Hot Topics in Women's Health

Stephanie Faubion, MD, MBA, professor and chair of the department of medicine at Mayo Clinic,director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Women’s Health and medical director for The North American Menopause Society, spoke with Healio about menopause.

“When we lose estrogen, that affects every tissue and organ system in the body,” she said. “It’s not just about reproductive organs and it’s not just about hot flashes.”

 

 

In the first video in this series, Faubion discussed:

• The definition of menopause, as well as other reasons menstrual cycles may stop;
• Signs and symptoms of menopause;
• Hot flashes and the associated higher risk for heart disease;
• Risk factors;
• Management of midlife weight gain; and
• Treatment options for some of the common symptoms of menopause.

In the second video in this series, Faubion described the reproductive and sexual health shifts that occur among women with menopause.

 

 

She also discussed:

• Vaginal dryness;
• Desire changes that can occur over time;
• Factors associated with “maintaining a healthy sex life;” and
• Screening for sexually transmitted infections.

In the third video in this series, Faubion explored areas of unmet need in the menopause community.

 

 

“Sadly, we have seen menopause education drop off, in terms of medical trainees,” she explained. “So, most medical students and residents don’t get very much in the way of menopausal education at all.”

According to Faubion, increasing provider education is critical to improving the management of patients going through menopause.

In the final video in this series, Faubion discussed the management of patients who are post-menopause.