What this episode is about
Join Dr. Sameena Rahman as she breaks the silence around menopause and sexual health, offering insights and tips for navigating this transformative stage with confidence.
Key takeaways
- Gabriella says she resisted hormone therapy because she believed natural is best. Many cultures pass that belief down, and it can keep women from care they need.
- Dr. Rahman says the SWAN study found Black and Latino women reach menopause earlier, potentially seven months earlier on average, and often have worse symptoms for longer.
- Dr. Rahman says uncontrolled hot flashes and night sweats can lead to metabolic problems, diabetes, heart disease, and early death. Treating them matters.
Moments from this episode
Word for word from the recording. Tap a time to hear it.
Care means cultural humility
“It's really humility toward another culture so that you can better understand, because these are all the factors that come into play when it comes to treating a patient as a whole.”
Common, but not normal
“It is very common and it's not normal to have painful sex. It's common but not normal.”
Feeling broken has a fix
“If you think it's broken, there's a fixable option, and let me tell you what it is.”
“I want more women to be experiencing pleasure, that's my mission in the world.”
Gabriella Espinosaat 39:59
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Show notes
Listen on Spotify or Apple:
What cultural narratives have you inherited about menopause and sexuality?
For many women of diverse cultural backgrounds their experience of menopause is often shaped by cultural stigma, lack of awareness or the burden of accumulated stressors and life events. In this eye-opening interview, I sit down with Dr. Sameena Rahman, a board-certified OB/GYN specializing in menopause management and sexual health, to shed light on the importance of normalizing these conversations.
Read the full show notesShow less
The Unspoken Reality of Menopause
Dr. Rahman shares her personal experience growing up in a South Asian household where discussions about women's health were shrouded in silence and taboo. "There was no talk of women's stuff going on, except for around shame. Don't talk about that. Don't do that," she recalls. This lack of open dialogue, coupled with the stress of immigrating to a new country, often leads to a generation of women silently enduring menopausal symptoms.
"When I think about my mother going through menopause, I can only remember alot of her personality changing," Dr. Rahman shares. "And you wonder how much prevention could have been in play there if we had been able to offer her more support."
Exploring Menopause through Diverse Lenses
Dr. Rahman addresses the unique experiences of women of color during menopause, informed by the findings of the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN).
This comprehensive research surveyed over 3,000 women from various cultural and racial backgrounds, uncovering significant differences in the menopause transition and its health implications.
Dr. Rahman highlighted that factors such as allostatic load, the cumulative burden of chronic stress and life events, play a crucial role in shaping the menopause experience, particularly for Black women. This generational stress burden contributes to distinct health outcomes, often exacerbating the challenges faced during this life stage.
Additionally, Dr. Rahman shed light on the pervasive issue of implicit bias in the healthcare system. She emphasized how cultural and racial stereotypes can negatively impact the quality of care women receive during menopause. To address these disparities, Dr. Rahman advocates for healthcare providers to adopt "cultural humility," ensuring a more empathetic and informed approach to menopause treatment for women of color.
The Power of Education and Advocacy
As an advocate for women's health, Dr. Rahman emphasizes the importance of learning to advocate for your own well-being. "We're all on these platforms so people can learn how to advocate for their own health. Women need to understand that it's not going to be given to us on a silver platter," she asserts.
She encourages women to empower themselves with knowledge about menopausal symptoms and potential treatments. "A well-armed, educated woman is someone that I love seeing," Dr. Rahman says. "Because they come in very prepared and they know what they need and they want."
Debunking Myths Around Hormone Therapy
One of the biggest hurdles in seeking treatment for menopausal symptoms is the fear surrounding hormone therapy. Dr. Rahman addresses these concerns head-on, stating, "We know that estrogen and progesterone have been around forever and are extremely safe in the right patient category."
She explains that the negative perception of hormone therapy stems from misinformed studies that have since been reevaluated. "At least we know the FDA regulates all the products that come out. All the medications are rigorously tested," she assures.
Addressing Intimate Health Concerns
Dr. Rahman also touches on the prevalent yet often unspoken issue of sexual pain and dysfunction during menopause. "I would say that for a lot of women of color, pain is accepted as normal. So until you tell them that this does not have to hurt, and this might be contributing to why you don't want to have sex, they begin to seek relief," she explains.
She emphasizes the importance of seeking treatment, such as vaginal estrogen, to alleviate these symptoms. "Everyone asks, what's the best form of vaginal estrogen? I say, it's the one that you use," Dr. Rahman quips.
Actionable Tips for Menopausal Health
- Educate yourself on menopausal symptoms and treatment options using reliable resources such as the North American Menopause Society website, books by reputable physicians or websites dedicated to supporting women of color.
- Don't hesitate to advocate for yourself during doctor's visits. If you feel dismissed, voice your concerns directly.
- Remember that painful sex is common but not normal. Seek treatment options like vaginal estrogen to improve your intimate health.
- View caring for your vulvovaginal health as an essential part of your self-care routine, just like skincare or oral hygiene.
As we conclude our conversation, Dr. Rahman leaves us with a powerful message: "It's really a matter of listening to the patient, understanding where they're coming from, and trying to meet them where they are." By normalizing these conversations and empowering women with knowledge, we can collectively break the silence around menopause and sexual health, paving the way for a healthier, more fulfilled generation of women.
Guest Info
Dr. Sameena Rahman is a board-certified OB/GYN who has tailored her practice to meet the needs of women for gynecologic and cosmetic services. After years of practicing obstetrics and gynecology in a variety of large academic settings and locations, Dr. Rahman started her own practice to focus on her special areas of interest to ensure patients have their best quality of life.
Through her research and dedication, she is one of the few physicians nationally to receive the designation of ISSWSH (International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health ) Fellow (IF) and is actively involved with cutting edge approaches to sexual pain and sexual dysfunction.
She also is an active member of the IPPS, International Pelvic Pain Society, and specializes in a multidisciplinary approach to chronic pelvic pain. For midlife women, Dr. Rahman is also a specialist in menopause management with the designation of Certified Menopause Physician through the North American Menopause Society (NCMP).
Links & Resources:
- Dr Rahman's website: cgcchicago.com
- Instagram instagram.com/gynogirl
- The North American Menopause Society: menopause.org
- Menopause Made Modern, informational and lifestyle resource for women of color: menomademodern.com
About the guest
Dr. Sameena RahmanBoard-certified OB/GYN specializing in menopause management and sexual healthGuest on this episode of Pleasure in the Pause.More about them
