Closed petition PE2012: Remove need for follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) blood tests before prescribing Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to remove the need for follicle-stimulating hormone blood tests in women aged 40-45, who are experiencing menopause symptoms, before Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can be prescribed to relieve their symptoms and replenish hormone levels.
Previous action taken
I have discussed this issue with doctors, and with Jamie Hepburn MSP. I have also done research based on the menopause groups I am part of, and I’m now a voice for these women. I am now taking this issue to a national level.
Background information
As a 42year-old perimenopausal woman, I joined online support groups, read about menopause and noticed a recurring theme. Many women aged 40-45 have been told they have all the symptoms of perimenopause, but as blood tests do not back this up, they are dismissed by doctors and left to suffer debilitating symptoms.
FSH tests are based on hormone levels at a precise moment, and do not give a clear indication of the fluctuating levels that occur during perimenopause. Why is this unreliable FSH test still being used, wasting valuable NHS funds?
The symptoms lead women to leave jobs and education, and miss out on precious time with family and friends. Their lives are taken over by what is a natural transition but one which is debilitating. Failed by doctors over and over again, some women take their lives because they cannot cope with the symptoms. GPs are not adequately trained to deal with menopause.
Change needs to happen to help more women lead a normal life.
This petition was considered by the Scottish Parliament
110 signatures