The future of menopause

Show notes

Dr. Karen Adams, obstetrician/gynecologist and Farwell Family Director of the Stanford Program in Menopause and Healthy Aging, studies menopause and, perhaps more importantly, perimenopause – the critical years preceding it. During this time, hormone-related symptoms like mood instability, sleep disruption, hot flashes, and joint pain can be severe even though periods continue. Adams explains that perimenopausal symptoms are often misdiagnosed and improperly treated. She says hormonal therapies are safe and effective in perimenopause and menopause, and can even have heart and bone benefits. “Menopause is inevitable, but suffering is not,” Adams tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast. _Have a question for Russ? Send it our way in writing or via voice memo, and it might be featured on an upcoming episode. Please introduce yourself, let us know where you're listening from, and share your question. You can send questions to thefutureofeverything@stanford.edu._ **Episode Reference Links:** - Stanford Profile: [https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/karen-adams"]( Karen Adams **Connect With Us:** - Episode Transcripts >>>[https://engineering.stanford.edu/magazine/collection/future-everything-podcast"]( The Future of Everything Website - Connect with Russ >>>[https://www.threads.net/@russbaltman"]( Threads /[https://bsky.app/profile/rbaltman.bsky.social"]( Bluesky /[https://mastodon.social/@rbaltman"]( Mastodon - Connect with School of Engineering >>>[https://twitter.com/stanfordENG"]( Twitter/X /[https://www.instagram.com/stanfordeng/"]( Instagram /[https://www.linkedin.com/school/stanford-university-school-of-engineering/posts/?feedView=all&viewAsMember=true"]( LinkedIn /[https://www.facebook.com/stanford.engineering/"]( Facebook **Chapters:** **(00:00:00)** Introduction Russ Altman introduces guest Karen Adams, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Stanford University. **(00:02:11)** Path into Menopause Medicine How Adams built one of the first clinical programs focused on women over 40. **(00:04:19)** Menopause and Perimenopause What menopause is and how the hormonal transition often begins years earlier. **(00:06:19)** Beyond Hot Flashes The wide range of symptoms that can appear during perimenopause. **(00:11:09)** Pregnancy Risk During Perimenopause Why contraception can still matter until a full year without a period. **(00:11:11)** Unpredictable Symptoms Why perimenopausal symptoms can be harder to recognize than PMS. **(00:13:37)** Hormone Therapy How treatment differs during perimenopause and after menopause. **(00:22:57)** The Women’s Health Initiative What the landmark hormone therapy study showed. **(00:27:53)** Sexual Health and Vaginal Estrogen Why local estrogen can safely treat genitourinary symptoms for many women. **(00:30:36)** Future In a Minute Rapid-fire Q&A: menopause care, women’s health, and better clinical support **(00:32:58)** Conclusion **Connect With Us:** Episode Transcripts >>> [The">https://engineering.stanford.edu/magazine/collection/future-everything-podcast">The]( >> [Threads]( https://www.threads.net/@russbaltman">Threads / [Bluesky]( https://bsky.app/profile/rbaltman.bsky.social">Bluesky / [Mastodon]( https://mastodon.social/@rbaltman">Mastodon Connect with School of Engineering >>>[Twitter/X]( https://twitter.com/stanfordENG">Twitter/X / [Instagram]( https://www.instagram.com/stanfordeng/">Instagram / [LinkedIn]( https://www.linkedin.com/school/stanford-university-school-of-engineering/posts/?feedView=all&viewAsMember=true">LinkedIn / [Facebook]( https://www.facebook.com/stanford.engineering/">Facebook Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See [pcm.adswizz.com]( https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.