The midlife transition is often a difficult time for women, and unfortunately, menopause management is under-addressed in today’s healthcare setting.

Common issues resulting from the loss of ovarian hormones, especially estrogen, include:
• Hot flashes
• Sleep disturbances
• Mood changes
• Significant physical changes including, weight gain, change in body fat distribution and skin changes

Many women are also fearful of hormone therapy due largely to concerns of increased breast cancer risk. Most primary care providers are also fearful of hormone therapy and reluctant to prescribe hormone therapy due largely to a lack of understanding of the current data suggesting safety and benefit for most menopausal women. As a result, the vast majority of women suffer with symptoms in silence and go untreated, or alternatively, seek care in non-traditional practices and receive therapies that are not FDA approved.

Sexual health issues are extremely common in all women and yet the vast majority of women remain untreated. Patients and clinicians alike are uncomfortable addressing the sexual health concerns of women. In addition, the majority of primary care providers and OB/GYNs lack sexual health training and do not have enough time during visits to adequately address sexual health concerns. We must do more.

Dr. Birkholz is a sexual health expert and is passionate about raising the standard of care for women and advancing evidence-based sexual health care across the lifespan of all women.

Sexual health consultations are a full one hour or more which allows for adequate time for a complete evaluation of specific concerns. Each consultation includes a comprehensive visit/exam that allows time to address a variety of concerns, including sexual pain, menopause-related sexual dysfunction, low desire, sexual dysfunction related to cancer treatment and other issues. Additional follow-up appointments are available if needed.

It’s time to change the conversation from detection to prevention. Mammograms detect cancer, but we now know so much more about ways to reduce women’s risk of developing breast cancer.

Women are aware that screening for breast cancer with an annual mammogram is important, and most women check the box off their annual mammogram and forget about their risk of breast cancer for a year. But an annual screening for breast cancer versus understanding personal risk of developing breast cancer are two vastly different things.

We use breast cancer risk assessment tools to determine an individual woman’s risk of breast cancer and compare that risk to the average risk of breast cancer for a woman the same age in the population – and develop a plan for risk reduction and appropriate screenings.

There are steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing breast cancer; the first step is understanding your own individual risk.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with cancer, you know that recovery looks different for everyone. Cancer survivors benefit from comprehensive healthcare, which requires the type of time not typically allotted in traditional primary care settings. As survivors recover it’s incredibly important they work with a physician who can help address the unique health and wellness needs of cancer survivors.

Consults include a comprehensive evaluation, including late-term effects of cancer therapies (chemotherapy, radiation and drug therapy.) Focus includes identifying opportunities for improved wellness, appropriate screenings and late consequences of cancer treatment therapies. Additional follow-up appointments are available if needed.

Migraines affect 12% of the general population, with women developing migraines nearly three times as often as men. If you’ve ever experienced migraines, you know this silent disease can be devastating.

If you are struggling with migraine management and are looking for relief, we’d encourage you to sign up for a women’s health consult.

Each consult includes a comprehensive health assessment, discussion of treatments (including Botox and the newest CGRP preventative medications) for management of symptoms and strategies and therapies for prevention based on the latest evidence-based guidelines and research.