There is a shift in a conversation that every woman will have with their loved ones — and doctors. It’s about peri-menopause — the mid-life phase when a woman’s body goes through hormonal changes before menopause. Two North Texas monks are on a mission to make sure women know where to turn for answers. Bianca Castro has more.
On March 29, at The Tower Club in Dallas, The SHIFT will bring together leading experts, medical professionals, and advocates to address the critical gaps in women’s midlife health, which, according to organizers, is a topic that has been overlooked for too long.
From perimenopause and hormone therapy to sexual wellness, metabolism, and breast cancer prevention, this event promises to provide cutting-edge research, expert insights, and real solutions for the millions of women navigating this stage of life.
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WATCH HEREThe event is the product of hard work by Jain monks Sadhvi Siddhali Shree and Sadhvi Anubhuti and will feature keynote speaker, Dr. Louise Newson, a physician, menopause specialist and member of the UK Government’s Menopause Taskforce.
"It's such an honor and privilege to speak in Dallas at such an important event when it's my first time in the USA talking about perimenopause, menopause and hormones. Being involved in the Balance docuseries produced by the monks has been the start of incredible conversations of people realizing the care and help they've missed out on by not being listened to. I look forward to meeting the North Texas community and The Shift," said Dr. Newson.
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SIGN UP Both Sadhvi Siddhali Shree and Sadhvi Anubhuti created The Balance docuseries, a groundbreaking docuseries aimed at shedding light on perimenopause, during their own personal journeys with perimenopause.
Perimenopause refers to the transitional phase leading up to menopause, marking the gradual decline of reproductive hormones in a woman’s body.
Typically occurring in the late 30s or early 40s, perimenopause is characterized by brain fog, anxiety, irregular menses, fluctuating hormone levels, and various symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and changes in libido.
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"We knew we had to be the ones to pursue this topic through the power of story telling, meeting women who opened up on their vulnerabilities and sharing the stories of what they're going through, the mental health they experience, the physical symptoms, the emotional experiences," said Sadhvi Siddhali Shree.
They host at-home screenings dubbed “peri-parties,” most recently at the Dallas home of Stephanie Collins.
More than 50 women, many of whom had rarely spoken about perimenopause, attended the party.
"Many of these women have been dismissed by the medical community that this is just a fact of aging, to suck it up. Your mothers went through it. Your grandmothers went through it. I want women to know that you don't have to suffer through this," said Collins in a recent interview for a NBC News story featuring the Jain monks.
"As monks, we want to make sure that we're helping all living beings who are suffering, but in this particular case, all the women around the world who are suffering because of the changes that happen in perimenopause and menopause," said Sadhvi Anubhuti.
For ticket information to The SHIFT, visit TheShiftEvent.com
