Barbara Seaman: The Greatest Experiment Ever Performed on WomenBarbara Seaman gives an historical account of the researching, prescribing and marketing of female hormones for women starting in 1938 and continuing until today. She discusses in detail how the drug companies often fund the research and the doctors who promote the drugs. She explains how Dr. Robert Wilson, author of Feminine Forever was paid by drug companies to promote hormone therapy for all menopausal women. He even enjoyed a fifth avenue apartment in New York fully paid for the the drug companies. Unfortunately for him, his wife died of breast cancer, and his son Ron Wilson openly denounces his father's work. Even more unfortunately many women developed breast cancer, had strokes, and heart attacks from the over-prescibing of hormone therapy. Shockingly, the risks of these drugs were known and documented by the first scientist who discovered them in 1938. The research produced in the next seventy-two years only confirmed and added to the suspected risk factors. Barbara Seaman made a good point that nature cannot be patented, and therefore, the drug industries have to create something so that they can make money from it. Telling women that lifestyle changes, diet changes, fitness, relaxation and enjoying life won't make anyone rich. But it is the truth. Menopause is a natural event and rarely requires medical intervention when a woman is experiencing a normal menopause. After reading the book you may feel disillusioned with the medical field, which can also be dangerous (if you are always suspicious of your doctor's recommendations). My conclusion There are times when we need to question medicine and there are times when we shouldn't. The wisdom is in knowing the difference.
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