How Hormones Took Over Your Feed
Summary
Wired senior writer Kate Nibbs joins Lizzie O'Leary to discuss the explosive growth of the "perimenopause industrial complex," a market driven by telehealth startups like Midi and Hims. The episode explores how flawed historical studies and the recent removal of black box warnings have fueled a surge in online hormone therapy, often bypassing traditional medical oversight. Nibbs examines the tension between improved accessibility for ignored patients and the risks of predatory, asynchronous prescribing models that lack continuity of care. The conversation also highlights the political compl…
Topics discussed
Host shares perimenopause-focused social media feed
The explosive growth of the perimenopause industry
Defining menopause and perimenopause symptoms
The legacy of the 2002 Women's Health Initiative study
Recent shifts in medical guidelines and GLP-1 influence
Frustrations with traditional healthcare providers
Major players in the online hormone therapy market
Market size and the changing lives of middle-aged women
Biohacking culture and the nuance of new treatments
Regulatory oversight and the risks of asynchronous care
The intersection of MAHA and evidence-based hormone therapy
Political contradictions regarding trans healthcare and birth control
The future of commercialized telehealth and care continuity
Closing remarks and show credits
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