The Pause: Is Estrogen the answer? (BC)

Menopause and its symptoms affect all women in different ways some women may suffer with hot flashes, depression, weight gain and other symptoms while others will breeze through this phase with almost no impact. This program will discuss the impact that menopause has on women's body. We will explain how the lack of estrogen affects each body system (brain, heart, urogenital, skeletal, digestive and overall well being). Discussion regarding treatments for menopause will be discussed.  Pharmaceutical and alternative methods for treatment of menopausal symptoms will be critically evaluated and discussed.  

Explanation of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) research study about hormone replacement (HRT) will be completed. This pivotal study has impacted the prescribing practices of many physicians throughout the US. New information and analysis has recently been released that challenges the assumptions that HRT increases the risk of breast cancer and other untoward medical events.

Kerry Rausch will focus on bladder and sexual health which is a common problem for women during and after menopause.  Multiple modalities on how to sustain and improve continence and sexual function will be discussed.

Kerry Rausch holds a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). She graduated in 1994 from Yale University. Over the past 25 years she has worked in many different health care settings with women of all ages. She is certified as a family nurse practitioner by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and holds certification as a Menopausal Practitioner and a continence care nurse. She has worked extensively with women with overactive bladder and urinary incontinence.She has published research on hormone therapy and bone health at the University of Connecticut

Her many years working in urology has placed her in demand for her services working with women of all ages on their urinary and sexual health issues, including assisting in their health for the years leading up to, during, and after menopause.