Élise Thiébaut: «La ménopause n’est pas une maladie»
Emmanuel Macron a annoncé vouloir lever le «tabou» de la #ménopause, soigner les femmes de leurs «déséquilibres». Dans un essai, la féministe Élise Thiébaut trace un chemin contraire: elle évoque un vécu apaisé, qui bouleverse alors qu’il libère.
I went to the gym today where I did Nordic curls, goblet squats, kettlebell stuff, and running.
I’m always worried about the running. I used to race regularly, mostly cross country, but also mountain races and obstacle course races. Since hormonal changes knocked me for a loop, running has been extra hard. I have hypermobility, which means that I have to rely on a lot of muscular endurance because my toes and Achilles tendons are loose and floppy. Until I have all those muscles built up, running often results in pain in my toes and along the top of my foot.
I’d really like to be able to run regularly again. I miss being able to do 10km mountain courses. I really really REALLY hope the air quality, temperature, and my health conspire to let me do this again. If I can run again, it’s better for us all. It means the country isn’t on fire again.
>2 decades ago, the shocking results of a major women’s #health study challenged the safety of menopause #hormone medication, & overnight, millions of #women & their #doctors abandoned the drugs….
Now, a long-term follow-up of the #WomensHealth Initiative (WHI)…found that for many younger menopausal women—under 60—the benefits…outweigh the risks for short-term treatment of symptoms, incl’g hot flashes & night sweats.
@DemocracySpot
Fantastic animals! Among many amazing things about #narwhals, they are one of the few species with long post reproductive lifespan for females--a kind of #menopause. This says something about sophisticated social organization and cooperative breeding.
My elbow creases are now sweating. Guess my #menopause sweat zones have expanded! I haven't sweated there before, in my entire life, til today. The unwanted joys of menopause include your body suddenly making you super hot n shiny - just not in magazine cover girl ways & never on any schedules.
Nieuwe fascinerende podcast van #ZOE: Over #overgang#menopause en hoe je zou moeten #sporten. En dat is niét zoals de landelijke richtlijn want die is gebaseerd op data over mannen.
Bij de weg, #perimenopause begint al in je vroege 40+ jaren dus ook als je nog geen 50+ bent, luisteren!!!
This statistic is outrageous: "Too few primary care doctors have enough knowledge about the #menopause; four in 10 medical schools do not even include menopause as part of their mandatory curriculum."
"The many #menopause myths your patients may believe
A look at the many preconceptions (and their related products) your patients may have about menopause."
This is a new story I wrote for the Medical Post/Canadian Healthcare Network which summarizes a talk at a recent #obgyn conference. The site is password protected but free for #doctors and #pharmacists in #Canada. Here are the first few paragraphs:
Myths, misinformation and questionable products for use in menopause abound.
So, what should doctors say when faced with patients asking about supplements, ‘estrogen imbalance,’ expensive tests, or social-media inspired treatments?
At the recent annual meeting of the Ontario regional conference for the Society for #Obstetricians and #Gynecologists of Canada (#SOGC), Dr. Alison Shea, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at McMaster University, addressed these topics.
She emphasized that while information on the internet is highly accessible, menopausal management is highly individualized.
“What somebody may say on social media that really helped them, may lead someone to ask about (it),” she said, stressing that doctors should explain that “what works for one person might not work for you.”
Myths around menopause are common, and social-media material relating to menopause can be associated with product advertising. On Instagram alone, half of the menopause hashtags are for advertisements. And, according to BNN Bloomberg, the global market for menopausal products hit US$15 billion in 2021.
The selling of products should set off alarm bells, Dr. Shea said.
High profile brands
Some high profile brands associated with menopausal products that patients might mention include GOOP, Stripes, the Galvenston Diet, and the Balance #Health App.
Actor Gwyneth Paltrow’s GOOP, and Naomi Watts’ Stripes, both sell various products with little to no science behind them, she said. Yet, some of the Stripes products are decent, such as vaginal moisturizers which are hylaronic acid based. But its advisory board is lacking, consisting of only one ob-gyn, a dermatologist and a journalist.
The creator of the Galviston Diet has some helpful content, but their goal is to sell various products, Dr. Shea said. Some of the supplements appear to be fine for healthy aging, but they may not do much for menopausal symptoms.
The Balance Health App from the U.K. tracks menopause symptoms. This can be useful, but there are free and paid versions.
The vocabulary of menopause myths
Estrogen imbalance: This is the idea that high #estrogen or “estrogen dominance” are the underlying cause for bothersome menopause symptoms and need to be kept in check.
“We know this is not true,” Dr. Shea said. While fluctuating levels of estrogen can stimulate endometriosis, or stimulate some fibroid growth, lower estrogen levels are more responsible for bothersome menopausal symptoms
"Estrogen dominance" is sometimes used to describing an ‘imbalance’ of estrogen and progesterone. However, this is not a scientific term. Some patients may purchase progesterone cream products to help with the supposed imbalance, but progesterone does not work well through the skin. And if it were absorbed it may contribute to a worsening of mood symptoms in some. The only time estrogen may need so-called balancing is if there is an overgrowth of lining the uterus, or proliferative endometrium, she said.
Probiotics are also being sold claiming to influence estrogen metabolism in the gut, but there’s very little evidence.
For anyone who needs an overview of #menopause this is a good explainer episode from This Podcast Will Kill You: Ep 135 Menopause is whatever you want it to be
#amReading Broken Light by Joanne Harris, about a menopausal woman rediscovering her power both literally and metaphorically. Perfect for my current age, outlook and mood. Greatly enjoying and looking forward to seeing where it goes.
Congé menstruel réduit aux règles incapacitantes vérifiées par un médecin
Suivi des débats des sénateurs (masculin majoritaire à 65%) sur nos problèmes de gonzesses et de personnes menstruées au boulot.
Le groupe Communiste Républicain Citoyen Écologiste est favorable (on le savait déjà).
Mais plus surprenante, Silvana Silvani du groupe CRCE regrette que le dispositif ne soit pas étendu à l'ensemble des problèmes de santé des femmes qui ont été soulevés par le rapport sénatorial sur la santé au travail (dont la ménopause et les autres phases dont je vous rabâche les oreilles ici).
"Je voudrais dire aux collègues, pour avoir entendu un certain nombre d'arguments (sur le secret médical, la confidentialité, etc.) : je crois que le vote du sénat est un vote générationnel. 💥
Les jeunes femmes aujourd'hui et c'est leur grande victoire, n'ont plus peur de dire qu'elles ont leurs règles. Elles le disent : le tabou des règles, c'est terminé !"
[Hurff, elle est un poil optimiste là.]
"Nous l'avions évoqué dans le rapport sur la santé des femmes au travail, non seulement le #tabou des #règles est terminé !
Et demain le tabou de la #ménopause sera terminé !"
Can anyone point me in the direction of information regarding increased libido during #perimenopause ? It's impossible to search for online as you just get a gazillion bits of information about the exact opposite.
These super strong hot flashes have been kicking my ass today. Not just with extreme heat (which never reaches to my freezing finger tips or toes), but with the dizziness and nausea as well.
Thought. I have always run warm. I do feel the cold, but not as much as most people. I hate (detest?) overheated department stores. This got worse with the onset of perimenopause, & I was unable to wear jumpers for years, because I couldn’t get them off quickly enough during hot flushes, which threatened spontaneous combustion. This settled somewhat after finally going on HRT.
I’ve noticed a change since going on ADHD meds. I now wear winter pjs on a “cool” summers night, & a nightie on warmer ones & am more likely to don a jacket of an evening.
Nieuwe podcast over #Overgang#Menopause . De idioot lange lijst symptomen, de gebrekkige onderzoeken en HRT.
"Menopause is hetzelfde alsof mannen hun ballen zouden krimpen en verdwijnen op hun 51ste."
Er wordt 7 keer meer onderzoek gedaan naar mannelijke impotentie dan naar menopauze. Tegen vrouwen wordt gezegd: hier heb je antidepressiva en doe niet zo flauw.