Menoguides

Mental health

Our Holiday Gift Guide: 9 Menopause Gifts She’ll Actually Love

Scented candles are cute, but you know what’s better? Gifts that actually make her life easier while making...

Sex vaginal health

Perimenopause and Your Sex Drive: What’s Really Going On

Two beauty products held by hands with 'wisp' and 'Stripes Beauty' branding on a pink background.

Skin

Stripes + Wisp: A Menopause Care Dream Team

Three latina women posing together with a gray background

Skin

Latina Women and Menopause: Breaking the Silence and Finding Relief

female holding a card with a question mark on it in front her underwear

Hormones

Vaginal Dryness Natural Remedies: Simple Solutions for Lasting Relief

Photo of Uterus with text on top written Hormone balance and Estrogen on the left and progresterone on the right, and also including Ovulation a the bottom

Hormones

Can Progesterone Cause Weight Gain During Perimenopause and Menopause?

Menopause 101

Menopause and Sex Hormones

Menopause 101

Menopause and Sex Hormones

What are the hormones that are taking a roller coaster ride in your body? And how do they affect you during menopause?

What Is Induced Menopause?

Menopause is a part of all of our lives — but for some, medical treatments can make it come early.

Menopause

How to Talk to Your Gyno About Menopause

Here are some tips on how to talk to your gynecologist to get the most out of your appointment so you come away feeling...

Menopause

Am I Going Through Early Menopause?

Early menopause — sometimes called ovarian insufficiency — typically happens between ages 40 and 45 (compared to premature menopause, which happens before age 40).

Understanding the process can take the anxiety out of menopause can help you take charge of your body as you approach your reproductive system’s second act. Photo credit: Pexels

Perimenopause

Symptom Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Perimenopause

Understanding the entire menopause process can take the anxiety out of the experience and help you take charge of your body.

Heart health

HRT and Heart Health: Everything You Need to Know

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), a common treatment for the symptoms of menopause may offer some protection and even lower your risk against developing heart disease.

In the last two decades there’s been a lot of confusion about HRT, scaring off patients and their health care providers. Image/CreativeCommons

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): An Intro Guide

We're finally getting helpful research about HRT and its effect on menopause symptoms. Here's information to get you started.

Menopause

Top 5 Myths About Menopause

You'll never want to have sex again. You’ll be old and useless. It’s time to bust the myths and the record straight on what menopause is...

Menopause

Everything You Need to Know About Menopause

Since we never learned about it in health class, here’s a quick primer about what to expect when you’re expecting menopause.

Sex & Vaginal Health

What Are the Best Alternatives to Lube? (Spoiler: Not What’s in Your Pantry)

We get it. You’re in the moment, things are heating up, and then…dryness. So you think, “Coconut oil!”...

Perimenopause and Your Sex Drive: What’s Really Going On

Let’s be real: perimenopause comes with a lot of plot twists. Hot flashes in the middle of board...

Two people lying under a blanket on a couch, smiling.

Sex After Menopause: The Surprising Benefits No One Told You About

If you’ve been led to believe that menopause marks the end of your sex life, we’ve got good...

Sex After 50 — No More Apologies, Just More Pleasure

Turning 50 can feel like shedding a skin. You’ve lived. You’ve learned. And now? You get to love...

Sex After 60 — Why the Best Is Yet to Come

Let’s get one thing straight: just because you’ve hit your 60s doesn’t mean your sex life is over....

Women’s Sex Drive After 40 — Yes, It’s Still Very Much a Thing

Let’s bust a myth real quick: hitting your 40s doesn’t mean your sex drive disappears. In fact, for...

Women holding a pelvis because of menopause pain during intercource

Painful Intercourse: What’s Going On and What Can Help

If sex has become uncomfortable or even painful during perimenopause or after menopause, you’re far from alone. While...

10 Valentine’s Day Sex Tips | Stripes Beauty

Valentine’s Day, Valentine’s Day sex

10 Tips to Have Your Best, Most Confident Valentine’s Day Sex Ever

Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to celebrate intimacy, connection, and pleasure. But if you’re navigating perimenopause or...

How To Choose The Best Sex Toys In Midlife

Much like your favorite band, your favorite food, or your favorite Sex and the City, your favorite sex...

relationships

How to Feel Sexy at 40, 50 and Beyond

When your body and life are changing, it can take a toll on your sexual confidence. Here's how to start feeling sexier now.

I’m Over 40. What Kind of Lube Should I Be Using? - Stripes Beauty

Vaginal health

I’m Over 40. What's the best Lube for Vaginal Dryness?

Picking the right lube can feel complicated — especially if you're experiencing vaginal dryness. But it doesn't have to be.

Ask a Doctor

Ask A Doctor: Why Do I Keep Getting UTIs?

Dr. Lizellen LaFollette briefs us on why UTIs can get more frequent as we age — and what we can do about it.

Ask a Doctor

Ask A Doctor: What Can I Do About Painful Sex?

Why can sex get painful during menopause? Board-certified OB-GYN Lizellen LaFollette weighs in in this edition of "Ask A Doctor."

relationships, Sexual Health

Menopause & Sex: A Valentine’s Day Cheat Sheet

Get fully prepared for your favorite V-Day activities with our guide to your biggest sex questions, from lubrication to communication.

Ask a Doctor

Ask A Doctor: How Does Birth Control Affect Your Perimenopause?

Can the type of birth control you use impact your perimenopause and menopause symptoms? Board-certified OB-GYN Lizellen LaFollette weighs in.

Sexual Health

Why Am I So Horny in Perimenopause?

Libido during perimenopause is complex! If you're wondering why you're feeling extra, um, enlivened in your 40s, we have answers.

Sexual Health

Lube + Vaginal Moisturizer = Your Sexual Wellness BFFs

Let’s talk about sex, baby — specifically, let’s talk about painful sex, and how to make it feel better.

Sexual Health

How to Update Your Sex Toy Collection in Midlife

Replenishing your sex toy supply — or investing in some for the first time? Here's how to give it an update.

Mood Changes

How to Keep Menopause Mood Swings From Ruining Your Relationships

Here's one statement that rings true for many of us – our partners just don't understand how menopause feels.

Sexual Health

Menopause and Sex: How to Keep Things Sexy With Your Partner

Has your sex life lost its buzz? Here are a few expert-backed tips to get through this uncharted territory together.

Sexual Health

Sex During (And After Menopause): How to Ask for What You Want Now

As your hormones change and your sex needs follow suit, it's important to know how to ask for what you want from your partner or...

Hormones

Why Am I Getting Hot Flashes After Eating?

Ever sit down for a nice meal and bam — you’re sweating like you just finished a spin...

Your bones

Menopause and Joint Pain — Why Your Knees Hurt and What to Do

Menopause comes with plenty of surprises. Some are expected (hello, hot flashes), and others… less advertised. One of...

Woman wearing a pink sweater with pearl buttons, standing indoors.

Menopause and Itchy Breasts — What’s Going On and What to Do About It

Let’s be honest: menopause throws some wild curveballs, but one that doesn’t get nearly enough airtime? Itchy breasts....

What Causes Vaginal Dryness in Perimenopause and Menopause? And How to Feel Better

Let’s be honest: vaginal dryness isn’t exactly a hot topic over brunch. But it should be. And if...

close-up of wrinkled skin mature woman's neck and face

Crepey Neck: What It Is and How to Treat It

If you've ever looked in the mirror and noticed that the skin on your neck looks a bit...

A women in panties from the wait down to her end showing two paper sign saying Help on the left and a sad emoji on he right sign.

10 Signs Perimenopause is Ending — and What Comes Next

Perimenopause can feel like a storm of unpredictable symptoms — hot flashes, mood swings, weird periods — you...

Can Progesterone Cause Weight Gain During Perimenopause and Menopause?

Of the many questions and concerns that come up surrounding menopause, weight gain is probably the biggest. More...

Hand with blue plastics gloves in from of a women inher underwera holding two PH testing sticks for PH balance tests.

Symptoms of Unbalanced pH Levels: What You Need to Know

Your vaginal pH level is super important for vaginal health overall, and it may begin changing during perimenopause...

natural remedies for vaginal dryness, Vaginal dryness natural remedies

Vaginal Dryness Natural Remedies: Simple Solutions for Lasting Relief

Let’s talk about something that doesn’t get nearly enough attention: vaginal dryness. It’s super common, especially during perimenopause...

Can Acupuncture Relieve Menopause Symptoms?

Can acupuncture help with hot flashes, night sweats, and other disruptive symptoms?

Your Skin

Ask A Doctor: Am I Exfoliating Too Much?

In each installment of Ask a Doctor, your burning questions about hormones, menopause symptoms, sleep, sex, and more are answered...

Shot of a woman suffering from stomach ache on bed

Your Periods

Ask A Doctor: Why Am I Getting Such Bad Cramps?

If your cramps have been getting worse, you need to read this.

Your Breasts

Best Bras for Perimenopause Breast Pain

Unlike some other symptoms of perimenopause, if your breasts hurt, there’s something you can do about it: Buy a better bra.

Menopause

What I Wish My Mom Told Me About Menopause: A Conversation with Dr. Mary Claire Haver & Katherine Haver

The ultimate guide to mother-daughter menopause conversations, with Dr. Mary Claire Haver, creator of The Galveston Diet, and her daughter, Katherine Haver.

Your Skin

Chemical vs. Mineral Sunscreen: How They Work to Protect Your Skin

If you're confused by all the options out there, check out our guide to finding the perfect sunscreen.

Hot flashes

What is Fezolinetant, the New FDA Approved Drug for Hot Flashes?

Veozah shows promise as a new non-hormonal treatment for preventing hot flashes. But for now, it comes with a hefty price tag.

LGBTQ

Trans and In Menopause? Here's What Experts Want You To Know

Are you trans and in or approaching menopause? Here's how to learn more and plan your menopause care.

Your Skin

Ask a Doctor: OMG, Why is There Hair Growing on My Chin?

Do you have hair showing up in...unexpected places? It's totally normal — and, luckily, removing it is totally easy.

Your Skin

My Skin is More Fragile and Sensitive: Should I Still Wax?

Your skin has changed — does that mean it's time to bid farewell to your favorite form of hair removal?

relationships

We Asked: What Would You Tell Your Daughter About Menopause?

We asked women and people from our Hot Spot community what they'd like their daughters to know to about peri/menopause.

Your Skin

Moisture 101: What is Ectoine? What is Hyaluronic Acid?

We explain the effective, dermatologist-approved, science-backed ingredients that can help your skin look its best.

Your Skin

Ask a Doctor: I Have Sensitive Skin, Should I Use Retinoids?

What do retinoids actually do? And is it okay to use them on dry skin?

patchy eyebrows, thinning eyebrows, Your Skin

Thinning Eyebrows: Causes and What to Do About It

Why do some of us get thinner, sparser brows as we age? And what can we do to grow them back?

Vaginal health

What Is The Vaginal Biome, Anyway? We Explain It

How does your vagina keep itself healthy in menopause? And what can you do when it gets out of balance?

Ask a Doctor

Ask A Doctor: Does Perimenopause Cause Acne, and How Do I Fix it?

You're in midlife...so why are you breaking out like a teenager? And how can you make it stop? Dermatologist Dr. Sarvenaz Zand explains all...

Menopause

What Does It Mean To Freeze Your Eggs — And Find Out You're On The Brink of Early Menopause?

"I thought freezing my eggs was being proactive. Then I found out my ovaries were failing."

Vaginal health

How NOT to Clean Your Vagina: Tips to Keep It Healthy

Is cleaning your vagina ever actually necessary? Dr. Lauren Streicher weighs in on the many (many!) myths about vaginal odor and health.

Ask a Doctor

Ask A Doctor: Does Acupuncture Help With Menopause Symptoms?

Can acupuncture help with menopause symptoms? Board-certified OB-GYN Suzanne Fenske weighs in in this edition of "Ask A Doctor."

Being proactive about dry winter skin can go a long way to help with chapped cheeks and peeling chins. (Karolina Grabowska/Pexels)

Your Skin

Ow! 5 Ways to Hydrate Dry Winter Skin

Feeling like a flake? Board-certified dermatologist Sarv Zand offers these tips for peeling chins and irritated cheeks.

Your Breasts

“I Had Breast Cancer and Went Through Menopause Twice”

After a double mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation, Hollye Jacobs was declared cancer free. She was catapulted into menopause–twice.

Your Skin

Stressed Skin: Tips to Stay Calm and Glowing

Whether your skin concerns stem from hormones, stress, or a combination of both, it’s absolutely possible to restore your glow and your confidence. Here’s...

Heart health

These Lifestyle Tweaks Can Slash Heart Disease Risk During Menopause

Menopause does not directly cause heart disease, but as estrogen levels plummet, some people develop high blood pressure or high cholesterol as a result.

Everything You Need to Know About Menopause and Body Odor - Stripes Beauty

Your Skin

Is There a Relationship Between Menopause and Body Odor?

What the funk is going on with changing body odor during midlife and menopause? We pulled up our sleeves and found out.

LGBTQ

Queer and Going Through Menopause? How to Advocate for Yourself

The lack of conversation around menopause affects us all. But what if you have to deal with systemic health inequities at the same time?

Mental health

How Racial Disparities Affect How Women of Color Experience Menopause

Here’s what you need to know about how race can influence this significant midlife transition.

Sexual Health

Endometriosis and Menopause: What You Need to Know

Along with fertility problems, people with endometriosis may experience early menopause. Here’s what you need to know.

Sexual Health

Will My Hysterectomy Throw Me Into Menopause?

The relationship between hysterectomies and menopause is complicated. Here’s what you need to ask your doctor.

About 75 percent of all women in the menopause transition have these sudden, brief, periodic (and often intense!) increases in their body temperature. (Pixabay/Pexels)

Hot flashes

6 Hot Flash Triggers to Watch Out For

These sweat-inducing bursts of warmth arrive without warning, making it nearly impossible to focus or perform daily tasks.

Nutrition & Fitness

8 Foods That Fight Hot Flashes so You Can Keep Your Cool

Let’s talk about hot flashes — the unexpected inner infernos that show up uninvited, whether you’re mid-meeting or...

Young woman smiles while eating yogurt from a single serving container at home

The 10 Best Foods for Vaginal Health (That Taste Great, Too)

If you’ve ever cured a yeast infection by eating yogurt, you know all too well that certain foods...

Healthy eating and dieting: woman planning a healthy low carb diet

12 Foods That Help Balance Hormones in Women

Hormones control everything from your mood and energy levels to metabolism and reproductive health. When they’re balanced, you...

Exercise

Here's The Best Way To Cool Down After A Workout

Cooling-down after a workout is even more important for people in menopause. Here's how to tweak your routine for right now.

Mental health

What Does Weight Loss Mean To You in Midlife?

Many of us have spent our entire adult lives on one diet or another. But when we try to lose weight, what are we...

Exercise

Skipping The Gym? How To Find Exercise You Actually Like

So you'd rather go into Witness Protection than take another Pilates class. The issue isn't willpower — it's that you haven't found the right exercise for...

Mental health

How to Actually Make Changes (Not New Year's Resolutions)

If you're tired of New Year's resolutions that always seem to fall apart by February, use these expert tips to make real, lasting change.

No hangover required: Holiday mocktails make everything more festive (Photo credit: Denys Gromov)

recipes

Cheers! 4 Divine Recipes for Holiday Mocktails

Whether you want to avoid the hangover this year or are sober-curious, these recipes offer celebration without the inebriation.

Fiber helps your gut bacteria perform important functions that in turn may improve your health, especially as you inch toward your middle and menopause years. (SheEats/Pexels)

Nutrition

This F-Word Can Help Your Menopause (It’s Fiber)

An apple a day may not keep the hot flashes away, but fiber-rich foods may keep severe menopause symptoms at bay.

Exercise

How Should I Look at Fitness During Menopause?

Want to move your body more but don’t know where to begin? We’ve got you covered.

A few moves (and some deep breaths) can go a long way to cooling down your nerves and strengthening your body. (Anastasia Shuraeva/Pexels)

Exercise

Yoga for Menopause: 4 Yoga Poses You Have to Try

A few moves (and deep breaths) can go a long way to cooling down your nerves and strengthening your body.

Keeping your blood sugar stable can majorly benefit your well-being during menopause.

Nutrition

Menopause and Blood Sugar: What You Need to Know

Feeling shaky, irritable, or downright hangry? Keeping your blood sugar stable can majorly benefit your well-being during menopause (or anytime).

Sleep

insomnia, Menopause

What You Need To Know About Women and Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Most of us think of sleep apnea as something that only affects men — but women get sleep apnea, too.

Ask a Doctor

Ask A Doctor: Are Over the Counter Sleeping Pills Safe?

Are over the counter sleeping pills safer than the prescription kind? Dr. Fiona Barwick gives us serious pillow talk.

insomnia

How Do I Stop Waking Up in the Middle of the Night?

Here's why you keep waking up at 3 a.m. — and what can do to stop it.

insomnia, relationships

This Is How Sleeping In Separate Beds Saved My Marriage

I didn't want to get a "sleep divorce" from my husband...until I realized that sleeping apart could save us from getting a real divorce.

Sleep

How to Get Ready for Bed (Menopause Edition)

If you've been struggling with getting a good night's sleep, it's time to start from scratch.

Keeping a cool bedroom rather than a warm one is better for people who toss, turn, and wake up sweating in the night. But both have to agree that it works for them. (Kampus Productions/Pexels)

Hot flashes

You're Hot, He's Cold: Tips on How to Share a Bed During Menopause

You're hot, he's cold. Menopause, night sweats, and insomnia can turn your bed into battleground.

insomnia

3 Top Tips for Dealing with Insomnia During Menopause

It’s 4 a.m. Do you know where your sanity is? Welcome to the frustrating world of menopause and insomnia.

podcasts

5 Best Podcasts to Fall Asleep To — We’re Talking Boring in the Best Way

Can't sleep? Ditch the true-crime podcasts! Drift off with these perfectly peaceful listens for a restful night's sleep.

Skin

Your Breasts

Medical Menopause and Breast Cancer: What You Need to Know

When most of us think of menopause, we picture a natural life stage that arrives gradually as the...

Stripes + Wisp: A Menopause Care Dream Team

Let’s be real: menopause symptoms don’t come with an instruction manual. Some days it’s hot flashes that feel...

Latina Women and Menopause: Breaking the Silence and Finding Relief

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re shining a light on the unique ways Latina women experience menopause...

Women in a living room feeling cold with Cold Flashes sitting on a sofa covering herself with her coat.

Cold Flashes: What They Are and Why They Happen (Especially During Menopause)

When we think of menopause symptoms, most people immediately think of hot flashes — those sudden, steamy waves...

Dry skin is one of the most common indicators that you’re beginning your transition into menopause. (Ivan Samkov/Pexels)

Your Skin

Symptom Guide: Menopause Dry Skin

It’s oily. It’s dry. You’re red. You’re itchy. Perimenopausal and menopausal skin can be the definition of haywire.

Digestion issues in menopause are a real thing. Photo by Engin Akyurt -

Digestive issues

What Helps With Digestive Problems During Menopause?

Experiencing weird changes to your digestive system during perimenopause and menopause? Here's the poop on how to deal with it.

It may not be possible to stave off the sweats altogether, but your lifestyle can increase — and decrease — the odds you’ll wake up soaked. (Shea Deveraux/Pexels)

Hot flashes

Symptom Guide: Night Sweats During Menopause

Night sweats can make it hard to fall and stay asleep at night, perpetuating a cycle of sleep deprivation, stress, and — you guessed...

Hot flashes

Symptom Guide: Hot Flashes During Menopause

Is it hot in here or is it just us? We're talking about hot flashes, a common symptom of menopause. Here are tips and advice...

Exercise

Muscle & Joint Pain During Menopause: How to Make It Easier

The good news is that there are ways to help and even improve pain caused by a lack of joint lubrication.

Ever pee when you sneeze? Urinary issues are a common indicator that you’re entering or in menopause. Photo credit: Pexels

Vaginal health

Symptom Guide: Menopause and Urinary Issues

Ever pee when you sneeze? Urinary issues are a common indicator that you’re entering or in menopause.

Dryness and thinning of the vaginal tissues is the most common cause of discomfort and painful sex in midlife. Photo credit: Tetyana Kovyrina/Pexels)

Vaginal health

Symptom Guide: Vaginal Atrophy and Dryness During Menopause

So dry, you wanna cry? Though it’s much more common after menopause, dryness and thinning of the vagina is...

(Photo credit: pexels-polina-tankilevitch-5473288

Your Skin

Symptom Guide: Thinning Hair and Brittle Nails During Menopause

There are definitely ways to keep your hair and nails looking better and less dry and brittle. A little care and kindness can go...

Your Periods

Symptom Guide: Irregular Periods During Perimenopause

You may start missing your period here and there, or what the heck, you get two periods a month. What’s the deal? We explain.

Ow! Breast tenderness or soreness can get intense during perimenopause. (Photo credit: Pexels)

Your Breasts

Symptom Guide: Breast Pain During Menopause

The hormone fluctuations that plague us during our menstrual years are the same ones that can cause perimenopausal mayhem: weight gain, fluid retention, and,...