Medicalization refers to changing a process or a condition considered normal into one requiring medical intervention. Midlife and older women are being told that the normal process of menopause is actually a deficiency condition requiring hormone replacement. The adverse consequences of medicalizing menopause on the health and well-being of women are enormous. Rather than addressing these consequences, however, the emphasis in the medical literature has been on the unsubstantiated adverse consequences of the menopause itself. After a brief critique of the arguments used to construct menopause as a deficiency condition, this paper will explore the adverse consequences of defining all midlife and older women as deficient and in need of medical intervention.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this talk, the participants will be able to:
Keywords: Women's Health,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.