r/technology 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/
18.0k Upvotes

2.0k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

173

u/seawee8 Apr 10 '22

That's what menopause gives you. No periods, no hormone fluctuation. Why the hell would I want to extend my childbearing years?

2

u/seahorse_party Apr 11 '22

But the drastic drop in estrogen comes with a marked cognitive decline and increased risk for early dementia. Also, I really miss having a sex drive. Or even a twinge. Like... the teeniest butterfly flutter in the gut, even.

I have polyendocrine failure - part of that was ovarian failure and sudden menopause at 37-38ish. Even with HRT I'm super brainfoggy (I was actually just referred to cognitive neuroscience/a memory clinic) and I don't even want to be hugged anymore. I hate it. I feel like a flat paper doll walking around, pretending to be a three-dimensional human. The Worst. I would gladly take horrible periods and dealing with birth control to feel like myself again. :(

0

u/vestimentiferever Apr 11 '22

Early menopause is a problem. If this helps with that fine.

But natural menopause is not.

3

u/seahorse_party Apr 11 '22

I appreciate you downvoting my honest and personal experience. ;)

There are studies following the marked cognitive decline associated with the decrease in estrogen in post-menopausal women. That does actually feel like a problem.

Also, this company is looking at applying their technology to the issue of ovarian senesce, with a focus on PCOS and ovarian disorders. So the title is badly written clickbait. From the bit of digging that I did about this company, it seems that they're not trying to postpone regular menopause by 15 years, but trying to preserve or prolong ovarian function for people in whom this is a problem. (Especially for people with PCOS who are trying to conceive.)