Women

A lot has been said about menopause. There is a seemingly infinite number of books offering advice. Films and TV shows use it as a plot point. Thousands of memoirs, both humorous and serious, investigate this critical transition point in a woman’s life, and it’s a regular topic of conversation in lifestyle columns and magazine articles. In other words, menopause is an undeniable part of our cultural conversation. But what about perimenopause?

Standardized pharmaceuticals transform and save lives every day. Their role is so central in our lives that it is easy to forget just how powerful these medications can be, whether they’re treating a headache, regulating mood, or destroying cancer cells. But despite the tremendous promise of standardized medications, they aren’t right for everyone, particularly when it comes to hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Hormone replacement medications have been prescribed for over 80 years. Since Edward A. Doisy discovered the estrogen hormone in 1929, scientists have developed an array of drugs that supply the body with sex hormones derived from animal and plant sources. These medications can be life-changing for men and women with hormone imbalances as well as those who experience uncomfortable symptoms due to the natural aging process.

“You should get your hormones tested!”

How many times have you heard that comment? We’re often encouraged to look closely at our hormones when we experience symptoms that hint at conditions like hypothyroidism, menopause, or low testosterone. Indeed, fatigue, depression, hair loss, weight gain, weight loss, temperature sensitivity, mood changes, sleep disturbances, and anxiety are all common symptoms of hormonal changes or imbalances. But even if you know that a hormone test might be a good idea, you may not know what it entails—or where to get one.

Over the past several decades, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has become commonplace. The growing popularity of this innovative treatment is driven by a host of factors—the increase in mass media advertising, the discussion of HRT on social media platforms, growing accessibility—but the end result is that ever-increasing numbers of individuals are relying on HRT to mitigate the effects of hormonal change. Among men alone, testosterone replacement therapy prescriptions quadrupled between 2003 and 2013.

Collagen seems to be all the rage these days. People are adding it to their smoothies or making bone broth and drinking it by the gallon. But what is collagen, and why do people seem so enamored with it?

When the topic of organs comes up, many people automatically think about their heart, liver, kidneys, etc—and would be surprised to learn that their skin is actually their largest organ. Skin is made up of seven layers of tissue that protects muscles, bones, ligaments, and internal organs.

Mood swings are some of the least-understood aspects of menopause—and the most misrepresented. While pop culture representations of menopause tend to center specifically on mood, they typically treat menopausal women as a caricature of irrationality and hysteria rather than capturing the variability and complexity of menopause-related mood disturbances. Not only does this trivialize the very real suffering many women experience during this pivotal phase of life, but it may also leave you feeling ashamed and immobilized.

Does your skin care routine involve slathering your skin with oils and creams? If so, that’s not a bad idea. But have you thought about what you can do to really create sustainable, healthy habits that benefit your skin from the inside out?

Probiotics have grown in popularity these days—with very good reason! They are linked to tons of health benefits and are beloved by doctors and wellness enthusiasts alike.