Ep. 436 Fear-Based Choices: WHI’s Legacy & Breast Cancer Myths with Dr. Corinne Menn
Feb 1, 2025
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Dr. Corinne Menn, a board-certified OB-GYN and 23-year breast cancer survivor, shares her journey navigating health challenges and advocating for menopause education. The conversation unveils how the Women's Health Initiative has instilled fear in many women regarding breast cancer risks. Dr. Menn discusses the misconceptions surrounding hormone replacement therapy, its benefits for managing menopause, and the need for personalized care. She emphasizes the importance of education and empowerment in confronting healthcare disparities and improving women's well-being.
The Women's Health Initiative has created fear-based decision-making around hormone replacement therapy, adversely impacting menopausal women's health choices.
Empowering women with knowledge about their health risks facilitates informed decisions beyond breast cancer fears, addressing overall well-being.
Disparities in menopause experiences reveal the need for equitable healthcare that acknowledges unique challenges faced by different racial and ethnic groups.
Deep dives
The Women's Health Initiative and Its Impact
The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) has had profound consequences, particularly for baby boomer women born between 1946 and 1964, who make up over 76 million adults. This initiative's findings generated fear that decreased access to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for these women, further compounding their struggles during menopause. Many clinicians were left uneducated about menopause management, leading to a disregard for women's needs and the subsequent rise in prescribing antidepressants rather than addressing hormonal health concerns. As a result, this generation suffered from symptoms of menopause without adequate support or treatment options, highlighting a significant medical oversight.
Fear-Based Decision-Making in Women's Health
Fear surrounding breast cancer has led to irrational healthcare decisions for women, significantly impacting their management of menopause and overall health. This fear often drives both patients and doctors to overlook or underestimate the importance of hormone therapy, while the focus tends to be on breast cancer prevention, neglecting other serious conditions like heart disease. The podcast discusses the need for better education among healthcare providers to help patients accurately assess risks and navigate their health options. Empowering women with knowledge allows them to make informed decisions about their treatment rather than being dictated by fear.
Managing Hormonal Changes and Heart Health
Hormone replacement therapy can serve as a protective measure against cardiovascular disease, which is the number one killer of women, especially during the post-menopausal phase. Women who start HRT early, especially within ten years of menopause, may experience benefits like lower rates of heart disease due to the cardioprotective qualities of estrogen. The podcast emphasizes the importance of understanding the timing hypothesis, which theorizes that starting HRT while transitioning through menopause may mitigate damage already inflicted by estrogen loss. Conversations around the benefits and risks of HRT should encourage women to discuss these potential treatments with their healthcare providers without delay.
Racial Disparities in Menopause Management
The podcast addresses the disparities in how different racial and ethnic groups experience menopause, particularly the challenges faced by African American and Hispanic women who may encounter more severe symptoms and longer durations. Historical biases lead to these women often being dismissed when reporting their experiences, resulting in inadequate care. The conversation highlights the need for a more equitable healthcare system that recognizes and addresses the spectrum of menopause experiences. Improving patient-provider communication is vital in ensuring that all women receive tailored care and support in navigating menopause.
The Importance of Bone Health During Menopause
Osteoporosis is described as a silent disease that can escalate during menopause, emphasizing the need for early screening and intervention. Many women are unaware that they can lose significant bone density post-menopause, especially if hormonal therapy is not utilized. The podcast discusses the critical relationship between maintaining bone health through HRT and proactive lifestyle changes such as weight-bearing exercises. As standards for bone density testing often fall short, using HRT should be promoted to prevent osteoporosis and fractures as women age, reinforcing the need for more awareness about women's bone health.
Today, I am honored to connect with Dr. Corinne Menn, a board-certified OB-GYN and Menopause Society-certified practitioner. Dr. Menn is a 23-year breast cancer and premature menopause survivor and a BRCA carrier who draws on her personal experiences to assist other women in navigating their health challenges.
In our discussion, we explore the ways the Women’s Health Initiative has impacted Baby Boomers and how fear-based decision-making, particularly around breast cancer risks, has shaped women’s health. We discuss the timing hypothesis for hormone replacement therapy, breast cancer risks, and misleading stats and look into empowerment and the differences and biases that shape the experiences of women in perimenopause and beyond. We examine why osteoporosis is a silent disease and how hormone replacement therapy can reduce fracture risk by 30–50%, and tackle the effects of poor metabolic health, the challenges of receiving a diabetes diagnosis, and how statin therapy can influence the course of menopause and beyond. Dr. Menn also shares her personal story of resilience and empowerment.
This conversation with Dr. Corinne Menn is invaluable for all women- especially those with a history of breast cancer.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
How the Women’s Health Initiative has caused fear-based decision-making among menopausal women
Why SSRI medications are inadequate in managing menopausal symptoms
How the fear of litigation has impacted clinical decision-making in modern medicine
The cardio-protective benefits of HRT
How HRT can help avoid the risk of breast cancer
Why starting HRT early is essential for cardiovascular health
How racial differences impact women in menopause
How early bone density screening can help prevent rapid bone loss during menopause
The metabolic changes that occur during menopause
How the lack of menopause education led Dr. Menn to experience premature menopause due to her breast cancer treatments
Bio: Corinne Menn, DO, FACOG, MSCP
Dr. Corinne Menn is a board-certified OBGYN and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. Dr.Menn is also a 23-year survivor of breast cancer and premature menopause, a BRCA carrier,and uses her experience to help women navigate their health challenges. She has dedicated her medical practice to menopause management, the unique healthcare needs of female cancer survivors, and those at high risk for breast cancer. Now practicing exclusively through telehealth, Dr. Menn provides women’s health consultations and patient education. She is also a medical advisor and a prescribing doctor on Alloy, a menopause telehealth platform. Dr. Menn is an active member of the Menopause Society and a fellow of The American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology. She is a dedicated advocate and volunteer for the Young Survival Coalition, serving on their Council of Advisors, leading the Provider-Survivor support group, and serving on the Breast Cancer Alliance Research Grant Committee. She is a frequent speaker and podcast guest and has an active social media platform where she shares her mission of educating fellow clinicians and women on menopause and women’s health.
