Texas Tech developing menopause center to address women’s health concerns

LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) - The Texas Tech Health Sciences Center is developing a Center for Menopausal Medicine to address the fear and confusion many women face during menopause.

Dr. David Rogers, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Texas Tech Physicians and associate professor and vice chairman of the TTUHSC School of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, is leading the development of the center.

“If the loss of estrogen or the loss of ovarian function occurs before the age of 30 then it’s considered a premature menopause. If it occurs before 40, it’s considered early,” Rogers said.

The center will serve patients and train future healthcare providers at the health sciences center. Rogers said menopause is not a one-time event but an ongoing process.

Long-term health impacts

“It’s a process that goes on. The hot flashes may disappear after a few years, but the affects on other parts of the body are progressive,” Rogers said. “And there’s a syndrome for every particular body part or organ that we have, from the brain to the heart, particularly our blood vessels, our muscles, our bone obviously. So all those things are impacted.”

Rogers said arthritis is more common after menopause in women. Other symptoms include sleep loss, fatigue, anxiety and depression.

“Hair loss, skin, there are estrogen receptors in our eyes, believe it or not, and dry eyes syndrome is a consequence of estrogen deficiency,” Rogers said. “It can also damage relationships due to the effects on sexuality.”

Many symptoms can be treated, and Rogers said the sooner treatment begins, the better.

Educational event planned

Rogers will be the guest speaker at “Feed Your Mind. Mind Your Menopause,” hosted by the Laura Bush Institute for Women’s Health. The event is sponsored by Covenant Health and will be held Thursday, Oct. 30, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Knipling Education Conference Center at Covenant Medical Center.

Individual tickets that include lunch cost $25. A table for eight people costs $400.

“I’ll try to answer questions as if I were sitting there with a patient in the exam room. Hopefully, maybe they’ll consider it a cheap office visit,” Rogers said.

Reservations can be made at www.laurabushinstitute.org or by contacting Michelle Stephens at michelle.stephens@ttuhsc.edu or (806) 239-5094.