Is HRT the best treatment for menopause? Experts reveal their opinions on the drug

In the past, women have been put off the drug because research suggested a link between HRT and breast cancer.

Yet last week leading beauty and wellness expert Liz Earle said she believes women should start taking hormones from the age of 45.

She says: "From 45 onwards the studies show that the earlier you take it the better protected you are, particularly from heart disease."

But is she right? We asked specialist gynaecologist Dr Heather Currie and natural menopause expert Maryon Stewart what they think.

YES Says Dr Heather Currie

WHEN I heard Liz Earle was talking about HRT and menopause, I was glad she was opening up.

In the past it has been something of a taboo subject, so anything that raises awareness and encourages women to share their experiences is helpful.

When it comes to menopause, every woman is different.

HRT can be very useful for controlling symptoms and we know that if women start taking it under the age of 60, then it benefits the heart and bones as well.

It's true that women are now taking it for longer but that is because we have a better understanding of how long menopause symptoms can last.

We used to think hot flushes, sweats and mood swings were only a problem for a short period of time but now we know that they can come and go for a number of years.

Women are now able to choose to take the drug for as long as they feel it's of benefit to them.

In recent years, some women avoided taking HRT because of the risk of developing breast cancer but many are now looking to return to the drug.

It is true that HRT leads to an increased risk of getting breast cancer. And for women who've had a hormone-dependent cancer I would recommend being cautious.

However in previous years there has been an exaggeration of risks in the way studies were interpreted.

Now we have a better understanding and there is gradually more confidence about using HRT again.

But while HRT can be beneficial, I wouldn't advocate every woman over 45 taking it.

Instead I would advise its use when women begin to show symptoms of the menopause.

If you have any symptoms, I'd recommend gathering as much information as possible before visiting your GP so you can get the most out of the appointment, as they're often very short.

The best place to start is the Nice guidelines, which say that if a woman is having menopausal symptoms, she should be offered HRT because it's the most effective way to keep them at bay.

They give a good overview of the risks of taking it too. For some women, taking HRT may be the right thing to do but there shouldn't be a blanket approach.

For more information visit menopausematters.co.uk

NO Says Maryon Stewart

I WAS outraged by Liz Earle's comments that women should start taking HRT at 45.

I simply don't agree that people should be taking it at a younger age. In fact some research shows women shouldn't take it in the long term because it can lead to various health risks.

HRT is not something women should open the door to unless they absolutely have to.

There's a real lack of education about menopause. I want women to feel they have choices so they don't feel pressured into taking hormones which have side effects.

I think menopause is a transition, not a medical condition, and it's something you can get through and come out of the other side feeling brilliant without taking hormones.

In fact I believe most women can overcome their menopause symptoms with good diet, exercise and relaxation techniques.

For my clients I recommend making dietary changes so their bodies can absorb nutrients better.

Studies show that 50 to 80 per cent of women have low magnesium stores and other nutrients such as iron, zinc, essential fatty acids, calcium and vitamin D are often in short supply.

The reason many women are deficient in nutrients is that during their lifetime many will have children and breastfeed.

Mother Nature makes sure the baby gets the best of the nutrients and it's the mum who gets left high and dry.

This can affect hormone function and can get even worse with old age.

So the first thing any woman going through the menopause needs to do is to get herself into good nutritional shape.

It's also good to do a form of relaxation, such as meditation or yoga, because that has been shown to reduce flushes by 50 to 60 per cent.

And doing some exercise keeps your metabolism ticking over, which is important because it slows down during midlife.

Keeping fit also ensures endorphins are still being released, boosting your mood.

Doctors should realise we don't want to be fobbed off with HRT or antidepressants - we want choices.

For more information visit maryonstewart.com/masterclass