HHNoMI

Program Rational

Global Health Problem and Economic Impact

Hormonal imbalance among menstruating women is a pervasive global health issue, affecting millions of women worldwide.1 Menstrual problems affect as many as 90% of adolescent females and are the main reason for gynecology visits.2 Moreover, menstrual irregularities occur in an estimated 14% to 25% of women of childbearing age.2 Sadly, 30% to 40 % of women experience symptoms severe enough to disrupt their daily lives, as hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle affect both physical and emotional well-being, manifesting in mood swings, fatigue, bloating, and irregular periods.2 These symptoms not only decrease quality of life but also hinder productivity and daily functioning. Moreover, the economic burden of hormonal imbalances is also substantial, with the total cost evaluated in the United States being upward of 4 billion annually.3 Furthermore, indirect costs, such as decreased productivity, absenteeism from work, and diminished quality of life, place additional strain on economies and healthcare systems.1,3 

Narrowed Health Problem: Identified Need

Within the broader context of hormonal imbalance, menstruating women aged 20-35 represent a particularly vulnerable population as this is the stage in life where hormonal fluctuations are common.4 In addition to menstruating women ages 20-35 being vulnerable to fluctuating hormones during this life stage, the impact of these fluctuations on overall health and well-being is often underestimated or overlooked by the healthcare system.5 Despite the prevalence and severity of these symptoms, there is a lack of targeted interventions to support hormonal health in this population, leaving women without adequate support and resources to manage their hormonal health effectively. 

Problem Statement:

Hormonal imbalance among menstruating women aged 20-35 is a common health concern that has adverse effects on the physical and mental health of women in this demographic. Despite its prevalence and impact, there is a lack of targeted interventions to address this issue. In turn, this poses a negative effect on both the health of a major population, as well as the economic impact on those in the local area.

Proposed Solution:

Therefore, the establishment of a Hormonal Health Program in Northern Michigan (HHNoMI Program) is crucial to address the critical gap in supporting the overall health outcomes of menstruating women aged 20-35. This program will empower women to balance their hormones through dietary modifications, educational resources, lifestyle changes, and community support, offering a comprehensive solution tailored specifically to their needs.

Program Overview:

The HHNoMI Program will offer a tailored approach to menstruating women ages 20-35 in Northern Michigan. Through the blog site, women can access cooking videos, recipes, infographics on new menstrual-related health research, and links to local workout classes. Moreover, women will have the opportunity to receive individualized diet and physical activity recommendations, as well as participate in educational workshops, such as cooking classes held at Victoria Curtis’s home. Through participating, women will receive “accountability sisters” to encourage continuation and support. Participants will learn about the impact of diet and lifestyle, like exercise, stress management, and sleep on hormonal health and receive practical strategies for managing hormonal imbalances naturally. 

Benefits of the Program:

The HHNoMI Program is designed to address the specific needs and concerns of menstruating women aged 20-35 through evidence-based interventions and community-based support. This program aims to reduce the severity and frequency of hormonal symptoms. We empower women with the knowledge and tools to support hormonal balance through nutrition and lifestyle changes, resulting in increased productivity, better relationships, and an overall higher quality of life.

Anticipated Stakeholder Interests and Concerns:

In addition to personal improvement, improved public health outcomes, such as reduced rates of hormonal-related disorders and associated healthcare costs, will also occur. Moreover, enhanced productivity among women in the workforce can lead to economic growth in the local area. 

  • Healthcare Providers: Healthcare stakeholders may be interested in the program’s potential to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs associated with hormonal-related disorders.3 Concerns may include integrating the program with existing healthcare services and referrals.

  • Community Leaders: Community leaders may be interested in the program’s ability to promote community health and well-being.
  • Funders: Funders in the local area may be interested in the program’s potential return on investment given the increase in the productivity of working women and fewer absences/sick days. One Example of Social Math is if a business with 20 female employees experiences a 10% reduction in absenteeism due to hormonal-related issues, this could result in thousands of dollars saved annually in lost productivity costs due to women taking back control of their hormones and being able to come to work with a clear mind and ready spirit.  

The Success of the Program:

The HHNoMI program aims to empower women to make positive changes in their dietary habits, improve menstrual health outcomes, increase a sense of sisterhood and community through their behavior change and ultimately enhance overall well-being. The HHNoMI Program draws insight from the best practices seen in existing research. Two key elements of the program stem from a tailored approach to the specific demographic as well as a community approach which fosters a sense of collaboration and sisterhood. Regarding best practices, research shows that tailoring interventions including education, materials, resources, and the like to address specific audience’s needs leads to better engagement and outcomes.6 Secondly, a community-based approach, which this program offers, is effective in promoting sustainable behavior change and improving health outcomes.7 Thus, the success of this program is likely given the success seen in best practices. 

  1. World Health Organization. (n.d.). Menstrual Health. World Health Organization. 
    https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/polycystic-ovary-syndrome  ↩︎
  2. Odongo, E., Byamugisha, J., Ajeani, J., & Mukisa, J. (2023). Prevalence and effects of 
    menstrual disorders on quality of life of female undergraduate students in Makerere University College of health sciences, a cross sectional survey. BMC women’s health, 23(1), 152. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-023-02290-7 ↩︎
  3. Azziz, R., Marin, C., Hoq, L., Badamgarav, E., & Song, P. (2005). Health care-related economic 
    burden of the polycystic ovary syndrome during the reproductive life span. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 90(8), 4650-4658. ↩︎
  4. Dennerstein, L., Lehert, P., & Heinemann, K. (2011). Global study of women’s experiences of 
    premenstrual symptoms and their effects on daily life. Menopause international, 17(3), 88–95. https://doi.org/10.1258/mi.2011.011027 ↩︎
  5. Vitti, A. (2020). In the Flo. HarperOne, an imprint of HarborCollinsPublishers ↩︎
  6. Van der Haar, S., Hoevenaars, F. P. M., van den Brink, W. J., van den Broek, T., Timmer, M., 
    Boorsma, A., & Doets, E. L. (2021). Exploring the Potential of Personalized Dietary Advice for Health Improvement in Motivated Individuals With Premetabolic Syndrome: Pretest-Posttest Study. JMIR formative research, 5(6), e25043. https://doi.org/10.2196/25043 ↩︎
  7. Norman-Burgdolf, H., DeWitt, E., Gillespie, R., Cardarelli, K. M., Slone, S., & Gustafson, A. 
    (2023). Impact of community-driven interventions on dietary and physical activity outcomes among a cohort of adults in a rural Appalachian county in Eastern Kentucky, 2019-2022. Frontiers in public health, 11, 1142478. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1142478 ↩︎