Perimenopause is more than a hormonal transition—it can also be a time of profound personal transformation. As the brain undergoes another period of change during midlife, many women find themselves...
The environment shapes more than the world around us. From air quality and chemical exposures to workplace conditions and early life experiences, the environments we live in can influence when...
The menopause industry is booming, but not every product, test, or treatment is backed by good science. From hormone panels and compounded therapies to supplements, social media influencers, and telemedicine...
While many women experience “brain fog” during the menopausal transition, research shows that healthy lifestyle habits—including regular exercise, quality sleep, and cardiovascular health—remain among the most effective ways to protect...
Humans are one of only a handful of species in which females routinely live decades beyond their reproductive years. One leading explanation, known as the “grandmother hypothesis,” suggests older women...
About 20 percent of women experience depression during the menopausal transition, and many more report increased anxiety, irritability, mood swings, or changes in sexual desire. Yet these symptoms are rarely...
About 1.3 million women in the United States enter menopause each year, but the transition often begins long before the final menstrual period. In fact, perimenopause can start in a...
Across cultures and throughout history, humans have turned to something beyond themselves in moments of uncertainty—seeking guidance, meaning, or comfort when outcomes are unknown. Whether through prayer, ritual, or quiet...
Air pollution is linked to millions of deaths worldwide each year, and exposure to environmental toxins has been associated with long-term impacts on cardiovascular, neurological, and reproductive health. Yet for...
Money decisions are often framed as logical—but when risk enters the picture, emotions, timing, and life circumstances quickly complicate the equation. From career moves and caregiving responsibilities to investing, debt...
Risk in health care is often presented as a number—but what those numbers actually mean, and how we interpret them, is far less straightforward. With the growing influence of misinformation...
Workplaces are one of the most common places adults form relationships—and one of the most complex environments for social risk. In the social domain of risks, Kirtly Jones, MD, and...
From early relationships to midlife pair bonding, social expectations, identity, and evolving desires shape the decisions people make about love and connections. In the emotional domain of risks, Lisa Diamond...
Every day, women weigh risks—whether it is deciding to start a medication, pursue a medical procedure, invest in their health, or even consider pregnancy. Yet the way humans assess risk...
Family planning decisions are never purely medical—they are shaped by belief systems, moral frameworks, cultural traditions, and deeply personal values. Questions about contraception, fertility treatment, and pregnancy care intersect with...
Where you live—and what surrounds you—can quietly shape your family planning journey long before you ever step into a clinic. From the air you breathe to the health care systems...
Informed family planning can influence life trajectories. Historically, children were considered economic assets: laborers, caregivers in old age, and contributors to survival in agricultural societies. But as industrialization reshaped society...
For decades, contraception and family planning have been shaped by scientific discovery—but also by misinformation, flawed research, and cultural narratives that refuse to die. In recent years, social media has...
Decisions about family planning rarely happen in isolation. In the U.S., access to contraception, fertility care, and pregnancy-related services is shaped not only by individual choice, but by partners, families...
Family planning may sound like a logical process—timelines, contraceptive options, fertility planning, spreadsheets of pros and cons—but for most people, the emotional weight far outweighs the math. Fear, hope, excitement...
Nearly half of all pregnancies in the U.S. are unplanned. Physically preparing for or preventing pregnancy is a central part of family planning, but what that looks like varies widely...
