When I tell women I’m a menopause provider, one of the most common responses I hear is “Not yet for me! I’m still getting periods” and then they list a whole host of peri-menopausal symptoms they are having. In our society menopause seems to evoke an image of a cranky woman in her 60’s with hot flashes. So far from the truth! Having (and managing) symptoms of menopause is not reserved exclusively for women who aren’t having periods any more. In fact, MANY women with bothersome symptoms would benefit from hormonal treatment prior to their final menstrual period (and well before they turn 60 ..read more

Let’s Burn These Menopause Hormone Myths to the Ground. In the pursuit of personal development, each month I set a “theme” to gain new habits or accomplishments in life. My themes have ranged from daily journaling to twice-weekly yoga to walking 10000 steps daily. The short duration and single goal helps me stay hyper-focused and motivated. I’m going to be applying this approach to my MauveMD blog. Next month, I’m diving right in with Menopause Hormone Therapy May. Menopause hormone therapy (MHT) is a treatment that can be incredibly effective in reducing the symptoms of menopause. Previousl ..read more

During the menopausal transition, women often experience a range of confusing and uncomfortable symptoms, leaving them feeling unheard and frustrated by their doctors' inability to help. Unfortunately, the symptoms of menopause are frequently overlooked by physicians, resulting in unnecessary suffering for women. Despite this issue being well-known, medical students continue to receive insufficient exposure to menopausal patients, and the trend persists into residency programs. Shockingly, even Obstetrics and Gynecology residents, who are expected to be experts in women's health, receive meno ..read more

**1: Understand Hormonal Changes** Educate yourself about the hormonal changes that occur during perimenopause. Recognize that fluctuations in estrogen levels can directly influence mood swings. **2: Prioritize Self-Care** Prioritize self-care practices to nurture your emotional well-being. Engage in regular physical activity, maintain a balanced diet rich in nutrients, and ensure you're getting enough sleep. Engage in mind-body practices like mindfulness and journaling. These activities can help you become more in tune with your emotions, leading to better understanding and management of m ..read more

Dealing with shifts in mood and emotions is a key concern that many of my patients at MauveMD bring up. They often feel embarrassed to discuss them or feel like they are the only ones experiencing them. They often report: Increased anxiety Depression symptoms Increased irritability Mood swings New onset anger/rage Worsening PMS (premenstrual syndrome) Frequently, these women seek help from their primary care doctors, who might overlook the possibility of perimenopause playing a role and instead prescribe anti-depressants. Around 50-70% of women going through perimenopause repo ..read more

Let's dive into the world of vaginal dryness and discomfort during menopause, also known as genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). Trust me, it's a real party down there! ? So, picture this: you're going about your day, and suddenly you feel like your lady parts have turned into a desert oasis. Dryness, irritation, burning sensations, and even pain during peeing become your new BFFs. Oh, and let's not forget the fun surprise of frequent trips to the bathroom and those lovely urinary tract infections (UTIs) that seem to pop up like unwanted guests at a never-ending party. Cheers to menopau ..read more

What exactly ARE the hormones in menopausal hormone therapy? I've spent the last few blogs talking both specifically and in general about menopausal hormone therapy. But what exactly is it? First off, FDA-approved indications for starting menopausal hormone therapy include: Vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes and night sweats). Preventing osteoporosis. Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (vaginal dryness). However, other health benefits of MHT may be considered when deciding whether to start MHT. These might include: Decreased risk of colon cancer Improving mild or moderate depression ..read more

Let's Talk About Compounded Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy Have you heard about compounded bio-identical hormone therapy for menopause symptoms? Often touted as safer and “more natural,” popular marketing campaigns have been giving it a lot of attention lately, and knowing what it's all about is essential.  Bio-identical hormones are a type of hormone that has the same structure as the hormones your body naturally produces. They can be found in both FDA-approved commercially available medications AND compounded medications. Compounded medications are medications made just for you bas ..read more

This week the stigma of menopause hit me like a slap in the face. A good friend shared her recent experiences, and I suggested that some of her symptoms could be peri-menopause. I was stunned when she responded with apparent anxiety, lamenting, "Not yet, not yet." Another friend, a male ob/gyn, also expressed fear when I hinted that his wife might be experiencing peri-menopause, saying, "It's too early. It's not time. Please, not yet." What the heck do you mean by "not yet?" What's so freaking scary and terrible? It's not like she's dying or becoming sexless or worthless. It's shocking to hea ..read more