Menoguides
Sex By the Decades: What Really Changes (and What Gets Better)
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.
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...
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).
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.
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.
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.
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...
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
Can Sex Actually Get Better With Age? Real Women Say Yes
No one really tells you how much sex changes with age — not in the way it actually...
Sex By the Decades: What Really Changes (and What Gets Better)
Valentine’s Day tends to sell us a very narrow version of sex: effortless, spontaneous, and permanently frozen in...
How Sex in Marriage Changes — and How to Keep it Fun
Search for “married sex”, and you’ll find no shortage of extremes — from horny escapades to dire warnings...
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...
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...
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 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...
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'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: 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: 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."
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: 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.
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.
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.
The Best Menopause Sex Toys to Add to Your Collection in Midlife
Replenishing your sex toy supply — or investing in some for the first time? Here's how to give it an update.
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.
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.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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?
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...
Ask A Doctor: Why Am I Getting Such Bad Cramps?
If your cramps have been getting worse, you need to read this.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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?
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?
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: 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...
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."
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: 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."
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.
“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.
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...
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
Will My Hysterectomy Throw Me Into Menopause?
The relationship between hysterectomies and menopause is complicated. Here’s what you need to ask your doctor.
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...
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...
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...
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.
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...
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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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: 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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...
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...
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.
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.
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...
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...
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.
Symptom Guide: Menopause and Urinary Issues
Ever pee when you sneeze? Urinary issues are a common indicator that you’re entering or in menopause.
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...
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...
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.
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,...
Symptom Guide: Weight Gain
If you're a child of the 1970s through the 1990s, you've probably been immersed in weight loss culture since you can...
Menopause and Gut Health 101
Got a gut feeling that something has changed with your digestive health since entering into midlife? It's time to pay attention to your digestion.
Symptom Guide: Menopause and Osteoporosis
Even if menopause is far off, your future self will thank you for taking steps to protect your bone health now.
Symptom Guide: Menopausal Acne
What is menopausal acne? Chances are, the same force behind those teenage zits is to blame for most cases of perimenopausal acne.
Mind & Mood
Tamsen Fadal’s Holiday Gift Guide: 15 Gifts She’ll Be Excited to Receive
Hot flashes, brain fog, sleepless nights… midlife can be a lot. But it can also be powerful, grounded,...
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...
The 2023 Adulted Awards
Naomi Watts, Dr. Kelly Casperson, Dr. Mary Claire Haver & others picks their favorite products for living your best midlife.
I Wanted the Divorce, So Why Am I So Sad?
Depression after divorce is incredibly common — even if you were the one who initiated the split.
The Sandwich Generation: How To Deal With Parents (and Kids)
How to take care of yourself in midlife — especially when it feels like you have to take care of others all the time.
Meno-Rage! Why Do I Feel So Angry?
Is everything setting you off lately? The real culprit isn't that messy bathroom or late work meeting — it could be your midlife hormones.
Ask A Doctor: Why Am I Experiencing Brain Fog?
Trouble concentrating? Can't remember anyone's name? It's a classic symptom of perimenopause — but luckily, there is help.
"The Menopause Stigma Is Lifting": The Stripes Interview With Jancee Dunn
The "Hot and Bothered" author on menopause stigma, inconvenient hot flashes, and the joy of saying "Who cares?"
Excerpt: "Cracking the Menopause" by Mariella Frostrup
"Now we’re in the 21st century, it’s insanity that our value as employees is in any way connected to our fertility."
Looking To Treat Yourself? Check Out Our Summer Essentials Guide
Summer is full of gift-buying occasions — Father's Day, graduations, kids' birthday parties. But how about some picking...
Ask A Doctor: Is Perimenopause Making My Depression Worse?
Feeling depressed? The hormonal changes of perimenopause could be the cause.
"I Want More Success, Honestly": The Stripes Interview with Candace Bushnell
Candace Bushnell, author of "Sex & the City," "Lipstick Jungle" and more talks success, money and the timeless joy of hanging out.
How I Came to Believe I Deserved More
"I found true wealth in taking the next step to becoming my truest self."
How to Advocate for a Menopause-Friendly Workplace
In the U.S., nearly 1.3 million of us go into menopause every year. If companies want to keep us, they better wise up.
Airport Insecurity! How to Cope with Travel Anxiety
Tossing and turning over an upcoming trip? Here's how to chill out and remember that (gasp!) travel should be fun.
7 Perimenopause Travel Essentials
Planning a summer getaway, but worried about hot flashes/ dry skin/ achy feet? We've got you covered.
Get Lost: The Awesome, Scary, Wonder of My Midlife Travel
"Launching myself into the unexpected began to seem worthwhile."
"If We’re Not Aging, We’re Dead": 7 Questions With Karen Duffy
Writer, actress and former MTV VJ Karen Duffy talks love, donkeys, philosophy, and hanging with George Clooney at the Kennedy Center Honors.
Real Women, Real Stories: Menopause, Midlife, and Why We Need Change Now
We asked six women to share their feelings and thoughts about everything from midlife, menopause, and aging. Our minds were blown.
Naomi's Playlist: Friendship Edition
Celebrate your besties with this playlist dedicated to songs about friendship, supporting each other and all things BFF.
BFF Stories: How 8 Friends Keep Their Decades-Long Friendships Alive
Take some friendship lessons from eight BFFs who've been there for each other for decades.
5 Questions With Naomi Watts
In our 5 Questions interview video, Naomi Watts talks sleep, the value of friendship at midlife, and her secret talent (no spoilers!).
Naomi's Playlist: Resolve to Appreciate Your Damn Self Edition
New Year, new you. Wait, says who? This playlist is all about appreciating all the things that make you special, just the way you...
Tired Of Those Dreaded Holiday Conversations? Here's How To Avoid Them
Learn how to avoid and diffuse the the kind of headache-inducing holiday talk that drives you out of your chimney.
Humorist Wendi Aarons On Why We Should Throw Menopause Parties
Humorist Wendi Aarons, in an excerpt from her new book I'm Wearing Tunics Now, weighs in on why we should all be throwing menopause parties.
Soothe Yourself! How to Take a Sound Bath at Home
You've tried meditation. But have you ever taken a sound bath? Molly Rabuffo of Bloom Sound Collective tells us how to do it at home.
You Deserve Boundaries: How to Get Through Stressful Holidays With Family
Holiday with family can be gnarly. We've got solid tips to help you enjoy your dinner while protecting your sanity
Naomi's Playlist: Holiday Rock (and Soul) Edition
It's a wrap! This playlist has classic favorites as well as newer indie rock and soul entries into the holiday song canon.
Relaxation and Meditation Techniques to Help with Menopause Symptoms
Having a tough time adjusting to your new normal? You might be tempted to focus on anything but how you’re feeling.
Build Mental Toughness: 5 Ways to Stay Strong
So when you can’t change certain stress-inducing circumstances, focus on empowering yourself to take them in stride by building resilience.
How to Be Nicer to Yourself
You deserve a healthy dose of self-compassion. Here are some ways to harness it for yourself.
Puff or Pass? The Latest on CBD and Cannabis for Menopause Relief
Is cannabis ideal for helping people going through midlife hormonal changes? The jury is definitely still out.
Music Makes Menopause Better: Naomi's Party Playlist
Did you know that music can help your menopause symptoms? It’s not just the power of a good groove – it’s science.
High (Menopause) Anxiety! Techniques to Help You Cope
Understanding how anxiety works can give you a sense of agency (and help you reorient yourself when you’re struggling).
Can Stress Affect Early Menopause?
While fewer than 200,000 cases of early menopause are reported every year, early menopause can be unexpected — and come with its own set of...
Symptom Guide: Menopausal Insomnia and Sleeplessness
Insomnia and sleeplessness getting you down? These tips can improve your chances for getting a good night's rest.