When women complain of sexual dysfunction — they are prescribed anti-depressants, supplements, vaginal lubrications, or simply dismissed. Despite the evidence in the research literature that estrogen is a very effective therapy for sexual dysfunction for women. If a provider prescribes HRT, she most certainly won’t be given enough to instill her with the same sex drive she had when she was younger. She may also be given testosterone to boost sex drive — which is inherently sexist. Testosterone is the sex hormone for Men. Women need their sex hormone, estrogen.
Women deserve a treatment for sexual dysfunction that works. The best sex of your life can happen after 40 if you want it to.
Women’s bodies historically have been the primary battleground of gender oppression. To change, physicians must listen to and believe our testimonies about our own bodies and ultimately turn it’s energies, time, and money toward finally solving our medical mysteries. The answer may be simple and it resides within our bodies — estrogen and progesterone.
At Inner Balance, we hear you and understand what you are experiencing. We want to empower women to reclaim enjoyment — with knowledge that our product is created for women by a woman.
This is not the only area that women experience a gender bias in healthcare. If you have experienced being dismissed or gaslit by a healthcare provider about your hormone symptoms — it’s not your imagination and you are not alone. A 2022 KFF Women’s Health Survey found that 30% of women reported that a provider dismissed their concerns. Another 20% didn’t believe they were telling the truth. Over and over, patients tell horrifying stories of receiving dismissive or condescending care — even from female clinicians. The problem goes beyond individual male doctors — the problem is rampant gender bias in the healthcare system itself.
For example, many people think of heart disease as a “man’s disease.”
However, heart disease is the number one killer of women in the US. The American Heart Association reports that “while 1 in 31 American women dies from breast cancer each year, heart disease is the cause of 1 out of every 3 deaths.”
Moreover, female patients are less likely to be prescribed preventative treatment than a man. Women are told to “lose weight” while men are treated with appropriate therapy. Women are more likely to be told their pain is “all in their head,” or that they are “complainers,” “hypochondriacs,” or too focused on their health. They are more likely to be prescribed anti-depressants, stimulants and benzodiazepines. They are less likely to be given appropriate pain management.
When young women complain of hormone-type symptoms, they are told that they are too young to be having these problems, or its too early to start HRT. They are told to exercise, eat right and lose weight. They are told that hot flashes are a part of life and something that they will have to live with. Additionally, they are prescribed oral contraceptives to manage their hormone deficiencies. Or given very low doses of hormones - just barely enough to provide some relief, if any relief at all. Many women start estrogen patches and pills and report no significant change in their symptoms.
Gender bias within hormone replacement therapy has been prevalent for decades, and the circumstances surrounding this bias continue to worsen. A billion-dollar industry has been built on dozens of testosterone replacement therapies and medications to treat andropause and erectile dysfunction for men; women have been less fortunate. There has also been a well-orchestrated attempt by the pharmaceutical industry to eliminate bioidentical hormones, as well as to downplay the important role of compounding pharmacies in fulfilling the needs of women in this longstanding gender gap.
How Inner Balance is Different
If you have experienced gender bias when seeking help for your hormonal symptoms then start with us today – with a free consultation. We get hormones and we get you. No eyebrow raising, or dismissing, or gatekeeping. Appropriate treatment of peri-menopausal and menopausal symptoms at your fingertips.
“This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment.”