Menopause + Original Articles

Researchers have identified an association among hormones and increased risk of diseases in people who smoke. Scientists are discovering more compelling reasons why quitting smoking is among the best ways to improve your health. A recent study has demonstrated a link between smoking and increased male and female hormones in post-menopausal women. These increased hormones may boost the risk for diseases like breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and type 2 diabetes.

Certain symptoms often associated with menopause are actually caused by another issue, be it hormonal, pharmacological, or physiological. If you're a woman of a certain age, you might assume all those weird symptoms you're experiencing are due to menopause. But what if they're not? What if you're too young for "the change," or what if you're a man? Many symptoms we often associate with menopause are actually caused by other hormonal, pharmacological or physiologic issues.

Find out the link and how you can prevent osteoporosis from complicating your life. Women's bodies can change a lot after menopause and one of the most ominous changes could be the development of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a disease that occurs when bones become porous and brittle. The minerals that make up the bone become less dense, weakening bones and increasing risk for breakage.

Menopause affects every woman differently, but there are some symptoms that you won't see coming. If you're a woman between 45 and 55, chances are you know all too well the most common symptoms of menopause: hot flashes, forgetfulness, night sweats, and insomnia. But menopause can also bring on other less common symptoms, says Jill Rabin, MD, chief of ambulatory care, obstetrics, and gynecology, and head of urogynecology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, NY.

Weight gain after menopause isn't inevitable. Here's what you can do. Reaching menopause has a lot of benefits, but gaining weight may not be seen as one of them. The extra pounds are likely a result of your body's natural aging process, which causes muscle loss. Another cause of extra pounds? Hormonal changes. Estrogen is naturally stored in fat cells but during perimenopause and menopause, estrogen supplies dwindle.

With the right knowledge, women can take control of their health during this important life stage. Here's a look at menopause by the numbers. Some women find the end of monthly periods a cause to celebrate—no more hassling with tampons; no more pregnancy scares. Others feel sad. For them, menopause signals the end of the reproductive years and what some view as the start of life's sunset.

Over 35,000 women are diagnosed each year with uterine cancer. Here are the facts you need. As cancer is always named for the body of your body where it begins, when cancer starts in the uterus, it's called uterine cancer. The uterus is a hollow, pear-shaped organ in your pelvis, the place a baby grows when you are pregnant. The most common type of uterine cancer is endometrial cancer, named because it develops in the lining of your uterus, called the endometrium.

Rosacea, which often causes constant redness in the face, can be frustrating and difficult to treat, but there are steps you can take to manage the condition. Rosacea is a common, long-term skin disease that affects more than an estimated 16 million Americans. The condition may produce persistent redness, or flushing; acne; and visible blood vessels in the center of the face. What's more, these symptoms can eventually spread to the cheeks, forehead, chin, and nose.

Hot flashes can be uncomfortable, frustrating, even scary. Follow this guide to help ease your symptoms. For many women, hot flashes are menopause's most-dreaded symptom. And it's no wonder: These episodes come on suddenly, spreading an intense feeling of heat over the entire body, especially in the head and neck. What's more, they may be accompanied by rapid heartbeat, perspiration, or dizziness.

There is no guaranteed protection against breast cancer, but there are things you can do to reduce your risk. An estimated 1in 8 women will be afflicted with breast cancer in her lifetime. Although there is no guaranteed protection against the disease, there are things you can do to lower your risk. Follow these tips to help prevent breast cancer and to support finding a cure: Maintain a healthy weight.

If you’re a diabetic who’s going through menopause, you’re up against some unique challenges. Find out what steps you can take to stay on top of your health. If you're going through menopause, you're undoubtedly familiar with moodiness, sleep difficulties, and hot flashes. If you have Type 2 diabetes, you've got a few additional concerns. Here's what you can expect during menopause-and what you can do to stay fit and healthy.

If you're having trouble climaxing, you're not alone. Many older adults have difficulty achieving orgasm. Here, five reasons why you're having difficulty. If your sex life is suffering because of your inability to reach orgasm, chances are you're trying to figure out why and what you can do about it. Experts say, there are physical, as well as psychological causes to your sexual dilemma. "There are psychological, physical, and biological reasons for the inability to orgasm," says Renee Horowitz, MD, FACOG, director of the Center for Sexual Wellness in Farmington Hills, New York.

While over-the-counter pain relievers are convenient and readily available, they still come with certain risks. Aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen and naproxen are readily available on your grocery and drug store shelves. No prescription is needed. Pop a couple and your pain, fever or headache disappear. While these common over-the-ounter (OTC) medications are generally safe, they're still powerful chemicals.

Bioidentical hormone therapy is often called "natural hormone therapy" because bioidentical hormones act in the body just like the hormones we produce. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women with menopausal symptoms can be divided into two eras: Before 2002 and After 2002. That's when the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) halted studies of a specific type of estrogen/progesterone therapy because they were linked to significant health risks.

Learn more about this uncomfortable skin condition including who's most often affected. If you have unbearable intimate itching, you might have Lichen Sclerosus. This uncommon skin condition is usually a "girl thing," though men and children can get it too. Lichen sclerosus (LS) causes delicate skin in the genital area to become thin, whitened, wrinkled, and sometimes, unbearably itchy, primarily in postmenopausal women.

When it comes to vaginal discharge, how do you know what's normal and what's not? Well, it's all a matter of color, smell, quantity, and feel. When it comes to vaginal discharge, how do you know what's normal and what's not? Well, it's all a matter of color, smell, quantity, and feel.  Here, all the  information you need to understand what's going on down there. What's Normal? Every woman past the age of puberty has vaginal discharge.

Research presented at the 26th annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Rome says that measuring a woman's hormone levels with a single blood test can accurately predict the age when she'll reach menopause. Menopause is defined as the 12-month mark after a woman has her last menstrual period and the end of her reproductive life. Most women reach menopause some time in their late 40s or early 50s and might be peri-menopausal for as much as a decade before that time.

Your OBGYN has been there for you through thick and thin: from your first contraception to your last baby to even menopause. But should she also be your go-to-doctor for everything else? Your obstetrician-gynecologist has been there for you through thick and thin: from your first contraception to your last baby; maybe even through menopause. But is she always the best choice as a primary care physician? Your gynecologist as your go-to-doctor-for-everything might not necessarily be a good idea.

If you're a woman using hormone replacement therapy (HRT), you may be frightened about developing cancer, but even more frightened about giving up your prescription. But hold on—things might not be as scary as they seem. We've all seen the headlines:  Hormone Replacement Therapy Increases Risks for Cancer! If you're a woman using hormone replacement therapy (HRT), you may be frightened about developing cancer, but even more frightened about giving up your prescription.

If shortness of breath and wheezing are accompanied with hot flashes and mood swings, you might have more than just menopause. You probably associate menopause with a wide range of physical changes. But have you ever thought that this change of life can also trigger asthma symptoms? When Menopause and Asthma Co-Exist If you've never experienced any respiratory issues before menopause and you suddenly find yourself wheezing and short of breath, the timing might not be a coincidence.

For women who experience night sweats, the story is always the same: Suddenly waking in the middle of the night, feeling extremely hot around the face, neck, and chest, and sweating profusely, to the point of saturating your pajamas and sheets. Fortunately, there are effective ways to stay drier in the night. Almost half of all women approaching or experiencing menopause can tell you all about night sweats. The frequency may vary from woman to woman, but the story is always the same: Suddenly waking up in the middle of the night, sometimes several times a night, feeling extremely hot around the face, neck and chest areas, and sweating profusely, to the point of saturating your sheets, pillowcases and nightclothes.

"Brain fog" is a common complaint of women during menopause. They feel they should be at the top of their game, but instead find themselves dropping the ball by making small errors and forgetting details like never before. Hot flashes and night sweats get all the attention when it comes to menopausal symptoms, but for many women, it's the way perimenopause and menopause affect their brain that's a bigger priority.  Mood swings, anxiety, depression, insomnia and "brain fog (a combination of confusion, memory loss, and inability to focus)," are common complaints during menopause.

Women are already more prone than men to insomnia and other sleep issues. Then menopause kicks in and these problems often get worse. So, what's a gal to do? Women are already more prone to insomnia and other sleep disturbances than men, then menopause kicks in and, for many women, it only gets worse. In many cases, midlife insomnia has little to do with menopause, however, but may be attributed to sleep disorders and other medical conditions.

Bloating is never pleasant, but uncomfortable and irritating. Not only is bloating caused by foods and stress, but can also be induced by hormones. Find out how this happens and what you can do to prevent it. Abdominal bloating-that uncomfortable feeling of tightness or fullness in the stomach caused by either a buildup of gas or fluid retention-is very common affecting about 30 percent of people. Bloating is especially common and bothersome in sufferers of irritable bowel syndrome and is the result of gas trapped inside the bowel.

Why does menopause get all the attention when it's actually perimenopause that brings those infamous symptoms? Here's a rundown of the time leading up to menopause. Why does menopause get all the attention when it's actually perimenopause that brings those infamous symptoms? Because, most people don't know there's a difference.  Understanding perimenopause however, might help women enter a new time of life healthier, happier and more in control.

This critical life change may also be associated with an increased risk for developing diabetes. As if there weren't enough unpleasant aspects of menopause, such as hot flashes, insomnia and forgetfulness, it now appears that this change may actually be associated with Type 2 diabetes. "There has been some research where we see women going through menopause and developing Type 2 diabetes," says Tracy L.

Talking to your doctor about menopause can help ease your symptoms and make for an easier transition into this new stage of life. Million of women are going through "the change" and dealing with menopause symptoms that can last a long time. The four-to-six years leading up to your final period are called Perimenopause.  The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists  (ACOG) says, " Menopause happens around age 51, but every woman's body has its own timeline .

Learn about a surprising side effect of this common therapy. Menopausal women who take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have had plenty to worry about for the past several years. But now, they may have reason to celebrate.  A new study conducted by researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, confirms what scientists have suspected for a while:  Older women who take hormone replacement therapy for menopausal symptoms may have a significantly reduced risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Here's what you can do to stay emotionally healthy during this important period of your life. Women deal with tremendous changes during their 40s and 50s. Kids leave home, their parents become more dependent, and career goals may change.  And then there's menopause. Approximately 75 percent of women experience symptoms in the years leading up to their last period.

A University of Michigan School of Public Health study has uncovered some startling findings. Women who have their last period before age 42 are two times more likely to have a stroke down the road than those who experience menopause later in life, according to a University of Michigan School of Public Health study.  Most women go through menopause, which is marked by completing one year without periods, at an average age of 51.

Recent findings suggest that a lengthier change of life may have one big advantage: a healthier heart. You'd be hard put to find a woman who wanted a longer menopause, with its constellation of annoying symptoms. But a lengthier change of life may have one health advantage: women who transition more quickly through menopause appear to face an increased risk of "preclinical atherosclerosis.

Whether you’re experiencing hot flashes, mood swings, insomnia (or all three), here’s how to talk to your doctor about finding relief. Million of women are going through "the change" and dealing with menopause symptoms that can last a long time. The four-to-six years leading up to your final period are called Perimenopause.  According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG), "Menopause happens around age 51, but every woman's body has its own timeline .

Follow our head to toe guidelines for health screenings after menopause. For many women, life after 50 is an exciting time. Their careers are at their peak and they're enjoying time with family. They feel great and are cruising through menopause with minimal problems. Some, however, face health concerns resulting from disease, unhealthy habits, genetics, or simple wear and tear.

See how far the benefits of this disease-fighting protein can go besides promoting bone health and rich nutrition. Soybeans are legumes, such as peas, beans and lentils. They are one of the world's most important crops. Soybeans are consumed many different ways including edamame (young green soybeans), soy milk, soy nuts, soy yogurt, soy cheese, tempeh, miso, tofu and in a variety of meat substitutes such as veggie burgers.

Learn more about this up and down behavior. What's happening to you lately? One minute you're on top of the world, the next you're ready to rage at anyone who crosses you. You're up, you're down, you're happy, you're irritable—didn't you leave this all behind in middle school? What's happening is, in a word, hormones.

It's the second most common surgery for American women. But how much do you really know about the procedure? Learn more now. Each year, more than 600,000 hysterectomies are performed in the United States, making it one of the most common women's surgeries—second only caesarean section. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the procedure is so common that one in every three American women has had a hysterectomy by age 60.