Fluctuation in hormones and metabolism shifts are very common in women in their 40s, which occurs before you are perimenopausal. This is the most likely cause, but I recommend you make an appointment with your ... continue reading  about  I'm 44 and am having a lot of highs and lows with energy, not sleeping well, but without hot flashes or loss of menses. My mother had a hysterectomy at 44, so her experience with menopause was cut short. Is this perimenopause or just hormone fluctuations?

Women commonly believe that after a certain age they cannot conceive because they are too old. That is not entirely true. As a woman ages her fertility declines. A 45-year-old woman is less likely to conceive t... continue reading  about  I am 51 years old. What is my chance of still getting pregnant, and how should I handle birth control as I move through menopause?

Taking progesterone alone as a cream or tablet has not been scientifically established as an effective treatment for migraine headaches. Many women experience migraines with their menstrual cycles, especially w... continue reading  about  Will taking progesterone help prevent a migraine?

Melasma is typically caused in women by exposure to estrogens. For this reason, any hormone replacement you are taking that contains estrogen can contribute, so I would refrain from using estrogens. Also, the h... continue reading  about  I'm 53 and in menopause. Since perimenopause, my melasma has returned. I had it my 30s due to birth control pills. I'm using TriLuma and am fanatical about sunscreen. I'm Asian and dermatologists have told me laser or other procedures might worsen it.

Vaginal yeast infections are caused by overgrowth of fungal organisms, usually the Candida Albicans species. Symptoms are usually itching, burning, and white, cottage-cheese appearing discharge. They are caused... continue reading  about  What's the difference between a yeast infection and bacterial vaginosis?

Pregnancy is very unlikely at this age and stage of minimal ovarian function. Ovulation is so rare and the egg quality is probably so poor that fertilization would not likely result in pregnancy. However, this ... continue reading  about  I'm a women in her 50s who is going through perimenopause. I have only had one menstrual period this year. Is there still a possibility that I could get pregnant?

The clitoris never actually disappears, but it can become smaller over time after the loss of circulating female hormones with menopause. This is part of a normal condition with aging called urogenital atrophy.... continue reading  about  Does the clitoris disappear with age? After 70?

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are very common in women. This is due to the short urethra that leads from the bladder to outside the body and the plethora of bacteria that reside in the surrounding areas inclu... continue reading  about  How do I prevent, or treat, recurring urinary tract infections?

All birth control pills are formulated with a synthetic estrogen and progestin hormone (with the exception of one that has progestin only). Most common side effects of birth control pills occur when you first b... continue reading  about  My physician recently changed my brand of birth control pills. I read reviews that described bad side effects for the new brand. Do all birth control pills have the same ingredients? If so, why would some cause different side effects?