Menoguides
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Menopause 101
Menopause Advice I’m Passing On to the Next Generation
Most of us didn’t exactly inherit a menopause playbook. In fact, according to our Mother’s Day survey last year, nearly 90%* of women say their mothers didn’t speak openly about menopause or gave…
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 armed with knowledge.
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 and isn’t.
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
Menopause and Sexless Marriage: Why Desire Changes and How to Reignite Intimacy
Let’s get real: menopause is a wild ride. Hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings — and somewhere in there, your sex life might start acting like it’s on vacation without you.
When Can You Stop Using Birth Control After Menopause?
Menopause brings a lot of “wait… is this still necessary?” questions. And one of the most common is when can I stop using contraception?
What Is a Vaginal Moisturizer? (And Why So Many People Are Suddenly Talking About Them)
If you’ve ever wondered “wait… is vaginal moisturizer a thing?”, the answer is yes. And honestly, it deserves the same level of normal conversation as face cream or lip balm.
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 happens, anyway.
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 our twenties. Real life, of course, is far more interesting. Desire evolves.
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 about disappearing desire to unrealistic advice that assumes intimacy should stay exactly the…
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!” or maybe “a little olive oil can’t hurt, right?”
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 meetings? Check. Sleep that suddenly ghosted you? Check.
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 news: the rumors are greatly exaggerated.
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 on your terms.
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. In fact, it might just be getting started.
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 a lot of women, it’s the decade where things start getting really interesting.
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 class, even though you haven’t moved off the couch? Welcome to the bizarre phenomenon of hot flashes after eating.
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 the sneakier ones is menopause joint pain.
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 you’ve ever wondered what causes vaginal dryness, you’re not alone.
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 loose, thin, or wrinkly — kind of like crepe paper — you’re not alone.
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 name it. But eventually, this phase winds down, and menopause officially begins.
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 specifically, you may wonder: does progesterone cause weight gain during this phase?
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 or menopause.
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 and menopause, but that doesn’t make it any less uncomfortable.
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 by doctors who specialize in treating women in midlife.
Ask A Doctor: Why Am I Getting Such Bad Cramps?
If your cramps have been getting worse, you need to read this.
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 mid-margarita.
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 are good for vaginal health.
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 feel great. But when they’re out of whack?
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 really trying to achieve?
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 your body and life.
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 ovaries slow down and eventually stop producing hormones.
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 like you’re living inside a volcano.
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 — and the importance of breaking the silence around it.
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 of heat that can leave you sweating. But did you know that the opposite can also happen?
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 it — more daytime 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 on how to cope.
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 the most common cause of discomfort and painful sex in midlife.
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 a long way.
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, and full of possibility, especially when you have the right products in your corner.
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 her feel stronger and more comfortable.
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 up a little something for yourself? After all, you're worth celebrating, too.
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.