Purely Menopause Blog

Navigating the changes that come with menopause often includes confronting a significant but often overlooked challenge: low libido. As women transition through this natural phase of life, hormonal shifts can profoundly affect desire and arousal, leaving many feeling disconnected from their sexual selves. Understanding and addressing this aspect of menopause is crucial for empowering women to navigate this transition with confidence and reclaim their sexual well-being. This p

As women age, they are two to three times more likely than men to experience a decrease in sexual desire. Understanding and addressing the factors that contribute to this can help improve sexual health and overall well-being.

Chronic pelvic pain affects an estimated 6% to 40% of women worldwide and often correlates with sexual dysfunctions such as dyspareunia (pain during sex), orgasmic dysfunction, and decreased desire, arousal, and lubrication. Superficial dyspareunia is confined to the vulva or vaginal entrance, while deep dyspareunia extends into the deeper parts of the vagina or lower pelvis. This deeper pain is frequently associated with conditions like fibroid tumors, ovarian cysts, endomet

A recent review of data from a controversial study reaffirms a consensus among menopause experts: many women benefit more than they risk harm from short-term menopause hormone therapy (MHT).

Sprint interval training (SIT), a type of high intensity interval training (HIIT), is a highly effective exercise strategy for enhancing body composition and cardiovascular health, especially for menopausal women. Hormonal changes during menopause can lead to increased fat mass, decreased lean muscle mass, and a slower metabolic rate. However, integrating SIT into a fitness routine can effectively combat these physiological changes.

How Nutrition Supports Health During Menopause

Menopause is a natural phase in a woman's life that signifies the end of her reproductive years. However, the road to menopause often begins with perimenopause, a transitional phase characterized by irregular periods and hormonal fluctuations. Menopause is often accompanied by uncomfortable symptoms that can impact daily life. Understanding the various aspects of menopause, including mood changes, hot flashes, and genitourinary symptoms, and other lesser-known symptoms is cru

The trillions of bacteria residing in your gut, known as the gut microbiome, extend their influence far beyond digestion. Emerging research suggests a link between gut health and various aspects of well-being, including mood regulation (anxiety and depression), appetite control, metabolism, immune function, and fat storage. There is much that science does not yet know about the gut microbiome and its impact on human health, but research has identified a connection between the

Sleep disturbances are common during menopause and can have a significant impact on a woman's quality of life. Good sleep hygiene, such as maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, creating a relaxing bedtime routine, and minimizing exposure to screens and bright lights before bed, can help improve sleep quality.

Menopause and metabolic health are closely connected, making midlife a critical time to prioritize physical activity. While many women focus on exercise to manage weight gain or abdominal fat, the most important benefits extend far beyond appearance. Regular exercise plays a central role in preserving metabolic health, reducing cardiometabolic risk, and supporting long-term health during and after menopause. Menopause and Metabolic Health: Why Hormonal Changes Matter Metaboli

Hormonal birth control in perimenopause, containing estrogen delivered through pills, patches, or vaginal rings, can play a role in managing the menopause transition for women under age 55. Understanding the Menstrual Cycle and Hormones To understand how HBCs work, let's review the menstrual cycle and the role of hormones. During a normal menstrual cycle, two hormones, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), both released by the pituitary gland in the

In today's digital age, information on menopause is readily available at our fingertips. However, the abundance of resources online also means encountering misinformation alongside valuable advice. At Purely Menopause, our mission is to provide reliable guidance and evidence-based treatments to help women manage their menopausal symptoms effectively.

As women age, changes in bone health become increasingly important to understand and manage. Two conditions that often arise during menopause are osteopenia and osteoporosis. Although they may sound similar, they have distinct differences that every menopausal woman should understand.

The gender gap in medical research results in real-life disadvantages for women. Despite women outnumbering men in the U.S. for nearly 80 years, researchers have excluded women from medical studies due to historical and cultural bias, as well as policies that prioritized protecting fetuses. Although policy and social changes in the 1990s helped a bit, women remain underrepresented in research. Growing evidence from clinical research supports that women and men can differ grea

In my conversations with women struggling with menopause, a common theme comes up again and again: “I don’t recognize myself anymore.”

Many of my menopausal patients often cite weight gain as one of their most troubling symptoms, and for good reason. Beyond elevating the risk of serious illnesses, increased weight also impacts confidence, self-perception, and mood. Data shows that menopause itself doesn't directly cause weight gain, but it does trigger changes in the body that can negatively impact our sense of self-image.

Progesterone is a hormone made by a woman's ovaries, adrenal gland, and, during pregnancy, the placenta. It is the most important of a group of steroid hormones called the progestogens. Menopausal women experience a significant decrease in their progesterone level, which is important since natural progesterone improves pain tolerance, alleviates joint pain, and provides relief from anxiety. Progesterone also plays a crucial role in bone health by reducing the rate of bone abs

Dry eye disease (DED) is more common among menopausal women than younger women or age-matched men. DED occurs when the eyes don't produce enough tears or when the tears evaporate too quickly. DED can have a significant impact on visual function, causing disturbances to comfort, daily activities, and general quality of life. The varied nature of DED makes it difficult to point to a specific cause; however, research supports that inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva, whic

I recently had to opportunity to sit down with Selene Yeager from Feisty Menopause to talk about vulvovaginal health during menopause. We discussed several exercise-related issues that can show up during and beyond the menopause transition that can cause pain, discomfort, and even damage to your vulva and vaginal tissues. Listen here .

A 2022 paper published in the Journal of Physiology proposes that beginning physical activity at or soon after menopause may be more effective in reducing cardiovascular risk compared to starting at a later stage in life.