I agree wholeheartedly about what you are saying regarding the need for systemic change, but I think you are also giving a bit of a pass to your colleagues, who were quick to absorb systemic biases against women and their suffering and fail to engage in even a modicum of intellectual curiosity as to the gap between the needs of their patients and the care they receive.
Whenever you do a post asking for women's stories, the comments overflowing with heartbreaking stories of summary dismissal ("I dont deal with hormones and besides, this is just normal aging"). Of blame ("well, if you'd just lose 20 pounds..."). Of gaslighting ("Oh, thats all just in your head."). For supposedly being some of society's best and brightest, doctors show an astounding and deeply depressing willingness to be conditioned to ignore people's suffering and then continue those patterns throughout a 40-50 year career, only to then pass down those biases to the next generation through teaching and mentoring.
This isn't just about breaking a cycle of lack of subject matter expertise, but about breaking a cycle of how doctors fundamentally relate to patients generally, and to female patients, patients of color, and from other marginalized communities more specifically.
There is an aspect of personal accountability to that reality that must accompany systemic change about the subject matter being taught.
I told my son (in his first year of residency- family practice) that I hope he'll take it upon himself to learn more and do better than his predecessors. I'm cautiously optimistic. While he is very vigilant about education, he also manages to be a free thinker.
You would think capitalism would kick in. There's a LOT of money to be made here. I currently pay cash for my semaglutide. I'd downgrade my car, buy fewer clothes....sacrifice just about anything to stay on it. That's how much of a difference it makes.
Just like people noticed patients were quitting smoking on Wellbutrin, it's only a matter of time until we see a "miracle" menopause drug hit the market. And wome. Will come running. We're desperate!
Great article but still no action item remedy or recommendations… both my OBGYN and PCP recommended Wellbutrin and Lexipro which I took in desperation and went cold turkey after 1/2 bottle…then my PCP recommended I go see a neurologist? Still all say my bloodwork is “normal”
This is such an important topic! Thank you sharing your journey. There are so many topics in each medical discipline that don't get covered. When my girls were little we had a pediatrician that had trained to become a developmental specialist. He told me that in their regular 3 year residency program they got one elective. He chose disabilities because he wanted to establish a practice in the poorest neighborhood in our city where parents might not be able to afford transportation to developmental specialist. Instead, he was bringing it to them. We used to chat about how much didn't get covered in any training program.
I am new to an HSA plan and I am looking into what that covers. So far, I do not see anything related to menopause care. I spend a lot on supplements for menopause care: creatine, collagen, protein powders, turmeric, omega 3s, etc.( not to mention $390 per month for gym membership.)
I do not see anything covered for menopause. Am I missing something?
IM hospitalist here thinking of transitioning into DPC and want to prescribe HRT for peri- and post-menopausal women. What are good resources of information? I know there’s the menopause society.
Where should MDs go to get the best training? What are your suggestions for the programs you wish all MDs took to help be better assisting with the phase of life?
The entire medical community treats on this premise.
Our focus as a medical community needs to shift to preventive care and every aspect of women’s health needs included.
Spiritual, Emotional, Physical and Mental.
I am an RN, I also work as a pregnant and postpartum athleticism coach.
There are similar issues regarding women’s gynecological care.
There is no discussion regarding movement patterns impacting our pelvic floor as we age, no education how birth affects the body prior to wanting a family, nor is there much postpartum education.
Women are forced to seek out solutions from medical providers, friends, the internet all of which tells them to “do more kegels”.
I’d love to see every nurse in our school systems teaching proper body mechanics, breathing & lifting techniques and building core strength from the inside out.
Women as a whole are underrepresented.
Up to those of us who witness it to adjust & make a difference.
For an assignment for my master's degree in counselling, I am writing about the mental health impacts of menopause and the cultural and systemic failure that women in the menopause transition and post menopause are facing.
Could I have the title of the study in the Menopause journal?
I agree wholeheartedly about what you are saying regarding the need for systemic change, but I think you are also giving a bit of a pass to your colleagues, who were quick to absorb systemic biases against women and their suffering and fail to engage in even a modicum of intellectual curiosity as to the gap between the needs of their patients and the care they receive.
Whenever you do a post asking for women's stories, the comments overflowing with heartbreaking stories of summary dismissal ("I dont deal with hormones and besides, this is just normal aging"). Of blame ("well, if you'd just lose 20 pounds..."). Of gaslighting ("Oh, thats all just in your head."). For supposedly being some of society's best and brightest, doctors show an astounding and deeply depressing willingness to be conditioned to ignore people's suffering and then continue those patterns throughout a 40-50 year career, only to then pass down those biases to the next generation through teaching and mentoring.
This isn't just about breaking a cycle of lack of subject matter expertise, but about breaking a cycle of how doctors fundamentally relate to patients generally, and to female patients, patients of color, and from other marginalized communities more specifically.
There is an aspect of personal accountability to that reality that must accompany systemic change about the subject matter being taught.
Totally agree. I’m a midwife in a different medical system and see this all the time in O&G. (I work within the hospital system here in NZ)
Excellent summary of my same medical school/ residency experience.
I told my son (in his first year of residency- family practice) that I hope he'll take it upon himself to learn more and do better than his predecessors. I'm cautiously optimistic. While he is very vigilant about education, he also manages to be a free thinker.
You would think capitalism would kick in. There's a LOT of money to be made here. I currently pay cash for my semaglutide. I'd downgrade my car, buy fewer clothes....sacrifice just about anything to stay on it. That's how much of a difference it makes.
Just like people noticed patients were quitting smoking on Wellbutrin, it's only a matter of time until we see a "miracle" menopause drug hit the market. And wome. Will come running. We're desperate!
Great article but still no action item remedy or recommendations… both my OBGYN and PCP recommended Wellbutrin and Lexipro which I took in desperation and went cold turkey after 1/2 bottle…then my PCP recommended I go see a neurologist? Still all say my bloodwork is “normal”
This is such an important topic! Thank you sharing your journey. There are so many topics in each medical discipline that don't get covered. When my girls were little we had a pediatrician that had trained to become a developmental specialist. He told me that in their regular 3 year residency program they got one elective. He chose disabilities because he wanted to establish a practice in the poorest neighborhood in our city where parents might not be able to afford transportation to developmental specialist. Instead, he was bringing it to them. We used to chat about how much didn't get covered in any training program.
I am new to an HSA plan and I am looking into what that covers. So far, I do not see anything related to menopause care. I spend a lot on supplements for menopause care: creatine, collagen, protein powders, turmeric, omega 3s, etc.( not to mention $390 per month for gym membership.)
I do not see anything covered for menopause. Am I missing something?
IM hospitalist here thinking of transitioning into DPC and want to prescribe HRT for peri- and post-menopausal women. What are good resources of information? I know there’s the menopause society.
Where should MDs go to get the best training? What are your suggestions for the programs you wish all MDs took to help be better assisting with the phase of life?
The entire medical community treats on this premise.
Our focus as a medical community needs to shift to preventive care and every aspect of women’s health needs included.
Spiritual, Emotional, Physical and Mental.
I am an RN, I also work as a pregnant and postpartum athleticism coach.
There are similar issues regarding women’s gynecological care.
There is no discussion regarding movement patterns impacting our pelvic floor as we age, no education how birth affects the body prior to wanting a family, nor is there much postpartum education.
Women are forced to seek out solutions from medical providers, friends, the internet all of which tells them to “do more kegels”.
I’d love to see every nurse in our school systems teaching proper body mechanics, breathing & lifting techniques and building core strength from the inside out.
Women as a whole are underrepresented.
Up to those of us who witness it to adjust & make a difference.
There is a need.
For an assignment for my master's degree in counselling, I am writing about the mental health impacts of menopause and the cultural and systemic failure that women in the menopause transition and post menopause are facing.
Could I have the title of the study in the Menopause journal?
For your future podcasts - you should try and have Venus Williams on - she’s sharing her experience with this and her fibroid issues.
A