10/19/2026
I’ve been thinking a lot about a double standard in medicine.
When a man has a heart attack, I ask him about erectile dysfunction. It’s routine. It affects his quality of life, so we address it, no hesitation and no referral needed.
But how often does anyone ask a woman how menopause is affecting her life? Her sleep, her mood, her energy, her hot flashes? Too often, women are told it’s just part of getting older, or that it’s a question for someone else.
As a cardiologist and certified menopause practitioner, I see why these questions matter. Menopause is a turning point for heart health. Cholesterol often rises, blood pressure can climb, and symptoms like hot flashes, along with a history of early menopause or preeclampsia, can tell us something important about a woman’s cardiovascular risk.
Quality of life isn’t one specialty’s responsibility. It’s all of ours. And hormone therapy, for the right woman at the right time, is a safe and effective option that deserves an honest conversation, not a dismissal.
If you’re a woman in your 40s or 50s, bring these symptoms up with your doctor. And if you’re a physician, start asking.
Please share this with a woman in your life who deserves to be asked. ❤️
