Even though 80% of women going through the menopause will get symptoms, such as hot flushes and night sweats (and in 25% of cases they will be severe enough to affect quality of life), few are confident talking about it. A global industry worth about US$4bn (3.4bn) flogs books and products, but reliable information is hard to come by. So how can women distinguish fact from marketing hype and what helps? Kathy Abernethy, chair of the British Menopause Society, says: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is absolutely the best treatment for hot flushes and sweats that affect daily life. It can also help sleep disturbance caused by night sweats and is one of several strategies to keep bones strong. Dr Mark Vanderpump, an endocrinologist (hormone specialist), agrees: If men got hot flushes, theyd be screaming for HRT, he says. Other options include the non-hormonal drugs clonidine, venlafaxine and gabapentin, or lifestyle measures such as avoiding spicy foods, alcohol and hot places. The risk of cancer from HRT is overstated, says Vanderpump. Cancer Research UK puts it in perspective; if 1,000 women start HRT at the age of 50 and take it for five years, there will be two extra cases of … Continue reading →

Along with hot flashes and weight gain, menopause also brings along vaginal atrophy which means that the walls of the vagina become drier, thinner and easily inflamed because the estrogen levels plummet. And it is no secret that vaginal atrophy can lead to dyspareunia or painful intercourse along with itching and burning. While using a lubricant can provide some relief, the first course of treatment should be estrogen. Opting for an oral hormone replacement therapy may have some downsides, so you can instead go for a relatively new treatment known as vaginal laser therapy to combat vaginal atrophy and make sex more pleasurable and less painful. Cosmetologist Dr Prasad Chaudhury breaks it down for you. What is vaginal laser therapy?In vaginal laser treatment, a wand is inserted into the vagina where the laser makes minuscule injuries to the vaginal wall. The body responds to the pin pricks by producing new collagen and encouraging blood flow, in turn, strengthening the skin tissue and thickening the vaginal walls. While you can do normal activities after the treatment, you just need to abstain from sex for a few days. Does vaginal laser therapy hurt?Since the laser pricks do not go very deep, this … Continue reading →

SALIDA Less than three years into her transition from Jonathan to Jillian, pro cyclist Jillian Bearden has once again found serenity on her bike. Now, using studies and stats collected during her long career, shes helping prove that transgender athletes change more than their names, they change their biology. Bearden has watched her performance ebb since beginning hormone-replacement therapy in 2015. As testosterone fades and estrogen grows, her fastest times on favorite climbs have slipped into what she calls the gutter. It was tough realizing her hard-earned power, developed over more than a decade of elite-level bike racing, was waning. I went from 16 minutes to 26, 27, 28 minutes, she said of her times on her those climbs. I was like holy Testosterone gives you this drive, this oomph, and I didnt have that push. My muscles looked fairly big, but I did not have that push to drive that extra energy. I had good days and really, really bad days. But at the end of it all, I always know that I won the biggest race of all. I am here on planet Earth with my family and it doesnt really matter how slow I am. Ive already … Continue reading →