Menopause Rescue

Menopause Myths: Insights on Libido, HRT, and Breast Cancer

Understanding the menopause transition involves addressing common misconceptions, particularly about hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Dr. Polly Watson addresses the enduring myth that associates all forms of HRT with breast cancer, tracing its origins to a misinterpretation of the Women's Health Initiative study. She clarifies the distinction between bioidentical progesterone and synthetic progestogens, highlighting their differing effects on breast cancer risk. Furthermore, she emphasizes the significance of personalized HRT protocols.
 
Dispelling the belief that HRT's sole purpose is to combat hot flashes, Dr. Polly delves into its FDA-approved benefits and beyond. These include easing joint pain, improving mood, supporting cardiovascular health, and preventing osteoporosis. She also addresses the crucial, yet often overlooked, aspect of vaginal health in menopausal well-being.
 
This episode goes further to clarify that not all HRT is created equal, distinguishing between the forms of estrogen administration and their associated risks, and debunking the common fear that HRT invariably leads to weight gain. Dr. Polly explains that menopause itself, not HRT, often triggers changes in the body that can affect weight.
 
Moreover, Dr. Polly explores the world of FDA-approved bioidentical hormones, debunking the myth that only compounded hormones fit this category. She offers a reality check on testosterone's role in libido and introduces promising non-hormonal treatments for those unable to use HRT due to medical reasons.
 
Dr. Polly encourages listeners to approach menopause armed with facts and to seek customized care from their healthcare providers.  
 
Quotes
“If we're talking about hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer risk, the type of progesterone or progestogen really matters in relation to that risk.” (05:58 | Dr. Polly Watson)
“We live in a really polluted world. There are lots of complicated facts, family history, lifestyle, alcohol use, body mass index, breast density, all of those things come into breast cancer risk. So we can never guarantee anyone, there's no risk of breast cancer, but we can make more insightful choices when we're offering hormone replacement therapy.” (06:26 | Dr. Polly Watson) 
“It's important to understand that hormone replacement therapy is FDA approved only for four things: hot flashes, night sweats, urogenital symptoms like vaginal dryness, sexual pain, and the prevention of osteoporosis. So we know that giving estrogen, particularly earlier in the menopause transition, can delay bone loss.” (07:21 | Dr. Polly Watson) 
“I think where I see the greatest positive health change is if we can get people to sleep, if you can treat their vasomotor symptoms and get them to be able to sleep, then they have the bandwidth to do all the work they need to lift weights, eat more protein, build more lean muscle mass, glycemically balanced nutritional load, et cetera. ” (15:05 | Dr. Polly Watson) 
“Women need a very clear and honest conversation about sexual health and libido.” (22:23 | Dr. Polly Watson) 
 
Links
https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/nams-2022-hormone-therapy-position-statement.pdf
 
Links
Connect with Dr. Polly Watson:
Website: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast
Resources: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast-resources
 
Disclaimer: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast#Disclaimer
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Why Won’t My Doctor Check My Hormones?

What will hormone tests tell me and why is my doctor so resistant to ordering them? Dr. Polly Watson explores the complexities and controversies surrounding hormone assessment in midlife women. She addresses the frustrations many women experience when their symptoms are dismissed or when they are denied hormone testing by healthcare providers.
 
Dr. Polly discusses the critical role hormones like FSH, estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone play, particularly through perimenopause. She explains why a single hormone test might not provide a comprehensive overview, whereas a series of tests can guide you toward understanding and managing symptoms related to menopause. From exploring the benefits of bioidentical micronized progesterone for mood and sleep improvements to investigating the neuroprotective potential of estrogen, Dr. Polly covers ground that's often overlooked in mainstream healthcare.
 
This episode of Menopause Rescue shines a light on the challenges faced by women with irregular menstrual cycles, including those with PCOS or those who have undergone specific procedures. While hormone testing isn't a “crystal ball” for predicting the timing of menopause or the resolution of symptoms, a comprehensive and thoughtful approach can serve as a fundamental support for women navigating these hormonal transitions.
 
Quotes
"Oftentimes women leave healthcare interactions feeling dismissed and unheard." (02:02 | Dr. Polly Watson)
“It is appalling to me that the message many women are getting from the healthcare system is that we only are going to feel good prior to having children. And then after that, it's just downhill. And that's not acceptable.” (03:46 | Dr. Polly Watson) 
“Many of us in perimenopause kind of feel like we're stuck in PMS. Our fuse can feel really short. Again, the world is also feeling really polarized and triggered, and so sometimes it's hard to figure out if this is hormonal or if it's just being a modern human. So hormone testing can bring a little bit of clarity if it's done correctly within some context.” (14:33 | Dr. Polly Watson)
“Rather than just saying ‘hormones change, we don't check them,’ this is an opportunity to give some bandwidth back in a woman's life. This is an opportunity to perhaps help her sleep. This is an opportunity to give her a little bit of grace, a little bit of cushion, if you will, if she's feeling irritable and maybe she also has kids and teens who are also feeling irritable. So in my mind, not checking the progesterone or addressing the progesterone deficiency is really a missed opportunity to offer a relatively simple solution that can make a huge impact in this transition period.” (17:46 | Dr. Polly Watson) 
"Hormone testing can be unpredictable. It may be helpful to get several measurements in conjunction with comprehensive labs and clinical symptoms to make an assessment. I would say that hormone testing can be insightful in women who don't have regular periods due to an IUD, an ablation, or a hysterectomy. We don't have a test that will predict when menopause will occur or when symptoms are going to start or stop." (30:02 | Dr. Polly Watson) 
 
Links
Connect with Dr. Polly Watson:
Website: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast
Resources: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast-resources
 
Disclaimer: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast#Disclaimer
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Menopause at Age 38: Dr. Watson Shares Her Mother’s Story

Menopause is a natural yet often misunderstood phase in every woman's life, marked by mixed emotions and misconceptions about this significant transition. In this inaugural episode of "Menopause Rescue," Dr. Polly Watson, a gynecologist certified by the Menopause Society and renowned for integrating traditional and functional medicine, shares a personal catalyst for her career in women’s health—her mother’s early menopause experience. Her story goes beyond her own path through medical training on gynecology and menopause. It's a wake-up call, urging us to fundamentally change how we talk about and manage menopause care.
 
Dr. Polly shines a spotlight on the significant lack of menopause-focused education within medical training and the healthcare system, encouraging women to proactively manage their health during the menopausal transition. She advocates for a holistic approach that integrates lifestyle changes, hormone replacement therapy, and functional medicine to tackle the challenges of this pivotal phase in women's lives.
 
In this episode, you'll have an in-depth look into the urgent need for a revolutionary change in menopause care–an area currently cluttered with misleading products and promises. Dr. Polly describes this as seeking a "perfect absolutist solution." Leveraging her extensive expertise, she is determined to bridge the gap between conventional and holistic medicine, striving to provide women with a well-rounded perspective on how to approach menopausal treatments.
 
Tune in as Dr. Polly sets the stage for a podcast series dedicated to empowering women through proactive health management, fostering an environment of support that offers evidence-based guidance and insightful discussions.
 
Quotes
"At one point during some very frustrating medical journey, I went to the doctor's appointment with my mom and I remember sitting there and being almost embarrassed for the healthcare provider. He was so emphatic and he was digging in so deep and he was a little combative and a little bit argumentative and he wasn't listening. And I just remember at that point thinking, okay, I've got to go into medicine. I've got to serve women. This is absolutely unacceptable. And I knew I could do better, which isn't saying much because at that point, the bar was really low. So my mom was a huge motivator for me to go into women's health." (02:13 | Dr. Polly Watson) 
"I really want to offer a menopause or midlife as this catalyst to create what we need for the second half of our lives. And I see that as something that's really positive and hopeful. And I'm not sure that a lot of the conversation around menopause is positive and hopeful. So I'd really like to offer that optimism in this space." (11:26 | Dr. Polly Watson) 
"Unfortunately, women are trying to re-engage with the healthcare system and the health care system hasn't been adequately trained in menopausal medicine most of the time. And so women are leaving that health care interaction super frustrated and often not getting their needs met." (12:23 | Dr. Polly Watson) 
"I would really like to create a space for discussion of complexity and nuance and try to get away from some of the absolutist claims and have a little bit more realistic conversation about what might work for someone and what might not work for someone else. I think that a lot of the claims are one size fits all recommendations. I don't think there is a one size fits all for menopause." (13:07 | Dr. Polly Watson)
"I'd like to create some space so that we can embrace complexity with a growth mindset. We can approach this with curiosity and hopefully some optimism. The revolution happens when women are at the center of their health creation. We want to shift the emphasis from health coming from without,  to health coming from within you." (14:10 | Dr. Polly Watson) 
"I want to help you discern both holistic claims and conventional claims and hopefully serve as a bridge to sort of bring you the best of both of those worlds." (18:27 | Dr. Polly Watson)
 
Links
Connect with Dr. Polly Watson:
Website: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast
Resources: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast-resources
 
Disclaimer: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast#Disclaimer
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Trailer: A Sneak Peek Into Menopause Rescue

Welcome to Menopause Rescue: an alternative health podcast hosted by hormone specialist Polly Watson, MD, FACOG, NCMP.
 
This is a show where women gather to be empowered to gain clarity and to use their menopausal transition to level up their health. Menopause can be a destabilizing time when women feel betrayed by their bodies. Sleep is hijacked, mood feels unpredictable and libido takes a nosedive. What used to work to get wellness back on track doesn't seem to work anymore. Lacking tools and desperate for relief, the marketplace has flooded women with an overwhelming amount of information and products, which may lack evidence and safety.
 
Dr. Polly Watson is a gynecologist with over 20 years of experience. Dr. Watson has traditional medical training as well as certification in menopausal medicine and functional medicine.
Menopause Rescue will help you discern both conventional and holistic options. It will clarify controversy and offer tools to make the second half of your life your best. This series is here to rescue the conversation around menopause, putting you back in control of your health.