Understanding Menopausal Changes
- Dr. Susan Reed recommends several resources to help women better understand menopause symptoms.
- She highlights The Menopause Society, Women’s Health Initiative, MyMenoplan, and SWAN (Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation) as reliable tools for education and decision-making.
- Together, these sites provide information on symptoms, treatment options, and long-term health to support more confident care choices.
- For any other questions you may have, whether it be about menopause or cancer, explore SurvivorNet’s proprietary AI tool, “My Health Questions.”
If you’re experiencing menopausal symptoms and aren’t sure where to find reliable information, you’re not alone. Hot flashes, weight changes, sleep issues, mood swings, and brain fog can all be part of the transition, but understanding what’s happening—and what can help—can make a significant difference.
Dr. Susan Reed, a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and Professor Emeritus at UW Medicine, recommends several trusted resources that can help women learn more about menopause, explore treatment options, and feel more confident managing their health.
The Menopause Society
Read More- Weight changes during menopause
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Hormone therapy
- Sexual health
- Bone health
- Choosing a healthcare provider
Women can use these resources to learn more about menopause symptoms, treatment options, and ways to manage day-to-day challenges.
Women’s Health Initiative
Meanwhile, the Women’s Health Initiative—which can be reached on their official website www.whi.org—is among the most extensive and impactful research initiatives dedicated to women’s health, and another resource recommended by Dr. Reed.
By visiting the website’s “About WHI” section, women can learn from important research that explains menopause, hormone therapy, heart health, bone health, and aging, and how daily habits and treatments can impact long-term health after menopause.
MyMenoplan (MsFLASH)
Dr. Reed also suggests women check out MyMenoplan—accessed at https://mymenoplan.org—an interactive tool designed to help guide decision-making, rated by the Menopause Strategies: Finding Lasting Answers for Symptoms and Health (MsFLASH) research network.
The platform is designed to assist women:
- Find out about typical menopause symptoms, including hot flashes and night sweats.
- Review different treatment options, both hormonal and non-hormonal
- Weigh the potential benefits and risks of each approach
- Consider which choices may align best with your individual needs and lifestyle
This tool offers women clearer information, allowing them to ask better questions and take a more active role in their care.
SWAN (Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation)
Lastly, Dr. Reed recommends women check out the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN)’s official website—accessed at www.swanstudy.org.
SWAN is a long-term study that follows women as they go through menopause and aging to help understand how it affects the body, emotions, and everyday life.
It began in 1994 and includes thousands of women from different backgrounds across the U.S., all helping researchers learn how to improve care during midlife and beyond.
One of the most useful areas of the site is the “Fact Sheets” section, says Dr. Reed, which breaks down important menopause topics in clear, science-based language, including:
- Problems with sleep or disrupted sleep patterns
- Shifts in mood, such as irritability or anxiety
- Changes in body weight and how fat is distributed
- Changes in memory and thinking ability
- Heart and cardiovascular health
- Bone strength and risk of osteoporosis
- How menopause symptoms can vary among women from different racial and ethnic backgrounds
Why Reliable Information Matters
Dr. Reed recommends these trusted resources because menopause looks different for every woman, and symptoms, timing, and treatment needs can vary widely.
Whether it’s weight changes, symptom relief, hormone therapy, or finding a doctor, these tools give women a strong starting point for getting the support they need.
Meanwhile, for any other questions you may have, whether it be about menopause or cancer, explore SurvivorNet’s proprietary AI tool, “My Health Questions.”
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WATCH: How One Cancer Survivor and Her Sister Used “My Health Questions” to Navigate Care
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