Obit: Barbara Seaman, women's health pioneer

[MountainLaurel]

Barbara Seaman, 72, a writer and activist who challenged the safety of hormone replacement therapy and early oral contraceptives and became a central figure in the women's health movement, died Feb. 27 at her home in Manhattan. She had lung cancer.

The health movement of the 1970s urged women to educate themselves about their bodies and demand more control over their medical care. Ms. Seaman helped shepherd the movement by raising important, often overlooked questions about adequate testing for drugs.

She was also credited with helping to create the concept of patients' rights, particularly "informed consent" and proper warning labels on drugs.

Over time, she proved correct about the dangers of high doses of the female hormone estrogen in the earliest oral contraceptives. She also denounced hormone replacement therapy, which for decades was promoted as a magic bullet to keep menopausal women young and sexy.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/28/AR2008022804118.html

[ismnotwasm]

1. Wow

Quite a women, one of those I wonder what would have happened without her?

I love that she worked on the informed consent and drug label warnings. It's saved lives.

Those old birth control pills were used by nurses as a "Plan B" because of the high estrogen content. They'd take 2 of them the "morning after"

I'm not against HRT, if it helps certain distressing symptoms, but not for long term use. More and more I'm thinking they won't be an option for me. I've never used any kind of birth control pill either, and "sexy" isn't a middle age goal for me. "Healthy" is. I always think healthy as possible is a "sexy" as you can get.

(Do you think she kept that particular last name on purpose? I can imagine the jokes)

[bliss_eternal]

2. I'm all for HRT...

...as long as it's bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. ;)

It just makes so much sense to only put into our bodies that which is identical to what our bodies naturally make.
But, if and only if a woman is deficient in such hormones (i.e. estrogen, progesterone, dhea, cortisol, testosterone, thyroid, etc.). Sadly, the current serum testing of hormones isn't prevalent in many practices and it's difficult for women to get such tests ordered. Another issue that makes it difficult for women to get a proper assessment of hormone levels is that the range of normal seems too wide. A woman can feel horrible despite being found "in range" of normal, by her physician's tests. Unfortunately at this point, she'll be told she's fine and sent away thinking it's "all in her head."

I'm so happy (and grateful)that some have continued where this woman left off, and made other options available for women to take control of their health management.

If one is found to be deficient, replacing such hormones can make a huge difference in quality of life, energy, wellness, etc.

[bliss_eternal]

3. Thank you, MountainLaurel...

...for sharing this. I'm very sad that this is my introduction to this great woman. I believe in so much of what she advocated and fought for. I wish I'd known of her sooner.