A new documentary HOT FLASH HAVOC just came out about women and menopause and hormones. It is funny, insightful, and full of clear, honest information about the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) and hormone therapy. The WHI is the monumental study that, in 2002, led to women dropping hormone therapy abruptly when it reportedly showed an increase in breast cancer and cardiovascular events. Women were told that hormones were bad and you should not take them and if you did take them, take them only for the shortest amount of time possible.
The movie is packed with experts, including Joanne Hanson, MD (WHI principle investigator and Professor of Women’s Health and Medicine, Harvard Medical School) and Wulf Utian, MD (President of North American Menopause Society – NAMS) discussing what we now know is a hugely flawed study that seemed to counteract previous years of studies showing benefits of hormone replacement therapy. Why were the results of the study presented so negatively? I have puzzled over this. But as usual, if you follow the money you can find answers. I wonder what kind of economic impact it would have if women did not need to take statins? Antidepressants? Sleeping pills?
Educational and informative, the movie is designed to give you answers regarding menopause, hormone therapy, and what your options are. This could be the most important movie you ever watch. Rent it, buy the DVD, watch for an event in your area, grab a girlfriend and spend an evening learning about this period of life that effects all women. It could save your life.
UPDATE 4/24/13: You can rent the film through this link – pay once & watch it as many times as you’d like during a 5 day rental period:
Marsha Nunley, MD 
good doc