Madelyn Fernstrom, Ph.D.

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iVillage Health Editor-at-Large

Got a question about menopause? Ask Now!
Whether it’s hot flashes, weight gain, mood shifts, sexual health, or preventing heart disease, iVillage Health Editor-at-Large Madelyn H. Fernstrom, Ph.D., CNS is here to help!
Submit your question in the box below. Madelyn will answer one question a week from mid-July through the end of October.

ASK MADELYN FERNSTROM, PH.D.

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Q:

I'm 35 and Have Started To Sweat a Lot Lately. A Sign of Early Menopause?

A:

There are many reasons for excess sweating, and an early perimopause (the start of the transition to menopause, which is the absence of periods for on...

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Q:

I'm 47 But I Seem To Have Lost Interest in Making Love. Could It Be Menopause?

A:

Many mid-life women experience a general loss of interest in sex at mid-life. The reasons are varied, and range from biological to psychological expla...

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Q:

I am finished with menopause but still feel stressed. Still menopause?

A:

Menopause marks the end of monthly periods for one year. But this is a long process, and continuing hormonal shifts might be affecting your mood. Whil...

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Q:

Are There Any Foods I Can Eat To Reduce Hot Flashes?

A:

There is some evidence that a diet rich in soy (a weak estrogen) can help reduce hot flashes. Symptoms like hot flashes are associated with declining ...

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Q:

Can menopause affect my skin?

A:

The answer is a resounding "Yes"!During perimenopause (the roughly 5 – 7 years prior to the end of periods for one year, which is call...

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Q:

Is There a Way to Predict When Menopause Will Happen?

A:

One reliable index is to look at your family tree. The age of your mother (or aunt or older sister) when she started the “change” is one ...

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Q:

Can Exercise Help Reduce Menopause Symptoms?

A:

Exercise does help many women manage the symptoms of perimenopause (the transitional years leading up to menopause, which is the cessation of periods ...

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Q:

Can Soy Help Manage My Menopause Symptoms?

A:

The gradual decline in estrogen accompanying menopause produces many physiological and mood changes, including hot flashes, night sweats, trouble sl...

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Q:

Is the mental fog of menopause real?

A:

It’s perfectly normal to experience the sense of a “mental fog” during the perimenopausal years (the term for the transition to meno...

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Q:

How Do I Stop Menopausal Weight Gain?

A:

Hi there! Most women find weight gain an even bigger struggle at menopause. This whole "change of life" - which by the way is a normal part ...

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Q:

Should I See My Doctor for Hot Flashes?

A:

Hot flashes are among the most frequently reported – and troublesome – symptom of perimenopause, the transition to the absence of periods ...

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Q:

Menopause Without Symptoms?

A:

Many women make the natural transition to menopause with only minor symptoms. As periods become sporadic like yours, don’t be surprised if this ...

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Q:

Is It Normal to Feel Anxiety During Perimenopause?

A:

A: Perimenopause is a normal part of life, and every woman is different in how she feels during this period of time - which can be as long as a decade...

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