menopause

Perimenopause symptoms can be a drag. Here's when to seek treatment

7:00am May 15, 2025

From headaches and fatigue to hair loss and sleep troubles, the symptoms marking the transition to menopause can overlap with other conditions. Here's what to know and how to get help.

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A healthcare professional wearing blue gloves is drawing blood from a senior patient's arm using a syringe.

Funding cut for landmark study of women's health

4:07pm April 23, 2025

by Rob Stein

The Women's Health Initiative, begun in the 1990s, has made many important discoveries. Now funding to collect more research data will end in September.

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Low-dose estrogen can be taken orally, but it's also now available in patches, gels and creams.

Hormones for menopause are safe, study finds. Here's what changed

6:45pm May 01, 2024

by Allison Aubrey

Women under 60 can benefit from hormone therapy to treat hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause. That's according to a new study, and is a departure from what women were told in the past.

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Books
Arts

One Woman Takes A 'Wayward' Approach To Menopause In This Smart New Novel

2:24pm July 27, 2021

by Maureen Corrigan

Messy and floundering in late midlife, Dana Spiotta's heroine is roiling — along with the rest of the country — amid the 2016 election and the rise of the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements.

Think you're too young for menopause? Women in their 30s can enter perimenopause, the process leading up to menopause. Here's what you need to know about it.

Health & Safety

Menopause Can Start Younger Than You Think: Here's What You Need To Know

12:00pm January 18, 2020

Would you recognize the signs that your body is going through the big hormonal changes that lead to menopause? Here's what to look for — and what you can do about it.

Teri Hines says she had a bout of depression during the lead up to menopause in her mid-40s. For many women, the lead-up to menopause can trigger mood issues.

Health & Safety

As Menopause Nears, Be Aware It Can Trigger Depression And Anxiety, Too

2:52pm January 16, 2020

by Rhitu Chatterjee

Women with a history of depression and anxiety are at a higher risk of having a flare-up during the time leading up to menopause. And getting doctors to take the issue seriously can be challenging.

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Health & Safety

7 Women's Health Topics We Need To Talk About In 2020

3:49pm January 02, 2020

by Emily Vaughn

Shame and taboo have kept many issues affecting women's bodies from getting the attention they deserve. Women are ready to start new conversations about their health.

A new book argues that if couples are willing to think beyond traditional intercourse, they'll find their relationships are more intimate than ever.

Health & Safety

Lubrication And Lots Of Communication: Navigating A New Sexual Life After Menopause

8:10pm May 09, 2019

by Mara Gordon

A new book, Flash Count Diary, celebrates the emotional and creative freedom of postmenopausal intimacy. Author Darcey Steinke is here to say, sex can be better than ever after midlife.

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Vaginal pain and dryness are common symptoms of menopause. Recent research suggests certain types of laser treatment might help with hormones don't.

Despite FDA Caution, Doctors Say Lasers May Help With Vaginal Pain And Dryness

7:05pm August 13, 2018

by Sara Kiley Watson

The FDA recently warned against using lasers for so-called "vaginal rejuvenation" treatments to reshape or tighten the vagina. But one kind of laser treatment might have gotten a bad rap.

Data from four countries suggests a link between starting menstruation by age 11 and earlier menopause.

An Early First Menstrual Period May Lead To Premature Menopause

11:52am January 25, 2017

by Jessica Boddy

Having a first period by age 11 and never having children were both associated with premature menopause, which this study defines as menopause by age 40.