UTA spotlights long-overlooked phase of women’s health
Millions of women enter perimenopause each year, yet the transition remains widely misunderstood, under-discussed and underrepresented in medical training. On Thursday, March 19, The University of Texas at Arlington will step into that gap as one of the premiere national tour sites for the documentary The (M) Factor 2: Before the Pause, bringing the conversation to North Texas with a public screening and expert panel at the Maverick Activities Center.
The film explores the symptoms, solutions, and lived experiences of women navigating perimenopause. It follows the production company’s earlier documentary, The M Factor: Shredding The Silence On Menopause, which Forbes.com said “revolutionized how women (and doctors) think and talk about menopause.”
The evening begins with a 6 p.m. viewing of the documentary, followed by a 7:30 p.m. panel discussion featuring women with lived experience and experts in gynecological care, mental health, and sexual wellness.
“By hosting this documentary screening and expert panel, UT Arlington is creating space for a critical conversation about gaps in women’s health,” said Kyrah Brown, public health professor and director of the Maternal and Reproductive Health Equity Research Lab. “Perimenopause affects millions of women each year, yet it remains underrepresented in medical training, policy discussions, and community health education.”
The latest research estimates that approximately 2 million women in the U.S. enter perimenopause—the transitional phase leading up to menopause—each year. The phase lasts an average of four to seven years, although it can extend up to 14 years, and can trigger symptoms including anxiety, depression, weight gain, muscle aches and insomnia.
The panel discussion will be moderated by three-time Emmy Award-winning journalist Gaby Natale, founder of Menopausia, an online platform dedicated to supporting women during perimenopause and menopause. Panelists include:
- Mone’t Smith, founder of Healing Deep Roots Counseling
- Goody Howard, founder of AskGoody.com
- Cheryl Kinney, MD, president of The Menopause Society
- Carmen Johnson, public health professional and lived experience contributor
UTA is hosting the event in partnership with Women in the Room Productions and Take Flight Productions. The event is also supported by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.
Event Details
- What: The (M) Factor 2: Before the Pause screening and panel discussion
-
When: Thursday, March 19
- Check in: 5:30 p.m.
- Screening: 6 p.m.
- Panel discussion: 7:30 p.m.
- Location: Lone Star Auditorium, Maverick Activities Center (500 W. Nedderman Drive, Arlington)
- Register: Register on Eventbrite
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth. With a student body of over 42,700, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.