Nexus - 0304 - New Times Magazine-pages

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Women are misinformed about their hormones, to the detriment of their health, while drug companies reap huge profits at their expense. jor over 300 years, beginning in the 13th century and continuing well into the 16th century, the Inquisition was a reign of terror for the vast majority of people living throughout Europe and Scandinavia. The political, economic and religious forces of that time joined together to consolidate their power by eliminating those whom they perceived as impeding their ultimate objectives. The unfortunate target of their efforts were the keepers of the healing arts and the ancient spiritual and cultural wisdoms. Historians debate the exact toll of such a hellish time—whether it was several hundreds of thousands or as many as nine million people— but what is undebatable is that the vast majority of the victims were women. In fact, the Inquisition is now regarded as a period of genocide against women, which successfully divested women of their power, self-respect, wealth, healing arts, and prominence and influence in their communities. The Inquisition guaranteed that the Church fathers were the indisputable spiritual authorities, It was also successful in enshrining medical knowledge securely in the realm of men, since the Inquisition decreed that only trained medical doctors could now practise the healing arts and, needless to say, medical schools were barred to women (for that mat- ter, so was any form of education). What a relief that such a violent and misogynous era ended long ago. Or did it? Unfortunately, it appears that some traditions linger on. Women of today are still prey to vast political and economic interests, with dire consequences to their health, financial independence and personal power. Perhaps the Inquisition didn't end at all but just took on a more subtle and devious form. Women are certainly big business to the medical and pharmaceutical interests. Ac- cording to John Archer, author of Bad Medicine, about 600,000 hysterectomies are per- formed every year in the USA, and about 45,000 in Australia.' In 1994, it was estimated that 45,000 Australian women were taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT).? Many women are presently encouraged to remain on HRT for the rest of their post-menopausal lives. According to Dr Stanley West, noted infertility specialist, chief of reproductive en- docrinology at St Vincent's Hospital, New York, and author of The Hysterectomy Hoax, about 90 per cent of all hysterectomies are unnecessary. Gynaecological consultants to Ralph Nader's Public Health Research Group reached a similar conclusion in 1991] in their book, Women's Health Alert. According to Dr West, the only 100-per-cent-appropriate reason for performing an hysterectomy is for treating cancer of the reproductive organs.’ However, hysterectomies are all too frequently offered as treatment for a variety of condi- tions including endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease and uterine prolapse. It is no accident that gynaecologists happen to be the highest earners of all specialists. Throughout their lives, women are encouraged to be subjected continuously to various medical treatments and procedures. Natural female functions, from menstruation through childbirth and into menopause, are taken over by medical and pharmaceutical interven- tions. Barraged by misinformation, myths, propaganda and, in some cases, downright lies, it's no wonder that so many women are thoroughly confused about matters relating to their own bodies and their health. expense. by Sherrill Sellman ©1996 Light Unlimited Locked Bag 8000 - MDC Kew, Victoria 3101, Australia Telephone +61 (0)3 9810 9591 by Sherrill Sellrman ©1996 The History of Hormone Replacement Therapy Perhaps there's no topic of greater confusion to women than the highly publicised intro- duction of HRT for the menopausal woman. It is touted as the best thing for liberating women since the discovery of oral contraceptives—even though the statistics now show JUNE-JULY 1996 NEXUS ¢ 15