Purely Menopause Blog

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. This gap has allowed menopause myths  and marketing-driven misinformation to flourish. 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

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

Common "wisdom" is that we should take it easier as we get older. Science tells us the exact opposite. Menopausal women can use exercise, specifically high intensity exercise, to replace some of the effects that estrogen used to supply and counteract the effects of aging. Although the number of studies of menopausal women, particularly active ones, has been limited, we do have sufficient data to show that high intensity interval training (HIIT) improves insulin sensitivity an

Menopause can be a time of change and self-discovery. We now can reflect on our lives and make changes to become our best selves. It is a time when we can let go of the expectations of others and embrace our own uniqueness.

Menopause is a natural stage in a woman's life that marks the end of her menstrual cycle. It can be a time of many changes, including physical, emotional, and hormonal. One of the changes seen in menopausal women is the need for increased protein consumption. Protein is an essential nutrient that plays a role in many important bodily functions. It can be found in muscle, bone, skin, hair, and nearly every other body part or tissue. Protein is made from twenty-plus basic build

Lichen sclerosus is a serious, chronic disorder.

Last week we talked about the prevalence among menopausal women and some of the causes. This week we will discuss prevention and treatment.

As women get older, many experience involuntary loss of urine (incontinence), but urinary incontinence is not a normal part of aging and can (and should) be treated. More than 40% of women 65 and older have urinary incontinence, but as few as 25% of those discuss the problem with their doctor. Some believe it to be a normal part of aging, some are embarrassed, and some are afraid their doctor won't know how to treat them. Women with incontinence experience higher rates of dep

Menopausal women need to eat carbohydrates. No matter which TikTok influencer tells you otherwise, carbohydrates, the primary fuel source for exercise and the preferred fuel source for our brains, are necessary for women of all ages. It is true that menopausal women need to be more aware of their carbohydrate intake quality and quantity (more on this later). But that doesn't mean they should stop eating carbs! In addition to being a fuel source for your muscles and brain, car

When Should I Talk to my Doctor about Menopause?