Seminar to address women's hormonal health crisis

By Rachel Lebeaux/ Townsman Staff
Thursday, March 24, 2005

"The Women's Hormonal Health Crisis: Unbiased Talk and Real Answers" will bring together a panel of four doctors and educators well versed in women's hormonal health care. The experts hail from all over the country, and among the main topics of discussion will be hormone therapy; menstruation as a diagnostic tool; cervical and ovarian cancer; testosterone supplementation for women; and menstruation suppression.

"Women will have the opportunity to clarify what has been confusing about the risks and the benefits of using hormones at any stage in the life cycle," said Susan Rako, a psychiatrist with a private practice in Newton who organized the April 2 seminar and is one of the panel's experts.

Rako is the founder of Women's Health on Alert, a nonprofit organization that aims to educate women and health-care providers about women's health issues, and do so free from economic and political bias.

The timing of the panel coincides with some good news for WHOA: late last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration asked Barr Research Inc., the makers of the extended-cycle birth control pill Seasonale, to pull their advertisement from TV.

The advertisement promised girls only four periods a year, and stated that women's health-care experts agreed that was OK. A letter from the FDA's Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising and Communications to Barr Research Inc. said that the ad, "by omitting and minimizing the risks associated with Seasonale," suggests that Seasonale is actually safer than medically documented.

Rako learned of the FDA's decision last week, and for WHOA, it is good news. "Portraying menstruation as a nuisance to be gotten rid of - never mind all the risks involved - is the wrong way to be going in terms of respecting the essence of what it is to be female," she said.

Rako has written two books on women's health issues, one of which speaks directly to this topic. "No More Periods? The Risks of Menstrual Suppression," discusses many ways in which a monthly periods benefits the body.

Rako is a Wellesley College alumna and has spoken about such issues at the school before. After her talk last year, it occurred to her that a larger panel, drawing from national experts in women's health, could have an even greater effect. "It is wonderful to be able to do it at Wellesley," Rako said. "The parking is easy, they've been terrific to work with - it just seemed like the right place."

Wellesley resident Jeanne Mayell is on the WHOA Board of Directors, has a master's degree in public health and assisted in arranging the seminar.

"The plan isn't to bash all drugs, which for some people are life-saving and enhancing," Mayell explained. "But for a drug to turn into a fad without an understanding of who it is OK for could - has - resulted in consequences."

It's not a coincidence that a discussion of hormone replacement, led by national expert Edward Klaibur, M.D., will be part of the seminar. Mayell believes that last year's national study revealing the dangers of hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women is still not well understood by the media or the general public. Klaibur is expected to clarify when hormone supplementation is and is not safe for women.

In addition to Rako and Klaibur, women's health educator Toni Weschler, M.P.H., will speak about menstruation as a diagnostic tool, while Judith Wolf, M.D., an oncologist and surgeon, will lead a talk on cancer of the ovary and cervix.

WHOA hopes that other health educators - particularly those who interact with teenage girls at whom much pharmaceutical advertising is aimed - will attend the seminar. "There's very little sponsorship for people to do what we do," Mayell said. "It pales in comparison to the money drug companies have to market their drugs."

Where: Wellesley College Club

When: Saturday, April 2, 10 a.m.

What: Discussion of women's health issues, including menstruation suppression, hormone replacement, cervical and ovarian cancer

Cost: Free. Lunch is provided

To Register: Call 617-964-4241 or e-mail respond@womenshealthonalert.com