Providing free HRT and midlife health checks for all women between 45 and 64 can ultimately save the State millions, a menopause expert has claimed.
Visits to GPs and hospitals by women would be dramatically cut if cardiovascular and bone health issues, caused by menopause, were picked up earlier through free midlife medical and dexa scans (bone density scans), says CEO of The Menopause Hub Loretta Dignam, who is calling for the measures to be included as part of the forthcoming budget.
Ms Dignam welcomed the recent extension of the free contraception scheme to all women between the ages of 17 and 35 but is now calling on free prescriptions to help those at the other side of the spectrum who are suffering daily at the hands of perimenopause and menopause.
Figures from the HSE say that at least €4.1 million is currently needed to make HRT provision free for women who already receive it under the state schemes.
“Offering free HRT and midlife health checks to women as part of the budget breaks will give relief to thousands of women in Ireland who are struggling to cope with wide range of symptoms including anxiety, hot flushes and insomnia as a result of menopause,” said Ms Dignam.
“Such a scheme will also save the Government millions of euro in health care each year in treating conditions directly caused by menopause and a midlife check would diagnose bone and heart problems at an early stage, instead of treating advanced conditions such as osteoporosis, which may be only picked up by the current free bone density scan (Dexa) for women at 65 years of age.
“Menopause and the decline in hormone oestrogen primarily, contributes to cardiovascular and bone health issues, which are costly for the state.
“The free contraception scheme is fantastic and takes the cost worry away for so many women but women on the other side of the spectrum, those who no longer need contraception, need to be supported too.”
Ms Dignam believes older women in perimenopause and menopause spend more of their disposable income in their daily lives than men through contraception aids such as the IUD as well as up to €70 euro a month for HRT, if they don’t have a medical card. They are also at an age where they had to fork out for contraception and period products before free schemes were introduced by the Government.
Latest census figures show the number of women in the menopausal age bracket of 45-64 in Ireland is now 651,846, with 418,989 of these still in employment.
The Menopause Hub is Ireland’s first dedicated clinic devoted to treating menopausal and perimenopausal symptoms, and has clinics in Mount Merrion, South Dublin, Santry, North Dublin and Ballincollig, Co. Cork. The clinics have treated more than 10,000 women since opening in 2019.
The Menopause Hub is preparing to hold their second annual Menopause Workplace Excellence Awards, in partnership with Great Place to Work.
“We are delighted to welcome the backing of Irish Life Health as our headline sponsor for the 2024 Awards,” said Ms Dignam.
“This is a perfect strategic fit as Irish Life Health is leading the way in women’s health and is the first health insurer to give their members direct access to specialist female health GPs for in-depth consultations.”