I've had a few questions lately from patients about using specific supplements for menopause symptoms. I wrote a blog post on supplements a few months ago, but there are always new marketing claims for new and old supplements so I will talk intermittently about ones that my patients are bringing to my attention.

Hype around new weight loss drugs (glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists) is soaring. And who wouldn't be interested in a drug that can reduce body weight by 20% and curb hunger? Some experts see these drugs as the holy grail, but others are advising caution. So, are these drugs the right for you?

Although menopausal women no longer need to worry about unwanted pregnancy, the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remains. STIs are infections spread by sexual activity, especially vaginal intercourse, anal sex, genital touching, oral sex, or manual sex. STIs are caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. The eight most common STIs include four curable infections (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomonas) and four that are treatable but incurable (hepatiti

During menopause, many women experience a range of gastrointestinal (GI) issues, including bloating, gas, acid reflux, constipation, and diarrhea. Some of the GI symptoms can be explained by aging, but some are clearly linked to the the menopausal decrease in estrogen and progesterone. The presence of estrogen receptors throughout the gut and progesterone receptors in the colon point to a direct effect of sex hormones on digestion and absorption. In addition, estrogen and pr

Menopause is a stressful time in a woman's life. Changes in sex hormones can evoke a myriad of troublesome, life-altering symptoms like depression, hot flashes, headaches, sleep disruption, brain fog, gastrointestinal issues, and loss of libido. At the same time, a woman has the most responsibility she's ever had at work, has children leaving home, and often is responsible for elderly parents. In response to this onslaught of physical and emotional turmoil, some women increas

Menopause marks the end of ovulation, which is the stage of the menstrual cycle when a mature egg is released from the ovary. Every egg that a woman will have in her lifetime is made during fetal development. Once mature eggs cease to be released - that is, the follicles no longer function in a normal fashion, the menstrual cycle stops. We refer to the day 12 months after your final period as menopause.

Last week, we looked at some of the problems that the genitourinary syndrom of menopause (GSM) can cause when you ride a bicycle (or Peleton) and discussed ways to mitigate the problems. This week will be examine some of the other ways that menopause can complicate your cycling (and all exercise for that matter).

Last week, we talked about the genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), a chronic, progressive condition of the vulva, vagina, and lower urinary tract that begins during menopause and continues throughout a woman's life. GSM can impact negatively multiple aspects of a woman's life but today, we will talk about how GSM and other genital concerns of menopausal women can complicate exercise, particularly cycling.

Pay attention ladies. Every one of you will experience the so-called genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) if you live long enough. For a lucky few, the symptoms will be mild. For others, know that there are things you can do to delay and/or reverse some of the symptoms.

As many as 77% of women report changes in their voice, typically described as deepening, raspiness, and/or fatigue, associated with menopause. For most women, the change is, at most, annoying, but for women who use their voice professionally, a subtle voice change can end their careers. Sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone) have a profound effect on voice, particularly during puberty and menopause. Testosterone causes the larynx to elongate and enlarge as we

Many of my menopausal patients list weight gain as one of their most bothersome symptoms. And with good cause. Not only does increased weight put you at higher risk for serious disease, but also it impacts your confidence, sense of self, and mood. In good news, menopause does not cause weight gain per se. In bad news, there's no good way to counteract the real culprit.

Testosterone is a hormone found in men and women of all ages. Women typically have levels of testosterone between 1/10 and 1/20 of that...

Hot flashes and night sweats (also referred to as vasomotor symptoms (VMS)) affect as many as 80% of menopausal women and often begin during perimenopause. They are the most reported unwanted symptom of menopause. Hot flashes and night sweats are characterized by feelings of warmth that spread over the body and can last as long as a few minutes. They may be accompanied by redness of the skin, excessive sweating, tingling fingers, increased heart rate, anxiety, and chest tight

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in women , accounting for more than 20% of all deaths. The most common forms of CVD in women are coronary artery disease, arrhythmia, and heart failure. Although many research gaps remain, we know that CVD risk rises significantly during menopause. Within a few years of menopause, women completely close the risk gap that they had when they were younger compared with men. Many factors which indicate an increased CVD r

Menopause is defined as after menstrual periods have stopped for 12 months. Perimenopause is the phase before the final menstrual period when the body's sex hormones are fluctuating in an unpredictable manner. The surging and ebbing of hormones is responsible, at least in part, for many of the troubling symptoms that women experience, including hot flashes, night sweats, brain fog, and sleep disruption. Studies also show that perimenopausal women are much more likely to exper

As a gynecologist, I often hear from my menopausal patients that they are not getting enough reliable information about menopause. As a society, there is an unspoken taboo that we don't talk about menopause, so women aren't told what to expect and they don't ask. A recent surge in discussions about menopause, spurred primarily by celebrity interest and new drug development (as well as aging by the feisty Gen Xers), has spurred another problem. Unfortunately, some people,

The clitoris is an organ central to female sexual pleasure; however, little was known about it until recently. Even now, much more research is needed to better understand its role. Unlike its anatomical counterpart, the penis, which was accurately described as early as 35 BC by Hippocrates, the clitoris still is not fully understood today. The history of the study of the clitoris is a long and complicated one. The clitoris has been known for centuries, but its true nature and

There is no good medical reason for regular blood (or urine or saliva) testing for sex hormone levels during perimenopause or menopause. Hormone levels vary wildly and unpredictably during perimenopause. In fact, it's one of the reasons that your symptoms are so severe. Once you're in menopause your hormone levels change very little so checking blood levels is a waste of time and money. Doctors following the evidence-based standard of care prescribe menopausal hormone therapy

Let's talk about nutrition and hydration for active menopausal women. Athletic women of all ages chronically undereat. (I'm describing anyone who regularly exercises on purpose as an athlete...from those who regularly take brisk walks with their friends to those training for competition.) Some women undereat because they have body image issues but others because they don't realize how much food they need. For example, a 140-pound woman needs to eat about 2300-2500 calories on

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. In reproductive age women, progesterone thickens the lining of the uterus in preparation for implantation of a fertilized egg. To build the lining, progesterone breaks down proteins. Progesterone increases body core temperature, which likely explains why reproductive age women are more likely