Hard to believe that I have now been practicing medicine for almost 24 years. Early on in my career my patients thought I looked so young. Now, they see my mini fan, notice the drops of perspiration on my forehead. They recognize I must be a woman of a particular age. I can attest, along with thousands of other women, that working while experiencing hot flashes can be challenging. Imagine trying to discuss the risks and benefits of certain medications when it feels like your insides are on fire.
According to Healthline, Black women face more racism, discrimination, and mistreatment than white women and are more often misdiagnosed or left untreated. I can’t tell you the number of times I have had patients tell me that during some of their visits the provider did not even examine them… So, if you are experiencing menopausal symptoms, how do you advocate for yourself?
However, menopause is more than just bouts of heat surges. Menopause can affect multiple systems, disrupt sleep, worsen mental health, cause weight gain, or weaken bones. Symptoms vary from woman to woman. Symptom severity also varies, including women who have no substantial symptoms at all. Doesn’t seem fair, I know.
The menopausal stage begins when women have not had a period for 12 consecutive months. Perimenopause is the stage before when periods may have become irregular, and some symptoms may have begun to occur. The average age of menopause is 51. For most women, menopause happens between ages 45-55 but can happen as early as in the 30’s. During this natural stage of life, a woman’s ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone. This hormonal imbalance is partly the cause of the myriads of symptoms that women feel during this time.
Lesser-known symptoms include heart palpitations, blood sugar fluctuations, and joint issues. These symptoms could easily be attributed to other conditions and some providers may have misdiagnosed these symptoms causing a delay in treatment. According to studies, roughly 29% of women between the ages of 45-54 are misdiagnosed.
For many years, people have downplayed menopausal symptoms and have told women to just “get through it.” However, technology has been essential in empowering women with information to advocate for themselves. According to Healthline, Black women face more racism, discrimination, and mistreatment than white women and are more often misdiagnosed or left untreated. I can’t tell you the number of times I have had patients tell me that during some of their visits the provider did not even examine them.
So, if you are experiencing menopausal symptoms, how do you advocate for yourself?
- Get in to see your primary care provider or gynecologist. Be honest and share what is going on, including discussing vaginal dryness which is common during this time. Sex does not have to stop just because you are getting older.
- Be open to making dietary and lifestyle changes that could help reduce your symptoms, such as drinking more water; Reduce caffeine and alcohol intake; try relaxation techniques before bed
- Be open to treatment; hormone replacement is not the only treatment for menopause; anti-depressants are also used
- Get the support of your girlfriends; menopause is a common topic among women and your friends can help you cope with the changes that your body is experiencing
- Educate your partner/spouse and family; helping your loved ones understand what you are going through will hopefully increase their empathy toward your situation
Menopausal treatment today includes a few more tools in the toolbox as compared to 30 years ago. Though menopause is a natural part of aging, women do not have to experience a lesser quality of life because of it.
Denise Hooks-Anderson, MD, FAAFP can be reached at yourhealthmatters@stlamerican.com