Irish Examiner view: Menopause progress needs to be maintained

More than 75% of women experience menopausal symptoms — one in four describe them as severe

The collapse here in availability of HRT treatments, particularly of oestrogen patches and gels, mirrored similar problems in Britain when demand increased following campaigning.

Moves to provide support for women in Ireland going through the menopause were stepped up last year with commitments to add three further specialist clinics — subsequently increased to five — to the dedicated unit which opened in the National Maternity Hospital, in Holles Street, Dublin, in December.

The subject came high on the political agenda when RTÉ’s LiveLine radio show dedicated five consecutive days to the topic, and continued to command headlines this spring when there was a critical shortage of HRT treatments in the Republic.