The M Factor

"Menopause is the one universal female experience... You may not have a lot of things that affect women. Menopausal, I guarantee you, you will be."

Steeped in evidence and new research, The M Factor provides a long-overdue corrective to the absence of information and treatments around menopause, empowering women to take control of their health and well-being.

55 million women in the US are currently experiencing menopause, and over 2 million more will join them this year. Despite its near universality, the healthcare system inadequately prepares physicians to address menopause and its symptoms, so women's health concerns are largely ignored or attributed to age-related illness. The result is the silent suffering of millions of women. But innovative treatments are giving hope to new generations of women who will be entering menopause in the coming years.

The M Factor puts menopause front and center in the discussions surrounding women's health and gives women "permission" to talk frankly about their experiences, while offering information and options to navigate their journeys with ease, peace of mind, and respect for their bodies. Featuring renowned doctors, workplace advocates, and leading healthcare advocates who address questions that have long plagued women, the film speaks directly to how the medical profession and society at large have failed to meet this common experience with the focus and expertise warranted. Also addressed are the health disparities faced by Black and Brown women who have compounded adverse health outcomes over the course of their lives before reaching menopause, as well as the hidden exploitative origins of gynecology in America. In addition, the documentary unpacks the negative cultural assumptions that so many women face from puberty through menopause, and debunks misconceptions about hormone therapies that are giving women control of their lives back.

Symptoms of menopause can derail careers, disrupt relationships, and cause unnecessary physical suffering. The M Factor confronts this neglected crisis, challenges societal and medical shortcomings, and advocates for a revolutionary approach to women's health.

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FILMMAKERS' STATEMENT: "The M Factor was born out of our realization that something all females will experience was either dismissed or marginalized. We realized there was so much misinformation about menopause and what can safely be done to minimize the symptoms that can derail lives. With our producing partners at Take Flight Productions, we sought concrete solutions from some of the most accomplished doctors in the field of menopausal medicine. Our hope is that The M Factor provides a roadmap so that all of us with XX chromosomes will feel educated and empowered as the last third of our lives unfold."