Table 3.

Barriers to Care and HRT from Gynaecologists

Barriers to Care by Gynaecologists	Barriers to Obtaining HRT from Gynaecologists
Explosion in primary care referrals contributes to long waiting lists and many of these women can and should be managed in primary care	Beliefs and perceptions of treatment; lifestyle management versus HRT- not all gynaecologists treat initially with HRT
Women with complex needs are not referred from primary care including patients with a history of cancer who could still receive some treatment for symptoms	Not all women are suitable for HRT; differences in benefit/risk balance for women of different ages and at different stages of menopause highlighting the need for individualised care
Markedly fewer referrals of women with lower socio-economic status and different ethnic backgrounds	The panacea for all ills; women have unrealistic expectations of HRT treatment