🙏 10 Things We’re Grateful for This Thanksgiving

It’s Thanksgiving Day here in the States. So, I thought I’d dedicate this newsletter to all the things I’m thankful for right now. 

🙅🏻‍♀️The “M-word” is (mostly) dead

When I started Hit Play Not Pause and Feisty Menopause five years ago, there were potential guests who would ghost me when I said the show talked about menopause. Even some doctors were still referring to it as “the M word.” It was disheartening, because that meant “menopause” was still synonymous with “shame.” Some women are still a little uncomfortable talking about it—understandably given that ageism is still alive and well—but the conversation around menopause is much more out in the open now to the benefit of all of us.

🏷️Hormone Therapy Got Some New Labeling

Since 2003, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has placed a “black box” warning on all hormone therapy products. As of November 10th, that’s changed. There will still be a boxed warning on systemic MHT that unless you’ve had a hysterectomy, you can’t use estrogen without a progestogen/progestin to avoid elevated uterine cancer risk. The warnings related to heart disease, stroke, breast cancer and probable dementia will move out of the black box and into prescribing info. There are debates to be had (and being had!) about FDA procedures and their overselling of benefits, and women should still have nuanced discussions with an informed provider. But it was high time hormone therapy labeling was revisited. 

🏋🏻‍♀️Women are pumping iron

Women are lifting weights in what appears to be record numbers, and not just for crosstraining. The Australian Sports Commission recently reported a fivefold increase in the number of women participating in amateur weightlifting. When you look at growth in powerlifting, even women ages 61 to 70 are growing at an average rate of 10% a year over the last 10 years. Women are prioritizing strength and we’re here for it.

🩺 Care is getting easier to access

Telehealth has transformed menopause care, making it easier to access a menopause-informed physician no matter where you live. There’s still a lot of work to be done, but it’s improving. We’re grateful for that.

📈Perimenopause has entered the chat

The menopause transition (aka perimenopause) is being recognized as a pivotal point in a woman’s health span, when disruptive menopause symptoms can start and risk of chronic disease can rise. Better understanding and care during this critical timeframe means healthier, happier lives for women now and in the future.

👩🏻‍💻Better workplace recognition and potential accommodations

More than a dozen states have introduced (or are considering) menopause-related legislation as of 2024-25, including insurance coverage mandates and workplace support. In June, Rhode Island amended its Fair Employment Practices Act to require employers to provide reasonable accommodation for an applicant’s or employee’s menopause or related condition, including, but not limited to, “the need to manage the effects of vasomotor symptoms.” Amen to more employers recognizing human needs.

🧬A broader understanding of the whole-body impacts of menopause

We are finally recognizing that when a woman has hot flashes and/or night sweats, it’s not just an uncomfortable inconvenience, it’s a health-risk that needs to be addressed, as vasomotor symptoms are linked to increased risk for cardiovascular disease and potentially dementia. The mainstream is finally talking about how menopause affects muscle, bone, heart, brain, and metabolism—and how we can take steps to protect all of it. It’s kind of infuriating it took this long, but we’ll take it.

💊More treatment options

Not everyone can use hormone therapy. With the FDA approval of Lynkuet (elinzanetant) and Veozah (fezolinetant), there are more options for more women. We’ll call that a win.

👩🏽‍🔬The rise of female-focused sports science 

There’s historically been a paltry amount—like 6% of studies—of sports science and exercise physiology research focused exclusively on women. In fact, when you take out the ones focused on injury and zone in on those exclusively about optimizing performance for female athletes, it’s just 3%. So, we’re grateful for some real change like the creation of a brand new Women's Health, Sports & Performance Institute (WHSP) with $50 million in funding and an interdisciplinary clinical care model with a mission to establish a place for female athletes to be treated and to drive advancements and accelerate research. We need it.

💪 More 40+ athletes out there kicking ass

From skier Lindsey Vonn setting her sights on the 2026 Olympics, to ultra-endurance athlete Heather Jackson crushing the Unbound XL course in Kansas, to ultrarunner Courtney Dauwalter continuing to redefine what’s possible, we just love watching what 40+ (and 50+, 60+, 70+, and 80+) female athletes are doing right now! 

And of course we’re thankful for YOU for your support and contribution to this amazing community for the past 5 years. Let’s keep it rolling into the New Year. Happy Thanksgiving to all. Stay feisty! ✨