Menopause

Overview

Menopause is the time that marks the end of your menstrual cycles. It's diagnosed after you've gone 12 months without a menstrual period. Menopause can happen in your 40s or 50s, but the average age is 51 in the United States.

10 Secrets of People Who Age Gracefully

Experts reveal tricks to keeping your youthful glow with each passing year. 

How to look and feel great as you get older

We all want to look great as we age. And we all know that woman: She's on point from head to toe and carries herself like she means it, defying aging with every step. So what's she doing? Here's how to take care of your skin, hair, and body, and drum up youth-boosting confidence no matter how many birthday candles are on your cake.

Do This, Not That: Sex Positions to Skip When You're Pregnant

What's safe (and what isn't) when you're having sex during pregnancy.

If your doctor gives you the green light to have sex during pregnancy, go for it! "In a normal pregnancy, there's no reason to refrain from intercourse as long as you want it, and as long as it's comfortable," says Chicago-based ob-gyn Lauren Streicher, M.D., author of Love Sex Again.

How Much Sleep Do You Really Need?

The term sleep disorder may suggest someone tossing and turning all night, but lying awake for hours with insomnia is just one example of many conditions that affect how you sleep and function during the day.

This Is the Best Time of Day to See Your Therapist

If you're struggling to overcome anxiety or a phobia, you'll want to schedule a session at this time.

If you see a therapist for anxiety or a phobia, you might make more progress in sessions scheduled for the morning hours. Cortisol, a hormone that regulates stress and fear, is highest at this time of day—and a new study suggests this could make a real difference in overcoming emotional difficulties.

Depression Symptoms and Warning Signs

Recognizing Depression and Getting the Help You Need

Feeling down from time to time is a normal part of life, but when emotions such as hopelessness and despair take hold and just won't go away, you may have depression. Depression makes it tough to function and enjoy life like you once did. Just getting through the day can be overwhelming. But no matter how hopeless you feel, you can get better. Learning about depression—and the many things you can do to help yourself—is the first step to overcoming the problem.

What Pregnancy Does to Your Health

The typical and not so usual

Expecting a baby can make you more prone to some diseases—but it can protect you from others.

More common: Diabetes
Gestational diabetes affects about 5% of pregnancies.

5 Perimenopause Symptoms Every Woman Should Know

Before reaching menopause, women go through a transitional period called perimenopause. Here's how to tell if you're entering this stage.

8 Factors That Could Be Keeping You Awake at Night

When sleep disturbances persist for longer than a month, it's important to identify any underlying causes. Consider whether these common triggers could be contributing to your restless nights.

Pain

In one study, 15% of Americans reported suffering from chronic pain, and two-thirds also reported having sleep problems. Back pain, headaches, and temporomandibular joint syndrome (problems with the jaw muscles) are the main causes of pain-related sleep loss.

Not Sleeping Well?

There May Be a Medical Cause

People who feel they sleep perfectly well may still be troubled by excessive daytime sleepiness because of a variety of underlying medical illnesses. A sleep disturbance may be a symptom of a health issue or an adverse effect of therapy to treat the problem. The stress of chronic illness can also cause insomnia and daytime drowsiness.