Campaigners and MPs are calling for “menopause checks” to be offered to women by GPs after they turn 40. The Menopause All-Party Parliamentary Group is calling for this to be included in the NHS Health Check which is offered every five years to those aged between 40 and 74. According to a survey by the Menopause Mandate campaign, the majority of women over 40 self-diagnosed their menopause, with only 12% obtaining a diagnosis from a healthcare professional. Mariella Frostrup, chairwoman of the campaign, believes it is “ludicrous” that menopause information is not included in the health check.
Ms Frostrup stated that many women in their early 40s experience perimenopause – the period before the menopause – without understanding what is happening to their bodies. The free NHS Health Check, which looks for conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, should support women with information and advice, she said. The Menopause All-Party Parliamentary Group has said that medical professionals need to be “equipped and empowered” to prescribe all types of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to improve symptom relief for menopausal women.
Carolyn Harris MP, chairwoman of the Menopause All-Party Parliamentary Group, believes that women have to overcome many hurdles to obtain the necessary support they deserve when going through the menopause. This can include GPs who refuse to provide a diagnosis, difficulties obtaining HRT as a result of supply issues, and inadequate support at work.
UC San Diego School of Medicine has conducted research which suggests that women going through the menopause are at increased risk of experiencing cardiovascular disease. This may be because of the greater risk of heart attack among post-menopausal women, exacerbated by hormone levels at this point. Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, the associate medical director of the British Heart Foundation, recommends that women approaching menopause take action to protect their heart health by not smoking, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating a nutritious diet.
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