In Episode 21 of the Balls Deep podcast, Dr. Joe Pazona engages in an in-depth discussion about a very intriguing and controversial subject: menopause. His guest is Brooke Faught – the Director of Women’s Health at the Southern Sexual Health Institute. With this episode, you will get a better understanding of menopause and perimenopause, particularly the various stages of the process, the various symptoms a woman can experience, and the treatment possible during such transformational times. Keep reading to learn more about menopause.
Helping Women Understand Menopause and Perimenopause
When it comes to understanding menopause, there is one thing that Dr. Pazona and Brooke both point out: that menopause itself is a phrase that is poorly understood. Brooke notes that there is always a day of the year called “menopause” which is actually a medical definition because it is a period that occurs 12 months after the last menstrual period. However, it is not often the case that women define menopause in such practical and clinical terms. The biggest hurdle, more often than not, arises in the perimenopause stage, which is the period when the women’s estrogen levels start fluctuating in a bimodal pattern. Premature menopause can occur years to a decade before the menopause appropriate to a woman’s age and can be more severe than the menopause itself. Women experience nasty hot flashes, mood swings, knee pains, and sleep disturbances, which makes this season feel like torture.
Surgical and Chemically Induced Menopause
This episode also considers two less popular forms of menopause: surgical and chemically induced menopause. Brooke observes that women having surgical procedures such as hysterectomies or women receiving treatment like chemotherapy can be catheterized into immediate menopause even in the absence of transitional changes. These patients often are not prepared for the sudden changes that come with hormone withdrawal such as hot flares, vaginal dryness, and emotional changes.
Brooke and Dr. Pazona highlight that these changes come with consequences and that it is important to inform and educate women about them and offer adequate therapy. Contrary to a woman’s natural menopause, where the system gradually adjusts itself, there are no changes, there is no happening slowly, and when it’s a surgical chemically induced one, there is serious strain on the quality of life.
The Symptoms — It’s Not Just Hot Flashes
Menopause being the cessation of a woman’s reproductive cycle, most people understand that as hot flashes and night sweats. Although these are some of the frequently experienced symptoms, Dr. Pazona does not avoid letting his listeners know of the rather uncommon symptoms. For example, sex may also be painful, urinary incontinence may occur, sleep may be disturbed, hair may thin, or even a change in cognition may occur. Such symptoms, when left inadequately managed, will induce severely impaired quality of life.
The Role of Hormones
Hormones have a defining role at different stages of a woman’s life. In the case of their imbalance, such as at perimenopause, the consequences may vary from minor nuisances to considerable health challenges. One main point is that hormone levels do not only concern the reproductive organs, but also the bladder, bones, skin, and mental health. Brooke and Dr. Pazona share their thoughts on the need for early detection and correction of hormone imbalances in order to prevent all of the dreadful conditions such as osteoporosis or grave problems with sexual health later on in life.
Why Suffer in Silence?
This episode often illustrates the aspect of women's culture, which promotes the notion of self-isolation towards their suffering and problems without speaking out, — suffering in silence. Brooke explains that women tend to play down the symptoms or simply avoid recognizing them, thinking that it is part of getting older or that nothing can be done about it. Such a perception is dangerous. Dr. Pazona and Brooke do acknowledge that while menopause cannot be prevented, and is rather a natural phenomenon, suffering certainly can be avoided. Towards this, many treatment methodologies are available, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT), as well as insomnia and vaginal dryness targeting therapies.
The physicians have also admonished any aspect of the healthcare system that does not give women the necessary education on how to manage their menopause, especially when it is early or abrupt. They make a comparison with women that they are normally better prepared for any hormonal problems that include low testosterone in men or erectile dysfunction.
The Importance of Seeking Help
One of the important points that Brooke makes clear is that there is no need for women to put up with these symptoms. Whether it is hormone replacement therapy or treatment of certain symptoms, help exists. She encourages women to go to physicians who treat the entire spectrum of menopausal symptoms, not just physical ones, such as vaginal dryness, but also breakouts of depression. This is also what Dr. Pazona says, ensuring that menopausal symptoms are not left untreated including sleep deprivation and loss of bone density, will not only worsen the present problems but result in future complications as well.
Conclusion: Empowering Women Through Education
This episode of Balls Deep is encouraging women to reclaim menstrual health and not live with the misery that comes with menopause. All that Dr. Pazona and Brooke want is to normalize menopause by changing the way it is perceived, treating it and emphasizing the fact that these symptoms in most women can and should be dealt with.
Key Takeaways:
Menopause is a single-day occurrence, while perimenopause may take years and be the most bothersome phase.
Women who have given up their ovarian function usually by surgery or chemicals may be surprised by the immediate outbursts of pro-perimenopausal symptoms.
Menopausal symptoms go way beyond flashes of heat and impact vaginas as well as bones.
Hormonal treatments are known to treat only reproductive health, they also maintain bone health, brain function, and bladder health as well.
Suffering in silence is a practice that should not be accepted particularly because such a situation has treatment.
Lifestyle and education play a very significant role for those women who have reached the menopause stage or who are in perimenopausal phase and seek help from the right medical professionals. As a final piece of advice, Dr. Pazona and Brooke urge those willing to take the first steps to seek these conversations with their physicians and discuss their issues and treatments with them.
Looking for more information? Learn more about hormone optimization for females.
Disclaimer: The purpose of this podcast is to provide information and should not in any way be considered expert medical care. Always consult your healthcare provider regarding any health issues.
