I should be used to hearing women tell me they feel too embarrassed to go to their doctor about their menopausesymptoms; but I’m not. I find it staggering how far we’ve still got to go in terms of proper menopause support when there are quite literally millions of women who are affected by it at any one time.
In fact, there are nearly two million women in the UK going through the menopause right now and yet there is still significant stigma attached to the condition. From irregular menstrual cycles, hot flushes and fatigue, to weight gain and heavy bleeding, 90 per cent of women suffer debilitating symptoms – but many say they’re too ashamed to talk to doctors.
Too often, women feel powerless, mistakenly believing there are limited treatment options available, and that it’s something they ‘just have to put up with’. Worryingly, this misconception has been perpetuated by some GPs who lack specific expertise and women feel they can’t approach them – with nearly half saying they hadn’t felt able to speak to their GP about menopause symptoms.
Change is long overdue, and women deserve better support and care. But crucially, it needn’t always come from GPs. Pharmacists offer an accessible first port of call for women who want to establish a treatment plan which delivers for the long-term.
When it comes to care of women, pharmacists are regularly overlooked and the support they offer isn’t well understood. From reviewing and prescribing some medication, providing clinical advice and the right referrals, they can play a pivotal role in securing the future health of women everywhere. There are also many menopause-specific training programmes available for pharmacists, meaning that there is a broad and deep range of expertise in the profession.
The good news is that there is a wealth of medicines available which can significantly ease menopause symptoms, and many are available over-the-counter. For example, for the up-to 60 per cent of women who struggle with insomnia, a number of remedies can help maintain circadian rhythms and restore regular sleep patterns. Women suffering hot flushes may benefit from vitamin supplements containing blueberries and rosehip – and today, thanks to a ruling from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), some localised oestrogen therapy is available without a prescription. Hurrah!
Of course, there is always a danger in self-diagnosing – and this is where support from a pharmacist comes in. They can not only provide guidance on how to get immediate relief from symptoms, but also help piece together information to build a clear picture of what’s happening and determine the treatment that might be needed.
Importantly, pharmacists can also recommend lifestyle changes which may also help to ease symptoms. For example, eating low glycemic load (GL) foods – like beans and pulses – will help with weight control and mood swings – and eating some phytoestrogen rich foods every day, such as soya milk, yoghurts, berries and tomatoes, may help reduce hot flushes and lower cholesterol.
Menopause is a persistent and changing condition – lasting up to a decade for some – and often symptoms progress and evolve over time.
Many women will eventually need support from their GP, most commonly with hormone replacement therapy (HRT), but by visiting a pharmacist in the first instance, women can attend appointments confidently, with a more accurate picture of the problems they face.
As well as empowering women to advocate for effective treatment, pharmacists can be a vital source of reassurance during a concerning time. For campaigner Davina McCall, a lack of information meant that, when she first experienced symptoms, she didn’t understand what was happening to her. She said she felt frightened, lonely and “like she was going mad.”
According to The Menopause Charity, a third of women wait at least three years for their symptoms to be correctly diagnosed as menopause related, and a further 18 per cent visited their doctor six times before they got the help they needed. Women are often misdiagnosed with depression, chronic fatigue syndrome or even fibromyalgia, and can be left frustrated, lonely and suffering.
With the support of expert pharmacists, the promise of better care for women – together with reassurance and support – can be realised. It’s crucial we raise awareness of the help pharmacists can offer and encourage women to approach them as soon as they experience symptoms.
