S2 Ep106: It's Time To Redefine Menopause

In a perfect world, an alert would pop up on your phone announcing, “You are now in perimenopause,” followed at the appropriate time by “You are now leaving perimenopause and entering post menopause.” But it’s not a perfect world, and unless you are thrust into menopause because of ovary removal or chemotherapy, in many, if not most cases, it’s hard to know what your ovaries are doing. Menopause is defined as starting when you haven't had a period in 12 months. And while that’s a very specific definition, that definition is only useful in retrospect. And the 12 months without a period definition is totally meaningless for the millions of women who don’t get periods because of maybe a hysterectomy or a uterine ablation.

I start this segment by discussing  (and reading) my recent editorial on this topic in the journal, Menopause. I then go on to address: 

Why the current definition is problematic, confusing and impacts research

How to know you are perimenopause or post menopause if you DON’T GET PERIODS

Post Hysterectomy

Post Endometrial Ablation

With IUD Use

If You Are Taking Birth Control Pills

Starting hormone therapy when not sure what stage of menopause you are in

Starting hormone therapy if you still getting periods but are having symptoms

My Editorial: Is it Time to Rethink How Menopause Is Defined

(There is a paywall so non-subscribers will not be able to access the article)

Streicher, Lauren MD, MSCP. Is it time to rethink how menopause is defined?. Menopause 30(12):p 1177-1178, December 2023. | DOI: 10.1097/GME.0000000000002276

More Information on this topic:

Episode 1: Is It Menopause or Some Other Pause?

Episode 23:  Welcome to Peri-menopause

Episode 46 Finding a Menopause Clinician Who Will Listen

Episode 80 When Progesterone is a Problem

Episode 99 When Bleeding During Perimenopause is the Problem

Lauren Streicher, MD is a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, and the founding medical director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause. She is a certified menopause practitioner of the North American Menopause Society. 

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Dr. Streicher is the medical correspondent for Chicago’s top-rated news program, the WGN Morning News, and has been seen on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, NPR, Dr. Radio, Nightline, Fox and Friends, The Steve Harvey Show, CBS This Morning, ABC News Now, NBCNightlyNews,20/20, and World News Tonight. She is an expert source for many magazines and serves on the medical advisory board of The Kinsey Institute, Self Magazine, and Prevention Magazine. She writes a regular column for The Ethel by AARP and Prevention Magazine. 

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Books by Lauren Streicher, MD

Slip Sliding Away: Turning Back the Clock on Your Vagina-A gynecologist’s guide to eliminating post-menopause dryness and pain

Hot Flash Hell: A Gynecologist's Guide to Turning Down the Heat

Sex Rx- Hormones, Health, and Your Best Sex Ever

The Essential Guide to Hysterectomy