Black Women, Menopause and HRT: Getting the Care We Deserve

An in-depth discussion with board-certified ObGyn and Chief Medical Officer of @Alloy, Sharon Malone, MD, FACOG, NCMP. According to the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), on average, Black women in the U.S.: -reach menopause two years earlier than the national average, -tend to have more severe symptoms over a longer period of time; and -experience menopause-related hot flashes and night sweats for10.1 years, longer than any other race or ethnicity. Due to systemic racism in healthcare, Black women are often misdiagnosed or receive inadequate treatment when it comes to their health. Not surprisingly, this extends to menopause transition. Dr. Malone discusses the basics of menopause (i.e., what it is and how to identify the symptoms) and the treatment options available, including what we should know -- and ask our doctors -- about menopause hormone therapy