Moods And Menopause

There is definitely a hormonal component to our moods.  This should not surprise any woman who is entering or is in menopause. The menopause transition is characterized by an initial fluctuation of estradiol production by the ovaries, evidenced by irregular menstrual cycles, but followed by a sustained estradiol decline resulting in the end of menses.

Estrogen and Breast Cancer: A Love-Hate Relationship

What do the dates 1896 and 1935 have to do with breast cancer? They mark critical moments in clarifying the complex relationship between estrogen and breast cancer. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States and Canada. Understanding its relationship to estrogen is critical for attributing cause and planning future therapies.

Is All Body Fat The Same?

Is Soy A Remedy For Menopausal Symptoms?

Essentially, everyone has heard the term “soy” as in edamame soy beans, soy flour, tempeh, tofu, soy milk, or soy sauce; a multibillion dollar industry. Why so popular? Perhaps, it is because many of our currently available commercial hormone preparations originate from soy. And for women of Asian descent raised on a diet rich in soy, the rates of hot flashes and breast cancer are reduced significantly compared to those of North American women.

The Public Face of Menopause

On a single night last month, Menopause The Musical played to a full house in Rochester, New York. After opening in 2001 in a 76‐seat theater in Orlando, Florida, it now shows worldwide and incorporates 25 popular songs from the 1960s to the 1980s. With clever word arrangements provided by four outstanding vocalists, it addresses most of the common personal menopausal issues women struggle to understand. Everyone who has had the opportunity to see this musical knows how brilliant it is. Yet, as I looked around the room, I was impressed by the large number of men in the audience. And with musical humor, this singular entertainment event has become the poster child of a major change that is occurring in our society; the public conversation of a one‐time forbidden topic.