Question 1

Which states are eligible for Menopause Consults?

Accepted Answer

Wisp can currently provide menopause care to patients in the following states:/nALASKA/nARIZONA/nCALIFORNIA/nCOLORADO/nDELAWARE/nDISTRICT OF COLUMBIA/nFLORIDA/nIDAHO/nILLINOIS/nIOWA/nKANSAS/nKENTUCKY/nMAINE/nMARYLAND/nMASSACHUSETTS/nMICHIGAN/nMISSOURI/nMONTANA/nNEBRASKA/nNEVADA/nNEW HAMPSHIRE/nNEW JERSEY/nNEW MEXICO/nNEW YORK/nNORTH DAKOTA/nOREGON/nPENNSYLVANIA/nRHODE ISLAND/nSOUTH DAKOTA/nTENNESSEE/nTEXAS/nUTAH/nVERMONT/nVIRGINIA/nWASHINGTON/nWEST VIRGINIA/nWYOMING

Question 2

Do I have to be a certain age for menopause treatment?

Accepted Answer

On average, women experience menopause at 51 years old, and perimenopause symptoms can begin 7-10 years prior. Patients are encouraged to start HRT as soon as they begin to experience uncomfortable symptoms. Wisp provides treatment to those 40 years of age and older, or those younger than 40 if they have also had their ovaries and uterus removed.

Question 3

What are the side effects of hormone replacement?

Accepted Answer

There are some possible side effects of treatment with hormones, which include:/nHeadaches/nBreast pain or tenderness/nChanges in menstrual flow and duration/nNausea/nMood changes, including low mood or depression/nDiarrhea/nThese side effects are likely to be mild and often subside as you adjust to treatment, but make sure you talk to a healthcare provider if they persist.

Question 4

Does hormone replacement therapy increase cancer risk?

Accepted Answer

The [Women’s Health Initiative study resulted in widespread headlines](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/01/magazine/menopause-hot-flashes-hormone-therapy.html) that hormone replacement therapy as a treatment for menopause could increase your risk for stroke, heart disease, blood clots, or cancer. While the results from the study have since been found to be flawed and have been retracted, patients have been unable to get relief from their symptoms for decades due to the fears caused by this study./nIn fact, studies have shown that women receiving bioidentical HRT can actually have a decreased risk of some cancers, stroke, heart disease, bone loss, and diabetes. Some studies suggest there is a [small risk of developing breast cancer](https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3873) for women who use combined HRT therapy, such as estrogen and progesterone, but other studies refute this. Your healthcare provider is the best person to talk to about your personal risk and how to weigh that against the benefits of your treatment.

Question 5

How quickly should I see results?

Accepted Answer

When starting hormone replacement therapy (HRT), many patients begin to notice symptom relief of hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, and sleep disturbance within a few weeks, although it can take up to 12 weeks for the full benefits to be felt. It’s important to keep in touch with your Wisp provider for any concerning symptoms and sharing your current symptoms on your follow ups for any adjustments needed to your treatment plan. Remember, each person's experience with HRT can vary, so patience is key!

Question 6

Does your estrogen come from horses?

Accepted Answer

Premarin is the brand name of a synthetic estrogen that is derived from pregnant horse urine. While you can still get this type of estrogen today, Wisp’s Estrogen HRT uses bioidentical estrogen that is plant-based. Bioidentical hormones are identical in chemical and molecular structure to the hormones that are produced naturally in the body.

Question 7

Can I swim and shower with the estradiol patch?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can swim, shower, and bathe with the patch! We recommend keeping the patch under your bathing suit or using water proof bandages (i.e. tegaderm) to ensure that the patch stays on and dry. Avoid applying soaps or lotions directly to the patch or area surrounding the patch, and avoid any direct shower stream on the patch.

Menopause Consult