This review summarizes how ERAAs can be used in combination with an estrogen or alone to treat menopausal symptoms (vasomotor symptoms, genitourinary syndrome of menopause), breast cancer or the risk of breast cancer, osteopenia, osteoporosis, and other female midlife concerns.Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine. Release date: June 1, 2017 Heather D. Hirsch, MD, MS, NCMPAssistant Professor, Clinical Internal Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University,…

Dr. Holly L. Thacker discusses how to take control of your sensitive bladder with Dr. Mache Seibel in the latest issue of The Hot Years: My Menopause magazine. Dr. Mache: How common is sensitive bladder? Dr. Thacker: Up to one in three women has some of these problems during their lifetime. It's because the vagina is essentially a hole in the pelvic floor. Dr. Mache: It's probably a little to do with having babies, too. Dr. Thacker: Absolutely, it's affected by childbearing, childbirth,…

AHAH is a non-profit foundation dedicated to the health of women who have had a hysterectomy. In the USA, there are 8 million such women who are under age 60 with half of them age 45 or younger. On behalf of these women, we would urge the USPSTF not to suggest that estrogen therapy (ET) deserves a grade of D for disease prevention because the totality of recent data supports a higher grade.

Read Dr. Holly L.Thacker’s summer health column for important summer health tips for you and your family.

I am on Evista (raloxifene) for osteoporosis. Since this is a SERM (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator, also known as as Estrogen Agonist Estrogen Antagonist), can it treat vaginal dryness? Are there any problems taking Evista and Estrace (estradiol) cream at the same time?

I went to my doctor who told me I have a mass on my breast. How can I get the mass to go away, are there pills for it?

I passed a kidney stone a few years back and can no longer eat a lot of calcium rich-foods. I do not take a calcium supplement. Any suggestions?

It's easy for women to get caught up in family & career responsibilities, but Dr. Holly Thacker says it's important women care for themselves as well - and knowing some key numbers is a good place to start.

Please read Center for Specialized Women’s Health nurse Lillie McKinney’s guest column on menopause, aging and a new stage in life.

I am 60 years old and have brittle nails. What could be the cause and what can I do about it?

I never had strong nails, however this is worse and I would like to know what’s going on.

I just left my local hospital a few hours ago, my reason for being there was because I was experiencing burning and horrific pain in my pubic area.

A week ago I had shaved and after a few weeks ingrown hairs started to appear. I used coconut oil to stop the sting but it only lasts for a second. I’m scared to pee because it burns every time I go.

There is also a sore in the area between my butt that stings and it is very swollen. I feel horrible from this and the ingrown hairs. In addition, I haven’t been able to poop either.

It’s really hard to move under these conditions. The hospital gave me a quick assessment and told me to put a cream on it and that was the best they could do. Should I go to a different hospital for a second opinion or should I just do what this hospital tells me? I’m still in so much pain.

Guest columnist Mary Clarkin, CNP discusses “Advances in technology over the last 30 years: A nurse’s perspective.”

I am 51 years old and in good health. I have large 36 DD breasts. I wash my bras after one wear and shower daily. I have noticed I’m getting a vinegar smell under and between my breasts sometimes. I have never had this problem before. It’s embarrassing when I take off my bra to get ready for bed sometimes.

Are there any solutions for this? Should I wear deodorant around my breasts? I even once had a rash and bought baby diaper rash cream because I thought it might be a fungal irritation, but that just burned the skin and made it worse. Any suggestions?

When you feel the itch and pain of vaginal-area discomfort, your first thought is likely of a yeast infection. But other common disorders can cause similar discomfort. Ob/Gyn Oluwatosin Goje, MD, says some vulvar disorders are contagious and others are not. Either way, knowing the signs will help guide you in treating them. And if your problem is contagious, knowing this can help you avoid passing it along. Here’s a rundown on five of the most common vulvar conditions: 1.…

Cool crisp watermelon, refreshing cantaloupe, and fresh basil create an extraordinary and invigorating light salad. This simple salad is also diabetic-friendly!

This recipe is from Holly Clegg’s trimandTERRIFIC® Eating Well Through Cancer.

April 2017 - Radius Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: RDUS), a science-driven fully integrated biopharmaceutical company that is committed to developing innovative therapeutics in the areas of osteoporosis, oncology and endocrine diseases, today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved TYMLOS (abaloparatide) injection for the treatment of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at high risk for fracture defined as history of osteoporotic fracture, multiple risk factors for…

I have a very small rash near my vaginal area. I went to the doctor today, and she told me it just looks like a cut or a pimple. But she also took a swab of it in case it was herpes or something else. I haven’t had sex yet with my partner, he’s only rubbed on me. Would you know what this is?

If you would like more information about the VeLVET Study or if you are interested in participating, please call The Cleveland Clinic Department of Ob/Gyn and Women’s Health Institute research line, at 216-445-8090. What is the VeLVET Study? The VeLVET STUDY will compare the effects of vaginal laser therapy and vaginal estrogen therapy on the symptoms related to GSM and the condition of vaginal health. Vaginal estrogen (Premarin® cream, ESTRACE® cream or Vagifem® tablets) therapy has been…

I had a cold/flu a few months ago and then flew on an airplane and developed “airplane ear” or the feeling of a blockage in my left ear. I tried ear plugs when I flew to see if I could prevent the problem associated with a change in pressure.

It’s a month later, and although I have no pain, I still have the feeling of a blocked ear. I only notice it when I eat or drink as it sounds different. It almost feels like I have water in my ear similar to a feeling after swimming. What should I do? Could there be a virus in there? I tried decongestants for two days to see if it would make a difference, but it did not.

April 2017 - Infants born to mothers who are vaccinated against the highly contagious and potentially fatal whooping cough are much less likely to get it than others, researchers said, in a large study published Monday. Whooping cough, which is caused by Bordetella pertussis bacteria, is easily spread when an infected individual coughs or sneezes. About half of infants who contract the illness require hospitalization for complications like pneumonia or brain disorder, Reuters reported.