Belmar Pharmacy Is Here For The FYI
Doctors may not always have all of the information you need about menopause.
Did you know that a 2013 survey of U.S. obstetrics and gynecology residents found that fewer than one in five receives formal training in menopause medicine, while seven in 10 would have liked to have received the information? The lack of education and training can lead to misinformation.
It’s in your best interest to learn more about what is best for your unique body through your own research. And we are here to empower you to do just that!
Let’s dive into the facts about hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and menopause.
Women often go into menopause without any idea about:
- What they will experience
- How they can treat their symptoms
- What side effects there may be
The good news is that doctors are becoming more aware of the need for better communication — but you’ll have to take charge if you want answers.
Lucky for you, we at Belmar Pharma Solutions are here to give you the FYI on three things your doctor might not tell you about menopause and HRT.
OB-GYNs Aren’t Necessarily Hormonal Experts
Many menopausal women seek medical attention from their OB-GYNs because they think that a doctor who specializes in reproductive health should be able to help them with menopause. While the two do sometimes overlap, menopause is actually a systemic condition involving changes throughout your body — not just one part of it.
Belmar Pharma Solutions’ Medical Director, Dr. Angela DeRosa, DO, MBA, CPE, has a thing or two to say about this in her book, “A Woman’s Hormonal Health Survival Guide: How to Prevent Your Doctor from Slowly Killing You.”
“Gynecologists treat women for a large portion of their lives, but generally speaking, they are not hormonal experts,” Dr. DeRosa said. “They’re surgeons, and they like to deliver babies. They’re not taught any more about hormones than a general practice physician.”
You might be wondering what OB-GYNs in training learn about hormone replacement therapy and menopause. The answer is not enough. Dr. DeRosa went on to explain that gynecologists often say, “There’s no data to support HRT,” or “You’re too young to have hormonal imbalances” which is not helpful.
This leads us to another point your doctor isn’t telling you about HRT.
HRT Can Also Be for Women Who Enter Menopause Early
There is plenty of data supporting hormone replacement therapy and its health benefits, according to Dr. DeRosa. The reality is women typically enter menopause around the age of 50. However, some women experience early menopause, which occurs between the ages of 40 and 45. For these women, HRT may help reduce the risk of heart disease and protect against osteoporosis.
HRT Is Not One Size Fits All
HRT is often seen as a one-size-fits-all solution for menopause, but that’s not always the case. There are many different kinds of hormone replacement therapy available.
One is bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). BHRT uses bioidentical hormones made from plant estrogens, identical to those found in the human body.
The most common hormones used in BHRT for women are:
- Estrogens (estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3))
- DHEA
- Pregnenolone
- Progesterone
- Testosterone
Bioidentical hormones can be custom compounded for an individual patient by compounding pharmacies specializing in Couture Medicine™, like Belmar Pharma Solutions, according to a doctor’s orders.
Your doctor can help you figure out which is best for you.
So, what can menopausal women do to make sure that they are getting the most out of their menopause treatment?
Be Informed – and Ask Questions!
Women who seek medical help from a doctor who specializes in hormonal health will usually have an easier time getting accurate information on HRT, as well as menopause in general. Doctors are becoming more aware of the need for better communication, but that doesn’t change the fact that women have to be proactive when seeking out information about menopause and HRT. Let us know how we can help if you have additional questions!