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?

If you’ve never had salmon, here’s Holly Clegg's #1 easy and favorite recipe - rumor is this is the best salmon ever! The glaze on the crispy, crusted salmon takes only minutes to prepare and this recipe has gone viral on YouTube. Try this quick delicious recipe and you’ll understand why.

This recipe is from Holly Clegg’s trimandTERRIFIC® KITCHEN 101: Secrets to Cooking Confidence.

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.

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.

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…

Cleveland Clinic Registered Nurse and Care Coordinator Alexandria Delasantos shares tips on how to save money on prescription medications.

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?

Dr. Holly L. Thacker discusses the importance of the month of May when we celebrate National Osteoporosis Awareness Month, Mother's Day and National Nurses Week.

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…

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