Menopausal women need access to HRT therapy, campaigners tell MPs – Metro.co.uk

The campaigning day ended with Sir Lindsay Hoyle signing a pledge to make the Commons menopause friendly (Picture: UK Parliament)

Menopause activists spent a whole day putting renewed pressure on the Government to prioritise womens health.

The group Menopause Mandateonly formed less than two months ago and some 400 people have already reached out to the campaigners with their stories.

Many women said menopause and inadequate treatment led them to lose their jobs, destroy their relationships and some even said they struggled with suicidal thoughts.

On Monday, the group told MPs: Until every single perimenopausal woman has access to a trained expert and HRT is available and affordable for all, then we at Menopause Mandate havent achieved our goals.

Journalist and broadcaster Mariella Frostrup, who has written a book on menopause, said: For too long weve been told to just get on with it and grin and bear it.

Menopause is when someones periods stop because their hormone cycle has changed with age.

It can come with unpleasant symptoms including severe hot flushes, depression and mood swings.

Many people feel menopause is part of a string of womens health issues not given enough attention or validation.

For example, the Commons today heard how it took 54-year-old Linda Wallwork, from Harrow, 10 years to get a diagnosis so she could be prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

A rising demand for the treatment led the Government to appoint a HRT tsar last month but activists want more action.

Menopause Mandate has called on the Government to make HRT free in England as it is in Scotland and Wales.

Health minister Maria Caulfieldpreviously said she is laser focused on making menopause easier for women next year, with hopes to soon make it cheaper in England.

Labour MP for Swansea East Carolyn Harris ran a debate on menopause in Westminster last week.

This, in part, led to speaker Sir Lindsay Hoylesigning a pledge to make the Commons menopause friendly for staff.

The pledge commits employers to supporting menopausal workers in ways which could include providing access to fans in the office to help hot flushes or flexible working from home hours.

At the time Sir Lindsay said he had no choice as Ms Harris is such a force to be reckoned with.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us atwebnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this,check our news page.

Visit link:
Menopausal women need access to HRT therapy, campaigners tell MPs - Metro.co.uk