The theme for International Women’s Day this year is inclusion.
Check out Dr. Fleury’s latest Healthy Living interview on embracing a new narrative around menopause.
Keep reading for a personal message from Dr. Fleury.
“The call for inclusion resonates deeply with me, especially as it pertains to a subject close to my heart: the significant, often overlooked impact of menopause on women’s health and their economic stability.
In my 26 years of practice, I’ve seen firsthand the gap between what is provided for menopausal women in workplaces and healthcare settings and what they truly need.
Current measures, like ensuring easy access to bathrooms and adequate ventilation, are well-intentioned but barely address the tip of the iceberg. Women aren’t just looking for ways to manage their symptoms; they’re seeking real solutions, lasting changes that go beyond the superficial.
The Menopause Foundation of Canada’s study sheds light on the stark reality: unmanaged menopausal symptoms are costing Canadian employers $237 million in lost productivity every year, with women themselves losing out on $3.3 billion in income. These aren’t just numbers; they represent the lived experiences of countless women who are finding their professional lives and financial futures compromised by a natural life stage.
We need a seismic shift in how menopause is approached and treated.
Women are yearning for outcomes that offer genuine relief and resolution.
It’s clear that tackling the root causes of menopausal symptoms with a holistic healthcare approach is not just preferable but essential. This is about providing comprehensive support that addresses the myriad ways menopause affects women’s lives, ensuring their contributions and economic independence remain uninterrupted.
In my 26 years of practice, without relying on medications such as HRT or antidepressants, I’ve witnessed remarkable improvements in women’s health by addressing the underlying causes of their menopausal symptoms. Most symptoms are blamed on a decline in estrogen and progesterone, but hormone health is far more involved than this.
If we think of the menopausal woman as a tree and all her symptoms as the leaves on that tree, so much of what she is experiencing can often distill down to two key concepts:
- Menopause is often an amplification of health issues that were going on long before menopause hit
- Use a customized root cause approach to help correct the underlying imbalances that are unique to that woman rather than medicating the symptoms
As we mark International Women’s Day, let’s champion a truly inclusive approach to menopause management. It’s about more than just making the workplace bearable for menopausal women; it’s about education and offering effective root cause strategies that allow women in the prime of their lives to continue to function at their peak performance.
It’s time to move beyond band-aid solutions and embrace a holistic view that seeks to understand and address the root causes of their symptoms.”
– Dr. Jacqui Fleury, ND
