Dr. Speroff: I am Leon Speroff, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Oregon Health and Science University and a sub-specialist in reproductive endocrinology. Let me offer a health tip for you.
I think that the time has come for women to stop making their decisions based upon what they read in the newspaper. I would urge women who are listening to what I am saying to find a clinician who is up-to-date on these issues and is willing to take the time to talk with them and sometimes that is easier said than done because in America’s modern health care system it is difficult for doctors to have the time to talk to their patients, but if you cannot find one, keep looking until you find one because these are decisions that are so important and you do not make them that quickly. I would add one more thing. Sometimes women are frightened by the idea of making a long-term decision about hormone therapy. Do not think of it that way. Find a clinician you can talk to. Every year you see that clinician, you make a new decision. Well, I will take it another year based upon what we have learned that is new that year. So you are never making a long-term decision. You are making repeated short-term decisions based upon the best available evidence.
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Find Dr. Speroff on the web at www.ohsu.edu
After graduating Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Dr. Speroff completed his residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital in Ohio. Following fellowship training at the Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, he spent a number of progressive years at Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut until he became a member of the OHSU faculty as professor and chairman of the department of obstetrics and gynecology in 1976. In 1983 he returned to his Alma Mater, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine as professor and chairman of the department of reproductive biology until returning to OHSU in 1989. He is the founder and recently stepped down as director for the Women's Health Research Unit at OHSU. Doctor Speroff has gained prominence in the area of women's health throughout his publications, national and international lectures and extensive work on clinical trials.