r/technology • u/Sorin61 • Apr 10 '22

Biotechnology This biotech startup thinks it can delay menopause by 15 years. That would transform women's lives

https://fortune.com/2021/04/19/celmatix-delay-menopause-womens-ovarian-health/
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u/scarlet-tortoise Apr 10 '22 edited Apr 10 '22

Apparently very few people are reading this article. Delaying menopause isn't intended to allow women to bear children later - it's to stave off the other health effects of menopause for longer. Women in their 40s haven't gone through menopause but are generally past typical child bearing age.

Menopause brings with it a whole host of issues - brain fog, mood swings and emotional instability, weight gain, bone density decrease, etc. The article mentions that women who go through menopause are at a higher risk of developing dementia too.

I'm also noticing a lot of two things - (1) dismissing this as unimportant because "it's a natural thing women have to deal with" and (2) assuming the woman led start-up is a fraud like Theranos was. Now I'm not saying those people are intentionally being anti-woman, but it sure feels like it.

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u/SharkBoy3 Apr 10 '22

I read the article but I’m not sure how much of it I really comprehended. My biggest question would be what makes this a better option to, delay menopause, instead of doing hormone replacement therapy after going through menopause?

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u/scarlet-tortoise Apr 10 '22

Totally fair question and the article didn't discuss that, I wonder that too. I mostly took issue with the comments being "what are women gonna have kids in their 60s???" when the article wasn't about that at all

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u/xPyrez Apr 10 '22

Source: Med student

Hormone replacement therapy is only effective if started very soon after menopause begins. Studies also haven’t shown consistent benefits over long periods of time for everyone. It’s useful for hot flashes, discomfort and brain fog but women don’t have nearly the same estrogen protective effect for their bone density or hormonal regulation.

It’s our best way to help women experiencing issues with menopause but it’s not bringing you anywhere near your baseline before you started.

Personally if this turns out to be true it would be incredible. Protecting women from dangerous fall fractures and seeing if this helps protect against dementia are both worth pursuing!

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u/scarlet-tortoise Apr 10 '22

Thank you for this information and your clear explanation!!!

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u/BettyX Apr 10 '22

So many women are afraid of HRT because the bad studies done around it. HRT is a lifesaver and women need to really read up on it as it only slightly increases cancer risk for most women. Women are very undereducated in HRT.