MenoWoman

Guides

Plain-English guides that compare options side by side: medicines, tests, services and products, each checked against the evidence.

Start here: understanding menopause

  • PerimenopausePerimenopause explained: the full list of symptoms, how long it lasts, how it differs from menopause, how it is diagnosed and which treatments work.
  • Signs of perimenopause at 40Early signs of perimenopause in your 40s: period changes, sleep and mood. Why blood tests often do not help, what to rule out and when to see a doctor.
  • Stages of menopauseThe stages of menopause explained with STRAW+10: perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause, what defines each and how to tell which stage you are in.
  • Menopause ageThe average age of menopause is about 51 to 52 in the US and UK. See the normal range, how it differs by region, what shifts it, and what counts as early.
  • PostmenopausePostmenopause explained: how long symptoms last, vaginal, bladder, bone and heart changes, which treatments still help, and bleeding red flags.
  • Early menopause and POIEarly menopause and premature ovarian insufficiency (POI): what counts as early, causes, tests, why guidelines advise hormones, fertility and support.
  • Surgical menopauseSurgical menopause after ovary removal: sudden symptoms, how it differs from a hysterectomy that keeps the ovaries, HRT options, and BRCA and cancer.
  • Menopause and heart healthWhy heart disease risk rises after menopause: cholesterol, blood pressure and belly fat, what the AHA says, HRT timing, and heart attack signs in women.
  • Menopause at workMenopause in the workplace: UK Equality Act guidance, new menopause action plans, adjustments that help and how to tell your boss. Not legal advice.

Comparisons and buying guides

  • At-home menopause testsAre at-home menopause tests accurate? What urine and blood FSH tests measure, why they can't diagnose perimenopause, and what guidelines advise instead.
  • Cooling sheets for night sweatsCooling sheets for night sweats: what bamboo, lyocell, percale, linen and wool do, what the little research shows, and how cooling toppers compare.
  • Do menopause supplements work?Do menopause supplements work? An evidence-rated look at black cohosh, soy, red clover and more, plus liver safety and St John's wort drug interactions.
  • Estrogen patch vs pill vs gelEstrogen patch vs pill vs gel: how transdermal and oral estrogen differ, what guidelines say about blood clot risk, and how HRT gel compares with a patch.
  • Midi vs Alloy vs EvernowMidi vs Alloy vs Evernow: how these US online menopause doctors differ on insurance, clinicians, visits and treatments. Check current prices on each site.
  • Nutrafol vs ViviscalNutrafol vs Viviscal for menopause hair thinning: ingredients, who funded the trials, biotin lab-test risks, and how they compare with minoxidil.
  • Pajamas for night sweatsBest pajamas for night sweats: how wool, cotton, lyocell and moisture-wicking sleepwear compare, what small studies show, and simpler ways to stay cool.
  • Shampoo for thinning hairBest shampoo for thinning hair in menopause: what ketoconazole, caffeine and volumizing shampoos can and cannot do, and why minoxidil works better.
  • Vaginal estrogen vs moisturizerVaginal estrogen vs moisturizer for menopause dryness: what each does, which guidelines suggest first, and whether low-dose vaginal estrogen is safe.