Proov’s Post

There has been significant media attention lately concerning 'over prescribing' and 'too high doses' of HRT, both creating a platform to restrict women's ability to access hormone therapy and control over their bodies. With less than 10% of women receiving menopause treatment and incorrect HRT doses being rare, it begs the question: Why the intense focus? Let's not get sidetracked by headlines and opinions. The real crisis lies in the lack of access to knowledgeable menopause providers and inability for women to get help. The fact that there is less than an hour of medical training for obstetrician-gynecologists, yet women spend more than 30% of their lives in this stage is curious. Furthermore, family physicians are not educated yet a significant number of their patients will be in this demographic or age into it. Once we tackle these issues, then we can address overprescribing and dose accuracy. In a world where guidelines based on quality research are vital but research on women is limited, and medicine is both art and science, let's keep our focus on increasing clinicians with education on menopause, helping women navigate perimenopause with clarity and access to appropriate treatments. Leaders in this space, let's unite in the true issues at hand: access to care for women in menopause. #womenshealthaccess #workingthroughmenopause Louise Newson Mary Claire Haver, MDHerMD https://lnkd.in/g5bt3ryH

As Wulf Utian said in one of the papers years ago, it is a pendulum swinging all the time. Going from one extreme to the opposite one. Prior to WHI everyone was on hormones, no questions asked, after the initial reports of the WHI. a big (unsubstantiated) panic ensued, everyone was off the hormones, not even thinking of starting. Then Susane Summers started promoting bioidentical hormones , as a "safe, natural" alternative, scammers took over. Pendulum swang the opposite way again. Following that a decade of silence, menopause being hidden, timidly talked about and for the last few years, it is getting proper attention again. Talk about hormone therapy as a first- line of treatment (as per global guidelines) is emerging again. We are finally getting proper attention and care. Then again, fear- mongering starts. It is never a win-win situation for #women's health. As with anything else, an individualized approach, dose adjustments, risk assessment , appropriate follow- up is needed. We all have a role to play. We owe it to our patients. Kudos to all supporting and promoting evidence- based approaches: Natalie Perkins, MSc., PhD Ms.Medicine OM - A precision health company Gender Fair: A Public Benefit Corporation Canadian Menopause Society The Menopause Society Let's Talk Menopause International Menopause Society (IMS) Menopause Foundation of Canada and many more https://lnkd.in/dhMvwWaj

Many companies have a commercial interest in portraying menopause as a “medical problem”, leaving women inundated with misinformation and pushed towards ineffective treatments, a series of papers published in international medical journal the Lancet has found. The findings have prompted leading doctors and researchers – including those from the US, UK and Australia – to jointly call for a societal shift that challenges inaccurate assumptions. A review of the medical literature on menopause, which was part of the series, found misguided or harmful attitudes towards menopause were often pervasive in high-income countries. These countries needed to learn from societies where ageing in women conferred respect and in which views of menopause were more affirming, the paper said, noting Indigenous communities in Australia considered menopause as less of a problem. Rather than assuming midlife depression was often caused by menopause, societies should “promote gender equity and safety across the lifespan since early adversity increases the risk of poor mental health at midlife”, said the paper, which focused on mental health during perimenopause. #womenshealth #femtech #healthtech #digitalhealth #healthcare #healthcareinnovation #startups #innovation #health #medtech #healthcareresearch #femalehealth #genderhealthgap #reproductivehealth #venturecapital #vc #funding #investment #grants #maternalhealth #periods #menstruation #sexualhealth #sextech #menopause #fertility #pregnancy #postpartum #eggfreezing #IVF #healthequity #pelvicfloor #pelvicfloorhealth #hormonehealth

As a specialist in menopause care, I want to take a moment to concur with the recent statement issued by the British Menopause Society in response to the BBC One Panorama programme on 30th September 2024. At TMC, we are proud to work within the guidelines set out by the British Menopause Society (BMS) and NICE to ensure the highest standard of care for our patients. We recognise that Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) prescribing is unique to each individual, and our approach is always tailored to the specific needs of the patient. While we acknowledge that some patients may require doses above the licensed recommendations, it is essential that these cases are handled with the utmost care. As BMS specialists, we adhere to best practices by closely monitoring patients through regular reviews and blood tests. Most importantly, we make it a priority to clearly explain our reasoning to our patients, empowering them to make informed decisions about their healthcare. Menopause awareness has grown significantly in recent years, and we applaud the incredible efforts of individuals and collectives who continue to champion evidenced-based information. However, as clinicians, our first duty is to our patients – to follow the science, practice evidence-based medicine, and most importantly, to ensure we do no harm. The well-being of our patients is at the heart of everything we do, and we remain committed to providing the best possible care, grounded in research, evidence, and trust. #MenopauseAwareness #MHT #WomensHealth #BMS #NICE #PatientCare #EvidenceBasedMedicine #MenopauseSupport

Women who enter menopause prematurely — before age 40 — face a significantly higher risk of death. However, timely interventions can make a difference! Read more in my latest for Medical News Today, with insights from Dr. Vanessa Soviero at Northwell Health. #womenshealth #gynecology #menopause

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

Thanks to Danielle Friedman and The New York Times for the thoughtful and balanced article about Mary Claire Haver, MD and the current state of womens health and menopause care in the US. As the article points out and as Stephanie Faubion Nanette Santoro The Menopause Society and I know- there is a huge and unmet medical need for improved menopause care of women. For more than 2 decades women with symptoms related to menopause have been ignored, neglected and were told they simply had to suffer. These women were not offered menopausal hormone therapy despite clear data that the benefits for most far outweigh risk. The reasons for our terrible “miss” in this space are numerous, varied and complex and include- wide spread ongoing misrepresentation of the data from the WHI, consumer confusion over the data, physician/clinician confusion over the data and a complete end to physician/clinician education and training about menopause. Add to those issues our dysfunctional US health care system that prioritizes procedures and surgeries over complex disease management and preventative care. No one in their right mind would be a menopause doctor- ask my daughter who is now a dermatology Mohs surgeon. There is no money in traditional health care for menopause care- hospital systems and academic health systems for the last 20 years had zero interest in providing menopause care or employing experts in menopause because there was no financial benefit- there are no procedures in menopause care. And finally -ongoing gender bias, ageism, lack of reasearch funding. Now thanks to Dr Haver and many other physicians/clinicians with passion for womens health and menopause, the explosion of social media to engage with women & disseminate information, celebrities who hit menopause and experience the gaps in care, AND investors who recognize the size of the market and opportunity, “menopause is having a moment.” As I state in the article, I do have concerns about some social media messaging suggesting hormone therapy as replacement and for disease prevention- this is not supported by guidelines or the entirety of the data. Like Dr. Santoro, I too am seeing patients, who need redirecting away from aspects of messaging on social media. I support the recent TMS Statement on MHT and for clarification of the indications and guidelines. But, regardless of differences in opinion about the data, and what is responsible social media messaging, I think we all should give credit where credit is due. We all agree- more women need access to menopause care and should be offered MHT. I personally give huge credit to Dr Haver for driving conversation, education and awareness. For 20+ years, despite our efforts “we” have struggled to force real change. What Dr Haver has been able to accomplish in short period of time is significant, overall positive and frankly amazing. Kudos Dr Haver. Ms.Medicine https://lnkd.in/gg5Nk2uK

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

🚀 This might be a small screening (for now) but, it is one giant leap for women (and man) kind. 👩🚀 💫 🌚 Breaking the silence on menopause is no small feat—but "The M Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause" is doing just that. 👏 This groundbreaking film has just become the first-ever broadcast to be accredited by the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) for Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits. 🎥🩺 This is more than just a documentary—it's a crucial step toward transforming the way healthcare providers understand and treat menopause. On October 17th, a live CME webinar will allow over 1.2 million healthcare professionals to earn credits while learning about evidence-based menopause care. Thought leaders like Dr. Stephanie Faubion (Mayo Clinic) and Dr. Wen Shen (Johns Hopkins Hospital) will guide participants through the unique challenges faced by women, particularly women of color, during menopause. With over 100 screenings scheduled globally, "The M Factor" is sparking conversations that are long overdue and empowering women to thrive during midlife. 🌎💪 Kudos to the amazing producers and supporters behind this initiative—this is the kind of innovation that truly changes lives! 🗓 Mark your calendars for the CME webinar: October 17th. Let’s shred the silence together. #MenopauseMatters #CME #HealthcareInnovation #TheMFactor #WomenInHealth #MidlifeWellness #ContinuingEducation #EquityInCare Hormony ® (Prelude Health) FemTech Association Asia Femtech Mexico

❓Do you have questions on HRT? ❓Are you unsure what it is, feel confused due to the myths that surround it and want further information? Please join our free webinar next Wednesday to answer your questions and put any doubts at rest. Please share with your network!