MENOPAUSE REVOLUTION
Celebs hail ‘historic moment’ as cost of HRT slashed for menopausal women in win for Sun campaign
MILLIONS of women could save hundreds of pounds every year - in a win for The Sun's Fabulous Menopause Matters campaign.
The Government today backed a "menopause revolution" as ministers pledged to cut the cost of repeat prescriptions of HRT.
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MP Carolyn Harris, who introduced the initial bill, wept as commitments were made to help women struggling with symptoms and costs of the menopause.
HRT is currently available on prescription for £9.35 a time in England, although it is free in Scotland and Wales.
But after politicians and celebs joined The Sun's calls for change, women on repeat prescriptions will only have to pay one charge of £18.50 a year - saving up to £205.
Lisa Snowdon, a campaign ambassador, told The Sun: "It will make a huge difference to so many women saving hundreds of pounds a year on prescriptions who will no longer have to make sacrifices to access treatment.
"This is just the beginning and I’m so proud to be a part of The Sun's Fabulous menopause matters and it’s a huge win for us.
"This campaign is making the conversation around the menopause louder and long may it continue."
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The MP for Swansea East withdrew her Private Members Bill after it sparked impassioned and personal debate from ministers about the menopause.
She had brought the topic to Parliament, initially wanting to come away with free HRT treatment on the NHS in England.
But after lively cross-party debate in support of the bill, she emotionally accepted her goal had been reached after huge cost cuts were pledged.
Sounding choked up, she said: "Wonderful women thank you. What’s happened today is only the beginning I know, but we can do such great things together because that’s what it’s all about is looking after the women.”
The drug - hormone replacement therapy - tops up levels of oestrogen and progesterone to ease symptoms of menopause including hot flushes, night sweats and mood swings.
Outside the Commons she added: "I'm absolutely over the moon, we've got a long way to go but we are strong, we are together, we are united and we will get this right.
"Until every workplace, every school, every woman, every doctor fully understands what they need to know about the menopause, then I'll be happy.
“Today is a result for women across the country. The Bill was never about wins for either side of the political divide – it was about wins for the 51 per cent of the population who will directly experience the menopause."
It will make a huge difference to so many women saving hundreds of pounds a year on prescriptions who will no longer have to make sacrifices to access treatment.
Lisa Snowdon
Davina McCall also hailed the victory as "historic moment" after backing the campaign and championing better care for menopausal women.
She said: "It's not just menopausal women - its for our daughters and our sisters and for our grannies who didn't have any support at all. And this is just the beginning."
Karren Brady said: ""For too long, many women have suffered in silence, unable to afford this life-changing treatment.
"Cutting the cost of HRT will help break down these barriers, and ensure that all women, no matter their backgrounds, get the support they deserve.
"It's vital that we build on this huge win, and encourage more people and businesses to speak openly about women's health to break the stigma and help women thrive in menopause."
It is not clear when the money-saving amendment will come into force.
Minister for Women’s Health, Maria Caulfield, who hailed the "revolution", said: “We have heard loud and clear from women across the country and MPs that menopause support is a key issue we as a government need to do more to address.
“Cutting the cost of HRT – which can be a lifeline to women severely impacted by menopause - is a great stride forward, but there is more to do."
In the Commons today, Ms Harris said women are regularly called in for breast screening and smears to check for cancers, and the same approach should be applied to the menopause.
She added: "We need to see them being called for a menopause check up around the time they turn 40.
"This would be a quick and easy solution to help women know the symptoms."
BREAK THE TABOO
The Labour MP added boys and girls must be educated about the menopause so it becomes a common topic of discussion.
She told the Commons: "We want them to talk openly about it and understand what is to come - we need young men to understand their mothers, wives, sisters, partners may be struggling at some point in their life and it's not they don't love them anymore it's just the menopause is denying them that emotion."
She said women are being prescribed anti-depressants, sleeping tablets for insomnia, or being sent for tests for early on-set dementia, when in some cases "HRT may well have been more suitable".
Multiple MPs stood up to provide their support to the bill and praised Ms Harris for her "amazing campaign".
Peter Dowd, the MP for Bootle, said: "I hope to be just one of the many honourable members who helps to achieve her aim, namely to bring and end to women's suffering.
"Those women are our wives, mothers, daughter, aunties, sisters, nieces, our friends, our colleagues, our constituents. Millions of women will need the support of everyone in this house."
LIFE -CHANGING DRUGS
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the most effective way to treat symptoms and doctors say that for most women the benefits far outweigh the risks.
But a flawed 2002 US study linking HRT to breast cancer has left many women reluctant to take it, and GPs refusing to prescribe it.
And free access to this potentially life-changing treatment wouldn’t just benefit menopausal women.
It would benefit society at large; by treating women’s debilitating symptoms, helping them to stay in work thereby reducing the strain on families and the benefits system.
Pressure on the NHS could also ease, if fewer women were referred to specialist services for their symptoms, which could be treated.
One in three women is currently experiencing the menopause.
HRT being accessable for all is a huge deal:
Fabulous GP, Dr Zoe Williams said the win was a huge step in the right direction.
"There will be many people reading this who think the prescription charge isn't a huge amount of money," she said.
"But I see lots of patients who in order to take HRT would have to sacrifice something else, possibly something their children need.
"Women, especially those in mid-life, tend to be quite selfless and will suffer and go without so their family can benefit.
"This is a huge deal for those women.
"HRT is the gold standard for menopause symptoms and it really should be accessible to everybody who can take it safely and wants to.
"This move means HRT will be accessible to many more women, and as a result, many more will benefit from the life-changing benefits.
"It's a huge win for the campaign, and women across the UK."
Rachel Hopkins, MP for Luton South, told today how she forgot the word for spatula and began to panic she had early onset dementia - before realising she was perimenopausal.
And Liz Kendall, a Labour MP, described how she started to have debilitating menopausal symptoms over the past year to the House.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid responded to her personal account, saying: "I think every word she has said will resonate with millions of people across the country for exactly the reasons she has set out.
"I think it's powerful to hear from her about her personal experiences and I do hope, especially after this debate but going forward, that the whole House can cooperate and do much more to help with this."
In a rousing finish to her speech, Ms Harris said: "According to Hansard since 1803 menopause has only been referenced in parliament a mere 197 times - I think over the past two weeks I've probably been able to double that.
"I'd like to thank everyone in this place around the country and across the globe who have been in touch to support this bill - its great to see everyone in here today with your menopause warrior badges."
Fabulous Menopause Matters
An estimated one in five of the UK’s population are currently experiencing it.
Yet the menopause is still whispered in hush tones like it’s something to be embarrassed about.
The stigma attached to the transition means women have been suffering in silence for centuries.
The Sun are determined to change that, launching the Fabulous Menopause Matters campaign to give the taboo a long-awaited kick, and get women the support they need.
The campaign has three aims:
- To make HRT free in England
- To get every workplace to have a menopause policy to provide support
- To bust taboos around the menopause
The campaign has been backed by a host of influential figures including Baroness Karren Brady CBE, celebrities Lisa Snowdon, Jane Moore, Michelle Heaton, Zoe Hardman, Saira Khan, Trisha Goddard, as well as Dr Louise Newson, Carolyn Harris MP, Jess Phillips MP, Caroline Nokes MP and Rachel Maclean MP.
Exclusive research commissioned by Fabulous, which surveyed 2,000 British women aged 45-65 who are going through or have been through the menopause, found that 49% of women suffered feelings of depression, while 7% felt suicidal while going through the menopause.
50% of respondents said there is not enough support out there for menopausal women, which is simply not good enough. It’s time to change that.
Menopause is a natural part of ageing, which usually happens when a woman is between the age of 45 and 55.
In the UK, the average age for a woman to go through menopause is 51 - it occurs when oestrogen levels in the body start to decline.
During this time periods become less frequent or they can suddenly stop, and after menopause occurs women will be unable to become pregnant naturally.
Many dismiss the life-changing process as just a few hot flushes even though it can lead to brain fog, depression, insomnia, lack of libido, brittle bones, thinning hair and heart palpitations.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Whether through embarrassment or lack of access to treatment, women are left feeling abandoned and ignored.
Our Menopause Matters campaign is shining a light on heartbreaking stories from celebrities, MPs and members of the public who have battled to survive "the change".
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HRT is a total menopause gamechanger, it’s stopped me screaming at my man and having rages, says Lisa Snowdon
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