The newly launched Menopause Center at Maimonides Women’s Health Institute offers centralized, comprehensive care for women experiencing perimenopause and menopause symptoms. 

Maimonides OB/GYN specialists and women’s health providers bring together extensive training and a patient-centered focus on menopause care. Brooklyn’s first and only hospital-based menopause center combines evidence-based treatments with a holistic philosophy to help women achieve long-term wellness. 

While all OB/GYN specialists are able to care for menopausal women, the majority of practices are largely centered around care for women of reproductive age. At Maimonides Menopause Center, providers who are certified in menopause medicine have created an environment geared specifically toward caring for women in midlife and after.

“Sometimes when women are facing menopause-related issues, they aren’t sure where to access care or even get their questions answered,” said Sarah Zuercher, MS, MSN, Director of OB/GYN Clinical Programs at Maimonides. “When people come to our center, they should feel confident that they’re going to get very specific attention from providers who are both genuinely interested in menopause care and knowledgeable about it.” 

“We take a holistic approach to menopause care,” added Poroshat Shekarloo, MD, a Maimonides OB/GYN physician who was instrumental in creating the new center. “Much of what we’re offering is about supporting overall wellness and longevity, with individualized plans prioritizing each patient’s needs.” 

Patient-Driven, Tailored Treatment Plans 

Staffed by top gynecologic and women’s health specialists, the new Menopause Center provides a convenient, one-stop source of care for any menopause-related concern, from common symptoms to more complex cases. Women can self-refer or be referred by their primary care provider, OB/GYN, or other specialist and receive tailored treatments to address specific challenges.  

Comprehensive Services and Specialized Care 

At the center, patients can access individualized counseling and treatments tailored to their needs. They can also access support to optimize their midlife health. Available services and treatments include: 

• Patient education: One-on-one counseling about perimenopause and menopause helps women understand what to expect during these final phases of the female reproductive cycle. 

• Symptom management: Providers offer hormone therapy and other evidence-based treatments to help manage common concerns, such as hot flashes, night sweats, irregular bleeding, vaginal dryness, sleep issues, urinary incontinence, fatigue, and sexual health challenges.  

• Mental health counseling: Patients can access counseling and, if needed, acquire prescriptions for anti-anxiety medications and/or antidepressants to help with perimenopause- or menopause-related mood shifts.

• Lifestyle counseling: Providers conduct a midlife health assessment to support women in identifying new exercise and dietary practices to improve perimenopause or menopause symptoms and enhance their overall quality of life.  

• Women’s health services: Preventive services like bone mineral density scans, pelvic exams, pap smears, and comprehensive breast cancer screening are also available and support patients’ overall health. 

Convenient and Accessible 

The Menopause Center is conveniently co-located with the other Maimonides Health OB/GYN and Women’s Health subspecialty programs at our Women’s Health Institute. This brings patients a seamless referral process and cross-collaboration among different specialties. Patients benefit from easy access to specialists such as urogynecologists, simplified appointment scheduling, and an environment that fosters coordinated care.  

“Being able to personally introduce a patient to another specialist on our team, like a pelvic floor therapist or our urogynecologist, makes the process smoother and enhances continuity of care,” Zuercher said. “The ability to make those introductions with ease is a really nice aspect of the program.” 

Comprehensive Care Team Dedicated to Midlife Wellness  

Staff at the Menopause Center include physicians and nurse practitioners, a women’s health psychiatrist, a clinical social worker, and other specialists whose services support women’s midlife health. This model addresses physical symptoms and fosters a comprehensive approach to well-being. 

Rapid Growth and New Programs  

Having just launched, the Menopause Center is currently in a phase of rapid growth and new patient onboarding. Zuercher said that staff are exploring additional service opportunities, including plans to launch a women’s metabolic health program within the center in January. 

“We hope our comprehensive, holistic approach to menopause care helps women feel heard and understood. We want patients to come away feeling as though they have found, in our staff, a set of advocates who will support them in feeling their best during this significant stage of their life,” Shekarloo said. 

For more information on OB/GYN and women’s health services at Maimonides, visit https://maimo.org/mdp/ob-gyn-specialty-services-and-womens-health/. To refer a patient, call (718) 283-7979.