Use the links below to browse our complete library of articles on menopause and perimenopause.

An introduction to perimenopause, menopause and menopausal symptoms, by Dixie Mills, MD. Here is an introduction to menopause and perimenopause, some quick definitions, and links to articles in this section.

Ending the confusion about menopause, by Dixie Mills, MD. There’s a great deal of confusion and concern among women about the most basic aspects of menopause — and what will happen to them during it. But it’s not to be dreaded or feared. Here’s an overview of what is happening and how to make menopause a wonderful transition to the way you want your life to be.

Ready to get natural relief for your menopause symptoms?, reviewed by Dixie Mills, MD.. Dr. Mills explains how understanding the one underlying cause of your menopause symptoms can help you find lasting relief — for all your symptoms!

The top 10 menopause myths. Women hear so many stories about menopause, it’s hard to tell truth from fiction. In this Top 10 list, we highlight some common menopause myths and give you the real story.

Perimenopause — the beginning of hormonal change, by Marcy Holmes, NP, Certified Menopause Clinician. Most women are surprised to learn how early perimenopause can start — and how many symptoms it causes. Learn more about the physiological changes going on in your body.

Phytotherapy — the key to hormonal balance? by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP. Using plants for medicinal purposes is an age-old practice that we are gaining a better understanding of today. Read about how phytotherapy is a safe and effective way to gently restore hormonal balance.

Perimenopause and weight gain — causes and solutions, by Marcy Holmes, NP, Certified Menopause Clinician. The answer to the perennial question — “Why am I gaining this weight?" — lies in the links between weight and hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause. When you understand them it’s much easier to achieve and maintain your ideal, healthy weight.

Relief tips for the top 5 symptoms of menopause, by Dixie Mills, MD. See our slideshow for helpful tips you can try today to ease fatigue, weight gain, hot flashes, low libido, and hair loss.

Is it menopause - or an adrenal imbalance? Many women who consider joining Women to Women’s Personal Program come to us with an important dilemma: which Program should they join? Many of them have menopause symptoms and symptoms of adrenal imbalance.

Early menopause — feeling good and finding your way, by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP. . Women who experience menopause before they’re expecting it may feel surprised and dismayed — and unprepared for the symptoms and changes in their bodies. Women to Women offers advice on coping with early menopause.

Talking to your doctor about menopause, by Dixie Mills, MD. Get the help you want and deserve from your doctor at this important time in your life. Here’s advice and background information on how to schedule, prepare for, set the overall tone, and guide a positive interaction with your healthcare provider in perimenopause and menopause.

Menopause and you — information for your doctor, by Dixie Mills, MD. When you visit your practitioner with concerns about menopause, here are a number of health questions you may be asked.

Is your lifestyle setting you up for severe menopause symptoms? Answer six quick questions to see how diet, exercise routine, sleep patterns and more could be increasing your risk.

The "bitch factor" - irritability in perimenopause , by Dixie Mills, MD. If you have ever found yourself snapping at your partner or kids, this article’s for you! Menopausal women are stereotypically portrayed as being permanently in a bad mood, but there are very real reasons that this scenario plays out — and you don’t have to go through life cranky all the time. Dr. Dixie Mills explains.

Talking with your partner about menopause, by Dixie Mills, MD. Menopause can be stressful not only for women, but also for their partners, who may not understand clearly what is going on. Women to Women offers suggestions on how to talk to your partner about menopause in a way that strengthens your relationship.

Soy: a natural solution in menopause. We’ve called soy a “menopause superfood” because of its effectiveness in reducing menopause symptoms. Learn about the health benefits of soy in menopause and for overall well-being.

Your checklist for post-menopause symptom relief, by Dixie Mills, MD. We all know that menopause means periods stop, but what else happens to women’s health after the change? Dr. Dixie Mills outlines your post-menopause health checklist so you can maintain a vibrant, healthy life.

Estrogen dominance — is it real? by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP. Dr. John Lee argued that perimenopause symptoms are caused not by a lack of estrogen but a lack of progesterone. This simplistic idea has led many to claim that progesterone alone will remedy the symptoms of perimenopause. We sort out the truth from the fiction.

Good news about sex and menopause — the pleasure has just begun, by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP. Women to Women’s Marcelle Pick talks with the clinic’s co-founder Dr. Christiane Northrup about what menopause means for women’s sexual selves and secret pleasures.

Hot flashes and night sweats — causes and natural solutions, by Marcy Holmes, NP, Certified Menopause Clinician. Hot flashes and night sweats are the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause we hear about the most. Learn more about the possible causes and our natural solutions.

Food matters — hot flashes and nutrition. At Women to Women, we’ve seen that a healthy diet is one of the best ways to relieve symptoms of hormonal imbalance in women, including hot flashes. Learn more in our article on hot flashes and nutrition.

Rekindling desire — the soul of your libido, by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP. Rekindling desire in perimenopause and menopause means redefining cultural stereotypes, reclaiming your sexual identity, cultivating intimacy, and learning to truly love yourself so that you can love sex again.

Vaginal dryness — you have options, by Marcy Holmes, NP, Certified Menopause Clinician. Vaginal dryness is experienced by so many more women than is generally realized, whether in perimenopause, menopause, or at other times of hormonal change. But you can resolve this uncomfortable, at times embarassing problem by uncovering its root causes and exploring the natural treatment options that work best for you.

FSH/menopause tests — what they can and cannot do, by Dixie Mills, MD. We’re often asked about menopause test kits — those home hormone tests of FSH levels that promise to prove whether or not you’re in menopause. Unfortunately, that isn’t what they do.

Antidepressants for menopause symptoms: pros and cons, by Dixie Mills, MD, FACS. Off-label use of antidepressants to treat symptoms of menopause is an option many doctors are suggesting to women today, and drug companies are now designing antidepressants to specifically target the menopausal woman. But research is calling their safety and their efficacy into serious question. Here’s a look at some concerns we have about antidepressants use, along with a safe natural approach you may want to consider before filling that prescription!

Birth control pills in perimenopause, by Marcy Holmes, NP, Certified Menopause Clinician. Whether you have been on birth control pills for many years or just a few and are now in perimenopause, or your doctor is now suggesting BCP’s for symptom management, there are things you should know about taking hormonal birth control during this stage of your life — and about other birth control options that are available.

Post-menopause — what happens after the change? by Dixie Mills, MD FACS. Being post-menopausal means different things to different women. Here is Dr. Dixie Mills’s perspective on what it means to be post-menopausal, and how to discover the joys of this stage in life.

Post-menopausal bleeding — what does it mean? by Marcy Holmes, NP Certified Menopause Clinician. Up to 30% of women experience a spotting or bleeding event after they’ve officially entered menopause. While this rarely signifies serious medical concern, it always warrants a closer look. Here’s why, what to expect from your evaluation, and how you can decrease the likelihood for this occurrence.

What I love about menopause, by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP. Women to Women sometimes feels like an island surrounded by a sea of negative thinking — especially when it comes to menopause. The truth is you can feel and look better than you ever imagined, even if your symptoms right now are terrible. Here’s how.

If Mama’s not happy, nobody’s happy, by Dixie Mills, MD, FACS. Women sometimes don’t know how to connect and communicate with their teens about the menopause symptoms they experience. Women to Women offers advice on talking with your children about menopause.

A look at menopause across cultures, by Dixie Mills, MD, FACS. Why do the women of some cultures experience significant problems in menopause, while others barely have (or need) language for such symptoms? Here’s a cross-cultural look at the menopausal experience, some theories on the true “purpose” of menopause, and insight into how expectations can mold our realities.

Empty nest syndrome — redefining yourself once the kids are grown, by Dixie Mills, MD, FACS. When your children leave home for good, your role as a mother becomes redefined. Dixie Mills, MD, shares her experiences with empty nest syndrome and offers tips on how to cope with this change.

FAQ’s on menopause, perimenopause, and post-menopause. We hear so many interesting questions from women about menopause that we’ve essentially geared our website toward answering as many of these as possible. But there are always more! Here are a few answers to those we hear frequently.

Menopause Videos, watch Marcelle Pick, OBGYN NP, discuss menopause symptoms, hormonal imbalance, and our approach to natural, lasting relief.

 

Last Date Modified: 05/19/2011