Chemicals in Popular Nipple Cream Prompt FDA Warning

Women using the popular Mommy's Bliss Nipple Cream are being urged to stop use immediately due to two ingredients sited as harmful by the FDA. Those ingredients - chlorphenesin and phenoxyethanol - may cause respiratory distress, vomiting and diarrhea in breast feeding infants.

The cream, marketed by MOM Enterprises of San Rafael, California is used to help ease the pain of dry, cracked nipples which can occur as a result of breast feeding.

The ingredients in question have been the subject of other warnings and one - cholrphenesin - is not commercially available in the United States. It works by blocking nerve impulses involved in sending pain messages to the brain. On it's own it can cause dizziness or drowsiness, headaches, nervousness or insomnia, and other other drugs, such as antihistamines, painkillers and antidepressants might increase it's effects.

The other troubling ingredient- phenoxyethanol - is commonly used as a preservative in cosmetics and has been shown in laboratory tests to cause toxicity during overexposure. Possible results include rupture of red blood cells, kidney and liver damage, and certain central nervous system effects. It is included in the nipple cream ostenstibly for it's numbing effects, acting as a temporary pain reliever.

When ingested -which can occur if reside is present on the nipples during breast feeding - phenoxyethanol is considered toxic , causing , among other things gastrointestinal irritation with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Moreover, repeated and prolonged contact can result in skin irritation. There is no conclusive evidence on whether or it absorption leads to any harmful effects for the mother. Mothers and caregivers are being urged by the FDA to seek immediate medical attention if their child shows signs and symptoms of decreases in appetite, difficulty in awakening, limpness of extremities or a decrease in an infant's strength of grip and a change in skin color.

Moreover, experts from the FDA have expressed concerns that the two ingredients together may interact in a way that increases their individual toxic effects, particularly those involving respiratory depression in nursing infants.

The company has stopped selling the cream and the FDA is urging women to stop using it and consult a doctor immediately if they or their infants have experienced seemingly related problems.

If you believe you or your baby have been affected click here to learn more , and discover how to about how to report the problems to the FDA.

News: Breast Cancer Risks & Diet

What do high carbohydrate snack foods, vitamin pills and anti-inflammatory pain medications all have in common?

All three were the subject of new studies, which give us some new and surprising information about the risks of breast cancer.

Indeed, in reports published in two top medical journals this month, doctors from France, Canada and the United States shed new light on what can increase – and possibly decrease – the risk of breast cancer, and from sources most of us might never expect.

Cake, Candy and Breast Cancer: New Links

If you’re a woman who just can’t eat a sandwich on anything but white bread, if you can’t go a day without your chocolate cake, if you gulp down sugary sodas by the case, you may have more to worry about than just the numbers of your scale.

In a study of more than 62,000 post menopausal women published in this month’s American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a group of French researchers found that foods high on the glycemic index (also known as rapidly digesting simple carbohydrates like white flour and sugar) may increase the risk of breast cancer in women who are already overweight, particularly those who carry their weight in the waistline.

Moreover, the larger a woman’s waist size, the more likely she is to be impacted by the carbohydrate-breast cancer link. A diet rich in refined carbohydrates may also increase the risk of estrogen-receptor negative breast cancer, a specific type of tumor.

While doctors aren’t sure why the association appears to exist, one theory is that diets high in refined carbohydrates result in chronically elevated insulin levels – which in turn stimulates insulin-like growth factors, which may play a role in tumor formation. Click here to learn more about this study and the specific foods.

Can Vitamins Increase Your Risk of Breast Cancer?

The surprising news from a group of Montreal researchers is that taking a multi vitamin every day may, in fact, increase breast density – a factor that many believe is a marker for breast cancer.

In a study of nearly 1600 women also published in the current issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers from McGill University in Montreal found that regular use of multi vitamins appeared to increase the density of breast tissue in pre menopausal – but not postmenopausal women.

While having a dense breast does not necessarily increase your risk of breast cancer, it is considered that doctors call an “intermediate marker “ of breast cancer risk. Moreover, when breast tissue is dense it can make it difficult to find abnormalities, such as lumps or abnormal cell growth. Often, women with large breasts also harbor dense breast tissue, making it sometimes difficult for a mammogram to spot an early cancer.

What can help: Talk to your doctor about the need to supplement your regular mammogram with an ultra sound radio imaging breast check. This painless method of looking at breast tissue can help clarify mammography findings and may help spot abnormalities in dense breast tissue even more clearly than traditional radiology screenings. This may be particularly important if you are already at risk from breast cancer – if you have a first degree relative with breast cancer, or if you are a smoker or consume significant amounts of alcohol.
Since multi-vitamins can have many health benefits, it’s important to bring the new finding to your doctor before deciding whether or not your vitamin product is right for you.

Click here to learn more about vitamins and breast cancer.

Aspirin and Breast Cancer: The Good News!

This month doctors from Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health in New York City have some good news to report: Commonly used non-steriodal anti-inflammatory medications (NASAIDs) such as aspirin or Motrin, do not appear to impact breast density, adding to the growing body of evidence that these medications may actually be associated with a lower incidence of breast cancer.

Reporting in this month’s journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, researchers examined the pharmacy records of some 29,000 postmenopausal women, each of whom underwent 2 mammograms. The pharmacy records were used to determine which women used NSAIDs – and how often and how long - between the two screenings.

The result: No association or change in breast density among either those women who began using these drugs between mammograms, or among those who continued to use them from one mammogram to the next. Again, the level of breast density is considered a marker for breast cancer.

In fact, the really good news: Women who continued to use NSAIDs appeared to have a lower risk of developing a dense breast than non-users, indicating that longer –term use of these drugs may help reduce breast density in some women, thereby reducing their subsequent risk of breast cancer.

Although NSAIDs are frequently prescribed as not only pain relievers but also to help reduce the risk of heart attack in women with heart disease, doctors warn that for some these drugs can also increase the risk of serious, life threatening gastrointestinal bleeding.

The take home message here: Talk to your doctor before deciding if the regular use of NSAIDs will offer benefits that outweigh the risks. To learn more details on this study click here.

For the latest health, beauty, life & style news visit RedDressDiary.com

The Destination for Fabulous Women Over 40!

Or visit YourMenopause.com - The Source for Midlife Health

New Studies Confirm New Super Health Foods

Yes, I know, a trip to the supermarket is almost as costly as visiting your local jewelry store. Or, as a friend of mine says, if fresh fruit were diamonds, they would cost less!

But if you, like me, would rather pony up your hard earned dollars to the local grocer than the local pharmaceutical company then pay attention: There is important new healthy food news you'll be happy to hear.


Eat Grapes - Lower Cholesterol & Blood Pressure

In a new study just published in the journal Nutrition, a group of Spanish researchers found that the fiber in red grapes might help reduce the risk factors for heart disease more than any other type of fibrous grain.

In one sixteen week study of 34 folks who received a daily supplement of red grape fiber, doctors noted cholesterol levels were cut by 9 percent, with a similar drop in LDL – the “ bad” cholesterol. Moreover, blood pressure came down by 5 percent.

Results were even more profound in the 13 participants who went into the study with high cholesterol. Results show they experienced a 14 percent reduction in total cholesterol levels and a nearly 12% reduction in “bad” LDL cholesterol.

This same subgroup also saw a whopping 18.6 reduction in total triglycerides – the blood fats which some say are an even more accurate predictor of heart disease.

Across the board researchers say results with grape fiber were higher than what has been previously noted in studies on other types of fiber, including oats or psyllium.

The reason for the grape fiber success? Experts theorize it was the combination of the fiber and grapes high antioxidant content that came together to offer a one-two punch against blood fats and blood pressure.

Not only are these nutrient levels higher in grapes, they are also capable of reaching the colon, where they provide additional antioxidant protection. To learn more about this study, click here.

Green Tea, Snoring & Sleep Apnea

If you're lying awake nights because your bed partner snores like an elephant that ate too many peanuts, try slipping them a "mickey" of green tea before bedtime.

According to animal studies just published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care, green tea and it’s extracts may prove to be a suitable intervention for sleep – related breathing disorders, some of which result in snoring.

Indeed, obstructive sleep disorders, which cause people to momentarily stop breathing hundreds of times each night (of which snoring can be a symptom) also increase the risk of oxidative stress. This is a process many believe is the underlying cause of some neuro-degenerative problems, including memory loss and learning difficulties. Green tea, with its high antioxidant properties may have the ability to counter some of that oxidative stress, and either halt or reduce the damage occurring while we sleep.

In the study, researchers deprived 106 male rats of oxygen similar to what happens during sleep-related breathing disorders in 12-hour segments for a period of 14 days. Half the rats received drinking water laced with green tea, the other half, plain water.

The end result: The rats who drank the green tea showed a 40 percent reduction in blood markers of oxidative stress – and they performed consistently better on tasks involving memory and concentration.

Reseachers credit the success to the high antioxidant content of green tea, which, they point out is 4 times greater than that found in black tea.

While the study has yet to be duplicated in humans taking a cup of green tea after dinner may make a difference in how rested you feel after a night’s sleep. Click here to read the study!

Fish Oil, Colon Cancer & Hyperactivity in Kids!

Want to slash your risk of colon cancer by up to 40 percent? Eat more fish- and increase your overall intake of omega 3 fatty acids, one of the “good fats’ found in not only fish, but foods such as walnuts, flax seed, eggs and fortified soy products.

According to research just published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, an impressive 22 year study of some 21,000 men found those who had the highest intake of fish meals per week had up to a 40 percent reduction in colon and rectal cancer. Looking specifically at intake of foods containing omega 3 fatty acids, researchers found a 26 percent reduction in colon and rectal cancer.

This is particularly important news for women, who are among a growing group affected by colon rectal cancer. To learn more, click, here .

In a second study just published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition a group of French researchers found that increasing levels of omega 3 fatty acids in children helped increase attention spans and decreased levels of hyperactivity.

To learn more about the exact dosages used in this study – as well as more details on the other studies mentioned today , visit www.RedDressDiary.com

Sex And The City And Menopause

As we steady ourselves for the hotly anticipated movie premier of Sex And The City, women everywhere are gearing up to revisit the fantasy world of sex, shoes, shopping and still more sex. And we’re not just talking young women.

In fact, whether you’re a fan or not, it was hard to ignore Sex And The City’s bow to the generation of free love via Kim Cattrall’s sizzling portrayal of the shows official middle aged siren, Samantha - the original Red Dress girl!

Indeed, Samantha's seemingly insatiable desire for all things sexy and sensual - from afternoon liaisons with the UPS man to bubble baths with college guys - not only kept Sex and The City sizzling for the boomer generation, it led us to believe that ever woman over 40 was spending her retirement fund on Victoria Secret underwear and stiletto satin slippers with maribou trim - and investing what was left in Viagra stock!

Experts, however, say they have been seeing a slight different picture of sex in menopause city emerging.

Indeed, as millions of boomer-age gals enter middle age and beyond, many report that unlike Samantha, they are checkin' their sex drive at the door.

It's the number one lifestyle complaint I hear from my middle aged patients - they just don't feel like having sex, their interest has dropped, their desire has dropped, and they can't understand why," says NYU cardiologist Nieca Goldberg, MD, author of the brand new Complete Guide To Women's Health.

One reason, say experts, is that for women, the desire for intimacy isn't just a physical urge the way it is for men. For us, the desire for sexy is very much tied up in emotion.

"Part of the desire to make love is clearly physical, but part is also emotional – so almost any emotional issue in a woman's life has the capacity to impact her sex drive," says Glenn D. Braunstein, MD, an endocrinologist and chair of the department of medicine at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

So okay,I think it's safe to assume that most of us are not exactly at our emotional best when
approaching menopause. I get that. We all get that.

But midlife doesn't have a strangle hold on crappy emotions. They also occur when we're single, when we're pregnant, when we lose a job or a friend or a really great hairdresser - and that can happen anytime in life. And is our sex drive always affected?

Well, it is. But the difference is, when we are young it seems to sort of drift back on it's own, without much prompting on our part. Not so as we age. In fact, research suggests that once you're past 45 or so, the longer you stay away from sex, the longer you're going to stay away - even if your emotional ups and downs taper off.

Which is why most experts believe mid-life emotions don't tell the whole story.

Sex In Menopause City: What's Really Going On

In fact, most say that playing an even stronger supporting role is our rapidly shrinking ovaries, and all the hormonal cha-chas that go with it.

"The very fact that a woman is no longer ovulating regularly, or not ovulating at all, automatically has to take her sex drive down a few notches," says Steven Goldstein, MD, professor of ob-gyn at NYU Medical Center in New York City.

Indeed, as every woman knows, that time frame just before and right after ovulation is probably the sexiest time of the month - not a mistake on mother nature's part, for sure, since this is also the time when we are mostly likely to get pregnant.

But fast forward a few dozen years and ovulation begins to dwindle and, eventually, stop. And when it does, that little monthly boost to our sex drive that's been occurring since, oh, I don't know, junior high school, well it takes a hike.

Are you gonna notice? You betcha.

"Many women feel that 'bump' much more than others, but every woman feels it to some degree," says Goldstein.

Add to this the fact that when our ovaries begin to check out, so does all that estrogen that has been moistening up all our V zone nooks and crannies and helping to make having sex feel as good as wanting it does. Ultimately, it's not hard to see why the era of Free Love can go the way of day-glo patent leather shoes and Simon and Garfunkle.

What's The Answer?
For many women just the simple act of understanding what is going on with their body is enough to get them to relax - at least enough to let the changes that are going to take place anyway run their course. Oftentimes, as our body gets used to lower hormone levels and the other changes that go with it, we get past that "bump" in the road, and find a new, and some say even sexier path to follow.

And certainly, you can always put the aging process on hold for a bit with HRT - hormone replacement therapy. While it's no longer recommended for long-term use, certainly in the short term it’s okay for some women - and it can give an almost immediate boost to your sex life. So too can a variety of topical solutions including many lubricants, if, say experts, you use them regularly everyday and not just when you’re anticipating intimacy.

And, in fact, if any of these – or Samantha’s other tricks – help your sex drive to come hurling back and make you weak in the knees, who knows, maybe you’ll get your own TV show!

At the same time, however, it's also important to recognize that you needn't feel obligated to go through middle age swinging from a chandelier in a red lace bra and matching thong - regardless of what you think everyone else is doing.

Indeed, some experts say that if we can stop looking at a diminished sex drive as a sign that something is wrong, and view it instead as part of the normal life cycle, we may get over the bumps in the road a lot quicker - and get back to enjoying life. This may be particularly true for those women who no longer have a partner – in which case a reduction in libido may be a welcome change.

In fact, even for those who do have a partner, sometimes a lessened sex drive comes about naturally for both - often replaced by other intimate bonding experiences. And if this is the case for you and your partner, don’t fight it - or try to talk yourselves into a problem that doesn’t really exist.

As Goldstein reminds us, "Just because your sex drive may be different at midlife it doesn't mean there is something wrong or that you have to try and fix it. If less sex isn't bothering you, your partner, or your relationship, then take heart -- you are maturing in the way nature intended."

And that's regardless of how Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and heaven help us Samantha may see it!

For tips on how to handle all the changes occurring in midlife and beyond visit:
www.Your Menopause.com or RedDressDiary.com
The destinations for fabulous women over 40!

New Study Reveals Why Skin Really Wrinkles & Ages

If despite your best efforts to fight the signs of aging you're still sagging and wrinkling and looking older than you'd like, don’t berate yourself - or yell at the lady behind the skin care counter in your favorite department store.

A group of Purdue University scientists believe there is a brand new reason why skin ages – and it happens from the inside out.

What’s more, say researchers, the discovery will likely lead to the rapid development of some amazing new treatments that work in a whole new and exciting way.

Discovery: How Skin Really Ages

Working in concert with researchers from NuSkin, the group nailed down the function of a protein present in skin cells that plays a role in how skin ages and when that process begins- a concept that, until now, has remained quite illusive.

Indeed, it's a well-established fact that outside forces - such as the sun, cigarette smoke and other forms of pollution – age our skin by producing free radicals. These are molecules that work to literally gobble up collagen and elastin, skin’s natural support system.

As collagen and elastin fibers weaken, skin loses that support. And like those old sofa cushions that start to sag and droop over time, so too does our skin.

But new Purdue research found there could be another factor involved in the production of those nasty free radicals - and it's coming from right inside our own body.

According to the new research it centers on an enzyme called arNOX, present in our skin cells from birth. Part of a newly identified group of proteins known as ECTO-NOX (external oxidaseENOX proteins), arNOX doesn't do a whole lot when we are young.

As we age, however, and our cells naturally begin producing less energy, these proteins kick in, working to generate additional metabolic energy. It is through this process that experts believe arNOX generates free radicals that, much like the sun, nibble and snack on collagen and elastin, causing skin to age.

Not surprisingly they say all this extra cellular activity picks up speed between the years of 45 and 70 - when the majority of skin wrinkling and sagging occurs.

So What's A Girl To Do?

Take heart, there's some good news: Based on the new findings, the scientists believe we now have a whole new area for the development of skin care treatments - and it may not be as far off as you think.

Scientists at NuSkin are confidant that methods of inhibiting arNOX activity and preventing the internal production of free radicals is on the horizon – with perhaps a whole new category of skin products coming forward in the next couple of years. (Get busy scientists, we’re not getting any younger here ya know!)

In the meantime, don't give this nasty little enzyme any help making you look older!

• Stay out of direct sunlight as much as possible.
• Choose a sunscreen designed to block both UVA and UVB rays (and only a few do), and then use it as if your life depended on it, (and it might!).
• Don't smoke - and try to avoid being around anyone who does.

These three steps can shave years off your face, even if wrinkling and sagging has already begun.

Moreover, if you also choose the right skin care - and some of the advances are really astounding - all you have to do is put on that red dress baby, and you should be facing the next couple of decades looking pretty good!

For more information on how to find the sunscreens with the best anti aging protection, and learn about the real breakthroughs in anti aging products you can really afford, visit www.TheRedDressDiary.com

Study: Onions - The New Beauty Product ?

Want to fade some of those left over C-section scars, those teen-age acne pock marks, or shhhh, those nasty little reminders of your face lift? Well say hello to onions !

If new research is right they could just become the new tool in your anti-aging beauty war chest.

A new study just published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology found that a gel made from onion exact was able to significantly reduce scarring after the removal of several different types of benign growths, including angiomas, those pesky little red bumps that can become more apparent after menopause.

The study followed a group of 60 patients who had growths of at least 8mm in diameter on both sides of their chest. Doctors medically "shaved" and removed each growth and sent patients home to heal for two to three weeks.

When healing was completed the patients returned to the study site where 47 of them were given a gel containing onion extract, and asked to massage it into one scar site only, leaving the other untouched.

Additionally, thirteen patients were told not to apply anything to either side. Over the following ten weeks the scar wounds were observed and documented by medical photography at 2, 4, 6 and 10 weeks.

The end result: The side of the body where the onion gel was massaged into the wound site showed markedly less scaring and redness, and less abnormal skin texture!

Overall doctors found that scars treated with the onion gel were softer and the general appearance of the skin around the surgical site looked markedly better than the untreated side.

But researchers weren't altogether surprised by what they found since this is not the first time onions have jumped from the kitchen table to the examining table.

Earlier studies found a natural chemical in onions known as cepanes contains anti-inflammatory properties, while another known as thiosulfinates offers anti-infective properties - similar to what you might find in an over-the-counter antibiotic cream. In still one more study, onion oil was shown to have anti-microbial properties against some specific bacteria.

Now there's no guarantee that massaging onion extract into older scars every night will show the same result. And if you try it, be sure to have a few extra bucks in the cookie jar to quench your partner's sudden cravings for a burger and fries. That said, since the study also showed the onion caused no redness or irritation to the skin, it might just be worth a try. Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce.

To find the latest news on other anti aging technologies visit YourMenopause.com or
TheRedDressDiary.com - the destination for fabulous women over 40!

Heart Healthy Chocolate Goes Right To The Hips!

If you've been tossing back those Dove Bars and Hershey's Kisses in hopes of gaining some protection from heart disease, I hope you're smiling while you're eating ...because that might be the only help your heart is getting.

Sad, but true, as new research emerges showing that a key process used in making all types of yummy chocolate confections may reduce it's heart healthy benefits leaving us with nothing more than hip-heavy woes.

In a study published in this months Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, researchers reveal that much of the flavanoid content that gives cocoa it's heart-healthy effects, is largely lost during a preparatory step known as "alkalising," - a process used during the manufacture of chocolate to help make it easier to digest. The alkalising process, say the study group, reduces chocolate's benefits by up to two-thirds.

Moreover, before you plunk down a day's salary for that high priced premium chocolate with the higher cocoa content, there's something else you should know: A higher level of cocoa content is no guarantee that you'll also be getting a higher level of flavanoids.

The reason? Research shows that chocolate with higher levels of rich, healthy cocoa frequently requires more alkalising in order to make it taste so yummy. And you guessed it ...the more alkalising that's done the less flavanoids remain.

To conduct the current study researchers examined numerous types of commercial cocoa powders used in making chocolate. They measured levels of several chemicals related to the antioxidant protection of flavanoids both before and after undergoing the manufacturing process.

What they found: The average loss of flavanoid content was 60% - with the loss of certain types of flavanoids as high as 86%.

The good news: Many major chocolate manufacturers are conducting research of their own, each learning new ways to maintain chocolate's healthful benefits while still allowing for the processes necessary to make it taste so good.

And that means that better, more nutritious chocolate is definitely on the way!

But why wait for that? For now, we can just eat more to make up the difference. Really, who has time to wait for science ?:)

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Published online ahead of print April 2008, doi: 10.1021/jf0728754
"Flavanol and Flavanol Contents of Cocoa Powder Products: Influence of the Manufacturing Process"
Authors: C Andres-Lacueva, M Monagas, N Khan, M Izquierdo-Pulido, M Urpi-Sarda, J Permanyer and R M Lamuela-Raverntos

Sex, Menopause & Red Lace Bras

You've all seen the commercial, I know: He's a 50-something in the wet suit with surf board; she's a 40 -something in a bathing suit by his side; their slogan " Never trust anyone over 90".

It's a commerical for hair dye. But no matter. The bigger message seems to be that the generation that introduced us to free love - and then, later on, more costly Viagra - are still supposed to be spending all their free time in speedos and red lace thongs, having sex in the back of a day-glo van.

And I guess, for some, maybe that's true. But when you talk to baby boomer women ....well you know for sure it's not true for everybody. Indeed, as millions of boomer-age gals enter perimenopause and then transgress to menopause and beyond, many say they check their sex drive at the door.

"It's the number one lifestyle complaint I hear from my patients - they just don't feel like having sex, and they can't understand why," says NYU cardiologist Nicea Goldberg, MD, author of the brand new Complete Guide To Women's Health.

Experts say one reason a woman's sex drive takes a dive during middle age is that her desire to intimacy isn't just a physical urge the way it is for men. For women, the desire for sex is very much tied up in emotion.

"Part of the desire to make love is clearly physical, but part is also emotional – so almost any emotional issue in a woman's life has the capacity to impact her sex drive," says Glenn D. Braunstein, MD, an endocrinologist and chair of the department of medicine at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

So okay, I think it's safe to assume that most of us are not exactly at our emotional best when going through menopause. I get that. We all get that.

But midlife doesn't have a strangle hold on crappy emotions. They also occur when we're single, when we're pregnant, when we lose a job or a friend or a really great hairdresser - and that can happen anytime in life. And is our sex drive always affected?

Well it is. But the difference is, when we are young it seems to sort of drift back on it's own, without much prompting on our part. Not so as we age. In fact, studies show that once you're past 45 or so, the longer you stay away from sex, the longer you're going to stay away - even if your emotional ups and downs taper off.

Which is why many experts believe that emotions alone don't tell the whole story when it comes to mid life women and sex. Problems are, in fact, clearly tied to something that is happening physiologically - most prominently, rapidly shrinking ovaries and all the hormonal cha-chas that go with it.

"The very fact that a woman is no longer ovulating regularly, or not ovulating at all, automatically has to take her sex drive down a few notches," says Steven Goldstein, MD, professor of ob-gyn and NYU Medical Center in New York City.

Indeed, as every woman knows, that time frame just before and right after you ovulate is probably the sexiest time of the month - not a mistake on mother nature's part, for sure, since this is also the time when we are mostly likely to get pregnant.

But fast forward a few dozen years and ovulation begins to dwindle and, eventually, stop. And when it does, that little monthly boost to our sex drive that's been occurring since, oh, I don't know, junior high school, well it takes a hike.

Are you gonna notice? You betcha.

"Many women feel that 'bump' much more than others, but every woman feels it to some degree," says Goldstein.

Add to this the fact that when our ovaries begin to check out, so does all that estrogen that has been casually free-floating through our veins, moistening up all those dry nooks and crannies and basically making the act of having sex feel as good as the thought of wanting it.

The end result: The era of free love can feel like it's coming to a much unexpected screeching halt.

NOW...The Good News!

For many women, just the simple act of understanding what is going on physiologically is enough to allow them relax about things - and let the changes that are going to take place anyway, run their course. Oftentimes, as our bodies gets used to lowered hormone levels and the other changes, we get past that "bump" in the road, and find a new, and some say even sexier path to follow.

And certainly, you can always put the aging process on hold for a bit with HRT - hormone replacement therapy. While it's no longer recommended for long term use, certainly in the short term, it is okay for some women - and the extra estrogen alone will give you an almost immediate boost to your desire for sex.

But if either of those options don't sound quite right for you, take heart - there are still things you can try. Indeed, the experts I talked to say there is no reason for any woman to put her sex life on the back burner no matter her age - and talking to your doctor about it can help. To this end, here's a few logs to throw on the fire - and get the conversation going!

1. Get your thyroid tested and have your doctor check for iron deficiency anemia. Expert say both disorders can impact your sex drive - and both are easy to fix.

2. Talk to your doctor about local estrogen therapy -creams and suppositories you apply directly to your V zone. They don't have the same kind of systemic effects of oral estrogens,
( they remain, for the most part, where you put them) but they can help soothe dry V zone tissue and add the juice necessary to make sex feel good again - in and of itself a boost to your sex drive.

3. If you're looking for an "all natural" solution, try Vitamin E. Used locally in the V zone, studies show it can rehydrate tissue and increase sensation. Apply it several times a week, whether or not you're anticipating sex, and over a few weeks time you should begin to feel an increased sensation in your V zone. You can also get a similar effect using KY Jelly or products like Astroglide - but again, doctors say the key is to use them every day, not just when you're going to have sex.

Sex, Menopause and Victoria's Secret

Finally, it's also important to keep in mind that you shouldn't feel obligated to emerge from menopause swinging from a chandelier in Victoria Secret underwear. For some, particularly those who no longer have a partner, a reduced sex drive may actually be a welcome change - and not something you'd be eager to transform.

In fact, even for those with partners, sometimes a lessened sex drive comes about naturally for both - often replaced by other intimate bonding experiences. If this is the case for you and your partner , then please don't talk yourself into a problem that doesn't exist.

There is nothing wrong with you - and you don't need treatment!

In fact, as Goldstein reminds us, "Just because your sex drive may be different at midlife it doesn't mean there is something wrong or that you have to try and fix it. If less sex isn't bothering you, your partner, or your relationship, then take heart -- you are maturing in the way nature intended."

For more ways to handle all the changes occurring in midlife visit www.YourMenopause.com - The Source For Midlife News & Information.

Old & Original vs. New & Improved

Is it just me? Or have you also noticed that the very moment you find something you really, really love - a shampoo that doesn't make it look like you slept in a food service hair net, a lipstick in the perfect shade of red, a laundry detergent that doesn't leave your clothes smelling like fertilizer ... the company goes and changes the formula?

Like me, do you now live in fear of the words "New and Improved"? Do you shake your head and wonder, where is the "new" and heaven help us, where is the "improved"?

Case in point: I have been buying Columbo Low Fat Plain yogurt in 32 ounce containers since, well, for so long I can't even remember when I started. So I hit the grocery store this week to pick up my weekly 4 container stash, and here I discover that the cool little label with the old fashioned barn and the friendly looking cow has changed. It's still a barn and it's still a cow, but it looks somehow different - kind of like a high tech barn and some sort of automated looking high tech cow. But I figure hey, it's a label change, what could be the harm? So naive.

Once at home, I taste the yogurt. My BLEECH was heard across the neighborhood. I flipped the container and looked at the ingredient label. I wasn't sure. It looked like similar ingredients ...but maybe not.

I dug into the kitchen garbage where just this morning I tossed the empty container from last week and I had, as Oprah would call it, my A HA moment! There was my proof. They had changed the formula. There it was again ...new and improved.

Not only that, but in the process they added a half gram of fat per serving and more saturated fat. And, ended up with a taste remarkably reminiscent of chalky diarrhea medicine only in semi-solid form . With more acid. Go figure.

But yucky tasting breakfast food and disappointed taste buds aside, this experience did get me thinking about this whole new and improved thing, which, as you know, isn't really just about yogurt. Or shampoo. Or laundry detergent. In a strange kind of way it's also about what each of us is doing every single day when we turn away from that fabulous 40 something face in the mirror, deciding "new and improved" would be better.

Wrinkle injections. Line fillers. Plastic surgery. Face peels. New and improved? Sometimes. But not always.

Which is not to say I'm against self improvement. Heaven's no! When improvement is what you really get.

But just like in aisle four or the frozen food section, sometimes "new and improved" isn't really new and improved at all - maybe just a little bit different. And sometimes, like my beloved Columbo yogurt, not better at all.

So I guess what I'm really saying here is that as you stand on that threshold of deciding whether to spend your hard earned dollars on temporary wrinkle injections aimed at giving you that "new and improved " look for a few months - OR - taking that fabulous summer vacation bound to net you a pocketful of memories to last a lifetime, give a little extra thought to taking that vacation looking just the way you are.

Because the truth is, as it goes in the supermarket, so too it goes in life: Sometimes, "old and original" is just as good as "new and improved". And sometimes even better.

Menopause Symptoms & IVF: Connected?

If you're wondering if those hormone-based fertility treatments you had in your 30's or 40's are going to come back to haunt you again in the form of an early or extended menopause - take a deep breath and relax.

A new study published in the British journal Reproductive Bio Medicine reports no links between the use of fertility medications and early or severe menopause symptoms.

The study, which was the first to look at the long term effects of IVF (in vitro fertilization) during the menopause years, included some 200 women who had just turned 50 years old. They were among the first women to receive IVF treatmetns in the 1980's.

The result: According the national averages in Great Britain, the women who under went IVF did not start menopause any sooner than other women in their age group, nor did they experience any more severe or lasting symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings.

Study Answers Some Questions - Not All
While the new report is reassuring in regard to menopause symptoms, it still does not tell us if women who used fertility medications may be at increased risk for either ovarian or breast cancer, later in life. This is particularly important since some earlier studies have indicated possible links between fertility drugs and ovarian cancer.

At least one type of fertility medication frequently used in conjunction with IVF helps a woman produce more eggs. It is this stimulation -and the additional estrogen involved in that process - that may play a role in some estrogen-sensitive cancers, including certain types of breast and ovarian cancers.

What you can do right now: If you used fertility drugs in your 30's or 40's - whether or not you conceived - make certain your current gynecologist and your primary care doctor have this information. Then discuss whether or not you may benefit from more frequent mammograms, or periodic vaginal sonograms used to accurately assess the health of your ovaries.
To find more information on menopause symptoms, breast cancer risks, and other mid life health issues visit YourMenopause.com - The source for midlife health.

New Genetic Link To Osteoporosis

Let's face it - we all should be taking in more calcium, doing more weight bearing exercises and generally taking better care of our bones. But unfortunately, since the threat of osteoporosis isn't something we see or feel, many of us roll the dice and just hope we aren't among the millions of women affected by this bone thinning disease - and the leading medical cause of fractures in women.

Now, according to new research just published in the British journal Lancet, there may be a new way to discover if, in fact, we are at risk - years, even decades before our bones begin breaking.

The research confirms the presence of two genetic mutations which are present together in about 20% of all white women - and when they occur, the risk of both osteoporosis and bone fracture is almost a sure thing.

The study involved a total of more than 8500 participants - 2,000 women from Great Britain and 6,500 men and women from other European countries. The two genetic variants - one a protein involved in bone building (LRP5), the other found in a receptor that is involved in the bone remodeling process, something that occurs throughout our lifetime. When present together , these two genetic variations represent a higher risk of osteoporosis and a history of bone fracture occurring with very little impact.

Moreover, the study reports that both these genetic variants show up early in life - years or even decades before the fractures begin.

What does this mean in "real time"? At the moment, nothing - the tests used in the study are not yet commercially available.

That said, the future is not that far off - and knowing you are indeed at risk means you have the opportunity to stop the damage before it occurs.

The good news: You can start the protection now! What to do: Increase your calcium intake with 3 to 4 servings of low-fat or no-fat dairy every day; do bone building exercises like walking, or weight lifting; talk to your doctor about whether or not calcium supplements can help - and whether you can benefit from a quick, painless bone density test.

Still need another reason to take care of your bones starting now? Does the name Manolo Blahnik mean anything to you? If you want to keep wearing those sexy high heels as long as you can - start eating some yogurt now!

To read more about bone health visit YourMenopause.com