Davina McCall slams BBC documentary over fears it could deter women from seeking hormone replacement therapy
Davina McCall has dismissed a BBC documentary over fears it could deter women from seeking hormone replacement therapy.
The Menopause Industry Uncovered, which aired on BBC One’s Panorama show on Monday evening, raised concerns that Dr Louise Newson, a GP specializing in menopause, had prescribed excessively high doses of HRT.
Ms McCall has previously praised the controversial doctor as ‘my source of knowledge’ and in breaking her silence on the program appeared to defend her against the latest criticism.
Speaking to her two million followers on Instagram, the presenter said: ‘Examining one doctor does not mean everyone is wrong.’
She took to social media last night to express her frustrations, saying the documentary, which was fronted by fellow broadcaster Kirsty Wark, left her ‘disappointed’ for its portrayal of hormone replacement therapy.
Davina McCall has dismissed a BBC documentary over fears it could deter women from seeking hormone replacement therapy
The Menopause Industry Uncovered, which aired on BBC One’s Panorama show on Monday evening, raised concerns that Dr. Louise Newson, a GP specializing in menopause, had prescribed excessive doses of HRT (show participants pictured)
Mrs McCall said: “I felt like it was a bit of a step back last night, which is a shame.
“Again, it was intended to keep us from using hormone replacement therapy.”
The star, who has been open about her own experiences with menopause, criticized the documentary for what she saw as a missed opportunity to support women.
She said: ‘HRT can be a lifeline – it was a lifeline for me.’
Ms McCall, the host of ITV show My Mum, Your Dad, praised Ms Wark, saying: ‘I just want to say how much I love and respect you, and Kirsty Wark, she made a documentary about menopause in 2017 . I often mention her as one of the (original) OG menopause warriors, as big as Kirsty.”
HRT is prescribed to relieve the debilitating symptoms associated with menopause, such as hot flashes, mood swings and brain fog.
It can be prescribed as a gel, spray, tablet or patch, with the highest allowable dose of estrogen being 100 micrograms per day.
But the Panorama investigation found patients in Dr.’s private clinics. Newson who had serious complications from high-dose HRT prescriptions, including several women who developed a thickening of the uterine lining, a possible precursor to cancer.
Mrs McCall said: “I felt like it was a bit of a step back last night, which is a shame. ‘Again, it was intended to keep us from using hormone replacement therapy’
HRT is prescribed to relieve the debilitating symptoms associated with menopause, such as hot flashes, mood swings and brain fog
The Healthcare Quality Commission has said it is investigating “concerning information” regarding the clinics.
McCall revealed that her own friends were taking higher doses of estrogen than recommended, but that it “seems reasonable enough” that their doctors made the decision to do so.
It comes as Mariella Frostrup raised similar concerns, labeling the documentary ‘headline-grabbing’ and implying the BBC has failed to prioritize the needs of its female audience.
She said: ‘I’m disappointed that, rather than looking at the wider landscape, the BBC has chosen to go for a shocking story when the majority of their viewers are women over 50 who could use some good advice to use. then further controversy surrounding HRT.”