Menopause in an Hour

Gynecologist Dr. Tara Allmen serves as the host for this primer on menopause, which is divided into four sections: symptoms, treatments, benefits, and risks (an accompanying guidebook goes into greater detail, while a second disc entitled “What's Up with You-Know-Who?” presents the same information for friends and family). Although Allmen draws from current scientific research, she recommends that viewers use her suggestions to supplement a conventional healthcare regimen. She starts by defining menopause, which begins for most women after age 50 (by contrast, perimenopause usually starts earlier as estrogen levels fluctuate, although the woman remains fertile) and tends to last four to eight years. Allmen also touches on medically-induced menopause, which may come about as a result of surgery or illness, in which case symptoms can set in earlier. Although some menopausal women experience no symptoms, many others have several—both physical (hot flashes, night sweats) and psychological (anxiety, depression). When discussing treatment options, Allmen talks about lifestyle changes before addressing various prescription and non-prescription therapies. While her phrase "a loving lifestyle" seems saccharine, living healthier through regular exercise and smarter diet choices makes more sense than expecting hormone-replacement medications to solve all problems. The program ends with comments from six of Allmen's patients regarding their experiences. Recommended. Aud: P. (K. Fennessy)