The Meno-sphere
The double-edged sword of information and noise. Women’s health isn’t a “fad” but sometimes if feels like it as we see people peddling supplements, protein powders, and the like. Some call it a grift, some call it an opportunity, some call it access. The meno-sphere is noisy and it takes energy to dig through all of it. It’s worth it though. You have to find the humans and doctors and platforms, books, podcasts and substacks, articles and societies, that connect with you. Take it all at face-value and then start delving in.
Just like vocal technique, there is no one-size-fits-all. Every woman is unique and her healthcare has to be designed specifically for her. We, as women, need to take the exploration of information seriously, and bring all the questions to the specialists and professionals for answers.
The meno-sphere may be loud, but at least there are lots of specialists out there to wade through!!
This is why I will never speak as a medical specialist. I am not one. I am a voice specialist. I understand my peri through post, and that of my clientele as it pertains to the voice and how the voice can and does respond. I cannot say anything more than “ask your doctor” when I am asked about HRT/MRT. I can offer articles that I have found, literature that is developing, but I cannot and will not leave my lane.
You, as someone who is moving into and through this time of life deserve to be heard by every professional from medical to vocal to psychological. We each have a role to play. We each have a responsibility. I take mine very seriously.
This is when singers who feel comfortable “cross-purposing”: they can their regular Primary Care Physician, their regular OBGYN, and still have a menopause specialist, a pelvic floor therapist, a manual therapist, and their laryngologist/ENT. They can also have their usual voice teacher, and if that teacher is not comfortable or knowledgeable about menopause issues that the voice reflects, they should feel comfortable meeting with a voice specialist who does!
None of us knows it all. None of us has all the answers. Seeking out the information to reveal the questions to ask, allows us to find those who might have answers. The ego of the “professional” is irrelevant if they are committed to the care and well-being of the patient/client/student/singer. It is about giving information and giving validation to the singer who is seeking knowledge.
Again, the meno-sphere is LOUD. Sometimes it contradicts itself. Sometimes it feels more like grift than honesty. Sometimes the truth is somewhere in the middle.
That’s our job: we have to wade through and decide where we want to look, and who we want to listen to. The beauty of it, is that if we decide we aren’t convinced, we can change our minds and go elsewhere. No one is keeping you anywhere. If it’s not comfortable, just trust your gut and move on.
All of these resources are not because I agree with everything from everyone. I just want you to have choice. So keep exploring to see what speaks to you; what allows you further discovery; what gives you questions to ask to then discover more!
Some Substack Newsletters
https://menopausedietplan.substack.com/
https://menopauseprofessor.substack.com/
https://clairesnowdondarling.substack.com/
https://victorfitfleet.substack.com/
https://thephysiologyofambition.substack.com/
https://hollywarnerhealth.substack.com/
https://saraszalmd.substack.com/
https://heatherhirschmd.substack.com/
And On Instagram
SO many to follow!
Find me at @seyvoice and go through who I follow and find the doctors who are menopause specialists, hormone specialists, neuroscientists, sports medicine specialists and more!
As I discover MORE I will update the resources here. Please feel free to add in the comments anything that you are following and enjoying the content!! We need to give each other all the information so we can discern what makes sense for us!
Best always,
