How Medically Induced Menopause from Estrogen Blocker Medications Ravage Young Women Like Olivia Munn
It is time to give a voice to our brave women in their prime, suffering from the untoward effects of estrogen blockers used in the treatment and prevention of hormone sensitive breast cancer. While cancer itself is a formidable adversary, the collateral damage inflicted by the treatments meant to save lives often goes unnoticed.
Imagine being in your forties, in the prime of your life, with dreams yet to be fulfilled, and suddenly finding yourself thrust into a menopausal state. Hot flashes that engulf you like wildfire, mood swings that leave you feeling like a stranger in your own skin, and the cruel realization that your fertility may be stripped away in an instant. This is the harsh reality for many young women battling cancer.
Oliva Munn recently opened up about her struggle with premature menopause while undergoing treatment for an aggressive and fast growing breast cancer in Women’s Health Magazine, in which she lamented –
“I really tried to be prepared, but the truth is that nothing could prepare me for what I would feel like, what it would look like and how I would handle it emotionally. It was a lot tougher than I expected.”.
For young women facing breast cancer, or other types of cancers, the prospect of losing their fertility can be devastating. It’s not just about the ability to bear children but also about losing a piece of their identity, their womanhood but there is yet another layer for loss that is rarely talked about and leads women to suffer in silence. Medically induced menopause causes severe vaginal atrophy due to lack of estrogen and can be challenging to remedy due to limited management options. This is because the only FDA approved medication for vaginal dryness or genitourinary syndrome is the very thing women with breast cancer, especially the hormone sensitive kind, are afraid of us use, estrogen!
The emotional toll of medically induced menopause is often overlooked. These women find themselves navigating uncharted waters, grappling with feelings of grief, and profound loss. They mourn lost relationships, have a sense of isolation that can be overwhelming. They are left walking grocery store ales looking for KY jelly, Uber lube, just anything to mitigate their symptoms of dryness, pain with intercourse and general discomfort. There are better remedies however other than water based lubricants they provide temporary and inadequate relief. Innovative therapies with collagen induction using energy based devices, plasma and hyaluronic acid performed by expert gynecologist or urologist can be helpful in improving symptoms without elevating risk of cancer recurrence.
Intimalase is one such noninvasive treatment giving women comfort and control over their lives. Often referred to as “vaginal rejuvenation”, collagen induction therapy with energy based devices to introduce heat, stimulate remodeling and repair of vaginal tissue, allowing women to resume intimate relations with their partners without fearing intense pain and discomfort. Intimalase procedure takes approximately 30 minutes to perform and has no downtime. Women can resume normal activity within 24 hours of the treatment. A series of 3 treatments spaced every 4-6 weeks are recommended. Some women may require additional treatment. Once the procedure is complete, maintenance treatments are recommended every 6 – 12 months to maintain results.
It is our duty to listen to the voices of women suffering silently and to acknowledge their pain, and to offer support and compassion. We must invest in research to develop safer and more effective treatments that minimize the collateral damage of medically induced menopause.
Lastly, we must hold space for these women to share their stories without judgment. Olivia Munn’s experience with breast cancer is a painful, but also powerful reminder of the pervasiveness of breast cancer and its challenges.