Read Women's Health Fellow, Dr. Sabrina Sikka's column on cost-effective health and beauty tips that you can do in the comfort of your own home!

Make my easy Chicken and sausage gumbo wherever you live to enjoy a good Cajun recipe. The browned flour replaces the traditional roux as a thickening and flavor agent. The gumbo freezes well. This recipe is from Holly Clegg's trim&TERRIFIC® Gulf Coast Favorites cookbook.

Women who undergo hysterectomy before age 35 may face significantly higher long-term heart risks, even if their ovaries are preserved, a study found. The research by experts at Mayo Clinic focused on more than 2,000 US women who had their uterus removed but left their ovaries intact -- widely considered the most desirable option if possible because it prevents a woman from entering early menopause.

Read medical breast specialist Dr. Holly Pederson and OB-GYN resident Dr. Sarah Hershman's column on the recent research on hormonal birth control and breast cancer risk.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the approval of olaparib (Lynparza, AstraZeneca) to include the treatment of metastatic breast cancer in patients who carry the specific inherited BRCA mutation. These patients can be identified by using the FDA-approved genetic test, BRAC Analysis CDx (Myriad Genetic Laboratories). About 10% to 15% of patients with any type of breast cancer have a BRCA mutation, the agency notes. Olaparib acts as an inhibitor of the enzyme…

Fancy, but have no fear as you can make this infamous dessert with my simple version- all the indulgence without the bulge! Romance in the air!

This recipe is from Holly Clegg’s trim&TERRIFIC® Too Hot in the Kitchen.

I am 38 years old and BRCA 1 positive with a family history of premenopausal breast cancer. I’m done having children and my OB suggests having a hysterectomy and removing my tubes and ovaries.

I’m very afraid of going through menopause. He suggested a low dose of Estrogen to start out. What would be the benefit (if any) of starting out on a natural hormone replacement vs estrogen? I hated taking birth control when I was younger because of the way it made me feel and I am concerned estrogen will be the same. Thank you!

The American Heart Association issued a stark warning Thursday for women with breast cancer: Lifesaving therapies like chemotherapy and radiation can cause heart failure and other serious cardiac problems, sometimes years after treatment. The organization said patients and doctors shouldn’t avoid the treatments but instead take steps to prevent or minimize the cardiac risks. It stressed that breast cancer survivors can improve their chances of a long, healthy life by exercising regularly and…

The number one killer of women is heart disease, and that risk increases after menopause.

I had knee replacement surgery a month ago. My surgeon was very concerned about my bones. He said they were very soft. I previously had primary hyperthyroidism and had surgery in June. How long after my total knee replacement surgery should I wait to start treatment for osteoporosis?

I had my aortic valve replaced in 2015. Everything is normal now, but should I use hormone therapy for heart protection? I am post-menopausal since 2008.

Can you catch Type A flu and Type B flu at the same time? I am 72 and exposed to both.

Read Dr. Holly L. Thacker’s column on the three things all women need to know about preventing and/or surviving heart disease.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors are well established. However, little is known about a woman’s cardiovascular response to pregnancy, which appears to be an early marker of future maternal CVD risk. Spontaneous preterm delivery (sPTD) has been associated with a ≤3-fold increased risk of maternal CVD death later in life compared with having a term delivery. This review focuses on 3 key areas to critically assess the association of sPTD and future maternal CVD risk: (1) CVD risk factors,…

Read Dr. Holly L. Thacker's column on nutrition and menopause.

12 Tips for Healthy Eating during Menopause Cut vegetables ahead of time for salads, sides and snacks. Prepare meals you can reinvent the next night. Store healthy frozen dinners in your freezer for lunches or dinners. Pack meal supplements such as nutrition bars for lunches on the run. Buy portion-controlled snacks. Eat protein as your first portion of the meal before any simple carbohydrates. Eat slowly-put the fork or spoon down between bites. Use smaller plates and take the…

Will having a colonoscopy disturb or make worse where I had a hemorrhoidectomy 4 years ago?

For the past few months, I’ve been experiencing what feels like random morning sickness. For no apparent reason, the thought or smell of certain foods will nauseate me and trigger an anxiety attack.

It’s worse soon after I wake up, but it can happen at any time of the day. I’m 45, not pregnant and having irregular periods. Could these "food aversions" be caused by perimenopause? How can I make it stop?

A new class of drugs for menopausal hot flushes works within three days (75% reduction) and does not increase estrogen levels. Bringing hope to women - especially those who can’t take hormone therapy.A neurokinin 3 receptor (NK3R) antagonist was effective at improving vasomotor symptoms without the need for estrogen exposure, both in the short and long-term, researchers reported. The oral NK3R antagonist MLE4901 was able to reduce the frequency of hot flashes by 72% by day 3 of treatment…

What is your take on water soluble pumpkin seed extract for over active bladder symptoms? I’ve been reading about it and it appears that studies show there can be much improvement. I also have a few more questions:

1. How many mg should one take per day for best results? A nutritionist recommended 2x the mg on the bottle dosage, approximately 1200 mg per day.
2. How long does it take before one sees improvement? And if one does not see a marked improvement after say a month, is it best to abandon the supplement or go for say 6 months?
3. Is it better to take soy isoflavones with the extract?