NATALIE SPOONER OPENS UP ABOUT BALANCING HEALTH, SPORT, & MOTHERHOOD
Olympic gold medalist Natalie Spooner opens up about how becoming a mother has reshaped her approach to health, the importance of research for female athletes, and practical tips for prioritizing wellness amid life’s demands.
Motherhood has added a new layer to your life both personally and professionally. How has becoming a mother influenced your understanding of physical and mental health, particularly in balancing elite sports with family life?
I think having Rory has brought a lot of perspective to my life and allowed me to better balance life and sport.
No matter how the game goes, or how I play, Rory will always be excited to see me post-game and that has allowed me to get over things a lot quicker and turn my focus to being mom. Motherhood has also really allowed me to be more present when things feel too busy. I try my best to be the most present wherever I am. If I’m at the rink, I’m all in at the rink, working my hardest. If I’m doing a speaking engagement or at an event, I am there doing my best. And when I’m home, I’m trying to be the best mom I can be in that moment. Every day’s best can change but I always do the best I can do at that time.
Women athletes often face unique health challenges that can be overlooked. What changes would you like to see in how female athletes are supported in their health and wellness journeys?
I think there’s a lack of research done on female athletes returning to sport post-pregnancy. Each sport is so different, and each pregnancy has its own challenges, and therefore are approached a bit differently. I would love to see more studies and more female athletes sharing their journeys. I was grateful to have friends and teammates that had gone through pregnancy and returned to hockey, but what I experienced was much different than what they did.
After 60 Years Without Real Change, Improved Outcomes for Ovarian Cancer Patients Possible
Ovarian Cancer Canada redefines treatment landscape through research.
Women’s healthcare is underfunded and overlooked until it’s often too late. In the case of ovarian cancer, patients are receiving their diagnoses at such an advanced stage that current available treatments aren’t effective long-term. This truth is the result of historic and systemic problems. Decades of underfunding ovarian cancer research means we do not have enough information to improve patient outcomes. If we’re going to make up for lost time and address these problems head on, we need to be bold and unapologetic in our pursuit of change.
NO ONE ELSE IS IN THE POSITION WE ARE TO BE THE CHANGEMAKERS WOMEN NEED US TO BE.
At Ovarian Cancer Canada, we are transforming into the ovarian cancer research engine for Canadian women. In the past five years, we have redefined the landscape of ovarian cancer treatment through strategic partnerships and our $16 million research investment. From making sure the disease is accurately tested in laboratories to identifying new treatments for those who have run out of options, we have introduced a new era in the work to change patient outcomes, for good. After 60 years without meaningful change, now is the time to demand action.
We are the only national health charity in Canada solely focused on ovarian cancer; no one else is in the position we are to be the changemakers women need us to be. Women facing this disease deserve our attention. They deserve our focus on saving their lives. Towards this goal, we are relentless.
Read the entire interview with Natalie Spooner at healthinsight.ca
Tania Vrionis CEO, Ovarian Cancer Canada
Empowering Women to Take Charge of Their Menopausal Health
Knowledge is power when it comes to managing menopause’s different stages and advocating for appropriate care.
Tania Amardeil
Everyone born female who reaches a certain age will experience menopause, and yet the stigma and misconceptions about this inevitable and universal life phase persist.
“Menopause is overwhelmingly viewed as negative in our society,” says Janet Ko, President and Co-Founder of the Menopause Foundation of Canada (MFC). “We tend to devalue women as they get older, and as a result, menopause has been shrouded in secrecy for centuries, leaving many women alone to navigate it.”
Ko is intent on closing that knowledge gap and changing the narrative.
“The reality is that many women report menopause as being the most exciting time of their life, where they find a new sense of freedom, energy, and purpose,” she says. “The conversation needs to shift.”
Changing the narrative
Shifting the conversation on menopause starts with understanding where we’re currently at. “The MFC’s landmark 2022 report, ‘The Silence and the Stigma: Menopause in Canada,’ revealed that one in two women feel unprepared for menopause, and 72 per cent found their health care provider interactions unhelpful,” says Ko.
WOMEN NEED TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES ABOUT MENOPAUSE TO BECOME THEIR OWN BEST HEALTH ADVOCATE
The research also revealed that many women lack understanding of menopause’s different stages: perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause.
“Menopause is a profound hormonal shift that often begins ear-
lier and lasts longer than you’d think,” says Ko. The average age to reach menopause (defined as one year period-free) in Canada is 51, with most women entering it between the ages of 45 and 55. The time before reaching menopause, perimenopause, can last up to 10 years, and while menopausal symptoms typically subside within four to seven years after menopause, they can persist for much longer for some women.
Raising awareness
A common misconception is that menopause is only about menstrual changes, hot flashes, and night sweats.
“In reality, there are over 30 symptoms,” says Ko. These include heart palpitations, migraines, vaginal discomfort, sleep issues, mood and mental health changes, brain fog, function challenges, joint pain, and more.
“When women don’t understand these changes, they can’t prepare for them, leaving many women in the dark, unable to connect the dots,” says Ko. “This lack of knowledge is compounded by the limited menopause training and education among health care practitioners.”
Many women also lack awareness of the potential health risks of menopause-related issues that aren’t addressed early. “Once you reach menopause, because of estrogen decline, you’re at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and the genitourinary syndrome of menopause,” says Ko.
Improving access to information and care
This lack of understanding has consequences not only for individual women — and for their ability to live life to the fullest, support their families and communities, and work in ways that
are meaningful to them — but also for society overall. “Our second report, which came out in 2023, quantified for the first time the staggering $3.5 billion economic impact of unmanaged menopause symptoms, resulting in more than 500,000 missed workdays annually and $230 million annually in lost productivity,” says Ko.
Through resources like a downloadable symptom tracker, information to help women have high-quality conversations with their health care provider, and information for partners looking to support their loved one going through perimenopause or menopause, along with a recent Menopause Works Here campaign aimed at fostering more supportive workplace environments, the MFC is on a mission to close the menopause knowledge gap, improve access to menopause care and treatment, and create menopause-inclusive workplaces.
Advocating for yourself
To navigate menopause health care effectively, Ko encourages women to visit the MFC’s website and explore its resources. “Women need to educate themselves about menopause to become their own best health advocate,” she says. “We recommend booking a specific health care appointment about menopause and tracking symptoms beforehand to clearly convey their impact on your health and quality of life.”
The MFC’s website also offers a tool to help women find health care practitioners with menopause-related credentials.
Finally, focusing on self-care during this critical phase of life can help women feel better and reduce the severity of symptoms. This includes prioritizing movement and exercise, maintaining a healthy diet, managing stress effectively, tracking symptoms, and seeking appropriate gynecological care when needed.
“You’re not alone, and you don’t need to suffer through this stage of life,” says Ko. “There are many options to help you take control of your menopause journey, including lifestyle changes, medications, gold-standard treatments like menopause hormone therapy, and non-hormonal therapy options.”
Janet Ko President & Co-Founder, Menopause Foundation of Canada (MFC)
A Q&A WITH DR. NESE YUKSEL:
Key Tips for Menopause Care
Mediaplanet spoke with Dr. Nese Yuksel, Professor and Vice-Dean at the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and President of the Canadian Menopause Society, to shed light on the phases of menopause, offer tips for effective conversations with health care providers, and highlight the importance of self-advocacy for women navigating this stage of life.
Could you explain the different phases of menopause — perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause— and what women might expect in each phase?
Menopause simply means cessation of one’s period, but we diagnose it looking backwards. If somebody hasn’t had a menstrual period for 12 months and occurs naturally, then they're considered to be in menopause. Anytime after this is considered post-menopause. And perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause (on average it is four years, but for some women it can be eight years or longer).
Perimenopause is a time of major hormone fluctuation. Women can expect to experience symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, sleep issues, mood swings, vaginal dryness, and brain fog, all of which can persist through the other phases of menopause. During perimenopause is also when women may notice changes in their menstrual periods — they may get more frequent or further apart, and heavier or lighter. Irregular periods are common during perimenopause, although women can experience menopause symptoms even before changes in their periods. Duration of menopause symptoms overall is typically seven to eight years although this varies. It’s all very individual as far as symptomology goes.
What are some tips for women to get the most out of a doctor’s appointment focused on menopause?
Menopause is a time to pause and reflect on your overall health — not only on the symptoms you’re experiencing but also long-term health considerations, such as bone health and heart health. It can be a good time to get risk factors, such as obesity or high blood pressure, under control. Prepare for the discussion with your doctor by thinking about all the issues you want to address.
What are some key questions women should ask their doctor to better understand menopause and the health risks associated with it?
Women should start the conversation by sharing the symptoms they’re experiencing and how these may be affecting their quality of life and their daily function. A tool like the Menopause Quick 6 (MQ6) menopause assessment tool/questionnaire, available at mq6.ca, can be helpful here. Are they having night sweats and hot flashes? Are these keeping them
awake? Do they feel tired and fatigued during the day? Are they having a hard time concentrating? Is this affecting their ability to function at work? Are there issues within their relationship because of vaginal dryness or low libido? These are important questions to discuss.
Women can ask what options there may be to help with symptoms. Women can inquire if menopausal hormone therapy is an option for them, and whether they have any contraindications. They can also ask about other options for therapy and management, for example non-hormonal medications, lifestyle measures, or complementary therapies to consider that could help them to navigate their symptoms.
It’s also a good idea for women to ask what they should be doing for long-term risk and to understand their individual risk factors. Women may want to inquire about their risk of bone loss and of having an osteoporotic fracture, for example, or about their risk of cardiovascular disease. They can also ask about what kind of health screenings or tests they should consider for their overall health — for example, getting their blood pressure or cholesterol levels checked, undergoing cancer screening through mammograms or Pap tests, or doing a bone density test. They may also want to ask what lifestyle changes they should consider making, whether that’s exercising more, improving their nutrition, or quitting smoking.
How can women approach sensitive topics, like sexual health and mood changes, with their health care providers to get the support they need?
It can be difficult to share certain things, and there’s unfortunately shame and stigma associated with menopause and aging. But having an open conversation with your health care practitioner is so important. Find a practitioner who takes your concerns seriously.
How can women advocate for their health care, and what are some strategies to improve communication and ensure their needs are met?
I encourage women to get support. Tools like the MQ6 questionnaire can be invaluable, and there are many other excellent resources available for women from the Canadian Menopause Society, the Menopause Foundation of Canada, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, and more.
WOMEN SHOULD START THE CONVERSATION BY SHARING THE SYMPTOMS THEY’RE EXPERIENCING AND HOW THESE MAY BE AFFECTING THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE AND THEIR DAILY FUNCTION.
Dr. Nese Yuksel Professor & Vice-Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta & President, Canadian Menopause Society
