Petition Update - Remove need for follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) blood tests before prescribing Hormone Replacement Therapy

 

In April 2023 I opened a petitoin at the Scottish Parliament asking for them to remove the need for the FSH blood test in women aged 40-45 and diagnose menopause on symptoms. I also asked them to make menopause training mandatory. Unfortunately, the petition was closed on December 11th 2024. I feel it was not handled as well as it could have been,

I watched each committee meeting and read all the evidence submitted by the Minister for Public Health and Women's Health, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, NHS Education for Scotland and British Menopause Society. As part of the petition process, I was asked to submit evidence and reply to the other responses. What I found was a lot of conflicting opinion.

The NICE guidelines were at the centre of the argument yet this changed not long ago, after the original evidence was submitted by myself.  Having checked the updated version the same issue still exists. GP surgeries are following local guidance as this varies from each health board.  There needs to be clear guidance that applies to all health boards that cannot be changed and must be followed to the letter.

My evidence proves that many women are being let down on a daily basis between the guidelines being taken in different ways to doctors not having a real knowledge of perimenopause and menopause. 

A training module is in the process of being put together yet it will be voluntary and not mandatory. If the training was mandatory they would understand that perimenopause can last 10 years. They say the average age of menopause is 51, so that means peri can start at 41.  They are too focused on that magic number. Did you know menopause is only one day? Day 365. Exactly one year from your last period. Before that is peri and after that post menopause, so why are they so insistent that you have to over 45 to experience menopause? This is why training is important and should be introduced across the board and updated once a year.

It is so frustrating that women's health is not taken seriously and that so many women are being left to struggle.

If you would like to read the evidence submitted, click here