- Campaigners claim that menopause is a biological problem that only affects women
Talk therapy is now recommended by health watchdogs to tackle menopause.
But regulators have been accused of risking ‘confusion’ by proposing the treatment to address symptoms in trans men and non-binary individuals as well as women.
Bosses at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) said GPs should recommend cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as an option to help reduce hot flashes and night sweats, signs of depression and sleep problems.
It is often used to treat mental health problems and should be an option in addition to or as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy, Nice said.
Doctors should also explain the benefits and risks of HRT, which can vary based on factors such as the patient’s age and health history, the guidelines recommend.
Regulators have been accused of risking ‘confusion’ by proposing the treatment to address symptoms in trans men and non-binary individuals as well as women
But the medicines watchdog is facing accusations of unrest after including women as well as trans men and ‘non-binary people registered as female at birth’.
Campaigners claim that menopause is a biological phenomenon that can only affect women and that the guidelines ‘risk confusion’.
Karen Varley, founder of Conservatives For Women, said: ‘Nice undoubtedly thinks they are friendly and ‘inclusive’, but drawing up lists of irrelevant identities risks confusion and dilution of what should be a clear message about health; it’s your gender that matters.
“Only women go through menopause, and denying you’re a woman won’t change that.”
Menopause is the time when a woman stops menstruating and is a natural part of aging. It usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55, with symptoms including changes in the menstrual cycle, mood swings, hot flashes and sleep problems.
Nice said evidence of the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy on hot flashes and night sweats reduces the frequency and severity of symptoms, as well as the extent to which women, trans men and non-binary people registered as female at birth are affected.
Campaigners claim menopause is a biological phenomenon that can only affect women and the guidelines ‘risk confusion’
Professor Gillian Baird, chair of the Menopause Guidelines Committee, said: ‘This update provides important evidence-based information to help both women and healthcare providers as they discuss the best treatment to manage their symptoms.
‘This gives women more choice and allows them to make informed decisions for their own personal circumstances.’
But GP and menopause specialist Dr Louise Newson described the guidelines as ‘disappointing’