Norah O'Donnell: What I learned from my doctor about menopause
Norah O'Donnell sat down with her own doctor, Rachel Rubin, to tackle the important topic of menopause: How your body changes, why women may be needlessly suffering, and what you can actually do about it.
In a recent episode of Healthful, I had the opportunity to speak with my own doctor, Rachel Rubin, about the often misunderstood topic of menopause. According to Dr. Rubin, menopause is a "castration event" as it signifies the cessation of ovarian function and the body's inability to produce estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
These hormone imbalances can lead to various symptoms such as hot flashes, poor sleep, mood changes, weight gain, and memory issues. While some men may experience a natural decline in testosterone, they typically do not reach castration levels.
Rubin emphasized the importance of vaginal hormones in preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs) during and after menopause. Untreated UTIs can result in severe complications like sepsis, hospitalization, and even death. Despite the American Urological Association's support for vaginal estrogen use, fewer than one in ten postmenopausal women utilize it, even though it is often covered by insurance.
By offering vaginal hormones, Medicare could potentially save $6 billion to $22 billion annually, covering urgent care visits, hospitalizations, and ICU admissions.
Interestingly, Rubin pointed out that women produce more testosterone than estrogen. Although there is no FDA-approved testosterone product specifically for women, it can be prescribed off-label. Many of Rubin's patients who take testosterone report improved mental well-being, increased libido, and a general sense of feeling "more like themselves."
Written by urgent.news from CBS News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
