Excerpt in Mills Quarterly
https://quarterly.mills.edu/hot-and-bothered-about-the-menopause-industry/
Black Box Warning
Jennifer Gunter & Eric Topol discuss women’s health and recent actions by the US FDA. This live recording addressing many current women’s health issues illustrates interaction between science, policy, propaganda, and marketing. The video is informative from beginning to end. From around the 40-minute mark on, Dr. Gunter emphasizes the impact of politics and misogyny…
Menopause mythology is pervasive in the US
Anthony R. Scialli, MD, is a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at George Washington University School of Medicine and an adjunct professor of obstetrics and gynecology and of pharmacology and physiology at Georgetown University Medical Center. His presentation on menopause myths at the Physician Committee for Responsible Medicine’s 2025 International Conference on Nutrition in…
Society for Menstrual Cycle Research
SMCR welcomes researchers, healthcare providers, policymakers, advocates, artists, students, and more to come together, share insights, and inspire change in the menstrual space! Stay tuned for updates and details by visiting our website and following us on social media: Website: https://www.menstruationresearch.org
Print Ads for Premarin
Ads for Premarin appearing in medical journals initially targeted doctors wanting to grow their practices. Later ads in women’s magazines played on women’s insecurities and normalized taking estrogen for life.
TV Ads Normalized Long-term HRT
Although the pharmaceutical corporation that sells Premarin sponsored most ads, television ads for HRT promoted the idea of needing to “replace” estrogen and not necessarily a particular product . The list of potential health problems (should a woman fail to take HRT) in the second ad is truly frightening.
Critiquing the Menopause Industry
A groundbreaking and controversial 2024 series in The Lancet is a critique of the menopause industry and the over-medicalization of menopause. The lead author is Professor Martha Hickey, Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health, The Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
Stealth Marketing
This video addresses third-party, or “stealth,” marketing. Media messages used to sell the idea of using estrogen for “vaginal dryness” don’t necessarily mention a specific product or pharmaceutical company. The messages are intended to medicalize/pathologize a normal condition to create a demand for estrogen.
Deceptive Drug Marketing
Pharmacist and former marketing professional Lydia Green gave a TEDX talk on deceptive drug marketing.
The Professional Organization’s Role in Marketing Estrogen
The caption for this photo is “Mary finds evidence of corporate influence at a conference.” TherapeuticsMD provides an interesting example of a company’s attempt to enter the lucrative HRT market. This 2017 video reflects the early enthusiasm of investors. After nearly going bankrupt, the company sold its R&D commercial assets, and in 2022 purchased the…
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