Title: Women Left Unsupported and Uninformed as Doctors Fail to Address Menopausal Symptoms
Subtitle: Lack of Education and Treatment Options Contribute to Frustration Among Menopausal Women
Date: [Date]
A recent study conducted by Elektra Health, a digital platform specializing in menopause-related education and support, reveals that a mere one in five women between the ages of 40 and 60 receive a menopause diagnosis, despite the fact that 80% of women experience symptoms. This lack of understanding and support is leaving women feeling frustrated and let down by the medical community.
One such woman, Tina Mulryan, a 49-year-old hair colorist from New York City, experienced a myriad of menopausal symptoms including hot flashes, brain fog, and fatigue. Seeking answers from her primary care physician, Mulryan was instead offered an antidepressant, leaving her feeling dismissed and unsupported. Unfortunately, Mulryan’s experience is far from unique – the majority of menopausal women in the U.S. are not receiving effective treatment for their symptoms.
Dr. Stephanie Faubion, the medical director for the North American Menopause Society and director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Women’s Health, attributes this lack of treatment to a prevailing mentality among medical professionals. She states that many doctors believe that if they ignore menopause, the problem will eventually go away. However, with the average duration of menopausal symptoms lasting seven to nine years, this approach is neither helpful nor sustainable.
Furthermore, the study reveals that there is a gap in education provided to healthcare providers regarding menopause management. Many physicians and ob-gyns feel unprepared and uncomfortable addressing menopausal symptoms. A 2019 study co-authored by Dr. Faubion found that only 6% of residents felt adequately capable of managing menopause, and over a third reported feeling entirely unprepared. On average, medical students receive a mere two hours of education about menopause throughout their training.
Dr. Anna Barbieri, an ob-gyn and founding physician of Elektra Health, echoes Dr. Faubion’s concerns, emphasizing the scarcity of education on menopause in medical schools. She believes this lack of knowledge coupled with the controversy surrounding menopausal treatments further contributes to doctors feeling ill-equipped to address menopausal symptoms.
Gwen Harris, a woman from Nashville, also felt unsupported when she began experiencing menopausal symptoms. Doctors attempted to treat her with sleep and anxiety medications, but she found solace in alternative medicine. Feeling alone and frustrated, Harris went on a personal journey of self-discovery and eventually established a menopause support group, which now has over 124,000 members on Facebook. What she noticed within the group was a recurrent theme of women being told by their doctors that “there’s nothing wrong with them, and they should move on.”
The reluctance of some doctors to prescribe hormone replacement therapy (HRT) presents another barrier for women seeking menopause treatment. This hesitancy is largely rooted in a 2002 study, the Women’s Health Initiative, which suggested that HRT increased the risk of heart disease, breast cancer, and stroke. However, subsequent research criticized the study’s methodology, noting that it failed to differentiate between different types of users and their ages.
Dr. Faubion clarifies that the estrogen therapy used in the study, Premarin, is no longer the standard practice. Instead, doctors now recommend estradiol in various forms, such as skin patches, which are considered safer due to bypassing the liver. Nonetheless, the fear and lack of education among providers and women themselves have contributed to a significant decrease in HRT usage since the release of the study.
To combat the lack of knowledge and support surrounding menopausal symptoms, Dr. Faubion and Dr. Barbieri urge women to take the initiative to educate themselves and advocate for their own care. Support groups, such as the one established by Gwen Harris, create a community where women can share experiences and stories. However, Dr. Barbieri cautions against seeking medical advice from these groups, as treatment options vary widely for each individual.
The conversation surrounding menopause is slowly gaining traction, thanks to the efforts of advocates like Harris and support networks such as Menowave. Breaking the taboo around menopause will help future generations feel more comfortable discussing and addressing their symptoms.
In conclusion, the medical community must prioritize the education of providers on menopause management to ensure women receive the proper support and treatment they deserve. Women should be equipped with the knowledge and resources to self-advocate and find solutions that work for them. By addressing this issue head-on, we can bridge the gap in menopause care and empower women to navigate this transformative stage of life with confidence and support.