New Age, New Stage
Talk to your physician about menopause, including Hormone Replacement Therapy
Written by Melissa Bean Sterzick
Whatever words we use to discuss menopause, the most important thing to do is talk about it openly. Misinformation and embarrassment shouldn’t keep women from awareness and treatment, including Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Dr. Savannah Kimball, a Torrance Memorial Physician Network specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology, recommends an open dialogue for every female entering this stage of life.
What is important to understand about menopause?
Like puberty, menopause is a natural milestone in a woman’s life. Females enter menopause when they have not had a period for 12 months and can experience symptoms of the menopausal transition (perimenopause) on an average of three to five years prior. The transition varies for every individual.
What is Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Hormone Replacement therapy (HRT) is a prescribed dose of hormones, typically estrogen and progesterone, to help treat the symptoms of menopause and perimenopause.
What prevents women from getting treatment for perimenopause and menopause?
I find there is a lack of awareness and often avoidance of the subject altogether. Many of my patients say they can just deal with it, but they don’t have to. “Dealing with it” is the narrative women must be strong and suffer through it quietly. This approach is often perpetuated by the medical community, among families and within cultures. The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) is a reliable source of information about menopause, so feel free to discuss their guidelines with your provider.
What does HRT offer perimenopausal and postmenopausal women?
HRT treats vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes/flushes and night sweats. It can reduce symptoms of Genitourinary Syndrome and prevent bone loss and fractures. By improving very bothersome symptoms, HRT can increase quality of life by helping with mood, focus, sleep and easing depression.
What questions should women ask about HRT?
An OB/GYN will recommend a medication and dosage guided by symptoms. Patients should ask why a specific option is being recommended to them, know all their options, discuss risk factors and may explore lifestyle adjustments and holistic options. The dose is tapered as symptoms wane, because at a certain point your body adjusts to menopause and reaches a steady state, so a majority do not take it forever.
Why are many women cautious about HRT?
The most obvious reason is women are concerned about risks to their health. When a patient starts HRT, we will discuss health history and risk factors and choose the option best for their overall health. Every woman should discuss their individual risks and preferences with their healthcare provider to determine whether HRT is right for them. Short-term HRT is safe for most menopausal women who take it for symptom management. However, before HRT is prescribed, make sure to have a careful review of your medical history with your doctor. Together you can decide if you have conditions or inherited health risks that would make HRT unsafe for you.
When is it time to talk to your doctor about menopause and HRT?
Anytime is a good time. I try to introduce it to my patients in their 40s when we start talking about screening such as mammograms and colonoscopies. I encourage my patients to be open about all their symptoms including those affecting mood, sex, etc. Women at this stage should continue to see their primary care physician, and I recommend an annual visit to an OB/GYN. I tell my patients to talk about menopause with their partners, friends and definitely with me - it needs to be a normalized conversation.
Savannah Kimball, MD, practices at Torrance Memorial Physician Network Women's Centers in Torrance and El Segundo: 2841 Lomita Boulevard, Suite 200. Torrance - 310-784-6822 | 2110 E. El Segundo Boulevard, Suite 200, El Segundo - 310-784-8745
