Halle Berry shouts on Capitol Hill in support of Menopause Legislation

Human rights are fundamental rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world, from birth until death. There are three types of your human rights, first your Inherent rights. These rights are not granted by any government or authority. They exist because we are human beings. Second, Universal rights , they apply to everyone, regardless of where you are from, what you believe, or how you choose to live your life. And third, your Inalienable rights. These rights cannot be taken away, although they may be restricted in certain situations, like when someone breaks the law.

So when Halle Berry shouted on TV that the Advancing Menopause and Mid-life Women’s Health Act was going to advance our human rights I was taken back at the same time never connected the dots but she was right, and I am here for it! My own human rights as a perimenopause woman were gaslighted by my own OBGYN, but really to no fault of his own but of the WHI report from 1991 which has now, 33 years later been rejected by numerous outlets for its false & misleading guidance. He had delivered my 6th child in 2015 and in 2016/2017 I began having unexplained, non-consistent symptoms which were just dismissed as nothing really showed on conventional labs. I sought second opinion answers (as you all should) from Dr. Susan Hardwick-Smith, OBGYN menopause trained advocate who was also on the journey herself. I began HRT and my symptoms diminished. Six months later when I went to my “regular OBGYN” for my annual well woman exam, he laid into me, telling me what I was doing was not expanding or prolonging my life and was not natural and could advance cancer. Now what he missed was, duh I knew this, I was optimizing what life I had left, I wanted a long health span, so he was missing what I said. He finished my exam and asked me into his office. I went having no idea what he was going to say. He was feverishly typing on his computer, turned the screen to me and said, as he jotted it down in a piece of paper, give this to your other doctor and do your own research, the paper & the computer screen had the WHI (Women’s Health Initiative) on it.

What’s next?

The Advancing Menopause and Mid-Life Women’s Health Act is a bipartisan effort currently making its way through the Senate. It aims to significantly improve women’s health in mid-life by:

• Increasing funding for research on menopause and related health issues.
• Enhancing training for healthcare providers on menopause care.
• Raising public awareness about menopause and normalizing the conversation.

This act, if passed, would represent a major step forward in addressing menopause and its impact on women’s lives.

There was also a House bill introduced in December 2023 called the Menopause Research and Equity Act. This act focused on evaluating existing research and directing the National Institutes of Health to conduct further studies.

Link in case somehow you missed the shot heard around the world https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDtxbEGqf1s

Where do we go from here?

Right now there are so many books, people, topics, symptoms to name a few; it’s very confusing but the one universal truth is good clean nutrition meaning whole foods, exercise, hydration & sleep are the four pillars to begin with as you sift through the information and gather with people who are like-minded. I chose Dr. Susan Hardwick-Smith (i’m in Houston) because we have very similar lives and styles of exercise, nutrition, sleep and lifestyle management systems. She is a provider who practices what she preaches, she’s her biggest test subject. There are so many providers and books, you need to do your own research, be your own advocate and remember what works for one probably won’t work for you but a piece of it may and your journey begins. One size shoe never fits all. I love my HRT it has given me the power pill of menopause I was in need of… Be your own advocate, speak up, no one knows your body better that you!

There are so many amazing providers who have been championing this cause for years, struggling to get the message across. Here is my short list, I am sure missing some but you get the point!

@letstalkmanopause @drmaryclaire @womankindcollective @halleberry @acertainage @kca_fleming @mpowderstore @gabbyreece @drjessicashepherdmd @drsusanofficial @kellycaspersonmd @mymenowell @menopause_society @myalloy @tamsenfadal @sexwithemily @manopausematters @menopausetaylor @shemedia @mariasophoclesmd @thisisflowspace@andiemacdowell @brookshields @evernow @smalonemd @katiecouricmedia @jennisferweiss @gabriellaeespinosa @judithjoseph @drjaynemorgan @drgabriellelyon and the beat goes on…

#kelleymoves