Women’s mental health in mid-life
Many of the folks in my practice are women in mid-life who are going through hormonal transitions and related mood changes. This could include:
Perimenopause and menopause
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
Mood changes tied to menstrual cycles
These women often come to me for another concern, like ADHD or anxiety, and find it validating to learn that I also specialize in these areas.
Over the past several years, more and more research has become available and better understood regarding the many risks associated with insufficient hormones in women, starting in mid-life. The impacts can include a variety of mental health issues — trouble concentrating, difficulty regulating emotions, etc. — as well as issues such as osteoporosis and increased cardiovascular risks. A 2023 New York Times article helped to ignite a debate across the policy and medical communities about many of these issues.
In working together, the women I work with often explore the potential role that hormones may be playing in affecting their mental and/or physical health — including lab testing when indicated — and in many cases, I prescribe one or multiple hormones, including estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. As with all of my patients, I treat each patient as an individual, and we work together to come up with the best treatment plan for you.
Early in my career, I spent several years working in Stanford’s Women’s Wellness Clinic, which was the beginning of my focus into unique health issues faced by many women. Since then, I have had extensive training in women’s health issues in midlife, including courses taught by some of the leading experts in prescribing hormones in midlife—eg, Heather Hirsh, MD, Rachel Rubin, MD, and Kelly Casperson, MD.
I am also a member of the Menopause Society, a multidisciplinary, non-profit professional organization that provides a forum for scientific disciplines with an interest in menopause.