HRT patches are popular partly because they have lower blood clotting risks than oral estradiol

America doesn't have enough estradiol patches for menopause and perimenopause demand

Fueled in part by the lifting of the FDA's black box warning about HRT risks, sales of estradiol patches in the US have shot upward. More than 142 million units of the patches were sold in 2025 versus 46.5 million in 2020. Suppliers are failing to keep up with demand—11 patch products were in short supply in early 2026. (Some users may experience a paywall.)

There are multiple HRT options to treat menopause and perimenopause symptoms

This lengthy video features a board-certified OB/GYN based in Texas who provides a thorough overview of the different formulations for HRT, used to treat symptoms including hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and mood swings, and the pros and cons of each. She also discusses modern synthetic options versus the older formulation extracted from the urine of confined pregnant horses.

HRT for menopause may not help with mental health or sleep says a large 2026 analysis

A recent analysis investigating the effects of menopause and HRT use on mental health, cognition, and brain health suggested HRT did little or nothing to aid with mental health and sleep. But the researchers caution that, among other data gaps, they didn't have information on which HRT formulations were used among their nearly 125,000 participants, so results may have varied by drug treatment.

27% of US menopausal women used estrogen in 1999, but by 2020 that number was under 5%

The fallout of studies in the early 2000s linking hormone therapy for menopause and elevated cancer, stroke, and other health risks meant that even decades later—yet before the FDA removed its black box warning in 2025—use of HRT remained extremely uncommon. (Some users may experience a paywall.)

Within months of a landmark 2002 study that indicated HRT harms, sales dropped by about half

In the early 2000s, Women's Health Initiative studies indicated HRT increased risk of breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke in some women—so many physicians stopped prescribing it to help with menopause symptoms. But further research has concluded that much of the elevated risk was overblown and that it was also disproportionately seen in women in their 70s who had been taking an older HRT formulation.

FDA has removed black box warnings from HRT for menopause

The agency removed the label in 2025, reversing its 2003 decision to warn women about HRT's links to stroke risk, developing cancer, and heart disease. Years of accumulating research have found that the risks had been overstated and unnecessarily deterred hormone therapy use. The agency still warns against using certain estrogen-alone products, however, due to elevated endometrial cancer risk.

Common hormone therapies to treat menopausal symptoms

While there is no cure for menopause, there are ways to treat some of the intense symptoms women experience during perimenopause. There are two main hormone therapies used, one in the form of a pill, gel, or patch to treat symptoms like hot flashes, and another in the form of a cream or ring to treat symptoms like vaginal dryness. Read this article to learn more about the different hormone therapies available for menopausal women.

It's never too late to start hormone replacement therapy for menopause symptoms

This board-certified gynecologist discusses how it's ideal to start estradiol as soon as possible after menopause to maximize its benefits, but that if older women have healthy hearts they can still start these medications later, in consultation with their doctors, and the products could be useful if women are continuing to suffer from symptoms of menopause or want to fight bone loss.

Gender-affirming hormone therapy cues changes similar to puberty

When HRT is part of gender affirmation care, people receive regular doses of estrogen or testosterone to alter hormone levels to more closely align with those of cis individuals of that biological sex. HRT may affect voice pitch, body hair, bone density, and more. Many of those changes are not reversible with the cessation of therapy, though the effects may diminish.

MS Drugs reduce inflammation, helping reduce relapses and slow disease progression

Disease-Modifying Drugs calm the body's inflammatory response to help stave off relapses—when new or existing MS symptoms show up for a day or longer. Avoiding smoking, exercising, reducing stress via mindfulness, checking for vitamin D deficiencies, drinking more water and eating well, all can slow disease progression. [The jury's still out on if HRT around the time of menopause may reduce dementia risk](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhl/article/PIIS2666-7568(25)00122-9/fulltext) Estrogen can reduce inflammation and support neural growth in the brain, and some research has suggested that beginning hormone replacement therapy around menopause—versus later in life—reduces Alzheimer's disease risk. Still, a recent systematic review concluded that taking HRT didn't affect dementia risk, regardless of when women started taking it, so the science remains unsettled.

Estrogen is a really important hormone for men, too

Many people may be familiar with the idea that too much estrogen can cause infertility and other complications, including erectile dysfunction, but too little estrogen is also a significant medical concern because it can result in a reduced sex drive and limit overall growth.

Premarin, the hormone medication derived from pregnant horses, is 'PREgnant MARes urINe'

Scientists in the late 1920s and early 1930s discovered estrogens could be extracted from human placenta, and then isolated it from the urine of pregnant women. But researchers discovered the urine of pregnant horses had similar substances and the horse product was much easier to collect in significant amounts—leading to Premarin.

The word allergy is partly derived from the Greek word 'allos' for 'other'

For people with allergies, their immune systems recognize substances as a harmful "other"—cuing an inflammatory response. This podcast explores allergy details and related topics, including how scientists are interested in if the same allergic response mechanisms could underpin other health issues, including severe, painful symptoms around the time of menstrual cycles. Since estrogen acts on white blood cells called mast cells, which leads to the release of histamines—similar to what happens during allergic responses—an understudied question is whether the same process is fueling some of the uncomfortable symptoms around menstruation. An allergist guest notes this raises questions about if antihistamine medications like Pepsid might alleviate them, something that hasn't yet been explored in clinical trials.

Certain medications that affect blood flow or mood boost the risk of heatstroke

Drugs that narrow blood vessels, beta blockers that regulate blood pressure, diuretics, antidepressants, and antipsychotics can all affect the body's ability to regulate its internal body temperature, and so individuals taking these medications need to take special care in extreme heat and when exercising in hot conditions.

Risks of GLP-1s include health side effects, counterfeit drugs, and more

This episode interviews researchers and patients who have used semaglutide to explore some of the potential risks associated with using the drug to lose weight. These include insurance challenges, health scares related to counterfeit versions of these drugs, and some users lose their ability to enjoy food.

Blood clotting is critical to maintaining life, but dysfunctional clots can be fatal

Clotting is how our body stops bleeding in the event of an injury. Typically, platelets adhere to exposed tissue, becoming sticky and forming a plug. Chemical signals trigger the coagulation cascade, converting fibrinogen into fibrin threads that stabilize the plug. This prevents bleeding but can obstruct vessels if overactive or misplaced.

Privacy advocates warn menstrual cycle apps could put women at legal risk in certain states

Smartphone apps that women may use to track their menstrual cycle and identify times of peak ovulation are not covered by data privacy laws. Included data could potentially be used against women during prosecution in states with abortion restrictions.

Why taking potassium iodide to protect against radioactivity is unlikely to be effective

Since the thyroid gland cannot distinguish between radioactive and non-radioactive iodine, taking potassium iodide pills causes the thyroid to absorb the medication, leaving it unable to take up radioactive iodine from the environment. However, while this protects the sensitive gland against the most prominent radioisotope produced in nuclear accidents, it does not protect other body parts or shield against other radioactive substances.

How to put on a hedge

These days, hedging your portfolio isn’t just for hedge fund managers. An explainer from Robinhood delves into what a hedged position actually is, why traders put on hedges, and how you, too, can work to guard your holdings against a market downturn. The idea is to derive gains from your portfolio when markets are trending up, down, or sideways.

Supplements are only typically recommended for those with a proven deficiency

Blood tests and other dietary screening tools by clinicians and nutritionists can indicate whether someone is deficient in needed vitamins or minerals, and those results can then lead to a personalized care plan that may include supplements. Supplements can negatively interact with certain medications, so it's important to speak with your doctor about supplements before taking them.

Are seed oils as bad as rumors say?

Some claim seed oils—oils extracted from seeds, such as sunflower or canola—increase inflammation and disease risk, advising consumers reach for saturated fats instead. Saturated fats, typically solid at room temperature, are found in animal products and some vegetable oils, including coconut. When adjusting for lifestyle risk factors, research shows seed oils are, on average, good for one's heart and considered healthy alternatives to saturated fat.

Some argue that annuities are particularly good options for women

Women live longer than men, meaning they’ll likely be retired for longer. Annuities can provide them with a guaranteed income stream during their retirement years, even if the rest of their retirement plan doesn’t last.

The hormonal disorder PCOS was renamed PMOS in 2026, a move designed to improve care and research by shifting the focus to the hormonal causes of this condition that affects 1 in 8 women.

A scholarly analysis of romance's enduring popularity

Diane Winston, a media scholar at the University of Southern California, argues that romance novels have remained popular because they've historically offered women shame-free ways to explore their identities and sexualities. She notes that's even more true today, with contemporary romance novels, from romantasy bestsellers to "Heated Rivalry," more willingly explore social dynamics.

As of February 2025, there are more than 150 clinical trials using CRISPR technology

The clinical trials are designed to determine whether experimental CRISPR-related therapies are safe and effective. The majority of trials involve treatments for blood disorders, including beta thalassemia.

OTC hearing aids are now available in the US and cheaper than prescription ones

The devices, available in recent years, are typically more affordable than prescription ones and are intended for people with mild to moderate hearing loss, yet surveys suggest people often don't feel comfortable choosing one on their own. The nonprofit Consumer Reports ranked available OTC options to help patients navigate the market.

Telehealth demand for GLP-1s for weight loss is booming as consumers seek easier access.

Poison ivy's rash-causing compound is found in the plant's roots, stem, and leaves—so coming into contact with any part of the plant can lead to rashes for the 85% of people who are allergic to it.

Human-to-human transmission of hantavirus remains extremely rare, so the 2026 hantavirus cruise ship outbreak doesn't mean we're facing a COVID-style pandemic risk.

To reduce wrinkles in clothing, research recommends gentle wash cycles with more water and tumble drying with smaller loads and longer times.

Studies suggest when you sleep is as important as how much you get, and syncing with your circadian rhythms may lead to less fatigue and improved long-term health outcomes

Hookworm infection, though risky, may help fight certain autoimmune conditions by tamping down the immune system's inflammatory response.

Doctors differentiate between a phobia and fear by asking patients whether their fear interferes with their day-to-day activities.

Listen to an in-depth conversation on the links between Parkinson's disease and herbicide exposure and the challenging pace of scientific investigation.

Some renewable energy sources may weaken the resiliency of electric grids by removing outage buffers provided by coal- and natural gas-fired plants, which provide the system with more time to find a new power source if a plant goes down.

Astronauts have repaired genetic damage in space using CRISPR—a molecular tool that can make precise changes to DNA and is used in single-celled organisms to attack invasive viruses.

See images of medical cases of firework injuries shared on this 'Instagram for doctors.' (Warning: Graphic content)

While the first exchange-traded fund (a 'basket' of different assets that can be bought and sold on a stock exchange) in the US only launched in 1993, the global ETF market has grown to more than $10T in the short time since.

The distributor behind 'Rocky Horror' pulled the film from its scheduled national release, believing it would be a failure, though it eventually amassed a dedicated fanbase through midnight showings, a trend that continues over 50 years later.

The syncytiotrophoblast is the outer layer of the placenta and the largest human cell, spanning an area about twice that of a king-sized bedsheet.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict is the largest ground war in Europe since World War II in terms of casualties, forces mobilized, and displacement of civilians.

Artificial coral reefs have been 3D printed from nontoxic, biodegradable terracotta clay, which coral polyps have used as a foundation for rebuilding marine ecosystems.

Some coin denominations have ridges etched on their sides, partly to prevent counterfeiting, in a practice called 'reeding.'

The price of gas is a composite made up of several different factors, with the federal gas tax making up less than 20% of what drivers pay at the pump.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps is independent of Iran's regular army and is one of the most powerful and influential military-political organizations in the Middle East.

Shooting stars, or meteors, are fragments of asteroids and comets that burn up as they enter Earth's atmosphere, creating streaks in the sky called meteor showers.

Power lines are dotted with large, brightly colored balls to improve the visibility of these thin wires to helicopters and small planes and help prevent potential crashes.

20,000 letters to the advice columnist 'Dear Abby' provide insight into prevailing sex, religion, and LGBTQ fears, anxieties, and concerns from the 1950s onward.

Gerrymandering works through two techniques: cracking opposing voters across districts to dilute their power, and packing them into a few to waste their votes in lopsided majorities.

Brandi Chastain, the star of the 1999 US victory over China in the 1999 Women's World Cup, was a last-second choice to take the penalty kick that sealed the victory.