Purely Menopause Blog

Menopause results in many changes within a woman's body, including disruptions in the gut. Evidence shows that reduced estrogen in menopausal women changes the gut microbiome (the types and amounts of bacteria in your digestive system.) Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes bacteria make up approximately 90% of your gut microbiome and are responsible for carbohydrate metabolism. They also participate in energy production and conversion, amino acid transport and metabolism, and produc

Women are led to believe that menopause is a time of decreasing estrogen. And although that may be true in one sense, it's not completely true. Estradiol (E2) is the main hormone that is made during a woman's reproductive life. And it is true that E2 declines during menopause. But women make at least two other kinds of estrogen. Pregnant women make estriol (E3), but women make little E3 at any other time. After menopause, women mostly produce estrone (E1), which is 10x less p

Taking birth control pills (oral contraceptives) can mask symptoms of peri-menopause. Once you're in your mid to late 40s, talk to your gynecologist about transitioning off the pill and onto an IUD, progestin-only pill or other option to prevent pregnancy. Be aware that women using birth control pills during the menopause transition might continue to have what appears to be a period every month, but in fact, it's just a withdrawal bleed from the pill usage that mimics a perio

Practical Exercise Advice

Hi. I’m Rochelle Bernstein, a board-certified OBGYN with over 20 years of experiencing helping women navigate their health. I’m transitioning from a traditional practice to focusing on how best to help women navigate the most exciting time of their lives -menopause. Women should have more information about how to take back control of their bodies and minds so that they can continue being healthy and happy. Science is far behind in studying this period in women’s lives for ma