May 2013 -- Researchers say that a blood test may soon identify which pregnant women are at highest risk of developing postpartum depression, so they can seek treatment that could control their symptoms.

Marie Paraiso, M.D. is an internationally recognized pioneer in gynecologic surgery at Cleveland Clinic. Most recently, Dr. Paraiso has embraced the burgeoning field of robotic surgery, adapting several of her innovative surgical techniques to robotic-assisted laparoscopic approaches.

While Marie Paraiso, M.D. is an internationally recognized pioneer in gynecologic surgery, she says family has always been her top priority.

Hot flashes and night sweats are two of the most common menopause symptoms, although their severity and duration can differ, depending on the person. Although not life threatening, these symptoms often are a major disruption to one's sleep patterns. Now a new study finds that more than half of middle-aged women with regular menstrual cycles also experience hot flashes.

Researchers from Group Health and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center surveyed 1,500 women between the ages of 45 and 56 -- all of whom had not skipped any periods -- and discovered that 55% of them were experiencing hot flashes or night sweats.

June 2013 -- A recent discovery from a lab at Harvard University's Stem Cell Institute could be a step toward drastically reducing those painful numbers. Researchers there, led by the institute's co-director Douglas Melton, found a hormone that caused an amazing increase in the ability of mice to produce their own natural insulin.

The hormone, called betatrophin, caused up to a 30-fold boost in the production of beta cells, the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. The lab's results were published last month in the journal Cell.

"Imagine instead of taking three insulin injections a day, if you took one injection of betatrophin a month, or every year," said Melton. Then "your body makes more beta cells and then those beta cells produce the insulin you need."

June 2013 -- Here's another reason for women to lose weight. Losing weight could improve memory in older, overweight women, according to a new small study. In addition, the women's brain activity actually changes in the regions of the brain that are vital for memory tasks after weight loss.

July 2013 -- Thousands of postmenopausal women have died prematurely over the past decade because they avoided estrogen therapy after hysterectomy, a new analysis of a landmark study showed.

July 2013 -- Researchers at Yale University hope their estimates of what they call the unnecessary premature deaths of women over a 10-year period will jolt patients and their physicians to re-think their avoidance of estrogen hormone replacement therapy.

In an article published online Thursday in the American Journal of Public Health, the researchers project that the deathsof nearly 50,000 women who had a hysterectomy in their 50s and 60s could have been avoided by taking estrogen therapy. The deaths occurred between 2002 and 2011.

July 2013 -- North American Menopause Society's First to Know e-newsletter showcased our Executive Director Dr. Holly L. Thacker's review of hyaluronic acid vaginal gel and it's effectiveness for vaginal dryness in women.

September is Women in Medicine Month. The Cleveland Clinic's Women's Professional Staff Association featured our very own Executive Director Dr. Holly L. Thacker in their 'Get to know women leaders' enewsletter issue.

One pharmaceutical company can now brag about a nonhormonal option to treat hot flashes during menopause.

Noven Therapeutics knows that's welcome news to scores of women who've developed a fear of hormone therapy following the increased risk of heart disease and breast cancer seen in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI).

But Brisdelle is just an old medication dressed up in a new feminine name and packaging – it's the antidepressant paroxetine, better known by its brand name, Paxil.

By Holly L. Thacker, M.D. In October 2013, the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) investigators published a comprehensive overview of findings from their two hormone therapy (HT) trials, including extended follow-up representing 13 years of cumulative data.1 When I analyzed this latest WHI report, I initially focused almost exclusively on the data presented in figures and tables within the article itself, as well as on supplemental data presented on the Internet.2 Only then did I read the…

Using sunlamp products such as tanning beds or tanning booths increases the risk of skin damage, skin cancer and eye injury, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and numerous other health organizations. A particularly dangerous result is melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer.

Bladder leakage is one of many health-related issues Dr. Holly L. Thacker of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Specialized Women's Health addresses in this interview. She explains that there is non-surgical therapy available to help remedy the problem, and that there is an unexpected, but not unwelcome side effect of the newly FDA approved pelvic stimulation devices now available to strengthen the pelvic floor or relax an overactive bladder.

Testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) may be the best way to know whether a woman is at risk of developing cervical cancer in the near future, according to a new study. Negative HPV tests provided women with more reliable assurance that they wouldn’t develop cancer or other abnormal cervical changes in the next three years, compared to traditional Pap tests, researchers report.

Those of you tanning or burning your skin this summer should stop — seek the shade, wear a hat and some sunscreen and, whatever you do, stay out of indoor tanning salons. It's a familiar skin-cancer prevention message, but it's coming from a new source: the office of the U.S. Surgeon General. Nearly 5 million people in the United States are treated for skin cancer each year, at a cost of $8.1 billion, the report says. About 63,000 cases are the most serious kind, melanoma, and about 6,000 of…

Room temperature or right out of the oven, this colorful quiche is perfect for an afternoon book club or gathering of friends. For appetizers, pour quiche in an 8 x 8-inch square pan and cut into small squares.

Don’t let the holiday season be a reason for you to not eat right. Put those candy canes to extra use with this scrumptious dessert from Canyon Ranch. Serving-sized pieces can be individually wrapped and kept frozen to give as gifts. Enjoy!

This Mock-A-Rita has all of the taste of a margarita without any of the alcohol. Enjoy as many as you like without having to worry about the side effects of alcohol. If you do go out for alcoholic drinks, make sure to pick a designated driver before you leave. (With thanks to Canyon Ranch Health Resorts for this wonderful idea.)

Beef Stew is a hearty meal for chilly nights, and this recipe works great in a slow cooker, which is a terrific time saver. Your family will love coming home to the aroma of dinner ready-to-eat! Who'll know you weren't in the kitchen all day?

A great and healthy way to start your day is with a delicious, veggie-filled egg white omelet. Substitute your favorite seasonal vegetables and try different low-fat cheeses for flavor.