Is This Perimenopause… or Am I Just Losing It? Understanding Mood Changes During Perimenopause
Studies estimate that 45–70% of women experience depressive symptoms during perimenopause, compared with roughly 25–30% of premenopausal women. One small study even found that the risk of depression was 14 times higher during the two years leading up to menopause than during the preceding three decades.
No wonder so many of us feel like we're losing our minds.
5 minutes ago
Progesterone Side Effects: What to Do When You're the Exception
Progesterone is an essential part of hormone replacement therapy for many women with a uterus. While most women tolerate it well—and some even sleep better because of it—a small percentage experience unexpected side effects like increased anxiety, mood changes, or feeling "not like themselves." If that's you, you're not imagining it.
Jul 13
MidLife Changes
Twenty-four years ago, I graduated from medical school. Since then, I've had the privilege of experiencing medicine from many different perspectives: community-based research, teaching medical students and residents, working in a group practice, and owning a direct primary care practice. About five years ago, I found myself at a crossroads. Between the pandemic, burnout, and the growing divide around science and healthcare, I realized I needed to step back and reconnect with
Jul 6
Let's Talk About Sex (Again): Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
oday, we're tackling another common—but surprisingly under-discussed—cause of painful sex: Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM).
GSM is a collection of symptoms caused by falling estrogen levels that affect the vagina, vulva, labia, clitoris, bladder, and urethra.
Jul 6
Midlife Musings of a Family Doctor: Why I am Better at Making Mistakes
For women who have spent decades trying to be the perfect mother, physician, partner, daughter, or friend, it can feel like we're suddenly failing at things that once came easily.
But maybe we're looking at it all wrong.
Maybe this stage of life isn't teaching us how to avoid mistakes.
Maybe it's teaching us how to make peace with them.
Jun 29
