One of the barriers to getting treatment is that there is a debate as to whether menopausal ovaries* cause a disease.
The answer is yes, ovarian menopause causes a very serious disease.
The name of the disease that a woman acquires when her ovaries become menopausal is called severe hypogonadism, which is pronounced as hi-PO-go-nad-ism.**
Severe hypogonadism occurs from ovarian failure, from surgical removal of the , and damage caused to the ovaries from chemotherapy, infection, autoimmune disease, etc.
Women and doctors alike may say that there is no need for treatment after the loss of ovarian hormones. However, the illnesses that will predicably occur in every woman with severely low ovarian hormone levels is universal, whether she feels symptoms or not.
Even though the loss of ovarian hormones causes ill health, not everyone wants treatment. We must respect each other’s choices. If a woman declines treatment that must be respected.
However, if a woman wants to reverse her ill health and poor quality of life caused by severely low ovarian hormone levels, she should be able to receive adequate treatment.
It’s hard to ask for treatment when you know you have a disease, and your doctor doesn’t agree. But it can be done.
Sample conversation between a woman who knows she has severe hypogonadism and her doctor who does not agree.
*For more explanation on menopausal ovaries, please see the FAQs or my blog “Truth be told, you’re not menopausal it’s your ovaries that are menopausal.”
** For more explanation of severe hypogonadism, please see my FAQs section.
Thelma: Good morning, Dr. Planter, how are you today?
Dr. Planter: I’m fine, thank you. What brings you in today?
Thelma: I’ve learned that since my ovaries have failed I have acquired a disease called profound hypogonadism. I’d like treatment for it. I want to feel better, sleep better, and I want to enjoy sex again.
Dr. Planter: That is all well and good. However, you don’t have a disease you have menopause. I can help you with treatment for that.
Thelma: I’m glad that you are willing to help me, but I do have a disease called profound hypogonadism. I am less healthy without my ovarian hormones.
Dr. Planter: I agree with you about being less healthy during menopause. But seriously you don’t have a disease. You’re aging and you’re less healthy for it.
Thelma: We don’t have to agree about whether I have a disease or not. I would like to agree on taking hormones that will improve my overall health.
Dr. Planter: That I can help you with. How about HRT? I can write you a prescription right now. You can take one pill a day. This pill is for estrogen.
Thelma: Great, which estrogen is it?
Dr. Planter: It is a natural estrogen from a horse. It’s used a lot.
Thelma: All the same, I’d like the estrogen hormone my ovary makes. It’s called estradiol.
Dr. Planter: All right, I’ll write you a prescription for an estradiol patch. You should be good now.
Thelma: Thank you but I’m not done. I want ovarian HRT which is not just one hormone. My ovaries made 3 hormones and I want a bit of each to protect my uterus and my breasts and to nourish the rest of my body. Would you also write me a prescription for progesterone and another prescription for testosterone?
Dr. Planter: Ok, that sounds reasonable. I’ll write a prescription for progesterone and another for testosterone. Ok, now you’re good. You have done your homework. I wish more women would ask for progesterone and testosterone. Many women think testosterone is only for men. Studies have proven that testosterone prevents breast cancer which is likely the reason men have such a low rate of breast cancer.
Thelma: Thank you, doctor. I feel much better getting treatment for profound hypogonadism.
Dr. Planter: I still don’t agree that you’re taking these hormones for a disease, but I do know you are going to be much healthier with normal ovarian hormone levels than with the extremely low ovarian hormone levels of menopause. I’m glad I can make your menopause healthier for you.