographic location, and many women here also have contacts for specialists who are very knowledgeable and experienced.

I hope this is helpful,

good luck

Kkay

[Junie]

Lots of us are on it I use the gel and for the progesterone part I use Utrogestan she doesnt sound well informed at all, perhaps a referral to someone more clued up? Its def the way to go when it comes to HRT in my opinion, esp the transdermal delivery route.

Thanks Cassie, would love to know more about the products you take.

Very helpful
Thanks
Junie

[Junie]

Hello Junie

Bio- identical hormone therapy is HRT. It just means that it is a type of hormone therapy that is identical to the kinds of hormones that our body makes, and not a synthetic hormone like the older kinds of HRT (for example Premarin) which is made from horses' urine. (It works very well for many women, I am not trying to knock it, just stating a fact). The accepted wisdom these days is that bioidentical hormones that are absorbed through the skin like gels or patches are the safest, as they do not pass through the liver initially as pills taken through the oral route do.

Important point number 1: The British Menopause Society and the National American Menopause Society and in fact almost every scientific body specialised with menopause are equivocal in their position that HRT is safe when used properly and actually protects menopausal women from heart attacks, strokes, cognitive decline, osteoporosis and other conditions. The NICE guidelines posted here on this site are quite clear about this and the fact that your GP is not aware of this is shocking.

The misconception that HRT is universally harmful comes from irresponsible reporting of the findings of a single study - called the Women's Health Initiative - that came out in 2003 or 2004 - which claimed that there were excess deaths from breast cancer in the women who were taking HRT. In fact that study looked at a single type of HRT - Premarin - which is not a biodentical HRT. The study also only looked at women who were over a certain age (I think it was 65) and it is wrong - as many scientists and menopause specialists pointed out at the time - to extrapolate the findings to younger women and to other kinds of HRT, like bio-identical HRT.

In fact the study's lead author published just this last year that the results were misreported and misinterpreted; a fact that menopause specialists around the world have known for a long time.

Important point number 2: You need to find someone to advise you who knows more about HRT than your GP seems to. I do not live in the UK but I know that there is a list on this site of specialists arranged by their geographic location, and many women here also have contacts for specialists who are very knowledgeable and experienced.

I hope this is helpful,

good luck

Kkay

Thanks so much Kkay
Lots to read here,

Junie

[Junie]

Update on my doctors

I went back to my doctors and seen a nurse who I was told deals with women's health, she knows nothing about bioidentical hormone therapy,
She has referred me to a gynaecologist, so will wait for appointment, meanwhile she gave me a script for vagifem.

Junie

[Cassie]

Well thats a start but you need oestrogen and a progesterone if you still have a uterus. The rub on gel is very good as are the patches and many of us use Utrogestan either for a few days per mth or every day, depending on your preference. Am sure that a specialist will be more clued up and will be able to recommend a good combo. I love the gel and have been on it for years.

[CLKD]

What's the Waiting List Junie?  and is she certain that the Gynae will be au fait with menopausal problems and treatments?  Do you know to whom you have been referred, if so, ring the Secretary of that Consultant and see what her 'boss' deals with exactly otherwise you will be wasting your time.

The other option is to send a personal e-mail for advice to Dr Currie on here, for which there is a fee.