Overview
Listen to Me! Helping Women Talk to Their Healthcare Provider About Hot Flashes
Whiteboard animation
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Hot flashes, night sweats, and sleep disturbances of menopause – whatever you want to call them – are no joke! Luckily you don’t need to suffer alone. brief whiteboard animation was developed to provide you with information on the symptoms of menopause, approaches to therapy, and talking with your healthcare provider about options.
This activity is intended for perimenopausal or menopausal women.
For women experiencing VMS, one of the most problematic and embarrassing symptoms, the hot flash, affects most women daily. (Williams, 2009). Sleep disturbances, another bothersome symptom during menopause, occur in approximately 40-60% of women. (Ohayon, 2006) The frequency of such disturbances (difficulty falling asleep, waking early, sleep interruption, and sleep quality) is associated with increasing VMS frequency. (Kagan, 2021) All of these contribute to a chronic feeling of fatigue that can interfere with workplace function. (Kroll, 2020; Kagan, 2021)
Not surprisingly, in the MsFLASH survey of menopausal symptoms among women in a study of behavioral interventions, VMS was reported as the priority symptom for treatment. (Carpenter, 2015) Women may experience VMS for at least 5-10 years, with a median duration of 7.4 years, and black women are more likely to experience extended VMS with menopause than their white counterparts. (Avis, 2015)
A recent survey of menopausal women with moderate/severe VMS symptoms identified a high humanistic burden related to menopause, with 75% of respondents reporting feeling tired or worn out and 68% reporting aching muscles and joints. (Kroll, 2020) Of these participants, 68% also reported hot flashes, 67% reported night sweats, and 61% reported sleep disturbances. (Kroll, 2020) Perhaps the most concerning aspect of this study was that less than one-third of women were receiving treatment: 7% reported taking hormone therapy, 4% reported taking a non-hormonal prescription drug, and 15% were taking a non-prescription product. (Kroll, 2020)
Throughout the lifespan, women have a higher incidence of depressive episodes than men, with an increased likelihood during the menopause transition and postmenopausal years. (Soares, 2021) The challenges and quality of life impacts precipitated by menopause may further compound depression
Not surprisingly, in the MsFLASH survey of menopausal symptoms among women in a study of behavioral interventions, VMS was reported as the priority symptom for treatment. (Carpenter, 2015) Women may experience VMS for at least 5-10 years, with a median duration of 7.4 years, and black women are more likely to experience extended VMS with menopause than their white counterparts. (Avis, 2015)
A recent survey of menopausal women with moderate/severe VMS symptoms identified a high humanistic burden related to menopause, with 75% of respondents reporting feeling tired or worn out and 68% reporting aching muscles and joints. (Kroll, 2020) Of these participants, 68% also reported hot flashes, 67% reported night sweats, and 61% reported sleep disturbances. (Kroll, 2020) Perhaps the most concerning aspect of this study was that less than one-third of women were receiving treatment: 7% reported taking hormone therapy, 4% reported taking a non-hormonal prescription drug, and 15% were taking a non-prescription product. (Kroll, 2020)
Throughout the lifespan, women have a higher incidence of depressive episodes than men, with an increased likelihood during the menopause transition and postmenopausal years. (Soares, 2021) The challenges and quality of life impacts precipitated by menopause may further compound depression
Research has also identified factors that may predispose women to depression during menopause. Although treatment approaches are effective for depression, OBGYNs do not consistently screen perimenopausal women for depression and only one-half report feeling confident in treating depression. (Raglan, 2020)
Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
- Enhance patient knowledge of menopause, menopause symptoms, associated conditions, and available therapies
- Increase patient ability and confident to engage in meaningful, informed discussion with their health care providers around menopause treatment options
Sponsored by Purdue University College of Pharmacy, the Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning (ACHL) and Red Hot Mamas
Supported by an educational grant from Astellas.
