Midi Health’s Post

Why is menopause still a controversial topic given that half of the world will go through this transition? A new series by The Lancet promoting empowerment for managing menopause is coming under fire for ignoring the real suffering of many women by framing and simplifying menopause as a ‘natural transition’.  The Lancet argues that menopause is being over-medicalized. However, data show that over 73% of women never treat their symptoms and only 7% of OB-GYN, internal medicine and family medicine residents feel competent in treating a menopausal woman. Given this perception by the general medical community, there is substantial opportunity to educate and support menopausal women in the self-care space.  Enter Versalie, a new DTC ‘virtual brand’ from Kenvue, which offers telehealth, shopping and education for women seeking menopause solutions. Kenvue partners with physicians specialized in menopausal care who take a holistic approach and prescribe or recommend products personalized for each woman’s needs. Women can also self-select a variety of products, such as mood, sleep, hot flash, energy or skin care supplements. Despite menopause being a ‘natural’ process, the symptoms and suffering are real; menopausal women are looking to be heard and want options to manage their health. Nonprescription brands with clinically-proven solutions and an authentic approach will be the winners.   https://lnkd.in/eQcfnkuw

We should be cautious about the "overmedicalization of menopause." Oh really? Thank you Mary Claire Haver, MD and the group of over 250 signing practitioners for your rebuttal of this recent Lancet series proclaiming that... 1. “Most women navigate menopause without the need for medical treatments.” 2. "On the basis of scarce data, we found no compelling evidence that risk of anxiety, bipolar disorder, or psychosis is universally elevated over the menopause transition.” ...and other tone deaf, misinformed and inaccurate statements. It seems that current menopause treatment, ie...prescriptions for... -statins & lipid lowering drugs -antidepressants/SSRIs -ace inhibitors & beta blockers without recognition of the benefits of and recommendations for appropriate use of Hormone Replacement Therapy for menopausal symptom relief and protection of bones, heart and brain... represents the real overmedicalization of menopause. Women transitioning to Menopause deserve better and it's time the medical community began to recognize menopause symptoms beyond hot flashes and recommend appropriate treatment. #menopause #perimenopause #womenshealth #hormonereplacementtherapy #pharmaceuticals #advocacy

In a momentous step for #womenshealth, in June the Green Journal, the official journal of ACOG (the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), will publish  a comprehensive review of research on the use of hormones (HRT Therapy) to address the symptoms and consequences of menopause. The article is available now, online, and needs to be read, particularly by those designing med school curriculum. The article can be found here: https://lnkd.in/gTC8Kycq This area of research has been historically contentious. In July, 2002, the National Institutes of Health stopped a huge $600M clinical  study of HRT mid-course amid conclusions that it had shown the hormones were linked to cancers, particularly breast cancers, and that HRT did not show any benefit in preventing heart disease. This was so impactful that prescriptions dropped nearly 80% and medical schools effectively stopped curriculum related to menopause. I am old enough to remember the shock of the announcement and to have friends who immediately stopped treatment. In her review of the literature, Barbara Levy, MD, FACOG, FACS with co-author Dr. James Simon, meticulously critiques the NIH's interpretation of the data, and the designs of the test cohort and the control group. The article also reviews more recent research, which addresses options that have become available since 2002 both in types of hormones and delivery methods. Clinical studies are now showing that hormone therapy can reduce or prevent menopausal symptoms, osteoporosis,vaginal atrophy, and cardiac events as well as death from cardiovascular disease. If, perhaps,this is the final chapter of a consequential and fractious debate, it could include a happy ending for all PWBs (Persons with Boobs) who make it to midlife: “Consideration of treatment with the right formulation, at the right dose and time, and for the right patient, will allow us to recommend safe, effective and appropriate treatment for people with menopausal symptoms” the paper concludes. #menopause #midlifehealth #womenshealth #femtech #TheMenopauseSociety #MenopauseResearch #MenopauseHealth #MenopauseSupport American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) #Sprintforwomenshealth

👋Can Menopause Be Delayed Indefinitely?   ♀️Researchers have identified how transplantation of ovarian tissue could potentially postpone menopause.   ➕Menopause is associated with many health issues relating to cardiovascular disease, bone density, obesity, etc. The premise is that keeping ovaries functioning longer might delay or even prevent these health issues from starting and /or allow greater development of intervention strategies for the negative consequences faced during and after menopause. The work being done focuses on mathematical models of how the ovaries age and what triggers menopause.   🌠Hopefully this work and other research can help us improve the health of women for the long-term! https://lnkd.in/ggNWPUbc #Menopause #Femtech #MenopauseSymptoms #MenopauseHealth #Midlife #MenopauseMovement #MenopauseSupport #MenopauseRelief #Femtech #WomensHealth Menopause Experts Group Limited

👋Can Menopause Be Delayed Indefinitely? ♀️Researchers have identified how transplantation of ovarian tissue could potentially postpone menopause. ➕Menopause is associated with many health issues relating to cardiovascular disease, bone density, obesity, etc. The premise is that keeping ovaries functioning longer might delay or even prevent these health issues from starting and /or allow greater development of intervention strategies for the negative consequences faced during and after menopause. The work being done focuses on mathematical models of how the ovaries age and what triggers menopause. 🌠Hopefully this work and other research can help us improve the health of women for the long-term! https://lnkd.in/gaSRKUKG #Menopause #Femtech #MenopauseSymptoms #MenopauseHealth #Midlife #MenopauseMovement #MenopauseSupport #MenopauseRelief #Femtech #womenshealth Menopause Experts Group Limited

🎆Let’s Celebrate 2024 #MenopauseAwarenessMonth! 👁October is #MenopauseAwarenessMonth, and World Menopause Day falls on October 18th. This month aims to raise awareness about the physical, emotional, and psychological challenges that women face during #menopause, helping to break the stigma and highlight available support for #menopausal women. 🔬The theme for #WorldMenopauseDay 2024 is Menopause Hormone Therapy (#MHT). #MHT has faced challenges due to concerns raised after the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study was halted in 2002. The study’s announcement of a higher risk of #BreastCancer associated with #MHT caused widespread fear among doctors and patients. In the months following the announcement, insurance claims for #HormoneTherapy dropped by 30%, and by 2009, they had decreased by over 70%. Unfortunately, many medical schools also scaled back on menopause and #MHT education, leaving generations of doctors without the necessary menopause expertise. 📊However, there were significant issues with how the WHI study was communicated, designed, and interpreted. A few of the key misrepresentations include: · Only limited types of #MHT were studied. · Today, we use different forms and lower doses of #MHT. · In women using #estrogen alone, the study showed a 20% reduction in #BreastCancer risk over time. The form of progesterone used raised the risk, which is rarely used today. · The study skewed toward older women, with an average age of 63. Younger women tend to benefit most from early #MHT intervention, but this was not factored into the study. · Many participants had pre-existing health conditions, which could have contributed to the study’s negative outcomes. ❤️Subsequent analysis of the WHI research showed that the use of #MHT in younger women (50–59 years) or in early postmenopausal women (within 10 years of menopausal onset) had a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, reducing coronary diseases and all-cause mortality. · A pooled statistical analysis of thirty clinical trials found that women who began hormone therapy before age 60 had a 39% lower risk of death than women who didn’t take hormones. · Many women are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease or osteoporosis vs. breast cancer. #MHT has been. · Not only does #MHT help with many #MenopauseSymptoms, but it decreases #UTI incidence, and the risk of osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes and may improve brain health. 🌟#MHT may not be right for everyone, but I encourage all women to have an informed conversation with their doctor to determine the best option for their unique needs.

🎆Let’s Celebrate 2024 #MenopauseAwarenessMonth! 👁October is #MenopauseAwarenessMonth, and World Menopause Day falls on October 18th. This month aims to raise awareness about the physical, emotional, and psychological challenges that women face during #menopause, helping to break the stigma and highlight available support for #menopausal women. 🔬The theme for #WorldMenopauseDay 2024 is Menopause Hormone Therapy (#MHT). #MHT has faced challenges due to concerns raised after the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study was halted in 2002. The study’s announcement of a higher risk of #BreastCancer associated with #MHT caused widespread fear among doctors and patients. In the months following the announcement, insurance claims for #HormoneTherapy dropped by 30%, and by 2009, they had decreased by over 70%. Unfortunately, many medical schools also scaled back on menopause and #MHT education, leaving generations of doctors without the necessary menopause expertise. 📊However, there were significant issues with how the WHI study was communicated, designed, and interpreted. A few of the key misrepresentations include: · Only limited types of #MHT were studied. · Today, we use different forms and lower doses of #MHT. · In women using #estrogen alone, the study showed a 20% reduction in #BreastCancer risk over time. The form of progesterone used raised the risk, which is rarely used today. · The study skewed toward older women, with an average age of 63. Younger women tend to benefit most from early #MHT intervention, but this was not factored into the study. · Many participants had pre-existing health conditions, which could have contributed to the study’s negative outcomes. ❤️Subsequent analysis of the WHI research showed that the use of #MHT in younger women (50–59 years) or in early postmenopausal women (within 10 years of menopausal onset) had a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, reducing coronary diseases and all-cause mortality. · A pooled statistical analysis of thirty clinical trials found that women who began hormone therapy before age 60 had a 39% lower risk of death than women who didn’t take hormones. · Many women are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease or osteoporosis vs. breast cancer. · Not only does #MHT help with many #MenopauseSymptoms, but it decreases #UTI incidence, and the risk of osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes and may improve brain health. 🌟#MHT may not be right for everyone, but I encourage all women to have an informed conversation with their doctor to determine the best option for their unique needs.

I was disappointed to read the recent article in The Times (15 July) titled "Testosterone prescriptions for women soar." While it raises important points about increased prescriptions, it unfortunately conflates distinct medical issues and presents a potentially misleading picture of testosterone use in women. The article blurs the lines between testosterone treatment for gender dysphoria and its use for hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in menopausal women. These are separate indications with different medical rationales and evidence bases. There is a substantial body of evidence supporting the use of testosterone for the management of HSDD in menopausal women. A significant number of women enter menopause early due to premature ovarian insufficiency, or iatrogenic damage from chemotherapeutics, radiation, or surgery. The suggestion that the increase in prescriptions in younger age groups is primarily for management of gender dysphoria is misleading and overlooks the legitimate medical needs of many women. The article raises some valid points about testosterone prescribing for women but fails to address two critical issues. 1.    The UK lacks a licensed testosterone product specifically for women, forcing all prescriptions to be off-label.  2.    Women are typically prescribed male testosterone formulations at reduced doses, which is fundamentally flawed. Women are not simply scaled-down versions of men; our hormonal needs and physiology are distinct. The global consensus statement on testosterone therapy for women advocates for formulations that approximate premenopausal physiological concentrations for the management of HSDD. At these doses, serious adverse events are not associated with treatment. As healthcare professionals, it's our responsibility to advocate for balanced reporting on menopausal health treatments. We must call for nuanced coverage that:  - Acknowledges the challenges in prescribing testosterone therapy  - Highlights the potential benefits when properly administered  - Emphasises the importance of individualised care Let's encourage media and health organisations to present a comprehensive view, empowering menopausal women with accurate information to make informed decisions about their health. What are your thoughts on improving public understanding of this important topic? John Burt Oliver Bates Gidon Lieberman Paula Briggs Karen Grace-Reynolds MA MSc Annie Coleridge Dr Theodora Kalentzi Vikram Sinai Talaulikar Channa Jayasena #MenopauseAwareness #WomensHealth 

📋Menopause profoundly impacts health, yet we lack sufficient data on its effects on aging and related diseases, as highlighted by Harvard University. Despite women living longer than men, over 75% of age-related diseases are likely influenced by menopause, contributing to physical, cognitive, and cardiovascular declines. ♂️Research predominantly focuses on male humans and animal models. Shockingly, 99% of preclinical aging studies overlook menopause and its impact on women's health, revealing a significant gap in scientific understanding. 🤷♀️To address this issue, it is crucial to recognize and rectify the limitations of current research models and evaluate the contribution of menopause to aging and disease. This requires dedicated funding and resources to bridge the existing gaps in scientific knowledge! https://lnkd.in/gwuq4DEW #Menopause #Femtech #MenopauseHealth #Midlife #MenopauseAwareness #MenopauseMovement  #MenopauseSupport #MenopauseRelief #Menowar #AllisonLewin Menopause Experts Group Limited

Looking forward to the upcoming Seattle screening of “The M factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause” - I have been musing about the attention finally being given to women across their menopausal years, as well as grappling with gaps in mental health care that continue to fall short for so many of us - and most urgently, for women of color.  During the peri-menopausal time period, mental health disorders can emerge due to hormonal fluctuations, just as they often emerge in the postpartum period. I started my Internal Medicine training in 2004 at New-York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia campus, in Washington Heights.  At that time, Internists did not frequently prescribe any hormonal treatment as the “risks of estrogen” perpetuated by the women’s health study lingered. We were also concerned about starting treatment for mental health out of legitimate fears of not being able to follow-up. I had to educate myself to prescribe anti-depressants and contraception as my female patients could not wait weeks or months for referral to OB-GYN or psych. Ninety percent of my patients were Dominican, Black, or multiracial. I could not lose them to our fragmented system. Their health could not afford them to be left out. Twenty years later we continue to face these issues in one of the most affluent cities in the United States. Women’s health care and basic mental health care are part and parcel of primary care, but providers are not given the capacity to address these needs.  I applaud my Internal medicine colleagues at the Women’s Health Clinic at the University of Washington for their dedication to providing comprehensive care.  Unfortunately the quality of our health care is now more driven by productivity rather than value-based (looking at patient outcomes). This has to change or our patients will continue to suffer. Remember the most marginalized women will always shoulder the biggest burden of poor health.  As the [M] factor highlights, menopausal symptoms are not considered seriously or addressed equally as they are in white women. Unmet needs and barriers continue to deprive women of timely appropriate care, effectively kicking them out of the system.  And their providers leave. It should be no surprise that we have the worst healthcare system of any industrialized nation, and a massive dearth of needed primary care providers who are not given the opportunity to provide what they have been trained to do. In those 15 minutes, please don't sabotage us from starting a conversation and creating connection. Connection itself saves lives. #TheMFactorFilm #menopause #ShreddingtheSilence #UniversityofWashingtonMedicalCenter #valuebasedcare