Menopause

Like childbirth, we are conditioned to believe that menopause is a pathological state that needs to be “fixed”. I view menopause as a rite of passage that carries with it an array of physiologic experiences that can be integrated into daily living without rushing into unnecessary procedures or interventions. Like childbirth, menopause can be an empowering experience that is both dynamic and manageable, but ultimately a normal physiologic process. I offer consultations to help you understand the hormonal processes that occur during menopause and discuss ways to adapt using lifestyle adjustments, including weight-bearing exercises and diet changes, vaginal moisturizers, herbs, homeopathy, non-traditional medicine, such as Chinese medicine, acupuncture, meditation and yoga. Symptom-management is integral to menopausal care and it is a transient state as the body regulates to its new “normal" after years of cyclical hormonal changes and menstruation.

During menopause certain screenings become more relevant while others reduce in frequency. According to the The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) these are screening guidelines during and after your menopausal years:

  • Breasts:

    • Mammography screens for breast cancer should start at age 40 and depending on risk factors and personal history should continue every 1 - 2 years until at least 75 years of age

  • Bones:

    • Bone Mineral Density (BMD) testing for postmenopausal people 65 years or older to prevent osteoporotic fractures

    • FRAX screening for those who are 40 years and older with risk factors for osteoporosis. FRAX is a computer program that helps predict your risk of having a fracture within the next 10 years. It uses factors like your age, sex, BMI, smoking, alcohol intake, and medical history to calculate your risk.

    • DEXA scans for screening starting at age 65 for most women

  • Cervix:

    • Discontinue screening of Pap testing at 65 years of age if you have no history of cervical changes and either three negative Pap test results in a row, two negative HPV tests in a row, or two negative co-test results in a row within the past 10 years.

  • Genes:

    • Genetic testing to assess risk factors for predisposition to certain cancers and syndromes, including Lynch Syndrome, which puts you at risk for endometrial cancer later in life.