Blog Archive
Although many people think of reproductive hormones when they hear the phrase “hormonal imbalance” the fact is your body produces many hormones that have nothing to do with your reproductive system — and they’re essential for your overall good health. When you have too much or too little of just...
Menopause is one of the most significant shifts in a woman’s life, marking the end of her childbearing years and the beginning of a time that many women find liberating. However, a host of accompanying symptoms can affect a woman’s well-being, from her sleep quality and emotional state to sudden,...
Most people know that libido is another word for sexual desire, but what many don’t know is that your libido is affected by lots of factors. Fluctuations in any of those factors can have a major impact on your level of sexual desire, and it can take a toll on...
Sex is a part of our lives and deeply affects personal relationships and our overall self-image. Sexual dysfunction is a common problem for women, with 40% complaining about a variety of issues, including lack of interest, inability to reach an orgasm, or experiencing pain during or after. Painful sex often...
Many people think of hormones as chemicals that play a role in reproduction and sexual health, but they actually do a lot more than that. Hormones play key roles in many aspects of health, regulating your body temperature, mood, metabolism, growth, and more. Like other aspects of your health and...
Most women can expect their first menstrual period by 15, and they generally continue until reaching 45-55. However, aging causes periods to become irregular and eventually cease. After a year without a menstrual cycle, you have officially entered menopause — the end of your reproductive era. Perimenopause signals the decline...
When women suffer from pain during sex, too many think it’s something that should be endured without complaining. You might lose the desire for intimacy based on how uncomfortable sex typically is for you. But, when you speak up about your symptoms, you learn that you’re not alone and that...
The ebb and flow of desire throughout your life is as natural as changing seasons. But when the fire seems to flicker out, especially as the flames from your birthday candles increase, it understandably ignites questions and concerns. Frankly, the topic of sexual desire or libido doesn’t pop up in...
Bioidentical hormone therapy restores lost hormones, and is the most effective treatment for relieving related symptoms, such as mood swings, memory problems, hot flashes, and night sweats. However, there are a number of misconceptions about Bioidentical hormone therapy that can cause confusion. The team of skilled providers here at The...
Estrogen receptors are found all over your skin, including in your vagina. These receptors, when estrogen is at an optimal level, maintain hydration and skin flexibility. The effects of low estrogen can be seen on the face as signs of aging appear. In women with low estrogen levels, whether caused...
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered dramatic changes throughout everyday life — and in the medical community as well. Not only are providers across the country postponing elective procedures, but many are also encouraging people to avoid in-office appointments to reduce their risk of exposure to this highly contagious coronavirus.But what...
If you’ve noticed uncomfortable changes in your vagina as the years pass, you’re far from alone. Up to three in five postmenopausal women report experiencing persistent vaginal dryness, which is a primary sign of vaginal atrophy. While some people chalk it up to “normal” aging, this inflammatory condition isn’t something...
If you see someone coughing and sneezing, you know you should keep your distance and wash your hands to reduce your chance of exposure to their cold. The prevention process is not always that easy when it comes to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). STDs are caused by bacteria or viruses...
It’s not uncommon for your sex drive — or libido — to fluctuate throughout your life. However, if you feel like your libido has taken a hit and just isn’t at the level you’d like it to be, it can feel discouraging. Low libido is when you have a diminished...
Painful urination and intercourse are just two of the hallmarks of low estrogen. However, not everyone is a good candidate for hormone replacement therapy. Women with a history of blood clots and estrogen-dependent cancers aren’t good candidates for estrogen replacement therapy even if they’re deficient in estrogen. If you aren’t...
You know you need to keep your child home from school when they have a fever. But, you may wonder: When do I need to schedule a sick visit? Parents all over the United States debate this question on a daily basis. We get it. At The Well for Health, our...
Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and it does a lot for you, such as protect you from bacteria and viruses and keep out pollution and other harmful substances in the environment. Things both inside and outside your body can start to affect your skin. While internal factors like...
When it comes to getting older as a woman, menopause receives a lot of focus. However, there's a phase before menopause, called perimenopause, that presents its own set of changes and challenges. Perimenopause can last 4 to 10 years leading up to menopause, and it's marked by a gradual and...
Your heart sends oxygen-rich blood throughout your body to fuel your organs, muscles, and other tissues. Every heartbeat puts pressure against the walls of your veins and arteries, and this pressure is how blood moves within your body. Your body needs a certain amount of blood pressure to function at...
Painful sex is often a side effect of menopause, the time when your body slows its production of reproductive hormones like estrogen. This decline in estrogen can lead to vaginal dryness, itching, and other symptoms that contribute to pain during sex. At The Well for Health, our experienced medical team provides innovative, nonsurgical treatments...
Dementia is never easy for the person losing their memory or their loved ones who help them. It is a significant illness, but sometimes it is not always dementia causing memory loss. Researchers have found vitamin B deficiencies can cause symptoms of dementia and worsen them. At The Well for...
Whether you’re a snowboarder, skier, ice skater, or snowman builder, winter turns the tri-state area into a hub of activity for young and old alike. But if you have arthritis, you may be less than enthusiastic about the cold days ahead. If your arthritic joints freeze up in the winter,...
Your body features many systems that need to work together in harmony. From metabolism and respiration to reproduction and sleep, your body’s functions are varied and vital — and they need to be coordinated. That is where hormones come in. They serve as chemical messengers throughout your body to relay...
Losing your interest in sex can make you feel frustrated and embarrassed. Fortunately, there are treatments for low libido. At The Well for Health in Davidson, North Carolina, Diane Parks, NP, and our team look at the root cause of your low sex drive before treating it. Though your sex...
Can you imagine trying to get through your day, never knowing when severe cramps, sudden diarrhea, or never-ending constipation will take over and force you to find a bathroom? If you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), an attack can strike at any time. IBS prevents you from enjoying social activities,...
People use the terms perimenopause and menopause interchangeably. So when someone says they’re going through menopause, it’s likely they mean that they’re in perimenopause. Menopause is when you’ve gone a full 12 months without getting your period and marks the end of your reproductive years. Until that time, you’re transitioning...
From periods and pregnancy to childbirth and menopause, your vagina can go through quite a bit over the course of your lifetime. It’s no wonder then that 15% of women experience vaginal issues before menopause and a whopping 57% have trouble down there during and after menopause. But just because...
You may be celebrating that your periods have ended and you’ll never have to deal with menstruation and all that entails ever again. Yet, it’s no surprise that the transition to menopause is wrought with many changes and comes with plenty of frustrating symptoms, such as: Irritability Hot flashes Vaginal...
Hormones are chemical messengers that use your bloodstream to travel throughout your body to your tissues and organs. Did you know that your body houses 50 different types of hormones? They control a number of functions including metabolism, reproduction, growth, mood, and sexual health. If your body is producing too...
If you suffer from vaginal issues, such as incontinence, burning, itching, or the inability to lubricate during sexual activity, don’t be embarrassed. These symptoms are quite common among women and can easily be treated. Studies show that the MonaLisa Touch® laser therapy is one of the most successful treatments for...
As you near your late 40s and early 50s, your periods may become irregular as your menstrual cycle begins to subside. A woman is said to be in menopause when she has 12 consecutive months without any menstrual bleeding. Though it’s completely natural and a normal part of the aging...
Dementia is a catchall phrase for a number of brain illnesses that impair your memory and cognition. According to the World Health Organization, more than 50 million people currently have dementia, and that number is predicted to triple over the next four decades. If you’re concerned that your loved one...
Your hormones are messengers that regulate the majority of your body’s physical and mental functions. Balanced hormones are crucial to your overall wellness. That’s why our team at The Well for Health in Davidson, North Carolina, is passionate about identifying hormone imbalance and reversing it with customized therapies. To understand...
At The Well for Health in Davidson, North Carolina, it has always been our passion to help you optimize your health. While we’ve all been taking in the vast amount of fast-changing information about the COVID-19 outbreak, it has been our goal to continue to serve you in a way...
There are some milestones in a woman’s life that can affect vaginal health. Perhaps you’re noticing subtle or sudden changes in your vagina. Is your vaginal skin becoming loose? Are the muscles too lax? Are you experiencing vaginal dryness? These are all symptoms of the loss of estrogen, a hormone...
Before a woman officially enters menopause, there is a transitional phase called perimenopause. While menopause is the official conclusion of a woman’s reproductive years, perimenopause is an in-between time of declining fertility when you can still get pregnant. At The Well for Health in Davidson, North Carolina, our team of...
Special tissues in your body called endocrine glands secrete hormones into your bloodstream. Hormones are chemical messengers that control, coordinate, and regulate essential functions in your body. Unfortunately, there are a number of reasons that hormones can get out of balance and impact your health. Our team of expert health...
If you feel discouraged, frustrated, or even embarrassed by your lack of interest in sex, you’re not alone. Around 43% of women and 31% of men have reported sexual dysfunction problems, such as low sex drive. Young or old, male or female, no one is safe from low sex drive....
Functional medicine is a branch of healthcare that has quickly grown over the years and is now regarded as a successful approach. In fact, The Cleveland Clinic, an institution that’s consistently ranked among the top three hospitals in the United States, has dedicated its own clinic to functional medicine and...
Hormones are related to life events such as puberty, childbirth, or menopause. While these milestones are noteworthy, hormones are responsible for far more than you realize. As it happens, hormones are crucial to your emotional and physical well-being. Here at The Well For Health in Davidson, North Carolina, we know...
Hormones affect the quality of life of both men and women. When estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, thyroid, and growth hormones are out of whack, so are you. At The Well for Health, our expert practitioners respond to the signs that your body has a hormone issue with evaluation and replacement hormones...
Did you step into your kitchen and forget what you needed there? Or perhaps that perfect punchline to the joke you’re sharing with a friend suddenly eludes you. You may be wondering if these brain short-circuits are normal or if they’re something you need to worry about. Alzheimer’s disease is...
Dementia conditions affect millions of people worldwide, causing memory loss and other symptoms as people grow older. The most common form of dementia is caused by Alzheimer's disease (AD), with more than 5 million patients in the United States and about 30 million around the globe. While an AD diagnosis...
Vaginal dryness is what it sounds like, but it can also be accompanied by itching and discomfort, incontinence, and pain during sexual intercourse. And while it can affect women at any age, it’s more frequently found in women in or beyond menopause. If vaginal dryness is bothering you and negatively...
According to the World Health Organization, dementia affects about 50 million men and women across the globe. Over the next 30 years, that number is expected to triple. At The Well for Health in Davidson, North Carolina, we’re here to help. Our team of health specialists has experience helping...
According to the National Institute on Aging, the number of people with Alzheimer’s doubles every five years. Dr. Dale Bredesen has developed a treatment plan for Alzheimer's and dementia prevention. And he's shared his research with the doctors here at The Well for Health. The Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease &...
Hormones are chemicals produced in your endocrine system. They travel through your bloodstream sending messages from your brain to your tissues and organs. Keeping your hormones in balance can keep your bodily functions running smoothly. Hormones help regulate an array of body functions such as metabolism, appetite, heart rate, sexual...
It’s not surprising that a significant number of women experience chronic vaginal dryness for the first time during middle age. Along with hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and low energy, vaginal dryness is one of the most common symptoms of menopause. But while other symptoms usually disappear once the...
Beating breast cancer is a triumph, but the effects of treatment can be devastating to your sex life. This is because anti-estrogen BRCA therapy can dramatically reduce your hormone levels, causing vaginal dryness or thinning of the vagina. The result can be painful intercourse. Reclaiming your libido is a legitimate...
Nearly everyone encounters a difference between your level of sexual interest and that of your partner. If you consistently find yourself disinterested in sex, and it impacts your quality of life or is negatively affecting your relationship, then you may wish to take a closer look at the causes. These...
Orgasms are one of our favorite parts about being women, and many of us wish they would happen more frequently. Only a small percentage of women can climax just from penetration, and at least 25 percent have trouble reaching orgasm at all. Learning more about how your body works during...