Articles about You're 46-55

Is it safe to use birth control to stop periods? One of the most common questions we hear from patients is whether or not it is safe to not have periods. Most people are so accustomed to having their menstrual cycle that the idea of not having a monthly period feels strange and unnatural. However,…

“Oh, I would NEVER drive a Honda. My friend’s sister drove a Honda, and the brakes didn’t work well, and she rear-ended a car on the freeway.” “I would NEVER drink coffee. My mom drank coffee, and she had a reaction and got really wired and couldn’t sleep.” These may sound like ridiculous generalizations, but…

Uterine fibroids are often misunderstood–which is understandable because we still don’t fully know how or why they develop! For many people, fibroids will be an inconsequential part of their lives. For others, fibroids can be disruptive with painful symptoms that require treatment. Here are some of the most common questions about fibroids–along with reasons for…

This post was written by former WHA nurse practitioner Jacqui Quetal. Although Jacqui is no longer with WHA, we still love this advice! Hopefully your experiences have helped you realize that sex can be a fun and important part of a healthy relationship. But when sex becomes uncomfortable, unfortunately I find that my patients tend…

In my recent post, “What is Menopause,” I talked about the symptoms that women may experience in the months and years preceding and following the cessation of periods. Fluctuation in energy levels, agitation, hot flashes, night sweats, difficulty concentrating and headaches are all possible as a result of changing hormone levels. These symptoms can be…

As my patients get into their 40s and start noticing changes in their menstrual cycles, they often start thinking about menopause. Their older sisters, coworkers and friends may be lamenting hot flashes and night sweats. They may hear stories about their mother’s transition to menopause. “What will happen to my body?” “How will I change?”…

With our series on birth control nearly complete, we have discussed hormonal, non-hormonal, and long-acting reversible methods. Permanent contraception, or sterilization, prevents pregnancy by stopping either the flow of sperm or preventing the egg from moving down the fallopian tube to the uterus. Sterilization does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases, but it is a…

So far we have discussed hormonal options for birth control, which release estrogen and/or progestin to prevent pregnancy and non-hormonal methods, which physically or chemically prevent sperm from reaching a woman’s egg. Today’s topic is a category that has gained in popularity over recent years: long-acting reversible contraception (LARC). Long-acting reversible methods of birth control are available…

Last week we discussed hormonal options for birth control, which release estrogen and/or progestin to prevent pregnancy. Non-hormonal methods physically or chemically prevent sperm from reaching a woman’s egg. Some of these methods also protect against sexually transmitted infections. Male and Female Condoms Condoms are a portable method of birth control that exist for both men…