Women's Health Questions

Nurse Practitioner Jennifer Ali answers women's health questions from the "Docs on Call" online chat on April 18. Check back later this week as she answers some unaired questions from the TV broadcast.

Jennifer Ali: Hello everyone and welcome to the online chat for Docs on Call. I am Jennifer Ali, and I currently practice as a nurse practitioner at Methodist on South Jefferson. Please feel free to ask me any women's health question--no topic is off limits.

Jane: What can i do for hot flashes?

Jennifer Ali: Thank you for your question. Hot flashes are a common symptom during the peri-menopausal, menopausal, and post- menopausal stages, and there are several treatment options. Traditional approaches include using estrogen replacement therapy. Other non-conventional approaches include the use of certain anti- depressants, which have been shown to reduce hot flashes between 50-80 percent, gabapentin, clonidine, alternative therapies such as black cohash, and other behavioral modifications.

Anonymous: I had my uterus removed at age 35 and still have both ovaries. I am now 50 and want to know if i will still have menopause. If so what symptoms will i have. I have been experiencing tender breasts lately and want to know if this is the beginning of menopause. I also have hypothyroid and I'm taking medication for that.

Jennifer Ali: Yes, you may still have menopausal symptoms. As women enter the peri-menopausal stage, estrogen levels decline, producing the. Symptoms you may be experiencing include hot flashes, depression, mood swings, irritability, insomnia or changes in your sleep habits, vaginal dryness and/or irritation The average age of menopause is 51 but can range in age from 45-55.

Jessica: Since I was in my teenage years, I have had a hard time getting to the bathroom in time before urinating. Daily I will "leak" a bit into my underwear. Could there be a reason for this?

Jennifer Ali: Jessica, You are describing a very common problem among women called urge incontinence. There are multiple different medications used to treat this condition, so I urge you to ask your healthcare provider for treatment options.

Jennifer Ali: Thanks for your questions. Check this page later in the week for questions we couldn't get to during the show.