26057: Menopause Essentials for the MIGS Surgeon: From the WHI to Hormone Therapy and Surgical Disease

Friday, November 13, 2026
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Room: RM309

Chairs: Brianne D. Romeroso, Barbara S. Levy

Faculty: Brianne D. Romeroso, Barbara S. Levy, James Simon

Description: Menopause knowledge is increasingly essential for the modern MIGS surgeon. Many patients undergoing minimally invasive gynecologic surgery are perimenopausal or postmenopausal, and surgical interventions themselves may precipitate or accelerate menopause. Yet many surgeons report limited formal training in menopause physiology, interpretation of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), or evidence-based use of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). The recent transition in fellowship nomenclature from Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery to Complex Benign Gynecology underscores the expanding scope of surgical practice beyond operative technique alone to encompass longitudinal, multidisciplinary care across the reproductive lifespan. As this evolution emphasizes comprehensive management of benign gynecologic disease, competence in menopause care becomes even more imperative for both trainees and faculty caring for midlife patients. This postgraduate course will provide MIGS surgeons with a practical, clinically relevant foundation in menopause care, emphasizing how menopause and MHT intersect with common surgical diseases such as fibroids and endometriosis. The course will address persistent misconceptions surrounding the WHI, review current evidence-based approaches to MHT, and explore how menopausal status and hormone therapy influence symptom presentation, surgical decision-making, and postoperative management. By integrating menopause education into MIGS practice, this course addresses a critical educational gap within gynecologic surgery training while supporting AAGL's mission to advance comprehensive, evidence-based care for women undergoing minimally invasive gynecologic surgery.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this course, the participant will be able to:

1. Explain why menopause knowledge is essential for the MIGS surgeon, including how menopausal status and hormone therapy influence fibroids, endometriosis, surgical decision-making, and long-term patient outcomes.
2. Critically interpret evidence from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), including its limitations, common misinterpretations, and subsequent analyses, to inform contemporary counseling and clinical decision-making regarding menopausal hormone therapy (MHT).
3. Implement evidence-based hormonal and non-hormonal strategies for the management of menopausal symptoms such as vasomotor symptoms and sexual dysfunction, including the safe prescribing of estrogen, progestogen, and testosterone therapy.

COURSE OUTLINE

2:00 PM Welcome, Introduction and Course Overview

2:05 PM Menopause & MIGS: Why It Matters for the Surgeon; Hormone Therapy 101: Practical Prescribing for Surgeons

B. Romeroso

2:30 PM The Women's Health Initiative: Interpreting the Evidence for Today's Patients; Hormone Therapy 101: Practical Prescribing for Surgeons

B. Levy

2:55 PM Testosterone Therapy and Female Sexual Dysfunction; Hormone Therapy 101: Practical Prescribing for Surgeons

J. Simon

3:20 PM Discussion Questions & Answers

4:00 PM Adjourn