Perimenopause and Menopause: Exposing Injustices and Advocating for Women's Health

The Balance Docuseries: A Call for Change

• 🎬 The "Balance" docuseries, created by Jain monks Sadhvi Siddhali Shree and Sadhvi Anubhuti, aims to expose the injustices women face regarding perimenopause and menopause.
• 💡 The series highlights how women are often not listened to, believed, or adequately treated for hormonal health issues.
• 🎯 It shares personal stories of perimenopause, focusing on improving symptoms and future health.

Systemic Failures in Women's Healthcare

• 🏥 A major problem identified is the lack of sufficient education on perimenopause and menopause for medical professionals.
• ❓ Many doctors lack the knowledge to diagnose or prescribe appropriate treatments, leading to women being dismissed or given incorrect therapies like antidepressants.
• 📈 Historically, women experiencing hormonal changes have faced severe mistreatment, including being confined to asylums, due to a lack of understanding.

The Importance of Education and Advocacy

• 📚 Education is crucial for women to understand their bodies and hormones, enabling them to advocate for their health needs.
• 💡 The docuseries aims to increase education in medical schools and empower women with knowledge.
• 🗣️ It emphasizes that perimenopause and menopause are not silent epidemics but rather conditions where women have been silenced and misunderstood.

Hormone Therapy vs. Non-Hormonal Treatments

• ⚖️ The discussion contrasts evidence-based hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with newer, non-hormonal medications.
• ⚠️ Concerns are raised about the long-term effects and potential risks of non-hormonal treatments, particularly neurokinine receptor antagonists, which may have unknown impacts on cancer spread and other hormones.
• 🌿 The conversation also touches on the distinction between synthetic and bioidentical hormones, with bioidentical hormones derived from natural sources like yams and soy being presented as safer alternatives.

Long-Term Health and Hormonal Health

• 📉 The long-term consequences of hormone deficiency, beyond immediate symptoms, include increased risks of heart disease, dementia, and osteoporosis.
• 💖 HRT is presented as beneficial for bone health, heart health, and overall well-being, reducing the risk of these inflammatory diseases.
• 🚶‍♀️ It's stressed that a healthy lifestyle is crucial regardless of hormone therapy, but hormones play a vital role in long-term health and health span.

Empowering Women Through Knowledge

• ✅ The "Balance" docuseries seeks to empower women by providing education, challenging existing beliefs, and encouraging informed decision-making about their health.
• 🌟 The series features top experts from the US and UK, offering incredible insights into women's health and the experience of perimenopause and menopause.
• 💖 The ultimate goal is to instigate positive change in how women's hormonal health is understood and treated.