Dear Oprah: Thank you!

It was refreshing to hear an open, frank discussion about Menopause, hormones and hot flashes on national TV – and on the most popular talk show for women to boot.  It was downright historic! And long overdue. As Oprah put it, it’s about time that “the veil of shame” around menopause was lifted and that we should “get a conversation started about it.”

Only someone like Oprah, with a worldwide platform, could pull this off, so I thank her profusely! Hopefully, her initiative will begin an “oral tradition” of sharing information about Menopause with our friends and daughters so that women can take control of their own lives and, as she put it, “demand to feel better!”

Dr. Christiane NorthrupThe program covered a lot of ground and you’ll find show excerpts and more information on Oprah’s website, but here are three important points emphasized by Dr. Christiane Northrup, author of  The Wisdom of Menopause ( “the bible of menopause,” as Oprah put it) and Robin McGraw, author of  What’s Age Got to Do with It?: Living Your Healthiest and Happiest Life:

  • Seek help from doctors who will take the time to do proper testing of your hormones and who are willing to work with you until you feel better. This may involve constant tweaking of hormone replacement therapy, so work as a team with your physician.
  • Do your own research! – There’s a lot of controversy about bio-identical hormones.  If your own physician urges you to take synthetic hormones, and tells you that nothing else works, do your own research first to see if that is best option for you.
  • Changes in our hormone levels begin eight to 10 years before menopause – usually around 45 years of age.  For some women, it can start even earlier than that. If you begin experiencing symptoms like migraines, mood swings, brain fog, hot flashes and insomnia, have your hormone levels tested and balanced properly. Don’t suffer needlessly!

Did you watch the show? What did you get out of it and what do you still want to know? I hope you’ll continue the conversation that Oprah began and share your thoughts, questions and knowledge here.