The menopause causes a range of complaints for many women. Depressions, palpitations, muscle and joint pains, the impact is great. Not only relationships suffer, menopausal complaints also affect women in the workplace. Gynecologist Henk Oosterhof – an active member of the Dutch Menopause Society – of Bergman Clinics Vrouw Heerenveen, offers women a listening ear and tailor-made treatment.
The reception at Bergman Clinics in Heerenveen is warm. In the clinic at De Griend, waiting is not a problem, the fireplace is burning, the latest newspapers and magazines beckon and the cappuccino tastes excellent. You imagine yourself in a lounge of a comfortable hotel. Gynecologist Henk Oosterhof leads the way to his consulting room, where he explains how much impact the menopause has on women.
COMPLAINTS
“The transition means the end of the fertile phase of life. On average, women are 45 years old when menopause begins. Their cycle becomes irregular, they sleep poorly, they feel down and can suffer from cognitive disorders. This phase can last as long as seven to ten years; all the while, women sometimes still menstruate. I see the panic and fear when they come to my consultation hour. They don’t know what’s wrong with them; they think they’re burnt out and don’t know themselves anymore. What we at Bergman Clinics | Doing woman first is offering women recognition and acknowledgment for their complaints. That is incredibly important. Women are heard here, we take all the time to tell their story and discuss their situation. Emotions are sometimes high, a lot of tears flow here.”
OVERWEIGHT
Menopausal women often have a lot of balls to keep in the air. Oosterhof: “Their burden is often very high. They have a busy job, children in puberty; are sometimes carers. At the same time, their bodies age and their carrying capacity only decreases. I ask women what they have on their plate and then see with them how they can become more balanced. This can be done by seeking relaxation, exercising more and stopping smoking and drinking alcohol. Excess weight is also an important factor for menopausal complaints; that is why we recommend tackling any overweight with, for example, a Mediterranean diet. This means eating a lot of fruit and vegetables, nuts and olive oil and less meat and dairy.” Women can also contact Bergman Clinics for advice on healthy weight, nutrition and menopause.
SIGNIFICANT PROFIT
“We often see that by following these recommendations, the quality of life really improves,” Oosterhof continues. “If these recommendations alone are not enough, we will see if we can use hormones. Hormone therapy is still known in the Netherlands as increasing the risk of breast cancer, but this is only a slightly increased risk. On the other hand, in the longer term, women get no less than thirty percent less cardiovascular disease through hormone therapy. In addition, hormones also protect against osteoporosis. So why wouldn’t you? The profit is significant. But of course women decide for themselves whether or not they want to take hormones. On average, we use hormone therapy about five to seven times a year. In some cases, we also give antidepressants if the client is prone to depression.”
SOCIAL IMPORTANCE
Oosterhof notices that company doctors are increasingly referring female employees to Bergman Clinics | Woman. “In general, we have women back on track after about three months after our treatment and they have more work capacity again. That is, of course, of great social importance! Because women sometimes work less due to menopausal complaints or in a lower position. In fact, every GP or company doctor should ask themselves when complaints from women between the ages of 45 and 60: isn’t the menopause behind it?”
QUALITY AND COMFORT
“At Bergman Clinics | Woman we offer customization; every woman is different and sometimes it is puzzling what works and what doesn’t. After the intake there is a second consultation after six weeks and a few weeks later we evaluate the treatment. We are easily accessible; the lines are short and we offer high-quality, specialist medical care, in which comfort and hospitality are also very important to us. Just like in the hospital, women only need a referral from their general practitioner or company doctor and all costs are covered by health insurance.” Then Henk Oosterhof concludes with a smile: “I have incredibly beautiful and rewarding work and I put my heart and soul into serving my clients.”
