The Menopause Revolution
by Dr. Zoë Kelly Linkletter
*We recognize conversations about menopausal hormone therapy typically focus on cis-gendered women and rarely make space for folks who identify as non-binary or trans. The below writing refers to anyone with ovaries who will experience a decline in ovarian function overtime, regardless of gender identity.*
There is a revolution unfolding in women’s health. For decades, menopausal symptoms have been ignored by much of the medical field and addressed only among friends during brunch or a women’s weekend trip. Extremely bothersome symptoms like hot flashes, memory issues, brain fog, weight gain, insomnia, joint and muscle pain, hair loss, fatigue, urinary leakage, vaginal pain, and low libido have been left untreated and women left to navigate these hormonal changes on their own.
Why??
While you may assume this is because there are not safe options, the truth is that there are MANY safe and effective menopausal treatments available including bioidentical hormones, herbs, supplements, and lifestyle supports.
In the 1950s, estrogen therapy for menopause became widely available. It was marketed to women as a treatment designed to prevent aging and increase sexual desirability in the eyes of men. Ick! At the time, there wasn’t enough research to understand the long term effects of treating with estrogen alone. Nearly 40 years later, in the 1990’s studies began to showed that it estrogen can increase the risk of endometrial cancer. Additionally, the Women’s Health Initiative (W.H.I) research appeared to show that progestin (a synthetic form of progesterone) lead to an increased risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular events. This finding led to wild misrepresentation in the media and confusion about hormone therapy in general.
Upon closer inspection, the risk of endometrial cancer was eliminated when using estrogen and progesterone together, the increased risk of breast cancer is incredibly small, and the risk of cardiovascular disease from estrogen therapy was less than the risk women have from taking oral birth control pills or from being pregnant.
What we know from the W.H.I. study and more recent studies, is that that therapy with bio-identical hormones, in the correct quantities, duration, and tailored specifically for the patient, is safe and incredibly effective at treating menopausal symptoms and shows great promise at preventing cognitive decline, bone loss, and heart disease (the leading cause of mortality for women) after menopause.
Not all doctors treat menopause and peri-menopause, not even all gynecologists. There is a gap in education on how to use hormone therapy effectively, safely, and what patients should be offered these treatments. And the truth is, we still need more research. There is still a gap in research on how to use hormone therapy for trans people in menopause. However, some providers have chosen to seek additional training in menopause care and are well equipped to educate, prescribe, and navigate the challenges of menopause with their patients.
At Neighborhood Naturopathic, we welcome the revolution in menopausal care and use all the naturopathic tools, highest standards of menopausal care, latest research in safety and efficacy to further that mission. Our menopausal therapy is personalized to each patient! We listen deeply to your concerns and goals for abundant health and wellbeing and together make informed decision making on the bioidentical hormone therapy, herbs, supplements, diet and exercise counseling that would best support you in your journey.
Want to learn more?
Neighborhood Naturopathic Provider’s Favorite Resources for Reading about Menopausal Care:
Books:
The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and Feminism by Jennifer Gunter
Articles:
Women Have Been Misled About Menopause by Marta Blue at The New York Times
Schedule an evaluation to talk with one of our amazing naturopathic doctors about menopausal care here!
See you in clinic!
Dr. Zoë Kelly Linkletter