Case study: £37,000 for avoidable precancerous condition and hysterectomy

Our medical negligence solicitors supported a client in claiming compensation after she developed endometrial hyperplasia, requiring a hysterectomy after a prolonged period of being prescribed oestrogen only Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).

HRT prescribed by GP

In 2016, our client (Ms A) who was in her early 60s, visited her GP requesting a testosterone prescription for low libido. Her GP advised her that this wasn’t licensed for general use in women and would need to be prescribed off-licence by a specialist doctor.

Ms A went to see a private women’s health specialist who authorised the testosterone prescription for her. The specialist also noted that Ms A had been through late menopause just a few years earlier and was still experiencing night sweats. She recommended oestrogen only Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) to treat this.

Ms A saw her GP soon after this, who prescribed the testosterone and oestrogen HRT recommended by the private women’s health specialist. Ms A had regular HRT reviews; one per year with different GPs, until 2019. The various GPs she saw continued her on the same oestrogen only HRT.

There was a year-long gap where Ms A did not receive a HRT review during the Covid-19 pandemic and her next HRT review happened in November 2021 with a new GP who had not seen her before.

This GP noticed that Ms A was not taking any progesterone alongside her oestrogen prescription and told her she was at increased risk of endometrial cancer due to the long period of unopposed oestrogen therapy.

The British Menopause Society explains that unopposed oestrogen therapy can significantly increase the risk of endometrial hyperplasia, and ultimately, endometrial cancer. They recommend that all women who still have a uterus should be prescribed progestogen to oppose any oestrogen therapy and protect against this risk.

Claim for medical negligence

Ms A had been prescribed unopposed oestrogen therapy between 2016 and 2021. She still had a uterus so should not have received unopposed oestrogen.

Our client was completely shocked when this mistake was identified in November 2021. She was referred for a biopsy, but this could not be carried out until April 2022 and Ms A feared that she had cancer during this long waiting period.

The biopsy showed that Ms A had endometrial hyperplasia (a precancerous condition where the lining of the uterus grows too thick). A full hysterectomy was recommended to prevent the hyperplasia from developing into endometrial cancer. The hysterectomy was carried out in July 2022.

Ms A’s mental health suffered from November 2021, when she learnt she may have endometrial cancer. She was unable to enjoy any of her usual hobbies during this time, or work on her latest novel.

After her hysterectomy, Ms A required additional care and support from her friends and family whilst she recovered.

Settlement of the negligence claim

The claim was complex as it involved multiple Defendants who denied liability, however, in 2024, the case settled out of court for £37,000, providing Ms A with compensation for her physical and psychological injuries.

Further information

If you or a loved one have suffered as a result of poor menopause care, our specialist medical negligence solicitors may be able to help you claim compensation.

Get in touch by calling 0117 325 2929 or fill out our online enquiry form.