Dr. Renee Eger is director of The Menopause Program and medical director of the Women’s Primary Care Center at Women & Infants Hospital. Although Women & Infants has had other menopause programs in the past, the new program is in keeping with the national trend toward greater integration of health care.
PBN: What are the most serious health risks facing post-menopausal women?
EGER: The most serious health risk facing post-menopausal women is heart disease. More women die from heart disease than all cancers combined. Women can take significant steps toward decreasing their risk of heart disease by exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a well-balanced diet rich in calcium, fresh fruits and vegetables, high in protein and low in fat, and avoiding smoking or the use of other tobacco products.
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Learn MorePBN: Women & Infants has had other menopause programs in place for some time – how is the new one different?
EGER: Women & Infants Hospital is committed to providing outstanding health care for women throughout their lives. While we have previously focused on menopause, this is the first time we have had a multidisciplinary approach to treating menopausal women. The Women’s Primary Care Center has partnered with endocrinology, cardiology and behavioral health to provide comprehensive complementary services for menopausal women.
PBN: About what proportion of women seek assistance navigating the challenges of menopause? Is there a tendency to suffer menopause in silence?
EGER: Many women seek help with conditions that they are aware of. Hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, depression and diminished libido are some of these. But there are other risks for women as they age. These are medical problems that may be “silent.” In particular, bone loss accelerates around and after menopause. A woman’s risk of heart disease increases as she ages. Diabetes and prediabetes are highly prevalent in midlife women and the prevalence is increasing.
PBN: What are the most important things known about menopause today that weren’t known 10 years ago?
EGER: We have more data on the short- and long-term benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy. Hormone therapy is an acceptable option for relatively young (up to 59 or within 10 years of menopause) and healthy women bothered by moderate to severe menopausal symptoms. We are better at individualizing treatment plans for patients. We have more options available including nonhormonal options which have proven benefits for patients.
PBN: When medications are prescribed to deal with menopause, what are they, and what are they intended to do?
EGER: Hormonal replacement therapy refers to the use of estrogen taken by mouth in combination with a progestogen. This is used to treat moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms, commonly known as “hot flashes” or “night sweats.” Women who have had a hysterectomy can be treated with estrogen alone. Estrogen is also available as gels, sprays and patches as well as vaginal creams, tablets and rings. Research has shown that low doses of certain antidepressants are also helpful in reducing hot flashes in women.