Tag:

Estrogen

Should I Get Genetic Testing For Breast Cancer? Should I Get Genetic Testing For Breast Cancer?
Should I Get Genetic Testing For Breast Cancer? Dear Doctor, My mom and grandmother both had breast cancer. I’m assuming it’s genetic, but I’ve never gotten the test to confirm. Should I get tested—and how can I reduce the risk of getting it myself? Sincerely, “Concerned and Curious” Dear Concerned: I understand why you’re worried. Anywhere from about 5% to 10% of all breast cancer cases are hereditary—meaning they’re caused by a gene mutation passed on from a parent. The most common of these are mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, which cause about half of all hereditary cases. If there is a family history of breast cancer at an …
Does Menopause Keep You Awake At Night? Does Menopause Keep You Awake At Night?
Does Menopause Keep You Awake At Night? Hormones affect your mood and sleep, especially as you age. In fact, about 61 percent of women who are past menopause (the one-year anniversary of your last period) and almost 80 percent of women who are in perimenopause (when your body starts to transition toward menopause) report sleep problems. Why? Because your ovaries are slowing down their production of the sleep-promoting hormone progesterone, and also because you might be overcome with major sleep disrupters such as hot flashes or night sweats due to lower estrogen levels.  When estrogen levels begin to decline rapidly…