Experts, MPs, and advocates have cautioned that the new official recommendations for menopause treatment could have negative effects on women’s well-being.
In the previous month, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) released new preliminary recommendations for GPs, stating that women who are going through menopause and are dealing with symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, depression, and sleep issues may be presented with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) as a potential option for managing their symptoms. This therapy could be used alongside or instead of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
However, opponents have strongly criticized the advice, arguing that it diminishes the importance of symptoms through sexist language and could have negative effects on women’s health by not highlighting the advantages of hormone replacement therapy for bone and cardiovascular health compared to cognitive behavioral therapy.
Mumsnet expressed its disagreement with Nice’s recommendations, which were shared exclusively with the Guardian. They deemed the language used to be patronizing and offensive, and believed that following the recommendations would have a negative impact on women’s health.
Justine Roberts, the founder and chief executive of Mumsnet, said: “Women already struggle to access the HRT they are entitled to. We hear daily from women in perimenopause and menopause who are battling against a toxic combination of entrenched misogyny, misinformation and lack of knowledge among GPs.
Many times, they are dismissed or advised to endure intense physical and mental symptoms, even if it significantly impacts their life.
This guidance will exacerbate the struggle by focusing more on the negative aspects and neglecting to mention the safest types of HRT. Additionally, it equates CBT with hormone replacement therapy, which may discourage doctors from prescribing HRT and make women more hesitant to request or use it.
The menopause expert and campaigner Kate Muir, the author of Everything You Need to Know About the Menopause (But Were Too Afraid to Ask), accused Nice of scaremongering. “This draft Nice guidance skews the science to fan flames of fear and attempts to push women away from the choice of increasingly safe forms of HRT,” she said.
According to Dr Nina Wilson, a physician in Sussex and the creator of One Woman Health, promoting CBT could further stigmatize menopause. She believes that suggesting psychological treatment may imply that menopausal symptoms are simply in women’s minds.
If a man is struggling with erectile dysfunction and is also feeling stressed and anxious about his performance, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may be beneficial. However, CBT alone will not address the root cause of the issue, which is the restriction of blood flow. This is where medications like Viagra come in, as they directly target the underlying issue. The same concept applies to hormone replacement therapy (HRT). While CBT can help reduce stress levels, it does not address the main cause of dropping estrogen levels, which can only be treated with HRT.
The recommendations from Nice were lacking in emphasizing the advantages of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which is the most efficient method for managing all symptoms of menopause according to the speaker. In addition to alleviating symptoms, HRT can also contribute to maintaining bone density and potentially decrease long-term risk of cardiovascular issues, which are significant health concerns for women as they get older.
According to Carolyn Harris, the Member of Parliament for Swansea East and leader of the all-party parliamentary group focused on menopause, the recently issued instructions are outdated, simplistic, and poorly considered.
She stated that although talking can improve your mood, it will not eliminate joint pain or alter your lifestyle. Every woman should have access to whatever they feel will help them through the menopause, whether it’s HRT or CBT, but that is not the case at present.
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“Nice should revisit their approach and develop a new set of standards for defining the menopause.”
According to Caroline Nokes, the head of the House of Commons’ committee for women and equalities, there is no single solution that applies to everyone when it comes to dealing with menopause. However, she believes it is unacceptable for the potential drawbacks of hormone replacement therapy to be highlighted more than its significant benefits.
According to the speaker, the negative effects of menopause can be reduced by replenishing the lost estrogen, which is the main purpose of HRT. For individuals unable to undergo HRT, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) may provide significant relief. However, concerns among healthcare providers about prescribing HRT should not be worsened by the use of CBT. Additionally, there is still a difficulty in obtaining certain types of HRT, such as Estradot.
A representative from Nice stated that the guidelines emphasize the significance of healthcare professionals personalizing their discussions about treatment choices to fit each individual’s specific situation. The effects of menopause symptoms on one’s quality of life can greatly vary.
Recent research suggests that cognitive behavioural therapy can be effective in alleviating menopause symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, depression, and sleep issues.
“The preliminary guidelines demonstrate that CBT may be used in conjunction with or instead of HRT, and outlines the advantages and disadvantages of various treatment choices, allowing individuals to collaborate with their healthcare provider to determine the most suitable approach for their specific requirements.”
Source: theguardian.com
