[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/07\/freedom-in-menopause\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/07\/freedom-in-menopause\/","headline":"Finding Freedom \u2014 Not Frustration \u2014 in Menopause","name":"Finding Freedom \u2014 Not Frustration \u2014 in Menopause","description":"The journey to menopause brings many changes that can affect a woman\u2019s physical and mental well-being. The Midlife Health Clinic at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital\u2019s new Virtual Care Center is helping women throughout Pennsylvania navigate their path back to \u201cfeeling like themselves\u201d again. Brain fog. Mood swings. Hot flashes. Declining libido and vaginal dryness. These are […]","datePublished":"2021-07-05","dateModified":"2021-10-29","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/women-regions","name":"UPMC Magee-Womens","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/women-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc-magee-womens-hospital\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/benefits-crossword-puzzles.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/benefits-crossword-puzzles.jpg","height":324,"width":753},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/07\/freedom-in-menopause\/","about":["Living and Wellness","Women's Health"],"wordCount":532,"articleBody":"The journey to menopause brings many changes that can affect a woman\u2019s physical and mental well-being. The Midlife Health Clinic at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital\u2019s new Virtual Care Center is helping women throughout Pennsylvania navigate their path back to \u201cfeeling like themselves\u201d again.Brain fog. Mood swings. Hot flashes. Declining libido and vaginal dryness. These are just some of the many symptoms women experience during perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause.\u201cEven today, midlife changes remain a very misunderstood and often off-limits topic,\u201d says\u00a0Helana Pietragallo, MD, NCMP, of UPMC Magee-Womens\u00a0Midlife Health Center. \u201cAs a result, women often deal with profound physical and emotional changes for years without the right help.\u201dThe new\u00a0UPMC Magee-Womens Virtual Care Center\u00a0offers expert telemedicine support to women across Pennsylvania. Women with perimenopause or menopause concerns can arrange a convenient video visit through its\u00a0Midlife Health Clinic.\u201cMany women come to us saying, \u2018I just don\u2019t feel like myself anymore.\u2019 Our goal is to help them rediscover the person they used to be and return to the life they want to live,\u201d says Dr. Pietragallo. \u201cMidlife changes can last years and should be a joyful period in a woman\u2019s lifetime \u2014 not a life sentence.\u201dThe clinic\u2019s doctors are credentialed through the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) as NAMS-certified menopause practitioners. Its staff includes a psychiatrist specializing in midlife care.What to Expect During a Midlife Health Video VisitMagee\u2019s virtual\u00a0Midlife Health Clinic\u00a0treats women from 35 to 90 years of age. While menopause typically begins around age 50, perimenopause symptoms can begin in a woman\u2019s early 40s. Factors like surgery for endometriosis or ovarian cancer, and family genetics also can cause a woman to undergo early onset menopause.\u201cBy helping women identify and prepare for these changes, we can help them successfully navigate \u2014 and even prevent or lessen \u2014 their symptoms,\u201d says Dr. Pietragallo. \u201cOur clinic\u2019s virtual visits can especially be helpful to women having hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, or brain fog.\u201dVirtual consultations are available for:Perimenopausal or menopausal symptomsSurgical or premature menopausal symptomsPrimary ovarian insufficiency (when ovaries no longer function before age 40)Decreased libidoVaginal drynessSexual dysfunction\u201cWomen often find that a virtual consultation can address a problem that\u2019s been troubling them for quite some time,\u201d says Dr. Pietragallo. \u201cIt\u2019s a resource that can make a real difference in their midlife health experience.\u201dAbout the UPMC Magee-Womens Virtual Care CenterThe new\u00a0UPMC Magee-Womens\u00a0Virtual Care Center\u00a0combines Magee\u2019s deep expertise in telemedicine with its nationally ranked services in advanced specialty care for women.The center\u2019s services currently are limited to Pennsylvania residents. As with any specialty care service, the video visit is billed to a patient\u2019s insurance provider. A copay may be required.In addition to\u00a0midlife health, virtual specialty care appointments can be scheduled online for:Bladder and pelvic healthEndometriosisFamily planningFibroid treatmentPreconception counselingPregnancy lossVulvar and vaginal disordersTo participate in a UPMC Magee-Womens Virtual Care Center visit, patients must download the MyUPMC application on their smart phone or tablet, and have a\u00a0scheduled video appointment.For more information, go to\u00a0UPMCMagee.com\/VirtualCare."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2021","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"07","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/\/07\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Finding Freedom \u2014 Not Frustration \u2014 in Menopause","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/07\/freedom-in-menopause\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]