His and Her Health

Recently, I had to find a new doctor because my current doctor was going into another area of medicine. As a writer and researcher, I knew I was healthier with treatment and needed a way to help my doctor understand why it is important to treat menopause. I made it very simple. I used the words that are most meaningful to doctors. This puts us on the same page.

When I met this new doctor I explained that I had profound hypogonadism (the medical name for menopause). She was very honest with me and said that she had no idea how to treat hypogonadism in a woman and would I work with her. Of course I said yes, and we have been working together ever since.

The reason I am sharing this story is because every day women are turned down for treatment of menopause. I don’t think women would be turned down if they asked for treatment of profound hypogonadism.

Would you be willing to ask your doctor for treatment using the medical name for menopause even though this is unusual?

bethrose, I can't say that I would be unwilling to used the medical terminology for menopause, but I think if I did the physician might talk to me about the condition and treatment in terms that I might not be familiar with. Is the Dr that went you to see and are working with a Gyn?
I have spoken with my Gyn about me possibly being in menopause do to changes in my body and my very high libido, and I like to keep the discussions in laymans terms. But if you are comfortable talking in medical terms with your Dr. than go for it. It depends on the person.

Actually, our conversation is very basic and definitely in laymans terms because the doctor is unfamiliar with treating this illness. The only difference is that I asked for treatment for profound hypogonadism instead of menopause and was offered treatment instead of turned away.

I have required treatment for menopause since I was 42 years old and I am now 49. I have requested treatment from gyns, endocrinologists, family practitioners and internists. At this point I would only ask an internist for treatment because they schedule longer times for visits and they are more interested in the whole person rather than just one part of a person.

I’m already on a regimen but it is like pulling teeth to get the doctor to do anything you want him to do. With so many of us menopausal women around you would think they would know what to prescribe.

The only smart doctor I had was when I was diagnosed with lymphoma. The doctor took me off of all my vitamins and kept me on all of my menopause hormones as he wanted to keep my immune system intact during my chemotherapy.

I was not on menopause hormones for over 20 years and then I got cancer. I believe I got cancer because I wasn’t on hormones for so many years. I will never stop taking my hormones because I believe they will keep me healthy.