A Change in Weather, a Change in Health
Happy fall, y’all!
As the days grow short and we settle into fall, I want to share some timely reminders alongside some important developments in women’s health.
This fall brings particularly encouraging news for women in Illinois.
—Dr. Sogol Jahedi
Illinois Women Get Better Menopause Care
October is Menopause Awareness Month, and this time it brings good news from Springfield.
In August 2026, Governor Pritzker signed three new laws aimed at improving menopause care. They expand insurance coverage for certain hormonal and nonhormonal treatments; provide workplace protections for women with menopause-related symptoms; and promote menopause education for healthcare professionals.
Some of these laws take effect January 2027, while the insurance coverage provisions begin January 2028.
The legislation recognizes something I often discuss with my patients: As an important health transition, menopause deserves thoughtful, individualized care. Symptoms can affect sleep, mood, concentration, and overall quality of life. Yet women are regularly told these changes are simply something they must endure.
Fortunately, effective treatment options are available. So please bring up any perimenopause or menopause concerns during your visit! Together, we can explore an approach tailored to your individual needs.
See below for a handy overview from the Chicago Menopause Collective.
Breast Cancer: Your Prevention To-Dos
Fall is also a good time to revisit an important aspect of preventive health care: breast health.
For most women at average risk, routine screening mammography begins at age 40. Women with a strong family history, certain genetic risk factors, or other high-risk conditions may benefit from earlier or additional screening.
Breast Density and Supplemental Ultrasound. Dense breast tissue can make abnormalities harder to detect on mammography and is itself associated with a higher risk of breast cancer.
If you have dense breast tissue, I recommend a supplemental screening breast ultrasound in addition to mammography. Ultrasound can help identify abnormalities that may be obscured on mammography, providing an additional chance for early detection.
Under Illinois law, qualifying screening breast ultrasounds should be covered without patient cost-sharing. But this law doesn’t apply to every insurance plan, so I urge you to confirm your benefits. Contact our office if you have questions.
Genetic Testing for Hereditary Cancer Risk. For women with a strong family history of breast cancer or other cancers, genetic testing may provide valuable information about inherited cancer risk.
Our office offers Invitae hereditary cancer genetic testing for patients who may benefit from further evaluation. This testing can help spot inherited genetic variants linked to an increased risk of breast, ovarian, colon, and certain other cancers.
If you have a personal or family history of cancer, I encourage you to discuss it with me during your visit. In conversation, we can determine whether genetic testing is appropriate and how the results may help guide your screening recommendations and preventive care.
Vitamin D and Bone Health
As we prepare for another Chicago winter, I also want to highlight a nutrient that deserves special attention during the colder months: vitamin D.
Our bodies produce vitamin D when our skin is exposed to sunlight. However, during winter in northern climates like ours, the sun’s rays are often too weak to stimulate adequate vitamin D production. Spending more time indoors further limits sun exposure.
Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and maintain strong bones. This becomes extra important during and after menopause, when declining estrogen levels accelerate bone loss and increase the risk of osteoporosis.
Some vitamin D comes from our diet, but few foods naturally contain substantial amounts. Good sources include fatty fish like salmon, fortified milk and plant-based milk alternatives, and some fortified cereals.
Although vitamin D has attracted attention for its possible effects on inflammation, cardiovascular health, and healthy aging, research has not established that routinely taking higher doses prevents these conditions.
My advice is to be mindful of your vitamin D intake, especially during winter.
Maintaining strong bones involves more than calcium and vitamin D. Regular resistance and weight-bearing exercise, adequate protein intake, and attention to balance and fall prevention all support healthy aging.
In my practice, I generally recommend bone density screening starting five years after menopause to evaluate for osteoporosis, with earlier screening when individual risk factors warrant it.
Movement: Your Winter Priority
When temperatures drop and daylight grows scarce, it’s tempting stay indoors and just vegetate. But maintaining regular physical activity is key year-round — even more so during midlife and beyond.
Exercise preserves muscle mass, maintains bone strength, supports cardiovascular health, and improves sleep and mood.
A few ways to stay active this winter:
Take your walks indoors. Shopping malls, indoor tracks, and even short walks around your home can help you avoid a winter “hibernation.” Alternatively, invest in gloves and boots warm enough to let you keep walking outside. (The extra sunshine will feel great!)
Include strength training. Resistance bands, light weights, or body-weight exercises performed at home two to three times per week can help preserve muscle mass and support bone health.
Try an indoor class. Yoga, Pilates, swimming, or a fitness class can provide exercise and an chance for social connection. If novelty is the motivation you’ll need when the snow hits, try something new. Try hot yoga, or go ice skating.
Break up prolonged sitting. Even five to ten minutes of movement throughout the day can make a difference. Every bit counts. Consider walking while talking on the phone, or take a brief “exercise snack” between tasks.
Focus on FUN. Whether it’s dancing in your living room, using an online exercise video, or hopping on a stationary bike, consistency matters more than intensity.
For most adults, your goal is at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, along with muscle-strengthening activities at least twice weekly. It’s perfectly OK to start small and gradually build up. Find a winter routine that’s enjoyable, realistic, and sustainable. The perfect workout is the one you’ll want to do.
Walking is great for cardiovascular health, but it can’t replace resistance training for your muscles and bones. Both “cardio” and “weights” are important, particularly during and after menopause. In fact, the latest research shows the division between between the two isn’t so rigid: Women, especially, see significant cardio benefits from weight training.
Fall Wellness Reminders
Unfortunately, fall brings the start of cold and flu season. I encourage you to keep these preventive measures in mind:
Stay Current with Seasonal Vaccinations. We stock both COVID-19 and influenza vaccines in the office, so you can come in for your immunizations. From the data just released, it appears that flu season is starting early this year. The first cases have already appeared. This is a quick nurse visit—we’ll get you in and out.
Like your flu vaccine, COVID-19 shots are reformulated each year to target the current variants. The 2026-2027 vaccine is recommended for all adults, and major US health insurers plan to cover it with no patient cost-sharing. (Fortunately, last year’s worries regarding which health conditions would merit coverage seem to be behind us!)
Care for Yourself, too, this Winter. As daylight hours become shorter and we spend more time indoors, it’s not uncommon to notice changes in mood, energy, and motivation. For some women, these seasonal changes are compounded by the hormonal fluctuations of perimenopause and menopause.
A few simple habits can help support your emotional well-being in winter. Get outside during daylight hours—even if it’s just a short walk. Stay connected with friends and family. Maintain a consistent sleep schedule. Finally, make time for activities that bring you enjoyment.
If you find yourself experiencing persistent sadness, anxiety, loss of interest in activities, or significant changes in sleep or energy, please don’t dismiss these symptoms as menopause or “just part of winter.” Effective treatments and support are available.
Protecting your emotional health is just as important as caring for your physical health.
Looking Ahead
As we approach the end of another year, I want to thank you for the trust you place in me and my practice.
My goal has always been to provide thoughtful, individualized care and to create an environment where you feel comfortable discussing every aspect of your health.
I am encouraged by the growing attention being given to menopause and women’s midlife health. These conversations are long overdue, and I look forward to continuing them with you.
Wishing you and your families a healthy and enjoyable fall season.
Warmly,
Dr. Sogol Jahedi
Greta’s Corner
As Advanced Gynecology’s office manager, I am happy to welcome Veronica, our new medical assistant! Veronica brings 20-plus years of Ob/Gyn care to our office. Women’s health is her passion.
(replace Greta’s photo with Veronica’s)
(also? For patients with marketplace insurance plans, open enrollment for 2027 runs from November 1 through January 15. Premiums will increase, of course (☹️), but the hikes are forecast to be much smaller than one year ago. Cigna will leave the Illinois marketplace for 2027.
(also? deets on holiday hours?)
A Member Writes
I can't recommend my Dr. Jahedi enough! She is, without a doubt, my favorite doctor ever. From the moment I walk into the office, she makes me feel seen, heard, and completely comfortable. She takes the time to listen to my concerns, answers all of my questions without making me feel rushed, and genuinely cares about my health and well-being. … I'm incredibly grateful to have found her and would recommend her to anyone looking for an exceptional Ob/Gyn. She is truly the best!
—Jade A., patient
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