New Non Hormonal Menopause Drug

[Sparklingsunshine]

Saw this in the Guardian, hopefully positive news for those suffering with menopause hot flushes who can't or decide not to take HRT. theguardian.com/society/202...

[SarahJane1471]

that’s great. But doesn’t tackle all the other menopausal symptoms. But still good news for some

[FancyPants54]

For some hot flushes are unbearable, but really it's the tip of the iceberg for most of us. The only thing that can touch most of the symptoms is oestrogen. Because it's oestrogen that's lacking in the first place.

[Hidden in reply to FancyPants54]

Exactly so!

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to FancyPants54]

But not everyone can or wants to take oestrogen. Those who've had breast or ovarian cancers, those with a history of blood clots or high blood pressure, even chronic migraines can't take HRT. Then there are women who perhaps have a family history of breast cancer who dont want the increased risk of taking it. Up until now its either try natural alternatives from the health shop with mixed results or put up with feeling rubbish. I think this is a small step in the right direction.

[Lavender-Blue in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

The clots are associated with the old oral protestins (synthetic forms) and not the transdermal preparations.

See Confidence in Menopause course at FourteenFish by Louise Newson (aimed at health professionals but free to anyone who would like to do it). It is really informative and challenges the Women's Health Initiative study (that was the (flawed) study around 2001/02. The results were leaked before appropriate analysis of the data.

I recommend the course!!

And the work of Professor Annice Mukherjee too. X

[FancyPants54 in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

So much of the list of reasons not to take HRT that you typed have been debunked or fine-tuned now. Time has moved on and the experiences have changed. Too many women are left with poor quality of life because they have incorrectly been told something terrible might happen if they use it. Well you might get run over tomorrow. None of us know. Take the familial link for example. My neighbour, who really needed it, was told by a GP who didn't have much clue about HRT (I know because he was my GP too) that she could not have it because her great aunt had breast cancer. The up to date menopause specialists now say to think twice if your mother or sister have had it. And even then it's not a blanket no. Sadly our GPs are not very educated about this matter. Some are learning more now because it's reached a higher profile. But others are digging in and refusing to look at the new ideas and findings. Not good for any of us.

[HandS]

The BC risks you refer to are not proven: like so much info available, it’s impossible to know actual individual risks. High doses of Levo now linked to BC - but no proof.

Ive had BC, which was oestrogen positive - stopped HRT and my life was hell. Told oncolgist I had decided to resume HRT - went through all the stats I could find with him. Given my histology, etc, following standard advice, half a person would benefit over a 10 year period. So that wasn’t good enough odds for me to give up my QOL. I didn’t need Hannah Fry to know how if felt.

My choice therefore, which everyone should be allowed, but to be honest, I’m tired of the public debate that both scare mongers women into thinking they have no choice., and dismisses their symptoms as normal - and to be endured.

I know women who went through menopause without a single symptom - and am pleased for them.

Many people go through life never having cancer or any life limiting disease / but treatment is always an option.

The media narrative around menopause is ill-informed, judgemental and melodramatic to the extent that treatment becomes a conflicted choice for those seeking options.

[Lavender-Blue in reply to HandS]

😊