Menopause and Women's Health Edition | Introduction to Menopause
Feb 27, 2024
auto_awesome
This podcast discusses the basics of menopause, hormonal changes in women's bodies, challenges faced during menopause, weight gain concerns, symptom recognition and diagnosis, fertility decisions, and communication in menopause care.
Menopause impacts various bodily systems beyond reproduction, including estrogen production and its effects on different organ systems.
Testosterone levels do not significantly drop during menopause, but its interplay with estrogen changes can affect symptoms like facial hair growth and libido.
Deep dives
Understanding Menopause and Its Importance in Women's Health
Menopause is a natural process every woman goes through, signified by going 12 consecutive months without a period. Perimenopause, the transitional phase, can bring symptoms before the menstrual cycle changes occur. With the loss of fertility and hormonal shifts, menopause impacts various bodily systems beyond just reproduction, including estrogen production and its effects on different organ systems.
The Role of Testosterone in Menopause
While testosterone, usually linked to men, is present in smaller amounts in women, its levels do not significantly drop during menopause. The interplay between estrogen and testosterone changes, affecting symptoms like facial hair growth or hair loss. Although testosterone may influence libido, its levels do not directly correlate with libido level changes during menopause.
Common Symptoms and Concerns During Menopause
Symptoms like irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, and changes in sleep patterns are commonly experienced during menopause. Weight gain, particularly around the abdomen, can be frustrating for women to manage during this stage. Additionally, mood disruptions, fatigue, memory difficulties, and changes in libido are often reported by women transitioning through menopause.
Menopausal concerns in women have been often neglected due to uncertainty and misunderstanding. The goal of this podcast is to offer clarity regarding the basics of menopause. Guest Dr. Jackie Thielen, who is the founding medical director for the Women's Health Specialty Clinic on the Mayo Clinic Florida campus, is the guest speaker kicking off this women’s health mini-series focusing on Menopause.
Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd. To learn more about this episode at: