Not long ago, we wrote about menopause retreats, and posed the question: Can you mediate menopause away? As the article notes, if you’re looking for a relaxing spa weekend and a chance to connect with other women, then a spa retreat filled with massages, facials, and perhaps some gentle yoga, might be just the thing. However, as we also noted, while these treatments may leave you feeling blissful for a few hours (or even a couple days), they simply don’t address the root causes of your perimenopause and menopause symptoms, like hot flashes, brain fog, vaginal dryness, and painful sex.  

In case we left you on the fence about so-called “menopause retreats,” we decided to interview Belmar Pharma Solutions Medical Director and hormone expert, Angela DeRosa, DO, MBA, CPE, (aka Dr. Hot Flash) to find out what an authentic menopause retreat is really like. Dr. DeRosa recently participated in a true menopause retreat as one of the expert educators. Here’s what she had to say about what to look for if you’re considering attending a menopause retreat.  

Q: What can we expect at an AUTHENTIC menopause retreat?

Beyond luxury spa treatments or yoga classes or learning how to meditate (all good, but they can’t manage symptoms long term), what real guidance and actionable items can women take away for managing symptoms of menopause and perimenopause?

A: Although yoga, meditation, and spa treatments can all help reduce anxiety, mood disorders, and the stressors of life, they cannot “kickstart” the ovaries into making hormones. Only hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can do that.

Menopause retreats should, first and foremost, educate women about the role of hormones (estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, and thyroid) and how they affect our day-to-day lives both symptomatically and also their impact on our long-term health and longevity.  

Hormonal health experts at these retreats should also discuss different types of options for hormone replacement therapies (pellets, creams, oral pills/capsules/troches, vaginal applications, etc.) and how to decide what may be best for each individual person based on lifestyle, severity of symptoms, and health history.  

Q: Where can we find retreats for women with actual workshops and menopause experts (like yourself)?

Do these retreats offer one-on-one or group sessions with experts such as nutritionists, acupuncturists, psychologists, sex experts, or hormone and women’s health experts?

A: Yes! Ones that I know of are offered at several locations around the country:  

• Miraval Resorts

• Canyon Ranch

• Mii amo

Check out the schedules for upcoming menopause retreats at these renowned resorts or give them a call to inquire.  

The nice thing about the one I recently presented at Mii amo, in Sedona, Arizona, is that it allowed us not only to provide group sessions for the women at the retreat, but we also offered one-on-one private meetings with myself and the other trainers. This kind of format works well because we provided education during group sessions, and then the women had time to ask us about their own personal experiences or questions they have about their individual perimenopause/menopause progress and tribulations.

This retreat at Mii amo was called, “Power Through Perimenopause: Your Insider’s Guide to Hormones, Hair & Whole-Body Health.” On Day 1 of this three-day series was all about The Hormonal Blueprint: Understanding the Foundation of Female Health. I presented several talks, including HRT 101 and Hormonal Happy Hour: Love, Libido & Laughter.

Day 2 was Hair as a Reflection of Health Diagnostic & Restorative Strategies. Carly Klein, President of National Hair Loss Medical Aesthetics, presented two sessions about hair loss, reminding women that hair loss is often an indication of a deeper root cause that may be linked to hormones.  

And, Day 3 was all about Metabolic Mastery Thyroid, Weight, and Whole-Body Vitality. For this topic, I presented Thyroid Disorders: The Metabolic Engine Driving Your Health. I also co-hosted Weight Loss Medications & Their Hidden Impact: Protecting Hair Health, Hormones & Metabolism, with Brandy Lesaffre, World Trichologist W.T.S.

So, you can see from our agenda, an authentic menopause retreat truly addresses perimenopause/menopause concerns and conditions, and offers information about therapies and medications meant to positively impact these conditions. Participants go home feeling more knowledgeable about this confusing stage of life that perhaps their primary care physicians or OB/GYNs don’t really know much about.  

And, it was fun! Even with all these great educational sessions, the women at our retreat still had plenty of time to enjoy great food, get to know each other, and experience all the wonderful spa treatments you’d expect to find in this type of relaxing environment.  

Q: Any general advice for women wanting to go to a menopause retreat?

Or something you can share from your recent speaking engagement in Sedona?

A: I want women to trust their instincts and take the time to obtain the proper information.

‍Do not assume your traditional OB/GYNs or PCPs are providing you with the most up-to-date or accurate information. Use this retreat “downtime” in a relaxing environment to ask questions and see what resonates with your gut.

These kinds of expert-led retreats give women real information and actionable items so they can personalize their approach to managing perimenopause/menopause symptoms and live life to the fullest – at any age. It’s important to note two things: First, going through the menopausal transition shouldn’t hold you back or force you to stop doing the things you love! Second (and equally important), taking charge of your symptoms now and advocating for the hormone therapies you need to relieve hot flashes, vaginal dryness, low libido, thinning hair, joint pain (among others), can have a positive impact on your long-term health and well-being.  

Hormones affect just about every system in your body – brain, digestive, bones, heart. Replenishing your naturally declining hormones now can truly help you live a longer, happier, healthier life!