Q: I am concerned about my mom. She is in her mid-40s and I am not sure if she is experiencing menopause or not. She seems depressed a lot and run down at the end of the day. She also has big mood swings, sometimes to the point where the family is afraid to talk to [...]
Q: What can be done about heart palpitations during perimenopause? A: Heart palpitations occur very commonly during perimenopause and menopause. Many women start experiencing these right before periods, as they hit the late 40′s. Of course, estrogen levels really bottom out right before periods, and that’s the most common time to hear complaints of palpitations, headaches, and [...]
Taking testosterone for low sexual desire Q: What is the relation between low testosterone levels and sexual desire? I have a level of only 17 out of a possible 65. They say it’s “in the range,” but I have zero desire, and it is causing problems with my relationship with my husband. A: No one really knows [...]
Q: My boyfriend of two years cheated on me while I was pregnant with twins because we could not have sex until eight weeks after they were born. Now he tells me that he has an STD. I have not shown any signs of having anything yet, but his doctor says that it has been too [...]
Q: I am 42 years old, and my periods have become inconsistent. I often skip a month, then resume for several months, then skip again. I am also noticing more facial fuzz and dark hairs. Is all this normal? A: There are many causes of irregular periods. It is entirely possible that you are just heading toward [...]
Q: My mother, age 53, has been experiencing heavy bleeding that is lasting for more than a week at a time. She has been to the ER twice in as many months to seek help and has at least one D and C done. Her Family Practitioner assures her that this is all part of menopause [...]
Q: I had a hysterectomy in 1996 at the age of 34 due to fibroids on the uterus. I regret that decision and wish I had gotten a second opinion. The doctor did not tell me what to expect, nor that there were other options. Since that time my sex drive has ceased to exist. My [...]
Q:I am 35 years old, have endometriosis, and am tired of feeling miserable every month. I would like to have a hysterectomy but my doctor doesn’t seem receptive. (I’ve tried birth control pills and the lupron treatments for endometriosis; I wasn’t comfortable with the side effects of lupron). Is this a reasonable course of action [...]
Q: Are there any other herbal remedies for insomnia other than Valerian Root, and Melatonin? A: Other herbs to consider for sleep include hops, chamomile, skullcap or even a stronger, standardized extract version of valerian. You might need a higher dose of the melatonin you tried. You can keep increasing it. Some people take 20 mg [...]
Q: I am beginning to go through menopause, and for the first time in my life I’m having trouble sleeping. I’ve read that insomnia can be caused by menopause. Is this true? What can I do? I’ve tried valerian root and melatonin, but they’re not helping. Are sleeping pills a bad idea? A: Sleep problems are the [...]
