I’ve had it.
Had it with hearing how my clients are dismissed by their health care providers for being “too young” to be in perimenopause or “too far past menopause” to have hormonal symptoms.
Had it with the limited options that are offered for suffering that affects all aspects of a woman’s quality of life.
Had it with women meekly accepting the tiny bits of information that are tossed their way when there is so much more out there.
As I see it, there are three components that contribute to women not getting the care they need and deserve.
The first relates to how the health care system is set up. Your average garden-variety physician has to see a patient every 7 minutes if he or she wants to maintain a certain level of income and keep his/her bosses happy. Productivity requirements have killed the doctor/patient relationship in many ways and as a result, it’s sometimes easier to write a prescription for birth control pills or antidepressants than it is to get to the root cause of symptoms. It doesn’t mean your doctor is a bad doctor or human being. It just means that the system isn’t set up to serve you in the best way possible.
Another piece of the puzzle is that most physicians get, at best, surface level training in dealing with hormonal problems in menopause. Any MD that has more than this level of knowledge has most likely sought it out on his/her own. There are a growing number of hormone specialists who are operating “wellness clinics” in the US. These practices cater to cash-paying women who want hormone replacement. And they make big bucks. But what’s missing here is a focus on the whole picture of a woman’s health.
The final component that is lacking when it comes to women getting the care they need is having the courage to speak up and advocate for themselves.
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Not only am I passionate about caring for my clients, I’m also fired up about teaching women how to put their big-girl panties on have a conversation about what they want when it comes to their bodies. As a pharmacist, I KNOW I get treated differently by providers because I know what questions to ask and have already done my research. That’s one of the perks of being in school forever.
But what about the rest of the world? How do you (as a non-medical person) develop confidence and muster up the courage to have a voice and get your needs met? How do you get more than “it’s all in your head?”
Next week, we’ll do a deep dive into my 11 tips for developing the skills so you can be an active player in your health care. This is so important because YOU are in charge of your body 24/7. You don’t need a PhD to accomplish this, just a willingness to learn about your options and be honest and open about your preferences.
Dr. Anna Garrett is a menopause expert and Doctor of Pharmacy. She helps women who are struggling with symptoms of perimenopause and menopause find natural hormone balancing solutions so they can rock their mojo through midlife and beyond. Dr. Anna is the author of Perimenopause: The Savvy Sister’s Guide to Hormone Harmony. Order your copy at www.perimenopausebook.com.
Dr. Anna is available for 1-1 consultations. Find out more at www.drannagarrett.com/lets-
