For young women undergoing bilateral oophorectomy, estrogen therapy effectively controls symptoms, lessens risk of disease, and reduces mortality. This review discusses how disturbingly, many women go untreated due to inappropriate fears regarding estrogen use. List authored and from Fertility and Sterility, September 9, 2016. Sept 2016 - Bilateral oophorectomy performed in women before they are menopausal induces surgical primary ovarian insufficiency, an acute and chronic deficiency of…

Read Dr. Thacker’s column on risk factors for early menopause and issues associated with premature menopause and surgical menopause.

Read Dr. Thacker’s column on the opiate addiction crisis and the overdose epidemic. Sadly, nowadays most everyone knows someone who has been affected by this scourge on our communities.

Find relief from common running injuries. Download our free Running Injuries Treatment Guide to learn more about symptoms, treatment and prevention of the most common overuse injuries.

Find relief from sports-related injuries. Download our free Sports Injuries Treatment Guide to learn more about symptoms and treatments of common sports injuries, such as elbow problems, dislocations and fractures.

If you like guacamole, then wait until you try this avocado and edamame combination for a wonderful delicious and nutritious diabetic, vegetarian, avocado dip. Serve with fresh veggies or chips.

This recipe is from Holly Clegg’s trimandTERRIFIC® Eating Well To Fight Arthritis.

Study proves effectiveness of exercise in managing weight and hot flashes in postmenopausal women, even those who were previously sedentaryThe North American Menopause Society CLEVELAND, Ohio (February 15, 2017)—Talk to a woman in menopause and you’re likely to hear complaints about hot flashes and an inability to lose weight, especially belly fat. A new study shows how regular exercise can help reduce weight and control bothersome symptoms such as hot flashes, even in women who previously led…

Urinary incontinence is common, underreported, and undertreated. Primary care physicians should be comfortable discussing urinary incontinence with their female patients and managing it with conservative treatment.ELIM SHIH, MDCenter for Specialized Women’s Health, Cleveland Clinic HEATHER HIRSCH, MDThe Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus HOLLY L. THACKER, MD, FACP, NCMP, CCDDirector, Center for Specialized Women’s Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cleveland…

I was reading the HPV article on speakingofwomenshealth.com, dated January 19th, 2017.

I have been diagnosed with HPV. How do I know what type I have? I have to have a follow up pap test in June.

From time to time I experience very itchy skin on various parts of my body. Many times after showering or not.

Last night for no reason I could think of, my arms started to itch with that pin prick feeling. I slather with lotion all the time. A few times the itching has been so bad I have taken an antihistamine, which helped. Thank you.

I have a 59 year old female patient with many medical problems, including osteoporosis and history of stroke, was previously taking Provera/MPA 2.5 mg daily and estrace/estradiol orally 0.5 mg daily.

The Provera was stopped in December 2015, but Estrace was continued. The patient is wishing to restart Provera. Would you prescribe hormone therapy? Any alternatives?

March 2017 -- A study published in the International Journal of Cancer suggests that the Mediterranean diet may reduce the risk of estrogen-receptor-negative breast cancer, a postmenopausal form of the disease with a poor prognosis.

Move over crab cakes—Louisiana crawfish adds a new slant to an old classic. One of my most popular crawfish recipes, and make sure to look for Louisiana crawfish. Outrageously delicious!

This recipe is from Holly Clegg’s trimandTERRIFIC® Gulf Coast Favorites.

March 2017 - Hormone replacement therapy is associated with lower coronary artery calcium scores in postmenopausal women, and may also be linked to lower all-cause mortality, according to data presented in a poster at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology.

I have a daughter, age 11, who has been experiencing two menstrual periods per month. She is also diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and experiences frequent periods of tiredness/exhaustion.

My pediatrician’s office is only recommending "birth control" of which I am opposed. I would like a second opinion! I would really appreciate advice from another health professional on this matter. Please help!

The team at Cleveland Clinic Aesthetic Services discusses the best chemical peels and how a chemical peel can benefit your skin.

The last lab report showed that my eosinophils were 8. The range on the lab report said the range was 0-4. The absolute eosinophils value was 610 and the normal range was 15-500.

I read online that this could be a sign of an infection or could be a sign of roundworms. Yuck! I have not been out of the states and never dig in dirt and I’m not around animals very much. I don’t always believe what I read on the internet. What could be the reason this level is too high and what can I do about it?

I was on hormone therapy for 5 years, but stopped 6 weeks ago because of bleeding. An ultrasound revealed no problems, so my doctor suggested HRT could be the culprit. I did stop bleeding after stopping HRT, but my menopausal symptoms seem to worsen with time. Hot flashes have increased and I am having trouble sleeping, which has never been a problem for me. I am also irritable and feel like crying a lot of the time.

I am 57 and do have a family history of heart disease and strokes. I also have a genetic mutation called MTHFR which can increase the chance of developing clots. Are there any alternatives to HRT that might help my symptoms? Thank you.

Dr. Holly L. Thacker discusses a new special event that Speaking of Women's Health will be participating in on April 26, 2017 called A Holistic Approach To Life.

It looks like I have Paget’s disease around my nipple. It hurts. What should I do?