Menopause among women’s health topics discussed at USA Health’s 31st annual Obstetrics and Gynecology conference
A USA Health speaker urged attendees not to be dismissive of a patient’s menopausal symptoms and to offer individualized and collaborative care, including shared decision making.
By Casandra Andrews
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To better meet the complex gynecological needs of women, more than 100 physicians, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare providers gathered April 3-4 for USA Health’s 31st annual Obstetrics and Gynecology Education Conference in Biloxi, Mississippi.
“Things in medicine change so quickly that it’s a good idea for us to share updates on the latest trends and advances,” said Mary (Mimi) B. Munn, M.D., a maternal-fetal medicine physician and professor and chair of obstetrics and gynecology at USA Health. “And with the closure of so many OB-GYN practices in rural areas, it’s critical for USA Health to continue to foster collaborations and partnerships in this time of decreasing resources.”
Held at the Golden Nugget Biloxi Hotel & Casino, the symposium featured presentations on topics ranging from menopause and menopause hormone therapy to medical management of obesity and the success of an at-home blood pressure monitoring program at Children’s & Women’s Hospital.
More than a dozen members of the USA Health OB-GYN staff made presentations, along with other guest speakers including additional faculty members from the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama and Texas A&M University.
Constance Collins Dabezies, M.D., FACOG, MSCP, a board-certified OB-GYN who sees patients at USA Health’s medical offices in Spanish Fort, discussed the health concerns that can come with menopause and the evidence-based guidelines that physicians can follow to help their patients better navigate that stage of life.
An estimated 2 million women reach menopause each year in the United States. The onset is typically described as a point in time 12 months after a woman's last menstrual cycle, according to the National Institute on Aging, noting that the years leading up to that point — when women may have changes in their monthly cycles, hot flashes, or other symptoms — are called the menopausal transition or perimenopause.
For many women, the menopausal transition often begins between ages 45 and 55. It typically lasts seven years but can span 14 years or longer, research indicates.
Dabezies urged those gathered not to be dismissive of a patient’s symptoms and to offer individualized and collaborative care, including shared decision making.
When it comes to treatment options for those suffering from symptoms related to menopause, Dabezies said there is “evidence-based data to support the use of menopause hormone therapy.” She offered additional resources for attendees, including a 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of the Menopause Society, and answered multiple questions following the presentation.
Dabezies is among a small group of healthcare providers in Alabama to hold the NAMS Certified Menopause Practitioner designation from the Menopause Society.
“We hope those who attended will be inspired by the presentations,” Munn said, “and go back to their practices equipped with more tools and strategies to better help their patients deal with the unique and challenging health issues women often face.”
