Menopause

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Liz Plosser

Liz Baker Plosser 

Effects of Estradiol Withdrawal on Mood in Women With Past Perimenopausal Depression: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Efficacy of Transdermal Estradiol and Micronized Progesterone in the Prevention of Depressive Symptoms in the Menopause Transition: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Type 2 Diabetes Prevention: Evidence, Mechanisms, and Clinical Implications.

Enhanced Neuroactivation during Verbal Memory Processing in Postmenopausal Women Receiving Short Term Hormone Therapy

Sharon Malone, MD

Dr. Sharon D. Malone headshot.

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Estrogen therapy supports brain health, bone strength, metabolism, sleep, and mood during perimenopause and menopause, offering evidence-based longevity benefits for women.

Estrogen Therapy: Biohacking for Women

Estrogen: The Powerful Longevity Biohack Hiding in Plain Sight

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Sheryl Kraft

Sheryl Kraft portrait B&W. AW054 

Age of menopause and impact of climacteric symptoms by geographical region.

The menopause and obesity.

Effects of Smoking on Menopausal Age: Results From the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007 to 2012

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - NICHD

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The average age for menopause is 51, but symptoms often start earlier. Learn the timeline of perimenopause and what to expect as you age.

What is the Average Age for Menopause to Start? Alloy Health

What Is the Average Age for Menopause to Start?

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Hadley Mendelsohn - Medical Writer

Hadley Mendelsohn

Mechanistic insights into the anti-fibrotic effects of estrogen via the PI3K-Akt pathway in frozen shoulder.

Prevalence and factors associated with shoulder pain among diabetic patients and menopausal women: evidence from the China health and retirement longitudinal study.

Relation between climacteric symptoms and ovarian hypofunction in middle-aged and older Japanese women.

Symptoms and effects of physical factors in Japanese middle-aged women.

Efficacy of porcine placental extract on shoulder stiffness in climacteric women.

[Serum hormone level and Kupperman menopausal complaints in sexually mature women with disturbance of ovulation].

Medical (clinical)

Dr. Judith Barreiro

Dr. Judith Barreiro, MD, is a board-certified gynecologist with over two decades of experience providing high-level surgical and clinical care to women in the Tampa Bay area. 

Dr. Judith Barreiro - OBGYN

Athletic woman pausing her workout, experiencing pain from frozen shoulder.

Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is significantly more common in women during perimenopause and postmenopause. Declining estrogen levels can disrupt collagen production and increase inflammation in joint tissues, raising the risk of shoulder stiffness and pain. 

Frozen Shoulder and Menopause: What is the Estrogen-Collagen Link?

Why Midlife Women Are at Higher Risk—and What You Can Do About It

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Monica Molenaar

Danielle Pacheco. Menopause and Sleep. 

Woods, Nancy F. RN, PhD; Carr, Molly C. MD; Tao, Eunice Y. MD; Taylor, Heather J. BS; Mitchell, Ellen S. RN, PhD. Increased Urinary Cortisol Levels During the Menopause Transition. 

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Get help at Alloy Health. Perimenopause fatigue affects over 95% of women due to fluctuating hormones. Dr. Sharon Malone, MD, a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and nationally recognized expert in women's health discusses the symptoms, causes and how to navigate it.

What is Perimenopause Fatigue?  Tired All the Time? | Alloy

What Is Perimenopause Fatigue & How to Treat It

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Cheyenne Buckingham

Cheyenne Buckingham is a medical writer for Alloy Health

Autonomic nervous system dysfunction throughout menopausal transition: A potential mechanism underpinning cardiovascular and cognitive alterations during female ageing.

Heart rate variability as a function of menopausal status, menstrual cycle phase, and estradiol level.

Heart rate variability and the risk of heart failure and its subtypes in post-menopausal women: The Women's Health Initiative study.

Regulation of exercise on heart rate variability in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Effect of Whey Protein Supplementation in Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The effect of mindfulness training on stress and sleep quality of postmenopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Habitual aerobic exercise in healthy postmenopausal women does not augment basal cardiac autonomic activity yet modulates autonomic-metabolic interactions.

Sleep disturbance and sympathetic neural reactivity in postmenopausal females.

Traci Kurtzer

Traci Kurtzer Headshot

Mature woman standing on path in lush greenery wearing blue fitness tank top pausing to breath with eyes closed.

Heart rate variability (HRV) reflects the balance of the autonomic nervous system and is a sensitive marker of stress and overall health. During perimenopause and menopause, hormonal fluctuations can disrupt autonomic regulation, often leading to higher or more variable stress scores and changes in HRV. 

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Menopause: High Stress Scores

Understanding the link between hormonal changes, HRV, and stress during the menopause transition

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Menopause: Why is my 'Stress Score' always high?

Therapeutic strategies for type 2 diabetes mellitus in women after menopause.

Targeting insulin resistance with selected antidiabetic agents prevents menopausal associated central obesity, dysglycemia, and cardiometabolic risk.

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Possibly - yes.  Current research suggests that GLP-1 medications may help address central obesity, insulin resistance, and inflammation—key drivers of heart disease in menopause—offering a new avenue for cardiometabolic protection when estrogen is not suitable.

Can GLP-1s protect my heart if I can’t take estrogen?

Exploring Non-Hormonal Cardiometabolic Protection for Midlife Women

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Anna Johnson - Medical Writer

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Menopause, cognition, and Alzheimer's disease risk.

Evaluating tools for assessing mental health disorders in perimenopausal women.

The Impact of Psychological Distress on Cognitive Function in Postmenopausal Women.

International Menopause Society (IMS) recommendations and key messages on women's midlife health and menopause.

Menopause hormone therapy and risk of mild cognitive impairment or dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Role of Physical Activity in Women's Mid-life: Neuroscience, Longevity, and Disease Prevention.

Wait one hot minute: what exactly is cognitive behavioral therapy for menopause?

Kudzai Dombo

Kudzai Dombo Headshot

Woman lying in bed with laptop open, distracted, looking away.

During perimenopause, many women experience cognitive and emotional symptoms such as forgetfulness, difficulty focusing, and mental restlessness that can closely resemble ADHD. These changes are primarily driven by hormonal fluctuations affecting brain chemistry, mood, and sleep. 

Why does perimenopause brain fog feel like sudden ADHD? | Alloy

Understanding Cognitive and Emotional Changes in Perimenopause

Why does perimenopause feel like sudden ADHD?

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Coronary artery disease in women.

Does hormonal status influence the clinical presentation of acute coronary syndromes in women?

Where do we currently stand with advice on hormone replacement therapy for women?

Gender-specific characteristics of atherosclerosis in menopausal women: risk factors, clinical course and strategies for prevention.

Gender differences in the outcome of noninvasive cardiovascular treatment.

Deepti Gandhi

Deepti Gandhi Headshot

Black woman in orange sweater seated next to a window, with her hand up to her jaw, in discomfort.

The 5 hidden heart attack symptoms to watch out for with menopausal women are unexplained fatigue, upper or mid-back pain, jaw pain or discomfort, indigestion or nausea,  and sudden shortness of breath.

What are the 5 Hidden Heart Attack Symptoms in Women? | Alloy

Recognizing the Subtle Signs That Could Save Your Life

What are the 5 Hidden or Atypical Heart Attack Symptoms in Women?

Menopausal transition and metabolic syndrome risk: insights from the Chinese PALM longitudinal cohort.

Perimenopause as an obesogenic sensitive period: Contributions to elevated cardiovascular risk.

Global, Regional, and National Burden of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in Pre- and Post-Menopausal Women: 1990-2021 Trends and 2041 Projections from the Global Burden of Disease Study.

Effects of non-pharmacological interventions on body composition and physical function in older women with sarcopenic obesity: a meta-analysis.

Dietary interventions and nutritional strategies for menopausal health: a mini review.

Integrating obesity management into menopause care recommendations comments on the 2025 European Society of Endocrinology clinical practice guideline for evaluation and management of menopause and the perimenopause.

Comparison of clinical indicators between perimenopausal and postmenopausal women with cardiovascular disease.

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After menopause, women experience a shift in body fat distribution, with a notable increase in visceral fat around the abdominal organs. This type of fat is metabolically active and strongly associated with higher risks of heart disease, insulin resistance, and inflammation. Hormonal changes, particularly the decline in estrogen, drive this process and make postmenopausal women uniquely vulnerable to cardiovascular complications. Recognizing, measuring, and addressing visceral fat through lifestyle and medical strategies is essential for protecting heart health in midlife and beyond.

Why Visceral Fat Targets Your Heart After Menopause | Alloy

Understanding the Link Between Menopausal Hormones, Belly Fat, and Cardiovascular Health

Why Visceral Fat Targets Your Heart After Menopause

Association Between Vasomotor Symptoms and Ischemic Stroke: A Case-Control Study.

Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Cardiovascular Diseases in Women With Vasomotor Symptoms: A Secondary Analysis of the Women's Health Initiative Randomized Clinical Trials.

Long-term hormone therapy for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.

A 2-year follow-up to a randomized controlled trial on resistance training in postmenopausal women: vasomotor symptoms, quality of life and cardiovascular risk markers.

Understanding the menopause journey.

Asian woman standing in her home, fanning herself with papers, experiencing a hot flash.

Yes —they may signal underlying changes in cardiovascular health. Emerging research suggests that women who experience frequent or severe hot flashes could face a higher risk of future heart disease and stroke. Understanding the connection between vasomotor symptoms and cardiovascular risk empowers women to take proactive steps, from lifestyle changes to medical therapies, to protect their long-term heart health.

Menopause -Are Hot Flashes Connected to Heart Health?  

What Your Symptoms Might Reveal About Your Heart—and How to Take Action

Are hot flashes a “biomarker” for future cardiovascular health?

Underdiagnosed and overmedicated: Investigating the management of urinary tract infection and vaginal estrogen use in a large cohort of postmenopausal women.

Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM): recommendations from the Fifth International Consultation on Sexual Medicine (ICSM 2024).

Vulvovaginal estrogen therapy for urinary symptoms in postmenopausal women: a review and meta-analysis.

Enhancing quality of life: addressing vulvovaginal atrophy and urinary tract symptoms.

Efficacy of CO2 laser vs vaginal estrogen in perimenopausal women with genitourinary syndrome of menopause: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Intravaginal prasterone for urinary urgency in postmenopausal women without urodynamic detrusor overactivity.

Urinary tract infection symptom management in postmenopausal women: a qualitative exploration.

Woman with cropped hair and bangs sitting on the floor in discomfort with sensation of UTI

These symptoms are often linked to hormonal changes that affect the urinary tract and vaginal tissues, leading to conditions like genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) rather than true infections. Understanding the difference between infection and hormone-related changes, recognizing common mimickers of UTI, and knowing when to seek care can empower women to find effective relief and avoid unnecessary antibiotics.

Is Menopause Causing My UTI?  But the Test is Negative

Navigating UTI-like Symptoms and Genitourinary Changes in Midlife

Why does it feel like a UTI when my tests keep coming back negative?"

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Mapping global prevalence of menopausal symptoms among middle-aged women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

A survey of menopausal symptoms in chinese community women based on the STRAW+10 staging system.

Factors associated with menopausal symptoms among middle-aged registered nurses in Beijing.

The psychological side of menopause: evidence from the comorbidity network of menopausal, anxiety, and depressive symptoms.

Impact of Exercise on Perimenopausal Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Effects of physical exercise on health-related quality of life and blood lipids in perimenopausal women: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Effects of soy isoflavones on menopausal symptoms in perimenopausal women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Prevalence of climacteric symptoms comparing perimenopausal and postmenopausal Chinese women.

Woman shown in discomfort, experiencing sensation of skin crawling, double exposure.

Yes, formication, the sensation of skin crawling or tingling without a physical cause, is a lesser-known but distressing symptom that can emerge during perimenopause and menopause. Hormonal fluctuations, particularly declining estrogen, impact skin health and nerve sensitivity, making midlife women more susceptible to these sensations. 

Does Menopause make your skin crawl? What is Formication?

Exploring the 'crawling skin' sensation, its hormonal roots, and evidence-based relief for midlife women

Why does my skin feel like it’s crawling? What is Formication?

Dr. Traci A. Kurtzer, MD

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You may be finding your symptoms of menopause are intensifying and/or you may be feeling stuck in a trauma reaction which can lead to the flight, fight, freeze or fawn modes.

Sexual Violence: The Impact of Trauma on Menopausal Symptoms

Message to our Patients who are Survivors of Sexual Violence: The Impact of Trauma on Menopausal Symptoms

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Woman wearing sleeveless top and silver rings clasps her hands together over her head resting against her bed, feeling fatigued.

Maybe, testosterone pellets are not FDA-approved for women and carry unique risks, including unpredictable hormone levels and androgenic side effects. Evidence-based guidelines recommend testosterone only for specific cases of hypoactive sexual desire disorder, and safer, FDA-approved hormone therapy options are available for most menopausal symptoms. Informed decision-making with a menopause-trained provider is essential to balance benefits, risks, and individual needs.

Are Testosterone Pellets Safe to Use in Perimenopause?

Understanding the Risks, Benefits, and Alternatives for Midlife Hormonal Health

Are Testosterone and Testosterone Pellets Safe to Use in Perimenopause and Menopause?

Association of perceived tinnitus with duration of hormone replacement therapy in Korean postmenopausal women: a cross-sectional study.

[Hormone replacement therapy in perimenopausal women with chronic tinnitus].

[Preliminary analysis of risk factors of tinnitus related to female menopause].

Shivam Yoga practice can reduce frequency and intensity of climacteric symptoms.

[Estrogen and neurotological diders in womenSexual hormones and neurotological disorders in women].

[A preliminary study of the treatment of chronic tinnitus in menopausal women].

Woman sitting outdoors in a garden setting at a table, with her hands to her temples suffering from tinnitus.

Yes, fluctuating estrogen levels are believed to influence the auditory system, potentially triggering or amplifying tinnitus in midlife women. Research suggests that hormone therapy and lifestyle interventions may help manage symptoms for some, but the relationship between menopause, hormones, and tinnitus is complex and individualized. 

Can menopause cause tinnitus or ear ringing? Yes, We Can Help

How Hormonal Changes in Midlife May Affect Your Ears—and What You Can Do About It

Can menopause cause tinnitus or ear ringing? 

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Research advances and future directions in female ADHD: the lifelong interplay of hormonal fluctuations with mood, cognition, and disease.

Examining the Link Between ADHD Symptoms and Menopausal Experiences.

Cognitive functions of regularly cycling women may differ throughout the month, depending on sex hormone status; a possible explanation to conflicting results of studies of ADHD in females.

Perceived associations between the menstrual cycle and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A qualitative interview study exploring lived experiences.

Trans-ancestry GWAS of hot flashes reveals potent treatment target and overlap with psychiatric disorders.

Mid adult woman with long curly hair, sitting at restaurant looking distracted, lost in her thoughts.

Fluctuating estrogen levels during perimenopause can disrupt dopamine pathways in the brain, leading to changes in cognition, mood, and the effectiveness of ADHD medications. Many women with ADHD notice increased symptoms or reduced medication response as they transition through midlife, often due to the interplay between estrogen, dopamine, and executive function. 

Estrogen-Dopamine Connection: My ADHD meds aren't working?

Understanding Hormonal Impacts on ADHD Management in Midlife Women

"The Estrogen-Dopamine Connection: Why is my ADHD medication suddenly not working?"

Associations between vasomotor symptoms, sleep disturbances, and frequent mood changes individually and within symptom groups across the menopausal transition and early postmenopause: observations from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation.

Distinguishing hot flashes and night sweats: a mixed-method analysis.

From physiology to psychology: An integrative review of menopausal syndrome.

Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Managing Physical and Psychological Distress in Women during the Perimenopausal Phase.

Menopause and Mental Health.

Woman with long brunette hair and bangs leaning on wall inside an elevator, eyes closed to self-sooth.

Panic attacks and menopause-related vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats can share similar features, including sudden sweating, heart palpitations, and a sense of anxiety. Hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause and early postmenopause can trigger both physical and emotional symptoms, making it challenging to distinguish between anxiety-driven episodes and menopause-related changes. 

Menopause: Is it a 'Panic Attack' or a 'Vasomotor Symptom'?"

Understanding Overlapping Symptoms and Finding Relief in Perimenopause and Beyond

Is it a 'Panic Attack' or a 'Vasomotor Symptom'?"

Menopause

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