‘It’s the wild, wild West’: Philadelphia menopause care providers see fallout from quick online hormone prescriptions
*FILE – This Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012 photo shows a low-dose estrogen skin patch. Many women use hormone therapy to relieve hot flashes and other menopause symptoms. (AP Photo/File)*
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If you’re a woman over 40, chances are you’re being bombarded online with ads for a wide variety of hormone products. These are often available after a quick online check-in with a health care provider. The promise? Fast relief for a range of symptoms related to menopause or perimenopause—everything from weight gain and brain fog to insomnia and hot flashes.
While this may seem like a welcome new trend for women dealing with disruptive symptoms, local menopause experts are raising alarm bells. They warn that these treatments are not always appropriate or even safe.
“It’s the wild, wild West,” said Dr. Robyn Faye, an OB-GYN and certified menopause practitioner with Jefferson Health in Philadelphia. “Women are going online because they’re so desperate for information,” she explained. “‘I don’t feel like myself, my family hates me, I hate myself—fix me.’”
However, Faye worries that during quick online appointments, patients might be receiving prescriptions without sound or correct medical advice. Recently, she saw a patient who had tried to get immediate answers for her menopause-related symptoms while waiting for her in-person appointment.
“She went online, wasn’t asked the proper questions, and had medical and family history that would have precluded her from taking estrogen and progesterone. She was given it anyway, and she really should not have been on it,” Faye said. The patient had a high risk for cardiovascular disease, and taking hormones could have increased that risk further.
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### Hormones Help Many Patients Feel and Function Better
Generally, hormone therapy is considered safe and effective for many women going through perimenopause or menopause.
“We love it,” Faye said, “but you have to be the right patient to take it.”
Hormone therapy is not recommended for people with elevated risks of breast cancer, heart disease, or a history of blood clots or stroke. It is also not advised for women over the age of 60 or those who are more than 10 years past their last menstrual period.
For patients cleared to use hormone therapy, the relief and benefits are often significant. Estrogen can help prevent osteoporosis, and hormone therapy is highly effective in managing hot flashes, night sweats, and sleep disturbances.
“Once terrible hot flashes and night sweats are managed, people usually sleep better,” said Dr. Arina Chesnokova, an OB-GYN at Penn Medicine and certified menopause practitioner. “As a result, their cognition improves, their mood lifts, and they may become more interested in their partners, so their sex lives get better.”
Chesnokova added that better sleep can also enhance cognition and focus.
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### Not a Miracle Drug or Anti-Aging Potion
Many women report a general improvement in well-being with hormone therapy. However, both Faye and Chesnokova emphasize that hormones are not a cure-all or a miracle drug.
“You might go back to the gym because you’re finally feeling better, but they’re not going to make you lose weight,” Faye explained. “They won’t make your face look like that of a 20-year-old, nor will they make your body resemble that of someone in their twenties.”
There can also be uncertainty regarding the quality of prescription products received through online platforms.
“For now, the advice is to stay away from the barrage of online advertising because you just don’t know what you’re getting,” Chesnokova said.
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### General Wisdom for Women in Menopause
While acknowledging the difficulty in securing appointments with menopause-educated providers, both physicians recommend finding health care professionals who can thoroughly weigh the pros and cons of hormone therapy on an individual basis.
Strategies such as healthy nutrition and regular exercise can also help alleviate symptoms associated with menopause.
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### Upcoming Event: Reimagining Menopause
Join Maiken Scott for a free event, *Reimagining Menopause*, featuring a candid conversation with Dr. Robyn Faye and Dr. Arina Chesnokova.
– **Date:** October 21
– **Location:** WHYY, 150 N. Sixth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
– **Schedule:** Mix and mingle at 5 p.m. | Panel discussion begins at 6 p.m.
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*Photo Credit: AP Photo/File*
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