Black Menopausal Women Face Significant Barriers to HRT

Recent research from the Menopause All Party Parliamentary Group reveals a troubling racial disparity in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) usage, particularly among Black and Asian women. While HRT has been life-changing for many women, these findings highlight significant barriers to access and trust in medical professionals for women of color.

The Disparity in Numbers

The study analyzed data from 1.85 million female patients between the ages of 45 and 55, revealing a striking gap in HRT usage:

• 5% of Black women and 6% of Asian women are on HRT, compared to 23% of white women.

• Almost twice as many women from affluent backgrounds are on HRT compared to those from deprived backgrounds.

Factors Contributing to the Disparity

Women's health campaigner Le'Nise Brothers attributes this disparity to a broader mistrust of medical professionals rooted in structural racism:

• Advocacy: Black and Asian women often face challenges in being believed by doctors, leading to self-advocacy. This mistrust can stem from negative experiences in healthcare settings, starting from a young age.

• Cultural Mistrust: This distrust is passed down through generations, exacerbating the gap in medical treatment for Black and Asian women.

Structural Racism in Healthcare

Brothers also points out how structural racism plays a role in the medical field:

• Black women are almost four times more likely to die in childbirth than white women.

• Medical professionals may still harbor harmful misconceptions, such as the belief that Black people experience pain less intensely than white individuals.

Bridging the Gap

To address these disparities, Carolyn Harris, a Labour MP and chair of the parliamentary group, emphasizes the importance of making HRT accessible to all women:

• Accessible Care: Harris calls for a more inclusive approach to menopause care, ensuring all women, regardless of race or socio-economic status, have access to treatment.

• Equitable Health Systems: Janet Lindsay, CEO of Wellbeing of Women, echoes this sentiment, stressing the need to design health systems for all women, not just the white and privileged.

Conclusion

The disparities in HRT usage among Black and Asian women reflect broader issues of mistrust and structural racism in healthcare. To ensure equitable menopause care, efforts must be made to bridge the gap, offering support and access to all women.