It’s not easy to talk about sex in a clear and open way. And it’s especially difficult if you’re a woman, who has been told her entire life not to freely engage in her sexuality, much less express it. Women who see me at The Body Well know my office is a safe space to discuss their bodies, but sex-related symptoms and issues are still challenging for so many women to disclose. Women experience a range of sexual challenges as they age, including not feeling sexy anymore, decreasing sex drive, pain during sex, and vaginal dryness. To make matters worse, women often experience these symptoms for a long time before telling anyone. It’s easy enough to understand why: in addition to cultural shaming, it’s difficult to talk with your partner … Read More
Suzanne Somers and Dr. Mike Carragher Talk Hormones in Men
I was recently asked to be interviewed by the incomparable Suzanne Somers on the benefits of Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) in men. Suzanne has done so much to educate women on the benefits of BHRT in women. But men also suffer from declining hormone levels as they age, and testosterone is usually not the only hormone that needs to be replaced! Men are also frequently told that their hormone levels are “normal” by their physicians, who are all to often unaware that it’s not just a lab number that indicates hormone deficiency or need for replacement. Watch this great interview and learn about the effects that declining hormone levels have in men and what you can do about it. To schedule an Age Management/Hormonal Optimization evaluation, call 1-323-874-9355
The Right Way To Treat Perimenopause
What Is Perimenopause? Perimenopause, meaning “around menopause,” refers to the time when a woman’s body is making its natural transition toward permanent infertility (menopause). During perimenopause, women experience a wide variety of symptoms and bodily changes, many of which are painful and frustrating. Hot flashes, weight gain, irregular periods, night sweats, and mood swings can all accompany the widely fluctuating hormone levels during this time in a woman’s life. On top of these symptoms, the normal course of biology can cause psychological stress for women, who often view menopause as a change in identity. Relationships can suffer if a woman’s partner and other family members, friends, or coworkers are unprepared or not willing to be understanding of any resulting shifts in her behavior and mood. Unfortunately, when women seek help … Read More
Why Can’t I Fall (or Stay) Asleep?
When a patient comes in saying that they’re having trouble falling (or staying) asleep, the first thing I do is check in with their sleep hygiene. Sleep hygiene is everything you do before bed; good sleep hygiene helps you fall asleep, stay asleep, and sleep deeply. Much of sleep hygiene relates to your exposure to light before and during sleep. Here’s a quick breakdown of some good sleep hygiene vs. bad sleep hygiene habits for you, as they relate to light exposure: The common factor: light You’ll notice a common factor here: light. It could be the lights in the bedroom, the glow of a laptop screen, or the green blip of a computer charger. Light is one of the most significant factors for being able to have a restful … Read More
Stress Is A Hormone Problem
Are you stressed out? I bet I can guess the answer. The truth is, most people that come to see me are holding an inordinate and unhealthy amount of stress. I don’t just mean the rushing, nervous, phone-checking, frazzled, distracted patients. They’re obviously stressed out, sure. But stress presents itself in every form imaginable. Stress is the number one health problem of our time. It’s linked to nearly all other health concerns, either causing or exacerbating them. So what is stress? Here’s the short answer: Stress is a cascade of events in the body set off by a thought, an action, emotion, a physical problem, or a life situation (also known as stressors). It can be beneficial or detrimental; stress isn’t bad or good in and of itself. But let’s … Read More