A 'What to Expect When You're Expecting' For The Menopause Years

Diane Rehm: On My Mind

WAMU 88.5

Artists And Thinkers Right Here As Diane Transitions This Podcast To Weekly Episodes That We’ll Be Calling “On My Mind.”, News, Writers, Fans Of The Diane Rehm Show Can Continue To Listen To Its Trademark Conversations With Newsmakers

4.7 • 2.2K Ratings

🗓️ 11 April 2024

⏱️ 44 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Once a taboo topic, menopause has recently come out of the shadows.

Media headlines declare it is “having a moment,” as celebrities like Michelle Obama, Drew Barrymore and Oprah have shared their experiences with “the change.”

Even Washington is paying attention. In March, President Biden signed an executive order that funds research into women’s health – including midlife conditions like menopause.

“We cannot afford not to address the health issues of women as they age,” says Dr. Sharon Malone, a gynecologist and vocal advocate for menopause awareness.

She points out that menopausal women are the fastest growing demographic in the country, 80% of whom will experience menopause related symptoms such as hot flashes, sleeplessness, or anxiety. This is not just a matter of inconvenience, adds Dr. Malone, but left untreated, can lead to more serious conditions like cardiovascular disease.

Dr. Malone is the author of a new book titled “Grown Woman Talk.” She calls it a “‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting’ book for women who plan to live past 40,” referencing the popular pregnancy guide.

Dr. Malone joins Diane on this week’s episode of On My Mind to explain why the current attention to menopause is long overdue, and why understanding this phase of life is so critical to a woman’s ability to get – and stay – healthy.

Transcript

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0:00.0	I hit Diane on my mind.
0:05.0	Manapause. Once a taboo topic.
0:12.0	The M word has recently come out of the shadows. Media headlines
0:18.3	declare it's having a moment at celebrities like Michelle Obama, through Barrymore, and Oprah share their experiences
0:29.5	with the change.
0:31.7	Even Washington is paying attention in March, President Biden signed an executive order
0:39.7	that funds research into women's health, particularly mid-life conditions like menopause.
0:49.3	I think that women, with adequate information can make decisions for themselves.
0:57.6	Dr Sharon Malone is practicing ODIN and a vocal advocate for an apaw of awareness.
1:08.0	She's also the author of the new book,
1:11.0	Rome Woman Talk.
1:13.6	She joined me to explain why this attention is long overdue
1:18.8	and so critical to women's ability to death and stay healthy.
1:25.0	Dr Malone, your new book is a call to women to take charge of their own health.
1:37.1	What do you mean by that and why now?
1:41.5	Well, first off, things have changed in medicine and I think that a lot has
1:46.8	happened in the past 20 years and it's gone in the direction of being less
1:51.3	personal and I think more confusing and we are in a space now where in the old days and I count myself in the old people you know you would stay in one place I have patients that I saw for 30 years almost
2:05.6	continuously that is no longer going to be the the reality for most women
2:11.4	doctors you're going to get new doctors, your insurance is
2:14.8	going to change, you might get a new employer, you might move, so that continuity of
2:19.8	care is not there. So we can lament about how it used to be, but the reality is this is how
	...

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