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Hot Flashes: What You Need to Know
Nearly all women get hot flashes during menopause. Is there anything you can do about them? Experts in the Sutter Health network weigh in.
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The Latest Word on Hormone Therapy
Our experts discuss updated safety information and new formulations that might give you relief.
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Menopause Mood Swings
Your dramatic mood swings in menopause are real, and likely due to hormonal fluctuations. Learn what to do about them.
Ask an Expert
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
I'm a 54-year-old African-American woman (menopausal) who is experiencing facial discoloration, especially around my mouth and chin. My complexion is normally brown/caramel. Since menopause I have light patches of skin in this area. What can I do?
It is not unusual for women to develop skin color changes around menopause. The skin is sensitive to hormone changes of the body at this time of life, in a similar way that the skin changes during pregnancy or ... continue reading about I'm a 54-year-old African-American woman (menopausal) who is experiencing facial discoloration, especially around my mouth and chin. My complexion is normally brown/caramel. Since menopause I have light patches of skin in this area. What can I do?
Risa Kagan, M.D., FACOG
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Summit Campus
I'm 63 and have had hot flashes for the last 20 years. I still have all my 'parts' and don't take hormones. I suffer from severe depression and take anti-depressants. Is there anything I can do? Can this be thyroid related? Should I move to Alaska?
It is unusual for hot flashes to persist with this severity for 20 years. Older women can still have them but they usually get less intense. Many anti-depressants are being used as an alternative to estrogen fo... continue reading about I'm 63 and have had hot flashes for the last 20 years. I still have all my 'parts' and don't take hormones. I suffer from severe depression and take anti-depressants. Is there anything I can do? Can this be thyroid related? Should I move to Alaska?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
I had surgery to have my uterus taken out because of a large fibroid. I don't have periods anymore, and have not had any since my surgery in 2011. How will I know when I am actually in menopause? I turned 50 in May.
The experience of going through menopause is extremely variable. Some women breeze through it with little or no troubling symptoms, others are made miserable by hot flashes, sleep disturbance, heavy menstrual p... continue reading about I had surgery to have my uterus taken out because of a large fibroid. I don't have periods anymore, and have not had any since my surgery in 2011. How will I know when I am actually in menopause? I turned 50 in May.
Susan Maayah, M.D.
Mills-Peninsula Medical Center
Is vertigo tied to menopause? Also, I'm taking 1000 mcg of biotin for my hair and nails and noticing that I have more intense hot flashes. Does biotin increase hot flashes?
Menopause can cause exacerbation of different symptoms for different women. Though there is no direct medical connection with vertigo and menopause, it is possible that there is some effect of hormonal fluctuat... continue reading about Is vertigo tied to menopause? Also, I'm taking 1000 mcg of biotin for my hair and nails and noticing that I have more intense hot flashes. Does biotin increase hot flashes?
Susan Maayah, M.D.
Mills-Peninsula Medical Center
Since I went through menopause, I am getting more UTIs. Is this normal? Why does it happen?
Frequent urinary tract infections (UTI) after menopause are common due to lack of the estrogen hormone which keeps the vaginal and periurethral tissues healthy and able to withstand most bacteria that enters in... continue reading about Since I went through menopause, I am getting more UTIs. Is this normal? Why does it happen?
Deborah Quinn-Chen, M.D.
Mills-Peninsula Medical Center
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?
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?
Wesley S. Hilger, M.D., FACOG
Sutter Independent Physicians
Does menopause cause increased urinary tract infections? It seems like I'm getting more of them now that I'm older.
Women are most at risk for urinary tract infections after menopause because of the changes in hormones that occur after menopause. The tissues of the vagina and outer urethra are affected by the lack of estroge... continue reading about Does menopause cause increased urinary tract infections? It seems like I'm getting more of them now that I'm older.
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
I've always been very regular, but now in menopause I'm constipated. I eat whole grains, fruits and vegetables, drink a lot of water. I'm normal weight and I exercise. I eat prunes and take Benefiber, but I still have small movements with lots of gas.
Constipation is a condition (not a disease) where a person passes small amounts of hard, dry stool, usually fewer than three times a week. The person may also have a feeling of incomplete elimination of stool. ... continue reading about I've always been very regular, but now in menopause I'm constipated. I eat whole grains, fruits and vegetables, drink a lot of water. I'm normal weight and I exercise. I eat prunes and take Benefiber, but I still have small movements with lots of gas.
Susan Maayah, M.D.
Mills-Peninsula Medical Center
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?
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?
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