What a week to launch a book on holistic health and menopause
It has been a week of intense debate, not least with The Lancet piece triggering a polarised and dramatic debate. There has been drawing of parallels to women giving birth or dying. And women on social claiming leading endocrinologists or neuroscientists are not allowed to comment because they are not OBGYNs is interesting, to say the least.
So, where do I stand as someone who supports women? Do I think women are over-medicalised? Everyone is over-medicalised in the modern world, and there is little attempt to look at the full picture or root causes.
Instead, I would say there is over-commercialisation of menopause after decades of silence. This can lead to ridiculous claims, unnecessary products, and cherry-picking scientific data to fit a particular story.
Yet, I welcome this new discussion.
Even though I champion a holistic approach to managing perimenopause and menopause, I am not in the natural, as opposed to MHT camp. To be there is not to acknowledge our diverse experiences, that we need fact-based evidence free of spin, and that we need choice.
MHT may be good for some women, even essential for those who go into menopause early due to surgery, POI or because of medical treatments. Other women who have severe mental disorders or symptoms that make life unlivable need modern medical intervention.
But the idea that HRT is some magic bullet is not realistic - hormones are super complex, and it really cannot be that HRT wipes all the difficulties of ageing away. Midlife, when the majority of women go into perimenopause, is messy.
I want to remind you of the Bottom-Up, Outside-In, Top-Down (bio-psycho-social) model that neuroscientist Dr Sarah McKay has brought to my attention. I find it helpful to conceptualise the complex interacting factors that impact our experiences at this life stage.
Bottom-up: This is where our biology, our changing hormonal status, how hormones interact with each other, and our lifestyle choices (nutrition, movement, sleep), come into play. You could describe it as a scene: hormones conduct the orchestra, genes script the performance, and lifestyle choices set the stage.
Outside-In: menopause doesn’t happen in a vacuum; it happens within the context of our lives. The external world comes in via senses, shaping our experiences through what we see, hear, smell, touch, and taste. The culture and your social circles create the external narrative around menopause.
Suppose ageing is considered something to fear, disgust, or a reason to be excluded from society or workplace opportunities. Then, our perceptions and susceptibility to seeking quick fixes are potentially there.
Finally, we inhabit the natural or built environment. If we are exposed to high levels of endocrine disruptors in our environment, the impact on hormonal status is potentially more damaging than those living in ‘cleaner’ environments.
Top-down: your mind—thoughts, beliefs, and expectations. It's where the conscious meets the subconscious, sculpting your emotions and how you make meaning. If you are exposed to fearmongering negative dialogues that want to paint you as deficient or brown in some way, there is a big chance you internalise this and remove your sense of agency. MHT can then feel like something that can rescue you rather than one part of a more comprehensive toolbox.
Life becomes more complex as we experience change. In menopause, our experiences are part of a complex interaction of the Bottom-Up, Outside-In, and top-down. HRT, while it can be a critical player, it's not the whole show. Ignoring the complexity of our existence reduces us to mere biological beings, disregarding the power of our minds (Top-Down) and how much our experiences are shaped by society and environment (Outside-In).
Instead of advocating for a single treatment approach, imagine if women and their healthcare providers were informed about all the options, allowing for a personalised treatment plan tailored to the unique needs of each woman seeking assistance.
This has been the rationale behind my work and latest book. What I call FOCUSING ON THE FUNDAMENTALS includes nutrition and gut health, movement and formal exercise, sleep and rest, stress management and an ability to meet our emotions with compassion, intimacy and caring for our vaginas and pelvic floors.
My hope is that in this messy debate, we can come through and discuss 'both 'and' not 'either-or' solutions for helping women thrive through menopause.
If you would like to read a copy of my latest book, then it’s available on Amazon https://amzn.to/48UsUs1
Thriving Thru Menopause Podcast
I have been graced with two amazing guests in case you missed the last two weeks. Firstly, Jennifer Chesak and an almost hour-long deep dive into psilocybin and its potential benefits for women’s reproductive health.
This week a great conversation with Suzanne Laurie, nutritionist and positive psychologist, unpacking the role of mindset and resilience in our experiences and ability to manage our perimenopause and menopause journey better.
Catch Me Talking About Menopause (and my book😂)
I will discuss menopause at the upcoming Women Of Wisdom summit this Monday, March 11th
If you want to join a Qigong for Menopause masterclass and learn how to boost your mood, energy, and focus with an ancient movement practice that transforms physical and hormonal blockages, I am joining pelvic health and movement coach Tracey Seider in her Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/reshaping on March 13, 2024 at 5:00 PM CET
Finally, I am delighted to once again support my good friend Pat Duckworth Menopause on Your Terms Summit on 22 March. I will do a recorded interview and join the panel discussion.
Massive thank you to everyone who offered to read my book and leave a review. I am deeply touched by the feedback and kindness.
Have a great week
Clarissa x