Menopause expert calls for free HRT and health checks in Budget

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

Providing free HRT and mid-life health checks for all women between 45 and 64 could save the State millions, a menopause expert has claimed.

Earlier detection of cardiovascular and bone-health issues caused by menopause would dramatically cut visits to GPs and hospitals by women, the chief executive of The Menopause Hub has said.

Loretta Dignam is calling on the Government to include free mid-life medical and Dexa bone density scans in 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 for free prescriptions to help those at the other end of the spectrum who are suffering daily at the hands of perimenopause and menopause.

Figures from the Health Service Executive (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.

Ms Dignam said: “Offering free HRT and mid-life 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 a wide range of symptoms including anxiety, hot flushes and insomnia as a result of menopause.

“Such a scheme will also save the Government millions of euro in healthcare each year in treating conditions directly caused by menopause and a mid-life 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 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 a month for HRT, if they do not have a medical card.

They are also at an age where they missed out on the free contraception schemes now 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’s clinics in Dublin and Cork have treated more than 10,000 women since opening in 2019.