Science in the Cinema presents
The [M] Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause
The [M] Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause
Hosted by the University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine (CSM), Science in the Cinema brings together science and popular culture in a fun and engaging way.
Menopause is a significant but often overlooked public health issue, affecting millions of women both physically and psychologically. The [M] Factor is a documentary that breaks down the stigma and sparks conversation around the physical, emotional, and social impacts of menopause.
Join the Sex, Gender and Women's Health Research Hub and the Centre on Aging to watch this transformative documentary and join the discussion on what is needed to improve health outcomes for Canadian women.
Presented by the University of Calgary's O'Brien Institute for Public Health, hosted in partnership with the Calgary Public Library.
Menopause is a significant but often overlooked public health issue, affecting millions of women both physically and psychologically. The [M] Factor is a documentary that breaks down the stigma and sparks conversation around the physical, emotional, and social impacts of menopause.
Join the Sex, Gender and Women's Health Research Hub and the Centre on Aging to watch this transformative documentary and join the discussion on what is needed to improve health outcomes for Canadian women.
Presented by the University of Calgary's O'Brien Institute for Public Health, hosted in partnership with the Calgary Public Library.
Date: Tuesday, November 25, 2025
Location: Calgary Central Library, 800 3 St SE, Calgary, AB
Doors Open: 5:00 pm
Movie Starts: 5:30 pm *NEW TIME*
Discussion: Immediately following the screening
About the moderator
Dr. Jayna Holroyd-Leduc, MD, is a professor in the Cumming School of Medicine’s Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary. As an academic geriatrician, she leads the university’s Centre on Aging, holds the Brenda Strafford Foundation Chair in Geriatric Medicine, and was recently reappointed as the academic and clinical head in Alberta Health Services (AHS) Calgary zone. Her research interests involve the use of knowledge translation science to improve the care provided for older adults.
About the panelists
Dr. Cindy Barha, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of Calgary and holds the Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Neuroscience, Brain Health and exercise. Dr. Barha’s research focuses on how exercise supports healthy brain aging, cognition, and neuroplasticity including how sex, genetics, and key life stages such as pregnancy, midlife, and older age shape the brain’s response to exercise and lifelong brain health.
Dr. Jamie Benham, MD, PhD, is an Endocrinologist and Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine. Her clinical work focuses on diabetes in pregnancy, polycystic ovary syndrome, and menopause, while her research explores reproductive and cardiometabolic health throughout life for people affected by reproductive endocrine disorders. Dr. Benham is the principal investigator and lead of the EMBRACE Women’s Health Research Lab.
Dr. Erin Brennand, MD, MSc, is a urogynecologist, clinician-scientist, and associate professor at the University of Calgary. She is the first woman to serve as academic and clinical department head of obstetrics and gynecology in Calgary. Dr. Brennand is also the director and founder of the Sex, Gender and Women’s Health Research Hub and co-leads GROWW, a national CIHR-funded program advancing research to improve women’s and girls’ health.
Dr. Lauren Walker, PhD, RPsych, is a Registered Psychologist in Alberta and holds an Adjunct Associate Professorship in the Departments of Oncology and Psychology at the University of Calgary. She directs the University of Calgary’s Oncology Sexual Health Lab and maintains an active research program with over 60 peer reviewed scientific publications. Her current projects focus on trauma informed care and the impacts of health conditions on sexuality. Dr. Walker also runs a private sex therapy counselling practice specializing in sexuality and intimate relationships.
Learn more about this month's partners
The Centre on Aging aims to enhance the health and well-being of older adults by advancing research and education focused on aging. It supports initiatives across multiple University of Calgary faculties to build capacity in aging-related research and education, driving innovation, expanding knowledge, and strengthening workforce training. The Centre also engages with the broader community to share evidence-based insights and help shape policies and practices that impact older adults.
The Sex, Gender and Women's Health Research Hub (SGWH) focuses on research, knowledge translation and implementation science in order to drive collaborative change in how female reproductive healthcare in Alberta is delivered. Based in the University of Calgary’s O’Brien Institute for Public Health, the hub prioritizes women’s health and seeks to address critical gaps in research that will improve healthcare outcomes across their lifespan.
Learn more about this month's partners
The Centre on Aging aims to enhance the health and well-being of older adults by advancing research and education focused on aging. It supports initiatives across multiple University of Calgary faculties to build capacity in aging-related research and education, driving innovation, expanding knowledge, and strengthening workforce training. The Centre also engages with the broader community to share evidence-based insights and help shape policies and practices that impact older adults.
The Sex, Gender and Women's Health Research Hub (SGWH) focuses on research, knowledge translation and implementation science in order to drive collaborative change in how female reproductive healthcare in Alberta is delivered. Based in the University of Calgary’s O’Brien Institute for Public Health, the hub prioritizes women’s health and seeks to address critical gaps in research that will improve healthcare outcomes across their lifespan.
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