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The Menopause Conversations We Need to Be Having
September is Sexual Health Awareness Month, and sexual health is still too often left out of conversations about menopause.
Vaginal dryness, discomfort with sex, changes in desire, and urinary symptoms can happen during perimenopause and menopause, but many women hesitate to bring them up.
These symptoms can affect relationships, confidence, sleep, and quality of life. They deserve the same attention we give to hot flashes, bone health, heart health, and other changes during menopause.
Sexual health is also just one piece of the picture. Heart health, metabolism, breast cancer risk, bone health, sleep, mood, and energy are all things we should be talking about.
These are some of the topics we’ll be discussing during The Chicago Menopause Retreat on October 24th.
Perimenopause Can Start Sooner Than You Think
Perimenopause can begin earlier than many women expect.
Changes in your period may be one of the first signs, but they aren't the only ones. Sleep, mood, energy, sexual health, and weight can also begin to change.
It's easy to blame these symptoms on stress, a busy schedule, or getting older.
This is why knowing the signs of perimenopause matters. It can help you recognize changes and know what to bring up with your healthcare provider.
It's also a good time to start paying attention to things like blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, bone health, sleep, and sexual health.
You don't need to wait until menopause to start these conversations.
Hormones & Breast Cancer
There is still a lot of confusion around hormone therapy and breast cancer.
At the retreat, we'll look at what the research actually says about hormone therapy and breast cancer risk. We'll also discuss hormone therapy for women with a personal or family history of breast cancer and the use of vaginal estrogen after breast cancer.
Women who have been treated for breast cancer may experience vaginal dryness, pain with sex, and other symptoms that affect their daily lives and relationships.
These symptoms deserve to be discussed.
Heart Disease & Menopause
Heart disease is the number one killer of women.
Estrogen plays a role in heart and blood vessel health, so the decline in estrogen during menopause can affect cardiovascular risk.
Our clinician panel will discuss what women should know about their risk and the numbers worth paying attention to, including blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.
We'll also talk about what you can bring up with your healthcare provider based on your own health and family history.
Metabolic Health & Menopause
Weight, blood sugar, and the way the body responds to insulin can change during and after menopause.
At the retreat, we'll discuss insulin resistance, weight changes, and other metabolic changes that can happen during this time.
We'll also talk about what the research says about nutrition, exercise, sleep, and other lifestyle changes for women during any part of the menopause transition.
This isn't about telling women to lose weight. It's about understanding what is happening in the body and knowing which health markers to pay attention to.
The Menopause Marketplace
The retreat will also include our Menopause Marketplace Expo with vetted providers, products, services, and resources for women in midlife.
There are a lot of menopause products and services available now. The Marketplace is a chance to learn about some of those options, ask questions, and find resources in one place.
Make Time for You
Sexual health, breast cancer, heart health, metabolism, bone health, and hormones are all part of menopause care.
We'll have expert conversations, practical information, and a room full of women who came with questions too.
Come ready to listen, learn, and ask the questions you've been meaning to ask.
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