April is "Menopause Month," co-organized by the Taiwan Menopause Medical Association (台灣更年期醫學會), the Taipei City Bureau of Health and Wyeth-Ayerst Ltd (惠氏藥廠). Naturally, we welcome any activities that show concern for women. However, when we read the magazine produced for the event, we cannot but feel skeptical about the content of the month's activities.

　　In one article, chairman of the Taiwan Menopause Medical Association Li Chao-nan (李昭南) said, "After entering the age of puberty, female hormones make a girl look pretty. In other words, following menopause, a woman loses her youth and beauty due to a lack of female hormones." The idea that female hormones prevent women from aging has become a promotional gimmick for pharmaceutical companies; however, it is improper for an expert like Li to make such remarks.

　　In another article, professor Liu Hsiu-chih (劉秀枝) said: "Female hormones can reduce the possibility of getting Alzheimer's disease," but then contradicted herself by citing data from clinical experiments at Taipei's Veterans General Hospital (榮民總醫院) which do not support that hypothesis. President of the National Health Insurance Bureau Lai Shu-mei (賴淑美) confirmed, "The symptoms of menopause are covered by the (insurance) payment for chronic diseases." Lai considers menopause a disease, a view that discriminates against aging women.

　　Most confusing is the "Ms. Menopause" pageant. No matter how they conduct the event, the title -- Ms. Menopause -- is simply unbearable. Women can never escape being evaluated by their appearance, even in old age.

　　Every woman must go through menopause so that she can be relieved from the work of childbirth. Many so-called "menopause symptoms" actually are phenomena of aging which occur in men as well and have nothing to do with menopause. Likewise, some symptoms are related to life experience -- not the reduction of hormones -- including psychological problems such as the "empty nest syndrome." Even though clinical research has not yet proved that osteoporosis or cardiovascular diseases result from menopause, our medical circles have been strongly encouraging women to use hormone replacement to prevent osteoporosis, heart diseases and optical problems, not to mention to improve their sex lives. It reminds me of the myth of health food, which is said to cure many diseases.

　　Regardless of whether hormone replacement can cure diseases, it is unconvincing to simplify the physical phenomena of the human body by using a single substance -- estrogen -- to explain complicated cardiovascular diseases or osteoporosis. Moreover, since excessive hormone therapy itself may lead to breast cancer, uterine cancer, liver disease and high-blood pressure, among other ailments, the idea of using it as a preventative measure is misguided. Therefore, I would like to call for a re-examination of female hormone therapy for menopausalal women.

　　We hope women may have a natural life, free from discrimination and pressure. Women might feel uncomfortable during menopause, but we do not want excessive medical treatment. Women going through menopause may no longer be pretty, but they have their life wisdom and experience.

　　We hope all segments of society, including the government, the medical establishment and pharmaceutical industry will show their concern for women going through menopause from the viewpoint of aging women's health and their social situation and development. Stop making a big deal about old women's wrinkles. All women going through menopause expect a life with dignity. I hope our medical establishment would examine their attitude and stop milking women's menopause for profit.

Huang Sue-ying is chairperson of the League of Taiwan Women.

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