Special Edition: The Panorama Menopause documentary and implications for menopause care with Dr Beth Thomas

Middling Along

In this extra podcast episode, we dive into the recent BBC Panorama documentary’s portrayal of the menopause industry.

Our guest, Dr Beth Thomas, GP, British Menopause Society accredited specialist at Everything Menopause, and clinical lead at Managing the Menopause, shares her expert insights on the complexities of menopause treatment, the importance of individualized care, and the implications of the documentary on both healthcare providers and women seeking menopause support.

This episode covers

• A brief look at the documentary’s critique of a prominent menopause clinic and its implications for the wider industry.
• Beth explains the current British Menopause Society (BMS) and NICE guidelines for oestrogen dosing. Risks of oestrogen doses beyond current guidelines, and why individualized care is essential.
• Common issues with absorption and how switching between patches, gels, and sprays can improve outcomes for some women.
• Discussion of the challenges faced by women in accessing quality menopause care through the NHS.
• The need for more research and clinical trials on HRT and menopause treatments.
• The importance of patient consent and shared decision-making.
• Recognizing that HRT is not a cure-all and the value of a holistic approach during the menopause transition.

Links and Resources:

• Watch the BBC Panorama Documentary on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0023jdn
• Advice on HRT: https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/
• Previous interview with Paula Rastrick, a participant in the Panorama documentary: https://middlingalong.com/episodes/middling-along-paula-rastrick-on-our-brain-body-connection-in-perimenopause-could-you-be-an-hsp/

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If your workplace wants to become more ‘menopause friendly’ then please let them know about the work I do at http://www.managingthemenopause.com

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