A midwife for midlife?

For months, Kama McConaughy Sarkissian felt like she had a lump in her throat. “I was having trouble swallowing and feeling increased anxiety,” says the 50-year-old Littleton woman.

She had seen several doctors, including specialists, but no one seemed to have an answer. At least not until she turned to Barbara VanDersarl Slocum, a certified nurse midwife (CNM) with AdventHealth Medical Group Midwifery and OBGYN at Castle Rock.

VanDersarl Slocum took a different approach, ordering more in-depth thyroid tests that other providers hadn’t considered. “As soon as she got my levels back, she said that it was no wonder I had been feeling this way,” McConaughy Sarkissian says. “Barbara (VanDersarl Slocum) was able to figure out what four other providers couldn’t.”

That experience convinced McConaughy Sarkissian to keep seeing VanDersarl Slocum as her primary provider, even when she relocated her practice from Littleton to Castle Rock. “Her approach gave me relief and peace of mind,” McConaughy Sarkissian says. “She’s been able to manage everything from my hormone care to referrals for screenings like mammograms and colonoscopies.”

Whole-Person Care at Every Stage

Many people mistakenly believe midwives only assist with childbirth, but certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) are highly trained women’s health professionals who provide comprehensive care at every stage of life. In addition to supporting pregnancy and delivery, CNMs offer:

• Routine gynecological exams and Pap tests
• Cancer screenings (breast, cervical, colon)
• Diabetes care and heart health monitoring
• STD testing and contraception
• Weight management therapy
• Surgical assistance (hysterectomy, tubal ligation, C-section)
• Perimenopause and menopause guidance and treatment

Personalized, Patient-Focused Care

Midwives are known for their personalized, patient-centered approach.

“Based on a patient’s concerns, we offer 30-minute and 60-minute appointments, significantly longer than the standard 10-minute visit,” VanDersarl Slocum says. “Women deserve to be heard, informed and genuinely cared for.”

Hormone Therapy for Perimenopause and Beyond

Hormone therapy fell out of favor in the early 2000s after a study linked it to a higher risk of breast cancer. However, more recent research has shown that, for many women, hormone therapy can be both safe and effective — especially when started around the time of menopause.

“Despite the new evidence, many doctors don’t feel comfortable prescribing hormone therapy,” says Barbara VanDersarl Slocum, CNM, AdventHealth Medical Group Midwifery and OBGYN at Castle Rock. “But bioidentical hormones, which are often safer than synthetic hormones, can significantly improve quality of life.”

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (HRT) uses plant-based hormones carefully matched to support your body’s natural balance. This personalized approach may help ease symptoms like:

• Hot flashes and night sweats
• Low energy and mood swings
• Poor sleep and brain fog
• Vaginal dryness and reduced libido

<60

Hormone replacement therapy is generally safe for women younger than 60, according to a 2024 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Open House

Join us for a Grand Opening celebration for AdventHealth Medical Group Midwifery and OBGYN at Castle Rock.

Thursday, Sept. 25th 3:30-5:30pm

2356 Meadows Blvd, Briscoe 310B, Castle Rock, CO 80109

Meet our providers while enjoying refreshments by Mana restaurant, chair massages, appointment scheduling, and booths providing information on sleep, pregnancy, lactation, personal training, hormone replacement and much more!

Enter to win a free Healthfit massage, gift card to Mana and other goodies!

No RSVP required.