It’s inevitable in a woman’s life. At some point, every woman will “go through menopause.” Some will experience mild symptoms, or may not even know they are actively menopausal, while others will feel such classic symptoms as hot flashes, insomnia, and mood swings.
Menopause is a stage in life that a woman should not go through alone. She should seek the help of her physicians and gynecology specialists to get information on what to expect and how to take care of herself to stay in good health during menopause and beyond.
To help spread this message, last year Crozer-Keystone gynecologists and physician’s assistants logged many hours to lay the groundwork for a comprehensive plan to identify and build upon available services for menopausal women.
“The study group was assembled to identify those clinical problems faced by our patients in the perimenopausal and menopausal years, the resources in the health system available to address them, and the additional skills and services that were required,” says Joel G. Moranz, M.D., CKHS gynecologist and chairman of the CKHS Menopause Committee. “The group provided that information, which in turn will be organized to provide both patients and physicians a comprehensive listing of physicians and facilities in the system. Recommendations were made for augmenting physician and ancillary services with the primary care providers organizing and guiding their patients’ care.”
Array of Services
One key result of the committee’s efforts is a new brochure that details Crozer-Keystone’s clinical services for menopausal women. This comprehensive list of health care services includes:
Gynecologic evaluation: Crozer-Keystone gynecology specialists are skilled in the evaluation and treatment of menopausal symptoms.
The Crozer Sleep Disorders Center at Taylor Hospital: For some women, menopause causes sleep problems. The Sleep Disorders Center helps get to the bottom of the problem and offers a customized treatment plan.
Headache management: Through consultation with a CKHS neurologist or physician of the Center for Headache Management, this common menopausal symptom can be treated and managed.
Other available services include nutrition counseling, sexuality counseling, hormone replacement therapy counseling, diagnostic imaging services (including bone density scans, mammograms and more), fitness programs, and bladder health evaluation.
Menopause Defined
Before a woman is considered to be “in menopause,” she will go through a period called perimenopause. This stage, which lasts an average of five years (but could be shorter or longer), is characterized by irregular menstrual periods, hormonal changes, and traditional menopause symptoms — hot flashes, headaches and insomnia. Perimenopause usually begins in the mid-40s, but it can start several years earlier or later.
A woman is in menopause when she hasn’t had her period for one year. Levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone drop to the point where her menstrual cycle stops completely. Most women begin menopause around the age of 51, but can vary from the mid-40s to the mid-50s.
For more information about the menopause programs and services available at Crozer-Keystone, or for referral to a CKHS gynecology specialist, call 1-800-CK-HEALTH (1-800-254-3258).