Our bodies undergo considerable changes during pregnancy. As our hormones rise and fall, however, it can be a challenge to identify what’s a normal experience and what might warrant a call to your OB-GYN. Vaginal dryness is one such uncomfortable experience that can develop during pregnancy and postpartum. Why does it happen and what are […]
Night sweats are always uncomfortable, often unpredictable, and an invariably frustrating symptom of menopause that 50 to 75% of women suffer with. Currently, medical science doesn’t know the precise cause of these vexing vasomotor episodes. However, new theories connecting night sweats (and hot flushes) with certain chronic health conditions may hold clues as to why
Vaginal discharge is something every woman experiences over the course of her life. But depending on our age, where we’re at in our menstrual cycle, and whether we’re pre or post-menopausal, the vaginal discharge we produce can change. Sometimes these changes go beyond the bounds of what’s considered normal discharge and can be cause for
Many women who struggle conceiving take a “wait and see” approach, turning to lab testing for common fertility problems – such as PCOS or low sperm count. From there, they may be encouraged to begin IVF treatments. But what if there was a better way – an option where women not only get to complete
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