Seasoned Women's Health Matters | Vanessa Hill | TEDxMellen Street

TL;DR

A woman shares her personal journey of loss and empowerment, highlighting the importance of addressing the healthcare needs of postmenopausal women.

Transcript

so you may call her a wha glamour granny for my cousins and I we call Mery Von McIntosh Henderson uh Nana and so yeah maybe like in your family Nana was The Matriarch and she ruled us with a Grace and dignity and wisdom and and strength um her eyes they showed so many experiences but you know she wouldn't tell us anything about it so as a child I h... Read More

Key Insights

• 😃 Nana, the speaker's grandmother, served as a matriarch and inspiration to her family, encouraging them to dream big and pursue their goals.
• 🧔‍♀️ The speaker's personal loss and emotional struggle propelled her towards a mission to advocate for postmenopausal women's healthcare.
• 🥺 Gynecologic symptoms in postmenopausal women are often overlooked, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment.
• 🥶 Older women face barriers in accessing gynecologic care, including limited acceptance of Medicare patients and misinformation from healthcare providers.
• 👩‍⚕️ Sexual health education for postmenopausal women is often neglected, despite their increased risk for sexually transmitted infections.
• 🧔‍♀️ The speaker aims to challenge societal perceptions of aging, highlighting the value and vitality of seasoned women.
• 👵 Women's health should be viewed as a lifespan concern, and older women should not be denied preventive healthcare or treatment.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why did the speaker become passionate about advocating for postmenopausal women's healthcare?

After experiencing the loss of her grandmother, who had undiagnosed stage 4 endometrial cancer, the speaker was driven to understand why gynecologic symptoms in postmenopausal women were often overlooked. This led her to pursue a public health degree and engage with women to educate and empower them.

Q: What barriers did the speaker come across in her advocacy efforts?

The speaker encountered two main barriers: access to gynecologists for older women with Medicare due to low reimbursement rates, and misinformation from doctors claiming that older women were too old for certain screenings, like the pap smear.

Q: How did the speaker address the lack of information on sexual health for postmenopausal women?

The speaker educated women about sexual transmitted infections and their increased risk in older adults, hoping to empower them to protect themselves and others. She challenged the stereotype that older women are no longer sexually active or deserving of sexual health education.

Q: What message does the speaker want to convey about aging and seasoned women's health?

The speaker urges society to reframe the perception of aging and appreciate the vitality and beauty of seasoned women. She emphasizes that women's health is a lifelong concern and that older women deserve access to preventive healthcare and treatment.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker reflects on her grandmother, Nana, who was a strong matriarch and encouraged her family to dream big and pursue their goals.

• After Nana's passing, the speaker went through a period of emotional struggle, but eventually found a mission in advocating for postmenopausal women's healthcare.

• Through research and conversations with older women, the speaker discovered the lack of awareness and access to gynecologic care and sexual health information for seasoned women.