While menopause is a natural part of aging, it can cause sleep disruptions, skin changes, stress, brain fog, weight gain, hot flashes and other symptoms. If you are experiencing any symptoms of menopause or perimenopause, St. Luke\u2019s University Health Network\u2019s women\u2019s healthcare providers want you to know you are not alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe that women deserve support during this unfamiliar stage of their lives,\u201d says Ann Freeman, DO, one of four physicians and two nurse practitioners at St. Luke\u2019s who are certified menopause specialists.<\/p>\n
Women can schedule a menopause visit with a women\u2019s healthcare provider. \u201cWe often schedule these appointments for a full hour and spend time talking to patients about their concerns related to the changes their bodies are going through,\u201d Dr. Freeman says. \u201cWe review ways to treat their menopause symptoms and guide them to options that will get them the most benefit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Oftentimes, Dr. Freeman says, diet and exercise can help with symptoms of perimenopause, which can last up to 10 years, and menopause, which is defined as no period for a full year.\u00a0 \u201cBut sometimes more is needed and there is a lot we can do,\u201d Dr. Freeman says. \u201cSome of the solutions we can offer go beyond general OB\/GYN care including weight management, pelvic floor physical therapy, urogynecology and behavioral health.\u201d<\/p>\n
Menopause discussion groups<\/strong><\/p>\n Women also are encouraged to attend \u201cMenopause & Me\u201d discussion groups where St. Luke\u2019s menopause specialists are available to answer questions in a comfortable, small group setting. Two sessions have been scheduled for late this year and early next:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Space is limited and registration is required. To register, visit\u00a0go.sluhn.org\/menopauseandme<\/a>.<\/p>\n A Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP) is a licensed healthcare professional who has undergone rigorous training and passed a demanding examination from\u00a0The Menopause Society<\/a>\u00a0to demonstrate specialized knowledge in menopause and midlife women’s health, Dr. Freeman notes. In addition to Dr. Freeman, women\u2019s healthcare providers at St. Luke\u2019s who have earned the credential are:<\/p>\n About St. Luke\u2019s<\/strong><\/p>\n Founded in 1872, St. Luke\u2019s University Health Network (SLUHN) is a fully integrated, regional, non-profit network with annual net revenue of more than $4 billion. With 23,000+ employees at 16 hospital campuses and 350+ outpatient sites, it is the Lehigh Valley\u2019s biggest employer.<\/p>\n The Network\u2019s service area includes 11 counties in two states: Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Montgomery, Monroe, Schuylkill and Luzerne counties in Pennsylvania and Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey. St. Luke\u2019s hospitals operate the largest network of trauma centers in Pennsylvania, with the Bethlehem Campus being home to St. Luke\u2019s Children\u2019s Hospital.<\/p>\n Dedicated to advancing medical education, St. Luke\u2019s is the preeminent teaching hospital in central-eastern Pennsylvania. In partnership with Temple University, the Network established the Lehigh Valley\u2019s first and only four-year medical school. It also operates the nation\u2019s oldest School of Nursing, established in 1884, and 50+ fully accredited graduate medical educational programs with 500+ residents and fellows.<\/p>\n St. Luke\u2019s has been named a Leapfrog Group and Healthgrades Top Hospital and a Newsweek World\u2019s Best Hospital. It is the only Lehigh Valley-based health care system to earn Medicare\u2019s five-star ratings (the highest) for quality, efficiency and patient satisfaction. In 2025, the Network earned straight A\u2019s from Leapfrog across all of its 11 acute care hospitals. It has earned 100 Top Hospital designations from Premier 11 years in a row, including in 2021 when its flagship University Hospital was identified as THE #1 TEACHING HOSPITAL IN THE COUNTRY. Utilizing the Epic electronic medical record (EMR) system for both inpatient and outpatient services, the Network is a multi-year recipient of the Most Wired award recognizing the breadth of SLUHN\u2019s information technology applications such as telehealth, online scheduling and online pricing information.<\/p>\n Information provided to TVL by: <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" While menopause is a natural part of aging, it can cause sleep disruptions, skin changes, stress, brain fog, weight gain, hot flashes and other symptoms. If you are experiencing any … Continue reading Certified Menopause Experts Provide Specialized Care at St. Luke\u2019s<\/span> \n
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\nSam Kennedy<\/p>\n