Dr. Alyssa Dweck Breaks Down the Hidden Side of Menopause on YourUpdateTV

Bonafide Health’s Chief Medical Officer Joins a Nationwide Satellite Media Tour to Reveal Why Anxiety and Brain Fog Are Now Hitting Women Harder Than Hot Flashes, and What Every Woman Can Do About It --- Anchor: What is the difference between perimenopause and menopause and what are some of the common misconceptions regarding them? Dr. Alyssa Dweck: So the definition of menopause is 12 consecutive months without menstruation. It's a natural phase of life, not a disease, but it can be written with some significant symptoms. And the average age of menopause is 51 in the U.S. Perimenopause refers to the years, sometimes two or 4 or 10 years leading up to menopause, where hormones like estrogen and progesterone are very volatile and this can lead to symptoms. Bonafide health conducted a survey, and in fact, this was our sixth annual survey called the State of Menopause Survey. And for the first time, we found that women were complaining that cognitive and emotional symptoms were most disruptive and have actually overtaken the disruption of hot flashes and night sweats. And this was particularly noted in the women aged 40 to 49, which is typically during that perimenopausal time. More than 60% of these women surveyed reported a decline in their mental health, and many reported that anxiety and depression were most impactful. Anchor: Exactly how do the hormonal changes experienced during perimenopause affect mental health and why is that connection still underdiagnosed? Dr. Alyssa Dweck: This is a combination of factors. First, again, the hormones estrogen and progesterone are very variable with peaks and nadirs, and that can cause changes. Some of these changes might be to physical symptoms like hot flashes or night sweats, or even joint pain or musculoskeletal pain. And some of these changes can lead to sleep disruption, particularly progesterone, which is a calming hormone that is intricately involved with the sleep cycle. In addition, changes to estrogen can cause changes to neurotransmitters in the brain that are feel good chemicals like serotonin and dopamine. So when all of these things occur in combination with life circumstances changing, like caring for aging parents and children and spouses and work and all of those things, we can see changes to mood and cognition, and that can be quite disruptive. Anchor: According to Bonafide’s survey, it appears these emotional symptoms are leading women to crave solitude and feel overwhelmed by everyday life. How is this impacting the way they are seeking help? Dr. Alyssa Dweck: Yes. In fact, 71% of the women we surveyed really felt completely unprepared for how disruptive their symptoms were going to be. Women seem to be searching more for affirmation that their symptoms are not imagined, but that they are very real. And this is something that they're seeking support from, with their friends, with their communities. And hopefully they will find clinicians that can also be supportive of this. They feel a little bit confused, even with all of the information out there and all the products out there, with what would be the best treatment management, especially for these cognitive and emotional symptoms. Anchor: We know that Hormone Replacement Therapy, is often prescribed for symptom management, are there alternative treatments if women don’t have access to it? Dr. Alyssa Dweck: Absolutely. So hormone replacement therapy or menopausal hormone therapy, as it's now referred to, is increasing in demand. Ever since the FDA changed the labeling on menopausal estrogen containing products. But still, there are many women who either don't want to take hormone therapy or who are not candidates for such, and there are good alternatives. There are non-hormonal drugs that are FDA approved for hot flashes and night sweats and other of the mood symptoms that occur. There are well studied supplements, such as those from Bonafide that can help with symptom management. And of course, nothing replaces lifestyle pillars and modifications to diet, exercise, sleep hygiene and having a sense of community. Finding a good clinician who is well versed and sensitive to perimenopause and menopause can be extremely helpful. Anchor: What is the most important thing women should know as they enter perimenopause? Where can we go for more information? Dr. Alyssa Dweck: We really want women to educate themselves and to be proactive in finding a good clinician who can help them traverse this time. We also like to keep in mind that menopause and perimenopause are not diseases, they are natural states of life. However, the symptoms can be uncomfortable, but they can be managed. We also welcome people to visit us at hellobonafide.com. We have a very robust library of medically vetted, credible information about perimenopause and menopause, as well as management tools.