HRT and Coronavirus

It is estimated that around 75% of menopausal women experience symptoms and that around 25% of these women experience severe symptoms that are having a negative effect on their lives, often affecting their family and work lives.

The menopause symptoms that affect women the most include:

• low mood
• anxiety
• reduced self-esteem
• poor memory and concentration
• reduced libido
• vaginal dryness

Managing women with symptoms of the menopause is a very rewarding aspect of clinical practice. There are now excellent guidelines available, both national and international, for healthcare professionals on the management of the menopause 1-3. However, these guidelines have not been read by many healthcare professionals which means that many women are being denied evidence-based treatment. All the guidelines support the notion that for the majority of women starting HRT when they are under 60 years old, the benefits of taking HRT usually outweigh any risks.

Please do contact us if you are worried about being in the menopause and wanting to start HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy).

A new statement has been released from the British Menopause Society, along with RCOG, RCGP and FSRH, urging all doctors to avail HRT consultations via video or telephone. This is in addition to providing easy access to repeat prescriptions (which is a service that the Mayfair GP provides).

The societies mentioned above realise the importance of HRT and thus the aim is to ensure that menopausal women do not struggle to obtain their HRT prescription in these difficult times.

Please read the British Menopause Society statement below from the 25th of March 2020:

We recognise that many women are likely to experience difficulties in obtaining HRT supplies due to the current coronavirus situation. We also appreciate that continuing HRT intake is likely to help many women control their often difficult menopausal symptoms, which is particularly relevant given the additional stress some women may be under in view of the strains of the current situation on society.

Furthermore, General Practitioners’ surgeries have also been put under additional pressure, with consultations and advice prioritised to dealing with serious and potentially life-threatening medical issues.

Recognising the current constraints, we recommend that General Practitioners and healthcare providers consider advising women about menopause issues through telephone and virtual consultations where at all possible to reduce face to face engagement, and with easy access to repeat prescriptions of HRT supplies (especially to women who have been on HRT and have not been experiencing any problems with their intake). This will help to avoid the need for many women to visit their GP surgery to discuss these issues and assist with obtaining repeat prescriptions.

Haitham Hamoda, Chairman, BMS

Edward Morris, President, RCOG

Martin Marshall, Chair, RCGP

Asha Kasliwal, President, FSRH