New study: majority of menopause sufferers don’t seek treatment
A new Mayo Clinic study finds nearly three-quarters of women ages 45 to 60 surveyed experience menopause symptoms that greatly affect their daily life at home and at work. The data also shows those menopause symptoms remain undertreated despite available help.
More than a third of the respondents said they had moderate to severe menopause symptoms such as sleep issues and weight gain. What无毛视频檚 interesting is that more than 80% of the women surveyed said they did not seek medical treatment for those symptoms.
Menopause is a natural part of aging when the ovaries gradually produce less estrogen and progesterone, which are the hormones that control the menstrual cycle. This can lead to issues such as hot flashes, night sweats, trouble falling or staying asleep, changes in mood or trouble with mental focus, vaginal dryness and incontinence.
So why don无毛视频檛 many women ask for help when dealing with these symptoms?
无毛视频淢any women don无毛视频檛 seek medical care for menopausal symptoms due to a variety of reasons, including being too busy, a lack of awareness about effective treatments, and concerns about the safety of hormone therapy,无毛视频� says Dr. Marcia Klein-Patel, chair of AHN Women无毛视频檚 Institute who specializes in menopause treatment and midlife medicine. 无毛视频淎dditionally, according to the research, some women reported feeling judged by their health-care providers or embarrassed by their symptoms, which can create barriers to seeking help. This suggests a need for increased awareness, supportive health-care environments, and destigmatization of menopause and midlife care. It无毛视频檚 essential that women understand care is available to them, and they do not have to suffer with their symptoms.无毛视频�
That leads to the question of whether the medical community needs to do a better job of getting that information out there to women.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 clear that our field needs to do a much better job of disseminating accurate information about available menopause treatments,无毛视频� says Klein-Patel. 无毛视频淭he misconception that effective treatments don无毛视频檛 exist is a significant barrier to care.无毛视频�
To many women, the idea of menopause treatment focuses on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), but that无毛视频檚 not the only option.
无毛视频淲hile hormone therapy is a cornerstone, ongoing research is expanding our understanding and options,无毛视频� Klein-Patel adds. 无毛视频淪o the idea that treatments are lacking is outdated and can be harmful 无毛视频� women need to know they don无毛视频檛 have to suffer with their symptoms when there are therapies and management options out there for them.无毛视频�
While HRT has been the standard for decades, there has been conflicting research and messaging about whether it无毛视频檚 safe, and that has left women frustrated and confused. Klein-Patel says the latest in menopause treatment centers on a more nuanced understanding of Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT).
无毛视频淲hile MHT replaces declining estrogen and progesterone, recent research has clarified its safety profile, particularly when initiated within a decade of menopause onset and for women under 60,无毛视频� she explains. 无毛视频淭he removal of the 无毛视频榖lack box无毛视频� warning by the FDA reflects this evolving understanding allowing for more informed discussions about who can safely and effectively benefit from MHT for symptom management and long-term health.无毛视频�
With that being said, she cautions that MHT is still not the right solution for every woman.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 important to understand that there are certain patients who may not be ideal candidates for MHT 无毛视频� it无毛视频檚 important to speak with your OB/GYN for more information on what may be right for you.无毛视频�
The catchphrase 无毛视频渉ormone rebalancing无毛视频� has caught on in recent years when some people refer to MHT, but it isn无毛视频檛 a precise medical term.
无毛视频淥ngoing research continually explores how to optimize hormonal health and alleviate menopausal symptoms through various interventions,无毛视频� Klein-Patel adds. 无毛视频淲ith rebalancing, the goal is really to manage symptoms and, depending on where the patient is on her menopausal transition, her symptoms should be managed specifically. Sometimes hormone therapy is not yet the right answer.无毛视频�
She also cautions that 无毛视频渉ormone rebalancing无毛视频� often refers to compounded bioidentical hormones obtained outside of standard medical channels.
无毛视频淲hile some women report benefits, these compounded hormones are not FDA-approved, meaning their safety, efficacy, and consistent dosing are not regulated or rigorously tested,无毛视频� Klein-Patel says. 无毛视频淭his raises concerns about reliability and safety, which is why insurance companies typically do not cover them, as they lack the robust evidence required for standard medical practice.无毛视频�
In addition to hormone therapy, there are other menopause treatments available with ongoing research into new therapies.
无毛视频淪elective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) can indeed be helpful for managing hot flashes, night sweats, and mood changes in some women,无毛视频� says Klein-Patel. Other new therapies have also been approved in recent years, including a new non-hormonal pill called Lynkuet (elinzanetant) which was approved to treat moderate to severe hot flashes and night sweats. This drug works by focusing on regulating body temperature by blocking brain pathways that control it. Another non-hormonal treatment for hot flashes called Veozah (fezolinetant) also works on how the brain controls body temperature.
One takeaway from the Mayo Clinic study is that it is found women often do not voluntarily talk about menopause or their symptoms with their doctors, and the researchers stress menopause care needs to be destigmatized to encourage women to ask questions and seek treatment. Mayo Clinic researchers say they are working to develop ways of doing this with smartphone apps, digital tools and questionnaires to help patients identify symptoms, learn about treatments and feel more comfortable asking their doctors for help and advice.