DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 55-year-old woman. To date, I have had two bone scans — one around age 50 and the other quite recently. Both times, I was told that I have osteopenia. I understand I have to keep an eye on that, since it could otherwise develop into osteoporosis, a common problem […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I had a radical prostatectomy in 2012 and two subsequent inguinal hernias. Due to having three surgeries in eight and a half months and the recovery from them, my desire for intimacy was very low. My understanding is that the longer you delay intimacy, the greater the chance of erectile dysfunction. Am […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 51-year-old male-to-female transgender woman. According to my doctor, I am in very good health, and my body has adapted to the traditional regimen of hormone replacement therapy quite well. I have been on HRT for almost five years now. As you know, men and women at risk of heart […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have GERD. I’ve been on a proton pump inhibitor for a month, and though it’s quite effective, I do not want to remain on it because of the possible side effects. Apart from Crestor, I do not take any additional medications. I am trying to lower the acidity in my foods […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: In January 2014 during my yearly physical, my doctor noted my low body weight for a male of 27 in good health. In an effort to help me gain weight, he prescribed megestrol. Three months later, I realized it was affecting my sexual performance and desire. My doctor had me discontinue its […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 71-year-old woman with osteoarthritis. I have had several injections of Euflexxa in both knees in the past with excellent results. X-rays last month showed one knee ”still pretty good” and the other ”almost bone on bone but still OK.” So I went ahead with injections in both knees. Although […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Recently a reader was asking for help with chronic migraine that was little helped by various medications. I also suffer from migraines, and they have really diminished since my diagnosis of normal pressure glaucoma and the use of eyedrops, which have brought that pressure down several points. My pressures were at the […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My question is in regard to organ donation. The current status on my driver’s license is as an organ donor. However, I have cancer. I was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian carcinoma almost two and a half years ago, and I am doing well with various courses of chemotherapy. Although the disease […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Is an HSV-1 breakout considered contagious when there is an oral bump or bumps, or is it contagious only when the bump or bumps are open? Also, are canker sores considered herpes, and if so, are canker sores contagious? Thank you for giving me a clear definition. — S.H. ANSWER: Herpes simplex […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: When we exercise on a stationary bike, treadmill, stair stepper, etc., many of the machines show the number of calories burned during our workout. Are the calories that are shown gross or net? For example, if the machine indicates 280 calories after an hour, is that in addition to the approximately 80-120 […]