Opinion: How the perimenopause movement is hurting women
SkimNews Take
The rapid online traction of the perimenopause movement suggests a public health information void, which the medical establishment has not adequately filled with clear definitions and comprehensive support.
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- Perimenopause movement claims brain fog, weight gain, hair loss, and insomnia as hallmark symptoms.
- Adriane Fugh‑Berman describes perimenopause as a loosely defined period around menopause, sometimes starting in women’s 30s.
- Pharmed Out notes the perimenopause concept has been known for about 20 years, but the push to medicalize it with hormone treatments is a newer trend.
- Google search data shows a sharp rise in perimenopause‑related queries beginning in 2023.
- Patricia Bencivenga serves as special projects manager at Pharmed Out, a rational prescribing project at Georgetown University Medical Center.
Why it matters: The 2023 search surge (count) expands the consumer base for hormone‑therapy makers, while women risk being steered toward unnecessary medication, reshaping prescribing practices and prompting clinicians to reevaluate treatment guidelines.
