Dr. Holly L. Thacker discusses the importance of teaching children at a young age to report any suspicious behavior of adults, including sexual child abuse to the police.

Learn more about Shared Medical Appointments (SMA) and how you can benefit from these woman-to-woman sessions that offer individual appointments in the presence of others with insight, advice and support from a variety of women dealing with similar symptoms or conditions like yourself.

Back to "regular time." Fall back, spring ahead! While it was nice to get that extra hour of sleep, many find it a downer that the daylight time is "shorter" and that it gets darker sooner. Sadly, Daylight Savings Time is over.

With the change in the earth's axis, it affects the amount of sunlight hours we experience. Many people, particularly those in the Northern Hemisphere, experience seasonal affective disorder in the fall and winter, a condition characterized by lower mood, fatigue and irritability.

Improving Skin with MedicationThere are many prescription products available to help improve the look of your skin. Many of the prescription products contain the same ingredients as those available over-the-counter, but are in higher dosage strengths. Examples of such products include:Products to slow the growth of, remove or lighten unwanted facial hairProducts to grow hair in scalp areas lacking hairExfoliant products including certain alpha-hydroxy acid productsIf you’ve already tried…

What is the difference between varicose veins and spider veins? Varicose veins commonly develop as we grow older, but can be treated with exercise, support hose, or surgery. Varicose veins are large, raised, swollen blood vessels. They usually develop in the legs. Spider veins are smaller, red to purple and blue dilated vessels. Spider veins are easily visible and are found just under the skin. They are also most often seen on the legs and thighs. What causes varicose veins and spider…

Are bioidentical hormones superior to other forms of hormone therapy? Is there a time limit on how long postmenopausal women can take hormones? Women’s health expert, Dr. Holly L. Thacker covers these topics and more in the third installment of the Speaking of Women’s Health video series, "Surviving Menopause."

Dr. Holly L. Thacker recommends that women see their women's health physician for hormone replacement therapy. She discusses the benefits of physician-prescribed hormone replacement therapy for many women and the dangers of compounding pharmacies without a physician’s care.Menopause may have become synonymous with the idea of medical intervention.It needn't be.But with about 25 million women in the United States turning 50 in the next 10 years, most of the reports we read are about just that.…

Uncover the truth behind the top five menopause myths. Dr. Holly L. Thacker says the answers just might surprise you!

My daughter’s college roommate just informed her that she had a bacterial infection. She was having abdominal pain which brought her to the doctor. What is the risk factor for my daughter?

How will I know when I have officially entered menopause?

Is it hot in here or are you entering into menopause? Hot flashes are only one symptom of menopause and not all women get them. In the second installment of our video series, "Surviving Menopause," women's health expert Dr. Holly L. Thacker discusses some of the common symptoms of menopause, such as sleeping problems and mood swings.

I'd like to introduce you to the first video in the "Surviving Menopause" video series. Did you know that osteoporosis is a disease that 50% of women over age 50 develop due to lack of estrogen? In this video, learn how you can prevent osteoporosis, especially throughout menopause.

Over one in every two women over age 50 develops osteoporosis due to a lack of estrogen. Dr. Holly Thacker is here to help you learn how to prevent Osteoporosis, especially throughout menopause. This is the first video in our Surviving Menopause Series.

Here are a few quick tips to follow when trying to watch your total fat intake as well as the cholesterol-raising fats. Depending on your cholesterol level, most healthy individuals should limit total fat intake to around 25-35% of total energy (total calories eaten) each day. While it is important to watch each individual food’s fat content, remember that this 25-35% fat range is your overall dietary goal; you’ll always encounter foods that are under or over this percentage. Your goal is to…

"They Think They see Something on my Mammogram." The fear this sentence evokes is real, but can be quieted by facts. Most abnormalities on a mammogram are NOT breast cancer. Women should get annual mammograms starting at age 45 and personalized. Some women can wait until age 50 to begin screening mammograms and have them done every 2 years. High risk women need more intensive screening. On a screening mammogram, questionable abnormalities sometimes require additional evaluation. With further…

I am wondering what can be the cause of intense hunger. I eat 4-5 times a day and still it seems that I am always hungry. If I try to put it off too long I will get a really bad headache and in some cases feel kind of like I am going to pass out. What’s really weird is that it just came on in the last few weeks. Any ideas of what I should be checking into?

Do progestin-only birth control pills cause acne, or should I be concerned about Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)? I did not have acne when taking a combined pill.

I’ve had two urinary tract infections in the past year. Why am I getting them and what can I do to prevent them in the future?

I’m pregnant and people keep telling me to stop drinking out of plastic water bottles. What’s the problem with them?

My doctor says I have fibroids and need a hysterectomy. Are there any other options?