The M Factor event last year saw the introduction of a women’s health discussion with particular focus on the menopausal period in the life of the woman.
This year, what seemed to have become a huge movement, has brought into focus the involvement of men and the role the must play in the process. Speaking at M Factor 2, which took place at the MMotors Showroom in Vide Boutielle, the initiatives organizer Dr. Tanya Beaubrun indicated that the discussion around menopause was only one part of the conversation. “The M Factor focused on menopause and the producers realized that there was such a great response to it but there were unanswered questions by women who had not quite reached menopause who are going through the leadup to menopause which is called perimenopause.” A major part of the event was the actual M Factor 2 film which debuted in the United States one day ahead of its St. Lucia’s showing. The Satya Centre for Functional & Integrative Medicine, owned and operated by Dr. Beaubrun, acquired the rights for its St. Lucia leg which coincided with the celebration of Women’s Month.
Dr. Beaubrun was adamant that women’s health should be restricted to just hormonal health but rather it must include brain health, heart health, bone health and emotional health, with the conversation spanning the entire year. “The latest statistics show that women are living longer than men but the last 10-20 years of their lives they are actually more unhealthy which is so sad.” Dr. Beaubrun says the only solution is early preventative care.
One of the main differences this year is the introduction of men into the conversation. Dr. Beaubrun was clear that men play a vital role in women’s health and their understanding of the issues surrounding menopause must not be overlooked. “I believe it’s extremely important that conversation on women’s health be extended to men’s health. We cannot talk about Women’s health without talking about men’s health. In this community there’s this stigma attached. Men are going through andropause as well so they have hormonal shifts and identity shifts just as women are and yet we focus on women. We cannot fix women’s health without men’s health; they have to go together.”
Dr. Beaubrun revealed that her wish is for a subsequent M Factor that will include women and men so as to foster an overall understanding between partners.