All articles tagged with #menopause
Rising demand for menopause hormone therapy—accelerated by FDA label changes and greater public awareness—is outpacing the supply of estrogen transdermal patches, leading to intermittent stockouts, patient brand-switching, and higher costs. Doctors are advising alternatives (other patches, gels, pills) and working with manufacturers to increase capacity as supply catches up.
A physician who faced premature menopause in her 30s refused to accept it. After a year-long sabbatical and traveling, she incorporated maca root and other traditional “superfoods” into a keto-green, anti-inflammatory diet, plus lifestyle changes like increased activity and stress management. She credits these adjustments with reversing perimenopause symptoms, conceiving a baby girl at 41, and eventually reaching menopause with few lingering issues, urging that small diet-and-habit shifts can meaningfully influence hormonal balance.
A case study of a postmenopausal woman trained in pelvic-floor and breathwork shows she can induce orgasms without genital stimulation, accompanied by a prolactin surge similar to genital orgasms. The findings, measured via blood markers and a vaginal pressure device, indicate NGSOs are biologically real and potentially trainable, though the study’s single participant limits generalizability and calls for larger, deeper research into brain activity and broader applications.
A Cambridge study using UK Biobank data from about 125,000 women links menopause to brain changes, poorer sleep, and higher rates of anxiety and depression. Post-menopausal women reported more sleep disturbances and greater use of mental-health services, while hormone replacement therapy is used by many to mitigate symptoms. The researchers also note that lifestyle factors—regular exercise, cognitively engaging activities, a nutritious diet, good sleep, and strong social connections—can improve brain health and potentially reduce age-related cognitive decline. Menopause typically begins around age 49; consult a GP if symptoms are challenging.
A nationwide shortage of estrogen patches—driven by manufacturing backorders, brand discontinuations, and increased demand after an FDA label change—has women scrambling to find stock, facing higher costs, and switching brands or delivery methods, while doctors urge patients not to ration and to consider alternative estrogen options when needed.
Demand for estrogen patches has surged after the FDA removed the boxed warning on hormone replacement therapy, outpacing supply and causing backorders and shortages. Clinics report long waitlists and patients must often switch brands or formulations, even though patches remain a preferred, lower-risk option due to insurance coverage and reduced clot risk.
A large analysis of the CARDIA study followed more than 5,000 adults for up to 30 years and found that men develop cardiovascular disease about seven years earlier than women, with the biggest gap in coronary heart disease (roughly a decade earlier). Stroke and heart failure occur at similar ages between sexes. The gap persists even after adjusting for common risk factors, suggesting additional biological or social factors may contribute. The findings support earlier heart-health screening for men in their 30s while recognizing that women's risk remains high, especially after menopause, and the study has limitations inherent to observational research.
In a candid interview, Halle Berry discusses aging with pride, her menopause‑care platform Respin, and why she’s choosing midlife storylines for onscreen roles like the thriller Crime 101. She reflects on a decades‑long career, notes how Oscar success didn’t erase stereotyping of Black actresses, and details her personal journey of healing and empowerment. Berry also recounts publicly challenging Gavin Newsom over vetoed menopause legislation, signaling she won’t stay quiet about women’s health and political leadership, while outlining future projects and a desire to keep telling nuanced stories about women in midlife.
A rising menopause tech market is drawing investment in wearables, apps and temperature-check devices like MyCelsius to help manage symptoms, signaling stigma reduction; however experts urge caution about hype and stress the need for solid, independently tested evidence.
A 2,000-woman UK survey finds nearly two in three over-50s struggle with mental health amid menopause, relationship changes and aging, with brain fog, sleep problems and anxiety common; many hide their struggles to avoid burdening others, reflecting a “stiff upper lip” culture. The BACP launches a campaign to encourage therapy and address midlife wellbeing.
Elaine Gracey has waited since 2022 for a hormonal coil to ease heavy, painful periods, a sign of Northern Ireland’s record-long gynaecology waiting lists. The Department of Health says steps and extra funding are being used to reduce delays and expand capacity, but many women still face years-long waits and some turn to private care. The story also underscores broader menopause care challenges and ongoing efforts to streamline pathways across trusts in NI.
A Cambridge-led study using UK Biobank data links menopause to reduced grey-matter volume in key brain regions (hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, anterior cingulate) and to higher anxiety, depression, and sleep problems. Hormone replacement therapy does not prevent these brain or mood changes, though it may slow the decline in reaction times; memory tasks showed no major deficits. Postmenopausal women also reported more sleep issues and greater tiredness, and those on HRT had similar sleep duration but felt more fatigued. The findings raise questions about dementia risk given the regions affected and suggest the benefits of healthy lifestyle during menopause.
A large UK study of about 125,000 women, including 11,000 MRI scans, found menopause is linked to brain changes similar to those seen in Alzheimer’s disease, with loss of grey matter in memory and emotion regions. Hormone replacement therapy did not prevent these changes, which may help explain why women have a higher dementia risk, though causality isn’t proven. The study highlights the need for long-term tracking of brain changes and attention to mental health during menopause, alongside lifestyle factors that may mitigate risk.
Naomi Watts laments that menopause has long been played for jokes in cinema and campaigns for more realistic, empowering midlife stories in Hollywood. She recounts her own perimenopause experience, notes her menopause-focused ventures (including a brand and a forthcoming book), and points to growing but still sparse representation in TV and film, urging creators to move beyond stigma and stereotypes.
During perimenopause and menopause, hormonal changes can trigger acne in midlife—often on the chin and jawline—even for women who’ve been clear for years. Treatments are typically hormonal (spironolactone, birth control, or hormone therapy) plus topical retinoids or antibiotics, with isotretinoin for more severe cases. Lifestyle steps like adequate sleep, stress management, non-comedogenic skincare, and proper cleansing help; if OTC products fail after about two months, see a dermatologist. Acne often improves after menopause, though evidence on GLP-1 medications and acne remains inconclusive.