Hot flashes, mood swings and fatigue. You don’t have to be miserable because of perimenopause symptoms. “I try to tell my patients that these symptoms are normal, common and expected,” says Dr. Michelle Gainty, St. Joseph’s/Candler OB/GYN. There are hormonal therapy options that can include estrogen and/or progesterone that comes in the form of a pill or patch. There are also localized medications in the form of creams and gels. For women who want to stay away from hormonal options, some anti-depressants can help with hot flashes, in addition to moodiness, Dr. Gainty says. Be sure to talk to your physician before taking anything over-the-counter. More at https://www.sjchs.org/living-smart-blog/blog-details/blog/2023/08/22/surviving-perimenopause-what-women-need-to-know (fb)

One of the most common side effects of pregnancy is back pain. It’s unpredictable and often unpreventable. Most pregnant women should expect to experience back pain at some point in their pregnancy, says Brandy Aliotta, family nurse practitioner in the St. Joseph’s/Candler Physician Network – OB/GYN practice of Dr. Katherine Bebeau, Dr. Michelle Gainty and Dr. Aariel Dees. “It won’t last the entire nine months, but most women at some point do experience back pain,” Aliotta says. “It can happen in any trimester too. It’s not just towards the end when you are the largest. Actually some women feel their best at the very end.” Aliotta offers lots of ideas for treating pregnancy back pain at https://www.sjchs.org/living-smart-blog/blog-details/blog/2025/05/15/12-ways-you-can-manage-back-pain-during-pregnancy (fb)