Menopause + Original Articles

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.

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.

With the right knowledge, women can take control of their health during this important life stage. Here, a look at menopause by the numbers. While menopause used to invoke feelings of trepidation and confusion in many women, ideas about it have changed considerably. People now recognize that menopause is a natural biological process and not a medical illness. Yet, many women still deal with very real symptoms, such as hot flashes, mood swings, and decreased levels of energy.

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 one in eight 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 lower your risk. Follow these tips to prevent breast cancer and to support finding a cure: Maintain a healthy weight.