Functional Medicine Blog

If sex has become painful, you’re not broken. Learn how hormone shifts can affect vaginal opening tissue and what you can do to feel comfortable again.

For many women, the first signs of perimenopause aren’t hot flashes or skipped periods. Instead, they show up as: New-onset anxiety Trouble sleeping Heavier or shorter cycles Increased irritability Feeling overstimulated or emotionally reactive These early symptoms are most often linked to one key shift: 👉 A decline in progesterone production. Long before estrogen meaningfully drops, progesterone output begins to fall — setting off a cascade of physical and neurological chan

For years, estrogen products carried a black-box warning that shaped how women and clinicians approached menopause hormone therapy. The FDA’s recent decision to remove this warning is a major shift — one driven by updated research showing clearer benefits and a more favorable safety profile for many women. This article breaks down what changed, why it matters, and how this update is reshaping the conversation around hormone therapy.

Menopause is a natural transition, but for many women, it brings a wave of uncomfortable symptoms — from hot flashes and brain fog to...

Discover how Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) can help women restore energy, libido, mood, and overall wellness!