Supporting women through menopause with knowledge and care

In an interview with Contemporary OB/GYN, Wendee Lee Curtis addressed an audience already concerned with supporting women during their menopause journey.

Curtis discussed the importance of expanding understanding of menopause beyond the medical realm to include its personal, professional, and relational impacts. She also noted that deepening this understanding is crucial to providing meaningful care and support to women during this phase.

A key piece of advice offered is to remain relentless in seeking information. Curtis acknowledged that while relevant information about menopause exists, it often requires effort to find and synthesize it. She expressed hope that discussions such as the one they presented at the 2024 Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society will lead to more centralized, vetted information, making it easier for women to access resources that help them reclaim themselves.

Curtis stressed that aging is a natural part of life and that menopause should be about recalibrating self-care rather than trying to reverse the clock. The goal is for women to recognize themselves in the mirror, stand in their power, and take advantage of the wellness resources available, even if they are currently difficult to find.

Additionally, Curtis expressed a personal shock about the lack of deep training and knowledge among health care providers regarding menopause, even among those in specialties such as gynecology and obstetrics. She found it surprising that these professionals, who have guided women through other significant life stages including childbirth, are often not well-versed in menopause care. This realization fuels her commitment to raising awareness and normalizing conversations around menopause.

Curtis looks forward to a future where discussing menopause is commonplace, and the unnecessary suffering that many women experience is eradicated. She hopes for a time when women can not only reclaim their wellness, but also stand in the power and knowledge they have earned over their lives. Curtis concluded by highlighting that menopause is not just a woman's issue, as it affects everyone connected to them, reinforcing the need for widespread support.