Doctor wants less acrimony in discussion about hormone replacement therapy

Katrin Schaudig is between two appointments. Morning consultation at the Hormon-Klinik-Hamburg, then an interview, then further training for colleagues. It’s like she’s trying to use every second to spread her knowledge about menopause. Schaudig is President of the German Menopause Society and says that media interest has never been so great. “We can also see this in an incredible number of media inquiries that are also addressed to the German Menopause Society. So the topic is really a hot topic at all levels.”

Menopause is about to leave the taboo zone. But not everyone thinks that’s good. Critics say that menopause is something natural and that the issue should not be dramatized so much. Female doctors are accused of having their own wallets in mind, especially when it comes to hormone replacement therapy. Schaudig says that there are always allegations that the pharmaceutical industry is sponsoring. “It’s as if doctors were prescribing hormones and getting money for every pack they prescribe. That’s not the case! We prescribe hormones because we see that there are women with suffering and I can help them.”

Katrin Schaudig has become serious. Such accusations annoy her. She says the discussion about hormone replacement therapy has become significantly more heated. “Two ideological camps collide. The louder one camp becomes and makes itself public, the more the other camp counteracts it. And I observe with great displeasure that the debate is very polarized in public,” criticizes Schaudig. “I don’t think that’s a good thing. We have to get away from this black and white thinking.”

Instead, the focus must be on the woman and her sensitivities, says Schaudig. These women who suffer from hormonal changes sit in their practice every day. They have trouble sleeping, depression, heart palpitations, joint pain and just want their life back. Schaudig finds it mean and misogynistic to then tell them that it is nature and that they have to endure it. She would like to see a non-ideological risk-benefit assessment with hormone replacement therapy, just as with other medications.

Internist and gender medicine specialist Prof. Ute Seeland is familiar with such discussions. She heads the gender-sensitive medicine department at Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg. She says she experiences something similar when it comes to gender-sensitive medicine. “I’ve been researching this field for 15 years and there are always waves that really inspire and support you.”

But there are always headwinds. Seeland thinks this is completely normal. “And that’s the intention in a democracy. And especially when it comes to hormone replacement therapy, everyone has to be heard and taken seriously. Because here we are back to the old topic of personalized medicine. It’s just difficult to find a concept that fits everyone.”

For Katrin Schaudig, it is a big step forward when the women themselves are well informed. That’s why she does the podcast “Hormone Controlled”. There she imparts a lot of basic knowledge, clears up taboos and answers listeners’ questions. In the second season, which she is particularly looking forward to, she will bring in experts from other specialist areas.

Katrin Schaudig looks at the clock. She has to make her train to the next training event. Interest is also growing among doctors. Something is happening, says Katrin Schaudig optimistically.