If you’re looking for a safe natural sleep aid, chances are you’ve heard about melatonin. But, what’s behind this popular sleep aid and could it work for you? Here, we provide some important information that can help you decide. Melatonin is a hormone produced in the brain from the neurotransmitter serotonin and regulates the body’s […]
Some of us may be familiar with polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, the hormonal disorder that occurs when women’s bodies produce too much testosterone. FemmePharma sat down with professor of medicine Dr. Katherine Sherif of Thomas Jefferson University to discuss how diseases such as PCOS represent a paradigm of women’s health in the changes in
Although premenopause is often used to refer to this time of transition, the proper medical term is perimenopause. Premenopause is the period of time during which women are in their reproductive years, and will continue to have their menstrual cycle. Perimenopause is characterized by hormonal shifts and physiological changes and as any woman who has
A good night’s sleep eludes many of us. There are plenty of reasons you may be struggling to fall or stay asleep. Whether it is stress, medical issues, or a busy household, the result is the same – you wake up already feeling exhausted. Many of us turn to prescription sleeping pills to save our
As mothers, we often commit to caring and looking out for the loved ones our lives, often putting our own health on the back burner. This May, let’s remember that, we cannot wholly show up for others if we neglect our health and personal happiness! As women approach perimenopause and menopause, their bodies go through
The birth control pill is the preferred method of contraception for many women who want to enjoy sexual activity without the looming anxiety of unplanned pregnancy. According to the CDC, 12.6% of women in the US that use contraceptive methods use an oral contraceptive pill. Although the ability to regulate fertility is a godsend for
Hormones are the body’s powerful chemical messengers. They work by controlling and regulating the processes that keep the body functioning. You have probably heard of some of these hormones, such as insulin (which controls blood sugar), oxytocin (which regulates emotions and plays a role in breastfeeding), melatonin (which regulates sleep), renin (which helps to control
For most women, the lead up to menopause (that single day when you’ve not had your period for a year) is more like a marathon than a sprint. Perimenopause is a process. It begins with the slow decline of estrogen eight to 10 years before your last period. This happens in the 40s, but some
A butterfly-shaped gland positioned around the larynx (aka the voice box), the thyroid gets a lot of attention in midlife. (Feel tired? Maybe it’s your thyroid? Gained weight? Maybe it’s your thyroid. Freezing cold? Probably your thyroid. Sound familiar?) It’s little wonder, though, that we blame it for many of our woes. As part of
Though many people use the word menopause to mean the years of a woman’s life after her periods stop, menopause is actually a single day. It’s the one-year anniversary of a woman’s last period. Every day after that is postmenopause — and for up to eight years before that can be a time known as perimenopause.
If you know what it’s like to wake up in a puddle of sweat, you know a night sweat. And you’re not alone: Up to 80 percent of women will experience night sweats or hot flashes at some point in their lives.
Throughout your 40s and 50s, food can be instrumental in alleviating the symptoms of shifting hormones. Optimal nutrition helps reduce mood swings, depression, anxiety, and irritability while boosting energy. Want to harness the power of food to relieve hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, acne, hair loss, and vaginal dryness — and help balance your