Probably about 15 years ago, I was at the doctors for a totally unrelated, minor, matter, when she looked up and said, in the sort of horrified tone usually associated with the more traditional sort of school teacher, "YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TAKING HRT (hormone replacement therapy)". At that time, they seemed to want all women of a certain age to take it, whether wanted or needed - it would, apparently, provide protection against all manner of ailments and features of old age. Recently, a younger friend, who believes her life is being destroyed by side effects of the menopause has had to weep, scream and make copious threats on numerous occasions to get HRT. It would, of course, give her breast cancer and all sorts of nasty things.
My point is that doctors do not always know best. There is some bit of research, a band wagon to jump on, the solution to everything, all problems will be solved. Then the down side is found, the research was not quite right, the mechanisms were not fully understood and lots of people have been threatened, cajoled, frightened, medicalised and so on. "We always do it" is just not good enough, nor is the "flavour of the month" approach to medicine.
Sally