The MenoHealth blog
Evidence-based guides to perimenopause and menopause, written to be read.
Living wellPainful Sex After Menopause: Understanding GSM and Your Options
Painful sex after menopause has a name — GSM — and effective treatments. Vaginal estrogen, DHEA, lubricants, and how to talk to your doctor.
By Karla F. Loken, DO, FACOOG· 12 min read
Living wellHow to Sleep Better During Perimenopause: A Practical Guide
Perimenopause sleep falls apart from night sweats, hormones, and emerging sleep disorders. What actually works to fix it, ranked by evidence.
By Karla F. Loken, DO, FACOOG· 12 min read
Menopause symptomsSkin Changes in Menopause: What to Expect and How to Adapt
Menopause skin changes are real and predictable. What estrogen loss does to collagen, hydration, and healing — and what the evidence says actually works.
By Karla F. Loken, DO, FACOOG· 13 min read
Menopause symptomsMenopause Dizziness: Why You Feel Off Balance
Menopause dizziness is real but has overlapping causes worth sorting out. Why it happens, what else to rule out, and the changes that help most women feel steady.
By Karla F. Loken, DO, FACOOG· 11 min read
Menopause symptomsMenopause Heart Palpitations: When to Worry and What to Do
Heart palpitations during menopause are common and often benign. When they’re tied to hot flushes, when they need evaluation, and what actually helps.
By Karla F. Loken, DO, FACOOG· 12 min read
Menopause symptomsMenopause Rage: Why You’re So Angry and What’s Behind It
Menopause rage is a real symptom of hormonal fluctuation, not a personality change. Why the anger flares, what amplifies it, and what actually helps it ease.
By Karla F. Loken, DO, FACOOG· 11 min read
Menopause symptomsMenopause Bloating: Causes and Practical Relief
Menopause bloating is driven by hormonal shifts in gut motility, fluid retention, and the microbiome. Why it happens, common triggers, and what actually helps.
By Karla F. Loken, DO, FACOOG· 12 min read
Menopause symptomsMenopause Itchy Skin: Why It Happens and How to Soothe It
Menopause itchy skin is driven by falling estrogen. Why it happens, what makes it worse at night, and the skincare and lifestyle changes that actually help.
By Karla F. Loken, DO, FACOOG· 11 min read
Understanding menopauseSurgical Menopause: What to Expect After Hysterectomy or Oophorectomy
Surgical menopause causes abrupt, intense symptoms when both ovaries are removed. What to expect, when HRT is right, and how to manage symptoms after surgery.
By Karla F. Loken, DO, FACOOG· 17 min read
Treatments and optionsIs Vaginal Estrogen Safe? What the Research Actually Shows
Is vaginal estrogen safe? What Crandall 2018 and the Menopause Society 2020 statement actually show — including in women with breast cancer history.
By Karla F. Loken, DO, FACOOG· 14 min read
Menopause symptomsMenopause Headaches and Migraines: Causes and Relief
Menopause headaches and migraines: why perimenopause is volatile, why postmenopause often quiets things, and what helps — including the HRT nuance.
By Karla F. Loken, DO, FACOOG· 11 min read
Menopause symptomsJoint Pain and Menopause: The Overlooked Symptom
Menopause joint pain affects 40-60% of women and is often dismissed. What’s driving it, what helps, and how to tell it from inflammatory arthritis.
By Karla F. Loken, DO, FACOOG· 13 min read