Maureen Luthardt

My first realization about how menopause and quality of life are intertwined came from working with women with cancer. Many women would be cured of cancer, but as a result of the disease and its treatment, they were put into an early menopause state. At follow-up appointments, I heard about their problems with night sweats, vaginal dryness, body aches, mood changes, and low energy - including low sex drive. I felt empathy for these problems, but was not in a position to help.

After many years as a nurse, I decided it was time to advance my career. I looked at several different types of advanced practice and decided becoming a Womens Health nurse practitioner was the right choice for me. I could focus on womens sexual and reproductive needs and advance the general well-being of women of all ages. I take care of women across the age span and found that there was a general lack of knowledge and desire to treat women in midlife and older. I began to hear women complain they felt abandoned, that the healthcare system dismissed their concerns about perimenopause and menopause symptoms, telling them, Its just a hot flash, so nothing needed to be done about it.

At this point, I realized I could learn more about the treatment of menopause symptoms and make a difference in their lives. So now Ive come full circle, connecting the phases of my career and dedicating myself to focus on perimenopause and menopause care.

Credentials
Master of Science in Nursing MSN
Board-Certified Womens Health Nurse Practitioner CRNP, WHNP-BC
Menopause Society Certified Practitioner MSCP