Menopause Is Natural. Suffering Isn't: Why Women Deserve Better Information About Hormone Therapy

I spent a long weekend in Paris catching up with friends. We are all around the same age and perimenopause has definitely shifted into a different gear now.

My friends were asking me about hormone therapy and how I managed to get access to it. What struck me was how many women are still dismissed when they seek help and how much confusion and fear still surrounds hormone therapy.

One friend told me she had gained almost 10 kilos in just three months. She hadn’t changed anything, yet the weight kept creeping on. She went to her doctor and asked whether hormones could be playing a role and whether hormone therapy might be an option worth discussing.

The advice she received was to get off the metro one or two stops earlier and walk more. She was also advised to cut back on sweets.

Now, I'm the first person to talk about the importance of nutrition, movement and lifestyle. But when a woman suddenly gains 10 kilos in three months and feels like her body is no longer responding the way it used to, she deserves a deeper conversation than that.

She left feeling unheard and, frankly, a little patronised. She shared with me that the medical protocol in France only allows women to use HRT AFTER menopause!

Another friend of mine told me how much of a toll this hormone transition was taking on her - she said “Marieke, I’m a mess! I feel like a mental wreck”.

Everything felt overwhelming. She was emotional, exhausted, struggling to cope and felt as though she had lost the resilience she had always relied on. She felt unproductive at work, struggling with severe brain fog. We had talked before about the importance of estradiol in this phase and especially with her symptoms - but she just didn’t know who to turn to to get a prescription. 

She had finally been able to start estradiol together with the progesterone she was already taking. She called me to tell me that she felt like a different person - "it’s like night and day, Marieke!"

She felt balanced again, emotionally stronger, more resilient and clearer. 

I am hearing so many stories each day from women who are refused hormone therapy and left with no real solution nor relief to their symptoms. 

This is why I continue to speak about this topic.

Not because every woman should take hormone therapy.

Not because hormones are a magic solution.

But because every woman deserves access to accurate information and the opportunity to make an informed choice.

Unfortunately, many women are still carrying fears about hormone therapy that are based on outdated information. Some are unaware that there is a significant difference between synthetic hormones that were used in the women’s health study and the bioidentical hormones that are commonly prescribed today. 

The reality is that hormones influence almost every system in the body. They affect sleep, energy, mood, stress resilience, memory, concentration, metabolism, muscle mass, bone health, cardiovascular health, the health of our microbiomes and even the health of the urinary and vaginal tissues.

As ovarian hormone production declines during perimenopause and menopause, many women notice profound changes in how they feel, think and function. For some women, lifestyle changes, nutrition, exercise and targeted supplements may be enough to support them through the transition. For others, hormone therapy may be an important piece of the puzzle.

"But Menopause Is Natural - Why Interfere?"

Another argument I often hear is: "Menopause is natural. Why interfere?"

Yes, menopause is natural. Ageing is natural too.

Loss of muscle mass is natural.

Declining bone density is natural.

Reduced vision is natural.

Yet we do not hesitate to wear glasses, engage in strength training, take vitamin D or seek treatment when these changes begin to affect our quality of life.

The fact that something is natural does not automatically mean we should ignore it or suffer unnecessarily.

If someone is low in magnesium, we happily supplement. Most people don’t even check if they are low in magnesium before deciding to take a supplement.

They don't check the manufacturing process.

They don't know the difference between magnesium glycinate, citrate or oxide.

They don't question whether supplementing magnesium is "natural."

They simply recognise that something is missing and they support the body.

Yet when a woman's ovaries gradually retire and hormone levels begin to decline, suddenly we're told we should simply accept it.

There is another important consideration. 

Women Are Living Longer Than Ever

Women today are living significantly longer than previous generations. Many women will spend a third of their lives in a post-menopausal state.

This is no longer a conversation about managing a few uncomfortable symptoms for a year or two.

It's is about protecting health, vitality and independence for the next 20, 30 or even 40 years. Because low hormone levels don't just mean hot flashes.

They can contribute to:

• Bone loss and osteoporosis

• Increased cardiovascular risk

• Genitourinary symptoms

• Recurrent urinary tract infections and eventually incontinence

• Vaginal dryness and discomfort

• Loss of muscle mass

• Joint pain

• Cognitive changes

• Loss of self-confidence

• Increased risk of Dementia or Alzheimer’s

• Depression, mood swings, high anxiety

• Loss of resilience

• Lack of energy

• Reduced quality of life

These are conversations every woman deserves to have.

This is why I become frustrated when women are denied access to balanced information.

What concerns me is when women are never presented with all of their options.

Every woman deserves to understand the role of nutrition, exercise, sleep and stress management. Every woman deserves to know about herbal approaches and targeted supplementation. Every woman deserves access to accurate information about hormone therapy, including both the potential benefits and risks.

Only then can she make a decision that aligns with her health history, symptoms, goals and values.

My Position

I am not here to tell every woman she needs hormone therapy.

I am also not here to tell women they should simply "power through" symptoms that are affecting their health, relationships, work and happiness.

My role is to help women understand what is happening inside their bodies.

To help them understand their options.

To help them ask better questions.

And to help them make decisions that feel right for them.

Because menopause isn't the end of your vitality. It's a transition.

And with the right information and support, it can be navigated with confidence rather than fear.

Want to Learn More?

If you're confused about perimenopause, menopause, hormone therapy and what your options really are, I've created a masterclass that walks you through the entire hormone transition.

Inside, you'll learn:

• What is happening to your hormones during perimenopause and menopause

• The most common symptoms and why they occur

• The health consequences of declining hormones

• The difference between bioidentical and synthetic hormones

• Diet, lifestyle and supplement strategies that can help

• The pros and cons of hormone therapy

• How to make an informed decision that is right for you

Because every woman deserves facts, not fear. And every woman deserves the right to choose.