Intro
In this episode of “The Daily,” the focus is on menopause and how it has been misunderstood for years. Host Michael Barbaro speaks with Dr. Jen Gunter, a renowned gynecologist, about the symptoms, treatments, and historical context of menopause. They discuss the impact of hormone therapy, the lack of understanding among doctors, and the need for more informed conversations about menopause.
Main Takeaways
Menopause Symptoms and Misunderstandings
- Menopause has been misunderstood for years, both in society and by doctors.
- Symptoms of menopause include heavy periods, night sweats, hot flushes, migraines, and high anxiety.
- Many women are confused about their symptoms and how menopause works.
- Menopause can also affect memory and cause discomfort in the abdomen.
Historical Context and Hormone Therapy
- Menopause is not often talked about, and many women struggle to find successful treatment options.
- Menopause has been historically shrouded in ignorance and misinformation.
- Menopause is defined as a year without a period, and perimenopause can last from four months to a decade.
- Latina and Black women may experience longer and earlier perimenopause.
- Menopause was not part of mainstream conversation until 1966 when a book called “Feminine Forever” was published.
- The book suggested hormone treatment to keep women young, beautiful, and sexual but also emphasized the idea of making women more pleasant for their husbands.
- Hormone treatment was popularized and became part of popular culture in the 70s.
- The lack of large randomized control trials on the health benefits and risks of hormone treatment led to concerns from activists.
- In the mid-90s, the National Institutes of Health started a massive randomized control trial to study the health benefits and risks of estrogen and progesterone.
- In 2002, the trial was abruptly stopped due to serious health concerns such as increased risk of breast cancer, clotting, and stroke.
- The results of the trial were significant and led to a majority of women being advised to stop hormone treatment by their physicians.
- Women responded in panic to the elevated risks of hormone treatment, leading to a huge shift and anger among them.
- Doctors felt guilty for prescribing hormones aggressively, leading to discouragement and medical schools stopping teaching it.
- Millions of women may have suffered needlessly due to misinterpretation of the study’s findings.
- Public has a poor understanding of risk statistics, leading to misinterpretation of the study’s findings.
- Hormone therapy may have cardiovascular benefits if started earlier, and women who had hysterectomies had decreased risk of breast cancer and better long-term health outcomes.
- Misunderstanding of hormone therapy led to women stopping the treatment.
- Menopause and hormone therapy were not well understood by doctors in the past.
Changing Conversations and Women’s Empowerment
- Older women are often the target of insensitive jokes and not treated with respect and care.
- There are now various options for administering hormones to women seeking relief from menopausal suffering.
- There is a need for both doctors and patients to learn about these options and make informed decisions.
- Menopause is a real thing in women’s lives and needs to be taken seriously.
- Women have been misled about menopause.
- Women want a lot of information in one place about menopause.
- Doctors are now having more conversations about menopause with their patients.
- Menopause is having a moment where women are saying they are important and what they care about is important.
- A virtuous cycle could occur if older women feel heard in the doctor’s office, leading to improved care in general.
- Every woman should have the right to feel that there is time and space for the conversation and to have their symptoms taken seriously, whatever they decide to do – speaker Susan.
- Susan takes low-dose estrogen and progesterone, which has completely eliminated her hot flashes, but she won’t stay on them for more than five years due to an elevated risk of breast cancer.
Summary
Menopause: A Misunderstood Journey
For years, menopause has been misunderstood both in society and by doctors. Women experience a range of symptoms, including heavy periods, night sweats, hot flushes, migraines, high anxiety, memory issues, and abdominal discomfort. However, many women are confused about their symptoms and lack proper understanding of menopause. Historically, menopause was shrouded in ignorance and misinformation until the publication of “Feminine Forever” in 1966. The book advocated hormone treatment to keep women youthful and sexual, but it also reinforced the idea of women being more pleasant for their husbands. Hormone therapy gained popularity in the 70s but faced concerns due to the lack of large-scale trials. The National Institutes of Health conducted a trial in the mid-90s, which was abruptly stopped in 2002 due to serious health risks. This led to a majority of women discontinuing hormone treatment, causing panic and anger. Misinterpretation of the study’s findings and poor understanding of risk statistics further contributed to the confusion. However, hormone therapy may have cardiovascular benefits if started earlier, and women who had hysterectomies experienced decreased breast cancer risk and better long-term health outcomes. Menopause and hormone therapy were not well understood by doctors in the past, but there is now a growing awareness and more conversations happening between doctors and patients. Women are demanding better care and information about menopause, and it is crucial for doctors to listen and provide informed options. Menopause is having a moment where women’s voices are being heard, and every woman deserves to have her symptoms taken seriously, regardless of the treatment she chooses.
Conclusion
Menopause is a significant phase in women’s lives that has been overlooked and misunderstood for years. The historical context of menopause and hormone therapy highlights the need for better education and informed conversations. Women deserve to be listened to and have their symptoms taken seriously. With improved understanding and care, women can navigate menopause with more confidence and comfort. It’s time to recognize the importance of menopause and empower women to make informed decisions about their health.
