Don’t Change the Channel

Menopause isn’t something we talk about, but that’s changing

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It’s hard to read the news these days and not read something about women’s health. In 2023, we continue to fight against the notion that women are somehow incapable of making their own decisions about healthcare, that they lack the information or the awareness to do so, and that our doctors are all-knowing entities who should decide for us.

As women, we don't need protection, we need information. We need our doctors to help us get access to good information and to help us make a good decision. But the decision is ours, not theirs. - Dr. Sharon Malone

This week, my guest Dr. Sharon Malone is busting the myths we hold around perimenopause and menopause treatments, including hormone replacement therapy. For me, this issue is personal. After dedicating my adult life to helping to bring information to and advocate for women, I was missing a giant piece of the pie. I knew very little about perimenopause, or the havoc it could wreak on mothers who are busy raising middle and high school children. I believed what doctors and journalists had told me about the dangers of hormone replacement therapy, and I was unaware of some of the early symptoms that most women will experience up to 10 years before their periods stop.

As is my way, I’ve decided to change that by digging into the incredible research and understanding that has emerged around this area. Today’s episode gets that conversation started, but it is only part 1 of the story. I hope you’ll join me and give it a listen - especially if you’ve never thought about this aspect of your health (or the health of the women in your life) before.

Some key takeaways from our discussion below:

• Symptoms of menopause can start as early as 10 years before you've had your last menstrual period. Perimenopause symptoms can start while women are still having a normal period, and can start young. 

• There are over 34 symptoms associated with menopause. These include changes in your menstrual cycle, hot flashes, mood swings, irritability, rage, low libido, insomnia, joint pains, weight gain, and brain fog. The symptoms of menopause can last years, and different symptoms can emerge over time.

• Training around perimenopause and menopause symptoms and management is not universal for providers. Many providers lack updated knowledge and understanding about the latest science in this area. This is largely because the majority of training and resources for physicians focuses on women in their reproductive years.

• The Women’s Health Initiative study in the 1990s radically changed our use of and understanding around hormone replacement treatment. The findings from this flawed study were (and remain) largely misunderstood. For more on Dr. Malone’s terrific explanation of this, please listen here. 

• There are treatments for perimenopausal and menopausal women. There is no virtue in suffering, and you don’t need to manage this alone. Learn more at menopause.org.

Stay tuned for part of this discussion (it is not going away!).

Warmly,