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When the WHI's study on HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) was halted prematurely due to health concerns for its participants, the United States' 45 million menopausal women were left to fend for themselves. Some kicked HRT cold-turkey, suffering the immediate and ferocious onslaught of hot flashes, night sweats and heart palpitations. Others remained on HRT choosing the threat of increased risks of many fatal diseases over the unpleasantness of menopausal symptoms. Still others sought alternative treatments and remedies to help cope with the hormonal changes.
In a culture that celebrates youth more than any other society in the world, millions of women have been forced to look aging square in the crow's footed eye. Ever since the menopause cure was yanked from women's grasps how are they coping? As Marilyn Kentz and Nancy Alspaugh say in their book Not Your Mother's Midlife, "All you need is a sense of perspective and a sense of humor."
With that philosophy in mind, a growing trend of menopausal entertainment and community highlights one very important medical fact: FUN is the safest prescription for menopause. A slew of clubs, websites, theatrical productions and even a pop-up book, all dedicated to menopause and aging, have cropped up; proving that when all else fails, a menopausal woman can always feel better by having a good time.
In the Red Hat Society, a country-wide community organization, gangs of 50+ women clad in red hats descend on malls, coffee shops, restaurants and even national talk-shows, and act the way they wish they had when they were younger. The message is clear: aging women are not ready to shrivel up and die just yet.
MenOpop is the world's first menopause pop-up and activity book that with its 3-D pop-up uterus, The Menopause Fairy and MenOland -The Board Game, lets menopausal women and their friends and family laugh and play through understanding menopause.
Keep your eye on the theatre, and you'll see the national tour of "Menopause the Musical." Menopause is even infiltrating your computer through entertainment websites devoted to hot flashing and mood swinging. Currently online there is www.minnipauz.com, which features humorous cartoons and www.menopop.com, an entertainment website where it's "cool to be hot." A companion to the pop-up book, it features online video games, virtual paper dolls, a print-and-make-your-own pop-up bookmark, and community tip-swapping.
So, join the fun and try this new approach for yourself with the MenO "Pop-Quiz":
1. How many women are going through menopause right now?
A. Just you. B. You and a guest. C. Millions, and millions, and millions, and you.
2. What happens after menopause?
A. There's something after menopause? B. People no longer cower when you enter the room. C. You find yourself making finger puppets out of your unused tampons.
3. What are the warning signs that you are menopausal?
A. You are surrounded by idiots. B. You're looking forward to the next Ice Age C. What was the question, again?
Answers: (there are no answers, just many many more questions.)
Michelle Cohen produced the Off-Broadway musical hit Schoolhouse Rock Live!. and is CEO and President of the entertainment company, Fill' er Up Productions, Inc. Michelle and her varied projects have been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, MTV, NPR's All Things Considered, People Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Dave Barry's Holiday Gift Guide, Maxim, FHM, the Chicago Tribune and the Washington Post.
As a writer, her first book is MenOpopTM: A Menopause Pop-Up and Activity Book created by her company. (available at http://www.menopop.com). Her latest book is Of Course You Can Sing!TM For more details go to http://www.michellecohenonline.com
A growing trend of menopausal entertainment and
community highlights one very important medical fact: FUN
is the safest prescription for menopause. A slew of clubs,
websites, theatrical productions and even a pop-up book,
all dedicated to menopause and aging, have cropped up;
proving that when all else fails, a menopausal woman can
always feel better by having a good time. |