Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women. Approximately 44% of women in the United States are living with some form of heart disease. Most cardiovascular disease in women occurs after the age of 55, often after menopause. However, this does not necessarily mean there is a direct relationship between lower hormone levels and heart disease. That part is a little more complicated. Because apparently, our hormones couldn't just leave quietly—they had to make everythin

Women produce testosterone in the ovaries, adrenal glands, fat cells and skin cells. Sure, most females produce considerably less testosterone than males. BUT did you know that women actually produce more testosterone than estrogen? Testosterone helps support libido and sexual health. Testosterone also helps maintain bone density, muscle mass and red blood cells. And it plays a role in mood, energy and cognitive function—you know, those things that sometimes Testosterone a

Today, we’re continuing our discussion of the risks and benefits of estrogen. And this week, we’re tackling some of the bigger health concerns: heart disease, stroke, blood clots, and cancer. There is a lot of information here, so find a comfy chair and a fan (if you’ve got hot flashes, like me), and let’s get started.

Let's talk about estrogen: what it's actually approved to treat, where the evidence is strong, and where we're still waiting for better data.

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.

Let’s talk bones. Not the Halloween kind—the ones quietly holding you together while you scroll this. Osteoporosis is a condition where bone density decreases and the internal structure of bone weakens, increasing fracture risk. Osteopenia is the early stage of bone loss—the warning sign before osteoporosis develops. Osteoporosis affects 200 million people worldwide. Eighty percent of cases are women. After age 50, 1 in 2 women will have an osteoporosis-related fracture.

Burning mouth syndrome- an often overlooked condition of middle age

“Hair” raising topic ahead. As estrogen decreases, its ratio to testosterone changes—and suddenly, hair changes enter the picture. There are two main things that can happen to hair in perimenopause and menopause. First: thinning or loss of hair on your head (we will talk about this in a future blog). Second: extra hair growth on your face. Bold and beautiful: A striking illustration captures the confident expression of a bald woman with vibrant red lips and a bright orange co

Your adrenal glands are small but powerful organs that sit on top of your kidneys. They produce several important hormones: • Aldosterone, which helps regulate blood pressure • DHEA, which can be converted into sex hormones • Epinephrine and norepinephrine, your “fight-or-flight” hormones • Cortisol—the stress hormone most often mentioned when people talk about “adrenal fatigue” A colorful array of bubbling and steaming test tubes filled with vibrant chemicals, set

What is it? Progesterone is a steroid hormone made in the adrenal glands, the ovaries (and the testes in men), and—during pregnancy—the placenta. After ovulation each month, the ovary releases progesterone to prepare the uterus for a possible pregnancy. If the egg is fertilized, the placenta eventually takes over progesterone production. If not, progesterone levels fall… and your period begins. Structural representation of progesterone, a steroid hormone with the chemical for

During the pandemic, a man named Josh Wardle invented a game for his partner, Palak Shah who was fond of word games. His game, Wordle became a world-wide phenomenon with people texting their family and friends the results every morning, encouraging some competition and a lot of camaraderie. My family and I joined the Wordle craze and then sought out other similar games. Taylordle, Quordle, Heardle and WORLDle- to name a few. One of my kids found another game called Framed. Th

The Night Shift- when you can't sleep