progesterone

Menopause

Menopause is the time in a woman's life when menstrual periods permanently stop, also called the "change of life." Menopause symptoms and signs include hot flashes, night sweats, irregular vaginal bleeding, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, urinary incontinence, weight gain, and emotional symptoms such as mood swings. Treatment of menopausal symptoms varies and should be discussed with your physician.

Sex and Menopause

Perimenopause

Perimenopause is the time in a woman's life when she is approaching menopause. During this time a woman starts to develop symptoms of declining estrogen levels that may include mood swings, painful sex, night sweats, hot flashes, and weight gain. Every adult woman eventually will experience perimenopause.

Menstrual Cramps

Menstrual cramps (pain in the belly and pelvic area) are experienced by women as a result of menses. Menstrual cramps are not the same as premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Menstrual cramps are common, and may be accompanied by headache, nausea, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea. Severity of menstrual cramp pain varies from woman to woman. Treatment includes OTC or prescription pain relief medication.

Does Sex Drive Return After Menopause?

Menopause is defined as when you haven't had your periods for 12 consecutive months. You should accept the fact that it is normal to experience changes in sexual desire after menopause.

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is an invasive tumor that develops in the mammary gland. Breast cancer is detected via mammograms, breast self-examination (BSE), biopsy, and specialized testing on breast cancer tissue. Treatment of breast cancer may involve surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. Breast cancer risk may be lowered by managing controllable risk factors. What you should know about breast cancer Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women. One in every eight women in the United States develops breast cancer. There are many types of breast cancer that differ in their capability of spreading (metastasize) to other body tissues. The causes of breast cancer are unknown, although medical professionals have identified a number of risk factors. There are 11 common types of breast cancer and 4 uncommon types of breast cancer. Breast cancer early signs and symptoms include a lump in the breast or armpit, bloody nipple discharge, inverted nipple, orange-peel texture or dimpling of the breast's skin (peau d'orange), breast pain or sore nipple, swollen lymph nodes in the neck or armpit, and a change in the size or shape of the breast or nipple. Breast cancer can also be symptom free, which makes following national screening recommendations an important practice. Breast cancer is diagnosed during a physical exam, by a self-exam of the breasts, mammography, ultrasound testing, and biopsy. Treatment of breast cancer depends on the type of cancer and its stage (0-IV) and may involve surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy.

What Are the 40 Symptoms of Menopause?

Menopause is the end of the reproductive era of a woman's life that is characterized by drastic changes in her emotional and physical aspects. Studies have identified around 40 signs and symptoms of menopause, but not every woman gets all of them.

Premature Menopause

Premature menopause is when menopause occurs in a woman before the age of 40. Causes of premature menopause include premature ovarian failure, treatments for cancer and other conditions, surgical removal of the ovaries, chronic diseases of the pituitary or thyroid gland, or psychiatric disorders. Treatment is directed at menopausal symptoms.

Male Menopause

Male menopause refers to the decline in testosterone production in men. As men age, they often experience many of the same symptoms that women experience in menopause. Testosterone replacement therapy may relieve some of these symptoms.

Will Joint Pain From Menopause Go Away?

Whether joint pain from menopause will go away depends on whether the joint pain is purely due to hormonal changes seen in menopause or due to other associated factors.

Sex and Menopause

Menopause is often associated with a change in sexual functioning. Loss of estrogen, bladder control issues, anxiety, stress, health concerns, medications, and sleep disturbances often result in a decrease in libido. Though there are currently no good drugs for treating sexual problems in women, there are ways to increase intimacy with a partner and treat vaginal dryness.

What Are the Signs of Male Menopause?

Andropause is a term that refers to the symptoms and signs that men get when going through male menopause.

How Does a Man Deal With Menopause?

Many men do not fully understand menopause or feel comfortable talking about it. Learn about five ways men can help their partners deal with menopause.

15 Things Women Should Know About Menopause

Menopause is a phase in a woman's life that challenges her physically and emotionally. Many women deal with menopause without any medical treatments, whereas some women with severe symptoms require therapies.

Why Is Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Common?

Most postmenopausal women are diagnosed with breast cancer due to weakening immune systems and the cumulative amount of exposure to estrogen over the years.

What Are the Symptoms of Low Progesterone?

Low progesterone can have different effects on women, depending on whether they are pregnant or not. Learn about symptoms and causes.

Sexual Side Effects of Menopause

Menopause marks the end of the reproductive era in a woman's life. Some women view it positively as periods no longer trouble them and there is no chance of getting pregnant even with unprotected sex. However, as estrogen and testosterone levels take a plunge during menopause, some women experience the sexual side effects of menopause.

Can Early Menopause Cause Breast Cancer?

Early menopause does not cause breast cancer. An increasing age, and not menopause, can increase your breast cancer risk.

How to Manage Menopause Symptoms After Breast Cancer

Breast cancer treatment can cause menopausal symptoms due to the way certain therapies affect the ovaries. Learn about how you can find relief.

Does Menopause Make You More Sensitive to Pain?

Menopause can make you more sensitive to pain due to hormonal fluctuations, especially changes in estrogen levels. Here are 12 ways to manage pain during menopause.

What Menopause Does to Your Brain

Menopause is a time when you transition from one phase of your life to the next. This change will happen physically as well as mentally. In fact, your brain will undergo significant changes throughout the process of menopause.

What Are the Signs of Starting Menopause?

Learn the five signs that may indicate a woman is starting menopause.