Women being ‘gaslit’ by inexperienced doctors who don’t know how to deal with menopause

Women are being ‘gaslit’ by inexperienced doctors who don’t know how to deal with this very common problem.

Horror stories of women being ‘gaslit’ by inexperienced doctors treating menopause and forced to pay huge bills for hormone therapy and bone density scans has prompted demands for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to take urgent action.

Warning that some doctors are under-trained and providing poor advice to women who are painted as ‘mad and sad’, there are fresh calls to demand GPs receive more information about one of the most common issues they will treat.

Greens Senate leader Larissa Waters will launch the push today warning that women are facing spiralling costs for medical treatment.

It follows the release of a major Senate report earlier this year that found that menopausal women were being dismissed, offered ineffective treatments or wrongly diagnosed.

“For too long, women experiencing menopause and perimenopause have suffered in silence,’’ she said.

“We heard some horror stories during the Senate inquiry into issues related to perimenopause and menopause about the cost of medication which can be hundreds of dollars a month.

Menopausal women are being ‘gaslit’ by inexperienced doctors, new research suggests. (iStock)

“We were told about one woman who was controlling her anxiety and depression with MHT (menopausal hormone therapy) until she could no longer afford it, she was forced to ask for Valium because it is PBS listed and $15 for a box of 50.

“The Greens will allocate $50 million annually to subsidise all TGA approved MHT and address medication shortages, ensuring women have access to and can afford essential treatments.

“We will also eliminate the PBS co-payment for menopause treatments already on the PBS.

“No one should be priced out of the healthcare they need. We must ensure that effective treatments are accessible to all.”

Greens Senator Larissa Waters. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Senator Waters said that countries have already made MHT more affordable with the UK offering a year’s supply for $40, while Canada has allocated funding to British Columbia to make MHT free for its residents.

“We also heard during the Senate inquiry that doctors are only getting one hour of training on perimenopause and menopause in their undergraduate (degree). This is patently inadequate because menopause impacts half of the population and it is a point where women become vulnerable to chronic diseases like osteoporosis,’’ she said.

“The Greens will ensure GPs can conduct comprehensive tests related to menopause, including essential bone density scans.

“One woman who asked her doctor if her symptoms could be from menopause said all he was taught in medical school was that menopausal women are either ‘mad or sad’,” she said.

“The stigma surrounding menopause has left many women feeling isolated. By increasing awareness, women can feel empowered to seek the support they deserve. That is why the Greens will implement a $5 million national education campaign for the public and for doctors.

“The major parties have yet to propose substantial changes regarding menopause care, the Greens will prioritise women’s health and ensure that women can access the support they need.

“The report from the Senate inquiry has provided a roadmap for the changes we need. It’s time for the government to respond to these recommendations without delay.

The Greens policy includes a promise to

* Ensure more affordable and accessible menopause treatments with an allocation of $50 million annually to ensure that women have access to necessary treatments by:

- Subsidising TGA approved menopausal hormone therapy (MHT)

- Purchasing more doses of MHT and making them more accessible across Australia.

- Purchasing alternative forms of MHT medications.

* Creating a new Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item that allows GPs to conduct comprehensive tests related to menopause, including essential bone density scans.

* Removing the PBS co-payment for menopause treatments to reduce financial barriers for women seeking care.

The Greens will also fund a $5 million national education campaign aimed at the public and at healthcare professionals.

Originally published as Women being ‘gaslit’ by inexperienced doctors who don’t know how to deal with menopause