I had not paid attention to the M Factor (blessed semi-retirement) but I was disturbed by a series of public seminars on menopause that were organized by a group including Denise Pines several years ago. Same concerns about promoting treatments with commercial value for the organizers but no evidence basis. It should be possible to promote health for menopausal women without making us cash cows! And I also include the recent effort to include perimenopause in this industry. Watch out women! Turn 40 and unless you stock up on bogus supplements and creams, your cheeks will sag, your belly will balloon, and your vagina will resemble the Sahara (though nothing that a few thousand dollars worth of laser or thermal treatments can’t fix).
Thank you for demonstrating the need for fact-checking, and the issues that may prevent such fact-checking from occurring. Misinformation, disinformation, and outright lies perpetuate so quickly, and fact-checking, in comparison, takes so long; seeing the process and understanding what it takes to remove information, such as “The M Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause”, helps people to understand why they shouldn't jump on such information.
Unfortunately, those of us who wait for the fact-checking (if we're unable to perform it ourselves, as many non-medical people are not) makes it far easier for such incorrect information to spread, to the detriment of many, and the financial benefit of a few (which is, after all, why many of them push it; I don't know which is worse - those who believe their own hype, or those who know better and hype anyway).
Nice work, Dr Gunter! Thanks for shining a light on shoddy science and medical claims (and the conflict-of-interest grifters) that impact us directly during this time in our lives. Much love and respect for your important work.
And I appreciate that you addressed the fact that documentaries in general are not necessarily factual and often have a very specific agenda. It's one thing when a public figure is presented in a particular light, but it's another when health-focused films give false or misleading information that can hurt people's wellbeing.
As a three-time host of M Factor screenings in my community, I am saddened to read this. I have contacted the documentarians. I'd be grateful for any wisdom on how to acknowledge my participation in the spread of misinformation and how to correct it.
Oh my God, I'm so glad to hear that you're taking responsibility for this. The M Factor has been a buzz where I am here in Whistler, Canada, and I'm betting that none of the people who were screening the documentary are aware of this, and if they are, I'm guessing nobody would take this on. Good on you!
Jen, thanks as always for your brilliant factual analysis. The missing part is how physicians like yourself can work with the broader industry, including brands, to get this right. Women have waited two decades for HRT to be acceptable again and for menopause to be out of the closet. Tamsen Fadel and Dr. Haver have raised significant awareness by identifying the symptoms and solutions for menopause and by speaking publicly about them. People can sell things AND want to do the right thing, it's not always a conflict of interest. That said, we must get the facts right and interpret data correctly. I want to take you up on your fact-checking offer and will be in touch!
I have no interest in working with brands, because that injects bias. The science tells us that even a $10 lunch from a drug company can sway opinion, so someone making hundreds of thousands or even more from supplements is clearly no unbiased. Many people have been speaking publicly about menopause for some time. But when those with the loudest voices are getting a big chunk of it wrong, that serves no woman.
While I appreciate your scientific analysis of all things gynecological and value your research, I’m tired of the ranting. You just sound like an angry, pissed off woman and you use this platform to let us all know how much anger you have. I’m so tired of the vitriol and harsh language in our society. Maybe, occasionally you could post something that you are happy about with current research that can get us women excited about being a woman in today’s fucked world. Peace, love and cooperation.
I am angry that people use large platforms to misinform and harm women for their personal profit. I am not using vitriol, because I am not bitter or filled with malice. I am enraged that I see women harmed by misinformation. Why not ask those who spread disinformation to do better and also warn women. And I can direct you to my last post, which is all about an exciting new study for bacterial vaginosis https://vajenda.substack.com/p/bacterial-vaginosis-the-era-of-treating
Of course she's pissed off about the state of grifting in women's health. Aren't you? I've been reading her substack for a while and there's a good balance of positive vs. frustrated posts. I agree that all the anger online is hard to take sometimes but someone needs to call this crap out, and we can all curate our feeds accordingly.
I am surprised that you are NOT pissed off that WOMEN do this to other women... put them in danger, take financial advantage of women who are in a rough place, and just want to feel better.
Thanks for the detailed fact-checking especially around the WHI. An autopsy of that study seems necessary because of all the confusion from various interpretations, cherry-picking, and using relative versus absolute to describe risk. If it's not factual, as you've shown to say two thirds of women in the WHI suffered from cardiovascular disease, is it factual instead to state two thirds of the women had risk factors for cardiovascular disease?
The study was deigned to find women who were representative of the average population, and so that's who we apply it too. They were relatively healthy and did not have established cardiovascular disease. I don't think it's factual to say that two thirds had risk factors because we don't know how many have both high blood pressure and diabetes or who took medications. I know there are influencers trying to make the WHI into something it isn't, and I also know many of them use the WHI when it suits and criticize it when it does not. I just tell people it reflects the general population.
Semi related - my bestie lives in Chicago and is massively struggling to get anyone to take her symptoms seriously, they keep quoting debunked studies - does anyone have any gyno recommendations ?!
I had not paid attention to the M Factor (blessed semi-retirement) but I was disturbed by a series of public seminars on menopause that were organized by a group including Denise Pines several years ago. Same concerns about promoting treatments with commercial value for the organizers but no evidence basis. It should be possible to promote health for menopausal women without making us cash cows! And I also include the recent effort to include perimenopause in this industry. Watch out women! Turn 40 and unless you stock up on bogus supplements and creams, your cheeks will sag, your belly will balloon, and your vagina will resemble the Sahara (though nothing that a few thousand dollars worth of laser or thermal treatments can’t fix).
Thank you for your continuing education and information.
Thank you for demonstrating the need for fact-checking, and the issues that may prevent such fact-checking from occurring. Misinformation, disinformation, and outright lies perpetuate so quickly, and fact-checking, in comparison, takes so long; seeing the process and understanding what it takes to remove information, such as “The M Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause”, helps people to understand why they shouldn't jump on such information.
Unfortunately, those of us who wait for the fact-checking (if we're unable to perform it ourselves, as many non-medical people are not) makes it far easier for such incorrect information to spread, to the detriment of many, and the financial benefit of a few (which is, after all, why many of them push it; I don't know which is worse - those who believe their own hype, or those who know better and hype anyway).
Nice work, Dr Gunter! Thanks for shining a light on shoddy science and medical claims (and the conflict-of-interest grifters) that impact us directly during this time in our lives. Much love and respect for your important work.
Keeping it real and thank you---
Thank you for this.
And I appreciate that you addressed the fact that documentaries in general are not necessarily factual and often have a very specific agenda. It's one thing when a public figure is presented in a particular light, but it's another when health-focused films give false or misleading information that can hurt people's wellbeing.
Thank you so much for your work. You’re amazing
As a three-time host of M Factor screenings in my community, I am saddened to read this. I have contacted the documentarians. I'd be grateful for any wisdom on how to acknowledge my participation in the spread of misinformation and how to correct it.
If you have an email list, maybe notify them of the issues?
Oh my God, I'm so glad to hear that you're taking responsibility for this. The M Factor has been a buzz where I am here in Whistler, Canada, and I'm betting that none of the people who were screening the documentary are aware of this, and if they are, I'm guessing nobody would take this on. Good on you!
Thanks again for all you do to inform all of us. I just couldn't help but think when you mentioned the fox in the hen house... he is there...RFK Jr...
Jen, thanks as always for your brilliant factual analysis. The missing part is how physicians like yourself can work with the broader industry, including brands, to get this right. Women have waited two decades for HRT to be acceptable again and for menopause to be out of the closet. Tamsen Fadel and Dr. Haver have raised significant awareness by identifying the symptoms and solutions for menopause and by speaking publicly about them. People can sell things AND want to do the right thing, it's not always a conflict of interest. That said, we must get the facts right and interpret data correctly. I want to take you up on your fact-checking offer and will be in touch!
I have no interest in working with brands, because that injects bias. The science tells us that even a $10 lunch from a drug company can sway opinion, so someone making hundreds of thousands or even more from supplements is clearly no unbiased. Many people have been speaking publicly about menopause for some time. But when those with the loudest voices are getting a big chunk of it wrong, that serves no woman.
Critically important education and advocacy for women everywhere. THANKS DR. JEN!!!
While I appreciate your scientific analysis of all things gynecological and value your research, I’m tired of the ranting. You just sound like an angry, pissed off woman and you use this platform to let us all know how much anger you have. I’m so tired of the vitriol and harsh language in our society. Maybe, occasionally you could post something that you are happy about with current research that can get us women excited about being a woman in today’s fucked world. Peace, love and cooperation.
I am angry that people use large platforms to misinform and harm women for their personal profit. I am not using vitriol, because I am not bitter or filled with malice. I am enraged that I see women harmed by misinformation. Why not ask those who spread disinformation to do better and also warn women. And I can direct you to my last post, which is all about an exciting new study for bacterial vaginosis https://vajenda.substack.com/p/bacterial-vaginosis-the-era-of-treating
Thank you for your thoughtful response. And I do appreciate your passion for helping women. I will look at your other posts more carefully.
Of course she's pissed off about the state of grifting in women's health. Aren't you? I've been reading her substack for a while and there's a good balance of positive vs. frustrated posts. I agree that all the anger online is hard to take sometimes but someone needs to call this crap out, and we can all curate our feeds accordingly.
I am surprised that you are NOT pissed off that WOMEN do this to other women... put them in danger, take financial advantage of women who are in a rough place, and just want to feel better.
Thanks for the detailed fact-checking especially around the WHI. An autopsy of that study seems necessary because of all the confusion from various interpretations, cherry-picking, and using relative versus absolute to describe risk. If it's not factual, as you've shown to say two thirds of women in the WHI suffered from cardiovascular disease, is it factual instead to state two thirds of the women had risk factors for cardiovascular disease?
The study was deigned to find women who were representative of the average population, and so that's who we apply it too. They were relatively healthy and did not have established cardiovascular disease. I don't think it's factual to say that two thirds had risk factors because we don't know how many have both high blood pressure and diabetes or who took medications. I know there are influencers trying to make the WHI into something it isn't, and I also know many of them use the WHI when it suits and criticize it when it does not. I just tell people it reflects the general population.
Semi related - my bestie lives in Chicago and is massively struggling to get anyone to take her symptoms seriously, they keep quoting debunked studies - does anyone have any gyno recommendations ?!