It’s estimated that in the United States alone, more than one million women will go through menopause this year. While the conversation about symptoms has been widely discussed over the past decade, this fundamental part of a woman’s life still carries a certain stigma that can keep women from seeking help or guidance.
Dr. Donna Kasello, a board-certified OB-GYN at Premier Medical Group and a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP), specializes in hormonal imbalances, menopausal issues, and women’s sexual health. Her extensive experience enables her to share critical insight on this important issue.
Let’s Normalize Menopause
When we don’t feel well, most of us talk to family or friends about it and visit the doctor for help. But that’s not what many of us normally do when we go through menopause. We keep it to ourselves when the truth is, it’s important to share. As more women discuss their experiences with perimenopause and menopause, and seek advice from healthcare providers, we help to normalize this very natural phenomenon that’s part of every woman’s life. Let’s look at some reasons why women avoid talking freely about their symptoms.
Why Is It So Hard to Talk About It?
At its core, menopause heralds a loss of fertility. This in and of itself is hard for some women to wrap their arms around because we’re closing a chapter of our lives. Additionally, there’s a perception that this loss of fertility means less vitality or sexual attraction. We might know this isn’t true, but it’s important to acknowledge that it’s hard to get past these feelings.
Menopause can make us feel old. While aging is indeed a badge of honor, we live in a culture that puts a high value on youth and vigor. Think of all the advertisements you see for creams to make you look younger, aesthetic procedures to diminish wrinkles, weight loss tricks to get rid of a thickening middle. Our society has come a long way but doesn’t yet celebrate the good fortune and opportunities that greet us when we age.
Menopause is uncomfortable. Why is it so physically uncomfortable? When we go through perimenopause and menopause, our estrogen levels fluctuate and drop. This drop in estrogen reduces our “feel-good” hormone, called serotonin. And when serotonin levels drop, we can feel irritable, anxious, lethargic, and sad. It’s not in our mind, and it’s not our imagination – it’s chemical, and it’s very real. This drop in estrogen also affects our body’s temperature regulation system which is why most of us experience hot flashes or night sweats. And the lack of estrogen can have a direct impact on our metabolism, which is why some women tend to gain weight.
Let’s Get Personal
There are other symptoms that are part of menopause that some women find embarrassing to talk about. So, let’s get it out in the open. Most of us grow up hearing about hot flashes and night sweats. But there are other issues accompanying menopause that have a big impact on our quality of life. Did you know that the reduction in estrogen that comes with the menopausal transition can also cause quality of life changes such as:
- Anxiety
- Loss of confidence or self esteem
- Crankiness and anger
- Sexual problems
If that last topic surprises you, you’re not alone. Many women are troubled and confused to find that their sex drive is not as exuberant as it once was, or that sexual activity becomes downright painful.
Painful sex due to menopause is called dyspareunia, and it’s caused, once again, by the drop in estrogen. When estrogen levels are reduced, the vaginal tissues become less elastic, more fragile, and more susceptible to bleeding or pain during sexual activity. For some, this can profoundly influence our self-esteem, and can have a significant impact on our relationships, creating an added strain to an already difficult time.
If symptoms are mild, many women find relief in eating healthier, drinking more water, exercising, and joining support groups. But if symptoms are severe, it’s important that we all feel empowered to have honest conversations with our doctors because they have the knowledge and the tools to help us feel better.
A Range of Solutions Are Available to You
Fortunately, you can talk to your doctor and take advantage of the many treatment options that are specifically designed to help. They include:
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). These therapies aim to replace declining estrogen levels, and are available in pills, patches, gels, sprays, creams or devices.
- Vaginal Estrogen. This is used to relieve vaginal dryness, painful intercourse and some urinary symptoms, and is available in a cream, tablet or ring device. This treatment provides a small amount of estrogen which the vaginal tissues absorb.
- Bioidentical, or Natural Hormone Therapy. These therapies are plant based, are compounded, and custom made for you. Be sure to talk to your doctor about these treatments because the dose and purity of compounded bioidentical hormone medicines may vary from batch to batch. And they don’t go through the stringent standards of the FDA.
- Herbal and Medicinal Plants: Studies have shown that certain herbs may be effective in treating hot flashes, night sweats, and other menopausal symptoms. But to date, no supplement has consistently been shown to work better than placebo (sugar pill).
Times are changing, and there have been tremendous advancements in products and treatments that help women embrace this new chapter of their lives. But as women, we need to know it’s ok to talk about it, especially to our healthcare providers. Dr. Kasello has a wonderful quote, “Today, more women are seeking help for the challenges they face during perimenopause and menopause. It’s been a movement, and it’s still moving.”
For additional resources and more information about how Dr. Kasello can help you navigate perimenopausal and menopausal challenges, contact Premier Medical Group’s Gynecology Division at (845) 437-5000.