UnderstandOP.com

Osteoporosis is a common disease among postmenopausal women and those who have it may suffer a fracture in their lifetime.4 Yet, the majority of those with osteoporosis do not know they have it. Often referred to as a “silent disease,” there are typically no symptoms of osteoporosis until a fracture occurs.5

Additionally, many postmenopausal women who have been diagnosed with osteoporosis do not fully understand the risks associated with it. A fracture is associated with serious consequences and can be a life altering event – and postmenopausal osteoporosis will get progressively worse if not treated.2,6 Meanwhile, research shows that many women decline treatment that can help reduce the risk of fracture.7

Osteoporosis is a chronic disease affecting 10 million U.S. adults.3,8 It occurs when an individual’s bone mineral density decreases, leading to a reduction in bone strength which can increase the risk of fractures, or broken bones.5 This is especially common in women because hormone changes associated with menopause can lead to a rapid reduction in bone density – putting them at risk for fracture.4

Kristi Tough DeSapri, M.D.— owner of Bone & Body Women’s Health, a midlife women’s health medical practice — will discuss the need for women to understand their risk factors for osteoporosis and find strategies to maintain bone strength and reduce the risk for falls and fractures.

Dr. Tough DeSapri will discuss the risk factors for osteoporosis as well as explain why, after menopause, women should take an osteoporosis diagnosis seriously – and how they can be proactive in reducing their risk of fractures.

Courtesy: Amgen

#drkristitoughdesapri #menopause #osteoporosis #patients #futurefracture #risk #disease

The post OSTEOPOROSIS CAUSES MORE THAN 8 MILLION FRACTURES WORLDWIDE ANNUALLY In Osteoporosis Patients A Fracture is Associated with an 86% Increased Risk of Future Fracture appeared first on Good News!.

A recent study predicts that the number of people with the bone-thinning disease will double by the year 2040 – so the time to learn about your risk is now.

In recognition of World Osteoporosis Day on October 20th, we have here with us Dr. Andrea Singer, director of Women’s Primary Care and Bone Densitometry, Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Medicine at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. to tell us more.

Dr. Andrea Singer Biography: Andrea Singer, MD, FACP, CCD is Associate Professor of Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. After graduating from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, Dr. Singer completed her residency training in internal medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center. Dr. Singer is currently Division Director of Women’s Primary Care within the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. She is also Director of the Bone Densitometry Program, is a Certified Clinical Densitometrist, and is the Medical Director of the MedStar Georgetown Fracture Liaison Service. Dr. Singer is also Clinical Director of the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) and a member of the Board of Trustees. Dr. Singer is a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine. She is a fellow of the American College of Physicians, a member of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry, the American Society of Bone and Mineral Research, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the North American Menopause Society, and the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists. Dr. Singer is also an Amgen spokesperson. Her interests include the primary care of women, midlife women’s health, osteoporosis, sexuality and sexual dysfunction, weight management, fibromyalgia, and depression in women, and she has published and lectured extensively in these areas.

The post VIDEO & PODCAST – International Osteoporosis appeared first on Good News!.

Pfizer launches new campaign to inspire postmenopausal women to tune into their bodies

NEW YORK, N.Y., Sept. 23 – Every day, an estimated 6,000 women in the United States reach menopause. To inspire this growing population of women and to share her story, Golden Globe® winning actress Kim Cattrall has teamed up with Pfizer Inc. Working together for a healthier world (NYSE: PFE), makers of prescription menopause treatments for certain menopausal symptoms, to launch theTune In To Menopause(www.TuneInToMenopause.com) campaign which is designed to bring the conversation front and center and motivate women during this time of life.

As an actress, Kim Cattrall had “pretend” hot flashes on-screen before she ever experienced them in real life. “I thought I was prepared for menopause, hot flashes and more, but when my body started changing, I realized I still had questions. But the more I learned and listened to what my body was telling me, the more I relaxed, adjusted and realized I could manage this by working closely with my doctor,” said Cattrall. “That’s why I’ve partnered with Pfizer on Tune In To Menopause to share some of what I’ve learned and encourage all women to join me and ‘tune in’ to our bodies, and embrace menopause with style and as another fabulous chapter in our lives.”

Kim encourages women to define their own “menopause style” atTuneInToMenopause.com. Visitors can take an interactive quiz about their approach to menopause, and get a unique look into some of the changes they may experience (hot flashes and bone loss). For each quiz completed, Pfizer will donate $1 (up to $50,000) to Dress for Success, a not-for-profit organization that helps women get back to work and empowers women within the workforce. Women also may link to Kim’s Tune In playlist on Pandora® to hear music that may inspire them on their journey.

Studies show that up to 80 percent of women experience hot flashes due to menopause. In a survey commissioned by Pfizer, half of women experienced moderate-to-severe hot flashes.Menopausal women may also experience bone loss, which can lead to osteoporosis. In fact, approximately 50 percent of women in the U.S. age 50 and older may have low bone mass.

“Menopause is a natural part of the evolution of a woman’s life, and in my OB/GYN practice, I’ve found that there is not a ‘one size fits all’ approach to managing menopause,” said Dr. Patricia J. Sulak, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Texas A&M College of Medicine. “While many women are aware of the more bothersome symptoms, like hot flashes, unseen changes like risk of bone loss are just as important to understand and recognize. I encourage all patients to pay attention to the changes in their body, stay educated, and have ongoing conversations with their healthcare professional.”
More information is available atTuneInToMenopause.com.

About Menopause
Menopause is a normal, natural event. It marks the permanent end of fertility and is usually confirmed when a woman has not menstruated for 12 consecutive months and it is not due to other medical causes. Menopause is associated with reduced functioning of the ovaries due to aging, resulting in lower levels of estrogens and other hormones. Changes in these hormones cause symptoms of menopause, which may include hot flashes and bone loss.

About Post-Menopausal Bone Loss
Lower levels of estrogens at the time of menopause are associated with rapid bone loss. Approximately 50 percent of women in the U.S. 50 years of age or older have low bone mass, putting them at risk for osteoporosis. Osteoporosis, the most common bone disease in humans, becomes a serious health threat in postmenopausal women.

About Dress for Success
Dress for Success is an international not-for-profit organization that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Since starting operations in 1997, Dress for Success has expanded to more than 135 cities in 16 countries. To date, Dress for Success has helped more than 775,000 women work towards self-sufficiency. Visitwww.dressforsuccess.org to learn more.

Pfizer Inc.: Working together for a healthier world
At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products. Our global portfolio includes medicines and vaccines as well as many of the world’s best-known consumer health care products. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world’s premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, Pfizer has worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. To learn more, please visit us at www.pfizer.com.

• Tune In To Menopause is designed to educate, inspire and empower women, providing them with information about some of the symptoms of menopause, and reinforcing the notion that there does not have to be a “one size fits all” approach to managing these symptoms – every woman can navigate through menopause based on her own individual style and needs.

• TuneInToMenopause.com
o On the site you’ll find information about certain menopausal symptoms, and an interactive “menopause style” quiz – for each quiz completed, Pfizer will donate $1 to Dress for Success®, up to $50,000.00.
o Women can also visit TuneInToMenopause.com to link to a Kim’s playlist on Pandora® to help inspire them on their journey.

Kim Cattrall would discuss her personal experience, she states “I know what it means to have a hot flash. I’m not talking about the pretend ones that I feigned as an actress on-screen, but the real deal – the ones that turn your face scarlet red and make you feel like you are diving into a boiling pot of water. Just like you, I have been there. And I am not ashamed to admit it.” Kim has partnered with Pfizer on Tune In To Menopause to share her personal experience during this time in her life. She is excited to encourage women to “tune in” to their bodies and embrace menopause.

The post Kim Cattrall Encourages Women to Embrace Menopause with Style appeared first on Good News!.

New Campaign FindingtheWords.com Increases Awareness About Painful Intercourse Due to Menopause and Encourages Women to Speak Up to Their Doctors

 Academy Award-nominated actress Virginia Madsen (http://www.virginia-madsen.org) is never one to shy away from a conversation, even if the topic at first blush seems awkward or embarrassing. Impacting many women in the United States (U.S.), painful intercourse due to menopause is one of the most bothersome symptoms of a chronic and progressive medical condition called vulvar and vaginal atrophy (VVA).

“When I found out how many women don’t talk about their painful intercourse, I was surprised. It amazes me that in this day and age, when it seems there is no topic considered off limits, that so many postmenopausal women remain silent,” said Virginia Madsen. “It’s very important for women to know they’re not alone. The more women who are able to find the right words to begin this conversation, the more widespread attention we can bring to this topic.”

As an advocate for women, Madsen has teamed up with Shionogi Inc. to launch a new awareness and educational campaign, Finding the Words (visit: http://www.findingthewords.com), to inspire women to break their silence around this common but seldom discussed medical condition. A recent survey revealed that 44% of women indicated that they never discussed symptoms such as painful intercourse with a healthcare provider. One of the most common reasons cited for not discussing their symptoms is that they believed it was a natural part of aging (REVIVE).

“These days, about one-third of a woman’s life could be spent in her menopausal years. I’m a confidante to many of my close girlfriends and we talk a lot about what we are experiencing as our bodies change, and I can tell you that intimacy remains important to women at any age,” added Madsen.

FindingtheWords.com offers important resources to help women who are seeking information feel more empowered to begin the conversation with a healthcare provider about painful sexual intercourse due to menopause.

“Painful intercourse due to menopause is a symptom of a real medical condition caused by physical changes of the vagina that lead to vaginal aging. There are treatment options that can be considered, especially as sexual health plays an important role in a woman’s overall general health,” said Ricki Pollycove, M.D., M.S., OB/GYN and Clinical Faculty at the University of California School of Medicine in San Francisco. “But treatment cannot happen without an open and honest dialogue occurring between women and their healthcare provider.”

About Vulvar and Vaginal Atrophy (VVA)

Vulvar and vaginal atrophy (VVA) is a chronic and progressive medical condition caused by decreased estrogen levels. Declining estrogen levels during menopause can cause tissues of the vaginal lining to grow thinner and become more fragile. Menopause also causes increases in vaginal pH. These physiological signs that characterize aging of the vagina can lead to moderate to severe dyspareunia (painful intercourse) due to menopause.

About Shionogi

Shionogi Inc. is the U.S.-based subsidiary of Shionogi & Co., Ltd., a Japanese pharmaceutical company with a distinguished 135-year history of discovery and development of innovative therapies. Shionogi Inc. continues this focus on the development and commercialization of high quality medicines to meet patient needs, while recognizing and addressing the highly personal nature of healthcare. In the U.S., Shionogi Inc. is primarily focused on two therapeutic areas, women’s health and pain. Pipeline products are in the areas of allergy, oncology, anti-infectives, and endocrinology. For more details, please visit www.shionogi.com. For more information on Shionogi & Co., Ltd., please visit http://www.shionogi.co.jp.

The post Virginia Madsen appeared first on Good News!.

To Empower Postmenopausal Women To Break The Silence Around Painful Intercourse Due To Menopause

New Campaign FindingtheWords.com Increases Awareness About Painful Intercourse Due to Menopause and Encourages Women to Speak Up to Their Doctors

 Academy Award-nominated actress Virginia Madsen (http://www.virginia-madsen.org) is never one to shy away from a conversation, even if the topic at first blush seems awkward or embarrassing. Impacting many women in the United States (U.S.), painful intercourse due to menopause is one of the most bothersome symptoms of a chronic and progressive medical condition called vulvar and vaginal atrophy (VVA).

“When I found out how many women don’t talk about their painful intercourse, I was surprised. It amazes me that in this day and age, when it seems there is no topic considered off limits, that so many postmenopausal women remain silent,” said Virginia Madsen. “It’s very important for women to know they’re not alone. The more women who are able to find the right words to begin this conversation, the more widespread attention we can bring to this topic.”

As an advocate for women, Madsen has teamed up with Shionogi Inc. to launch a new awareness and educational campaign, Finding the Words (visit: http://www.findingthewords.com), to inspire women to break their silence around this common but seldom discussed medical condition. A recent survey revealed that 44% of women indicated that they never discussed symptoms such as painful intercourse with a healthcare provider. One of the most common reasons cited for not discussing their symptoms is that they believed it was a natural part of aging (REVIVE).

“These days, about one-third of a woman’s life could be spent in her menopausal years. I’m a confidante to many of my close girlfriends and we talk a lot about what we are experiencing as our bodies change, and I can tell you that intimacy remains important to women at any age,” added Madsen.

FindingtheWords.com offers important resources to help women who are seeking information feel more empowered to begin the conversation with a healthcare provider about painful sexual intercourse due to menopause.

“Painful intercourse due to menopause is a symptom of a real medical condition caused by physical changes of the vagina that lead to vaginal aging. There are treatment options that can be considered, especially as sexual health plays an important role in a woman’s overall general health,” said Ricki Pollycove, M.D., M.S., OB/GYN and Clinical Faculty at the University of California School of Medicine in San Francisco. “But treatment cannot happen without an open and honest dialogue occurring between women and their healthcare provider.”

About Vulvar and Vaginal Atrophy (VVA)

Vulvar and vaginal atrophy (VVA) is a chronic and progressive medical condition caused by decreased estrogen levels. Declining estrogen levels during menopause can cause tissues of the vaginal lining to grow thinner and become more fragile. Menopause also causes increases in vaginal pH. These physiological signs that characterize aging of the vagina can lead to moderate to severe dyspareunia (painful intercourse) due to menopause.

About Shionogi

Shionogi Inc. is the U.S.-based subsidiary of Shionogi & Co., Ltd., a Japanese pharmaceutical company with a distinguished 135-year history of discovery and development of innovative therapies. Shionogi Inc. continues this focus on the development and commercialization of high quality medicines to meet patient needs, while recognizing and addressing the highly personal nature of healthcare. In the U.S., Shionogi Inc. is primarily focused on two therapeutic areas, women’s health and pain. Pipeline products are in the areas of allergy, oncology, anti-infectives, and endocrinology. For more details, please visit www.shionogi.com. For more information on Shionogi & Co., Ltd., please visit http://www.shionogi.co.jp.

The post Actress Virginia Madsen Partners With Shionogi Inc appeared first on Good News!.