The New Rules are Here!

Feb 18
3 min read

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ir2quJWKWk

For decades, medical research has focused predominantly on male physiology, creating a significant knowledge gap in women's health. Treatments, screening protocols, and even diagnostic criteria have been developed based on male models and applied to women with the assumption that our bodies function identically, just smaller and with different reproductive organs.

This approach has left women systematically underserved by our healthcare system.

In my latest Thrive on Plants podcast episode, I sat down with award-winning health journalist Meghan Rabbitt, author of "The New Rules of Women's Health: Your Guide to Thriving at Every Age." After three years of research and interviews with more than 100 women's health experts, Meghan has compiled one of the most comprehensive, evidence-based resources on women's health available today.

Our conversation revealed critical health information that most women were never taught, information that could fundamentally change how we approach our health across the lifespan.

The Cardiovascular-Gynecologic Connection Most Doctors Don't Discuss

One of the most striking revelations from our conversation concerns the connection between gynecologic health history and cardiovascular risk.

Pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, don't simply resolve after delivery. Research demonstrates these conditions are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease later in life. According to the American Heart Association, women with a history of preeclampsia have up to four times the risk of developing heart failure and twice the risk of coronary heart disease compared to women with uncomplicated pregnancies.

Additionally, recurrent vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes) during the menopausal transition represent more than temporary discomfort. These symptoms indicate a systemic inflammatory response that impacts cardiovascular health. Yet many women, and unfortunately, some clinicians, dismiss hot flashes as a normal part of aging that requires no intervention.

The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) now recognizes that women with frequent, long-duration hot flashes have increased cardiovascular risk markers, including unfavorable lipid profiles and increased arterial stiffness.

This interconnectedness of body systems means your complete health history matters. Women must advocate for a comprehensive risk assessment that includes reproductive and menopausal health history, not just traditional cardiovascular risk factors. We can’t treat our bodies as disconnected systems. We need to look at our health holistically.

Reframing Patient-Provider Communication: Preparation as Empowerment

Healthcare appointments have become shorter even as medical complexity has increased. The average primary care visit now lasts approximately 18 minutes, during which clinicians must address multiple concerns, review medications, order appropriate screenings, and document everything for regulatory compliance.

In this constrained environment, preparation becomes essential. Women who arrive at appointments with organized health information, prioritized symptom lists, and specific questions receive better care. This isn't because they are more deserving, it's because they've made efficient use of limited time and provided clinicians with the information needed for accurate assessment.

Effective preparation includes:

Comprehensive health history: Including gynecologic history, pregnancy outcomes, family history of cardiovascular and neurological disease
Medication list: All prescription medications, supplements, and over-the-counter medications with dosages
Symptom documentation: Frequency, duration, severity, and impact on quality of life. Don’t hesitate to keep a journal if you have health concerns that allow you to correlate them with other aspects of your health and life.
Prioritized concerns: The 3-5 health concerns that you would like to discuss

This approach builds collaborative relationships with healthcare providers rather than adversarial ones. It demonstrates respect for clinicians' time constraints while ensuring your concerns receive appropriate attention.

The New Rule: Suffering Is Not an Option

Perhaps the most important message from this conversation is the simplest: suffering is not an option.

The cultural narrative that women should power through pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, debilitating hot flashes, or mental health struggles without complaint is not just outdated; it is harmful. Untreated pain becomes sensitized pain, where lower levels of stimulus create higher levels of perceived pain over time. Untreated mental health conditions worsen. Dismissed symptoms delay the diagnosis of serious conditions.

Women who present with concerns deserve evaluation, not dismissal. Women who advocate for themselves are not being difficult; they are being appropriately engaged in their own healthcare.

While we need systemic reform in healthcare, better research into female physiology, a focus on primary prevention, longer appointment times, and equitable access to care, we cannot wait for the system to change before taking action in support of our healthspan.

Take time to read “The New Rules of Women’s Health.” A few key takeaways that we can all put into action today: