One of the myriad misconceptions about menopause and perimenopause is that they’re only “for old women.” A wide range of potential (and potentially dangerous) symptoms can start as early as your mid-30s and last for as long as 14 years. It’s kind of a No Woman’s Land.
Jackie Piasta, WHNP-BC, NCMP, has devoted her medical career to treating, educating, and mentoring about menopause because there’s so much more to know and—thanks to the “Silver Tsunami”—so many more people who will need to know it.
Much of our talk centers around exposing the flaws in the 2002 Women’s Health Initiative report, which misleadingly linked hormone replacement therapy with an increased risk of breast cancer, and the walkback spearheaded by Dr. Robert Langer, one of the report’s authors, with his ‘Tis But A Scratch response.
We also talked about how she got into the menopause specialty so young, the challenges of these stages of life for the patient and the provider, and what she thinks providers need to focus on in order to override all the misinformation.
Perimenopause and menopause can be disorienting and distressing kicks in the ass that people with and without uteruses don’t talk about nearly enough. Jackie’s insights explain a whole lot—and warn you against referring to hot flashes as "power surges.”
Other links:
Jackie’s Monarch Healthcare offers telehealth care and consultation
Follow Jackie on Instagram
Estrogen Matters by Avrum Bluming, MD and Carol Tavris, PhD
The Let’s Talk Menopause advocacy group
Naomi Watts wants everyone to talk about menopause
Dena Norton MS, RD, LD is Back to the Book Nutrition on Instagram
The North American Menopause Society (menopause.org)
Louise Newson website and Instagram (Balance app)
The International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH)
The Rosy app
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