But Questions are Good!
The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) discussed thoroughly in this Newsweek article is probably the most important study of women’s health ever conducted. Not only did it track the health of thousands of women across all ethnic groups, but it called into question several assumptions about general health, hormone therapy, and vitamin supplements.
In typical fashion, the media has presented these questions as if all medical research is unreliable.
Good health and a long life are not guarenteed to anyone ever. Taking steps to improve your health and that of your family is always positive. Long term studies reveal that there is no panacea, no fountain of youth, no easy formula. Does that really surprise anyone?
Remarkable itself is the fact that the WHI was conducted at all. It was less than two decades ago that researchers didn’t include women in new drug trials for fear that cyclical hormone variations would affect treatment outcomes. The fact that women with their cycles would take these drugs too just didn’t occur to pharmaceutical researchers.
Women’s health activists changed attitudes. Women started demanding more information about how to protect their health. It all happened so quickly that we are now learning more about women’s health at a furious pace. But it is a case of playing catch up. The fact that the major study raises questions and demand further investigation is an indication that people finally care enough about women’s survival.
I, for one, hope each of the directions researchers go from here is well-funded, well-staffed and managed with insight. It isn’t a hope I hold only for my daughter’s future. I expect my mother and I will benefit too.
Tags: feminist-medicine, womens-health-initiative
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POSTED IN: Health
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