Women's health refers to health issues specific to human female anatomy such as female genitalia and breasts or to conditions caused by hormones specific to, or most notable in women. Women's health issues include menstruation, contraception, pregnancy, maternal health, child birth, menopause and breast cancer. They can also include medical situations in which women face problems not directly related to their biology, for example gender-differentiated access to medical treatment.
Medical Therapy in Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
PCOS is characterized by oligo-amenorrhea, clinical and/or biochemical hyperandrogenism, polycystic ovaries, and, often, morbid obesity.
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Unintended and Unplanned Pregnancy
An unintended or unplanned pregnancy is unwanted or unintended, either because the timing of the pregnancy is not right, or it's not planned, or the pregnancy is not wanted when it was conceived.
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What Tests are Used to Diagnose Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?
There is no single test to diagnose PCOS. Your doctor will take a medical history, perform a physical exam - possibly including an ultrasound, check your hormone levels, and measure glucose, or sugar levels, in the blood.
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What Causes Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?
No one knows the exact cause of PCOS. Women with PCOS frequently have a mother or sister with PCOS. But there is not yet enough evidence to say there is a genetic link to this disorder.
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What are the Symptoms of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?
Many women have only a few and others have many symptoms. These are some of the symptoms of PCOS.
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How is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Treated?
Because there is no cure for PCOS, it needs to be managed to prevent problems. Treatments are based on the symptoms each patient is having and whether she wants to conceive or needs contraception. ... read more »
How Does Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Affect a Pregnant Woman?
There appears to be a higher rate of miscarriage, gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, and premature delivery in women with PCOS.
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Thick Creamy White Discharge, or Milky White Vaginal Discharge
A thick creamy milky white vaginal discharge is normal and could be the first pregnancy sign and symptom.
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What if I Become Pregnant With Fibroids?
Fibroids result from the growth of genetically altered uterine cells. The cells divide over and over again until a rubbery mass forms. The mass can be small; undetectable during a normal pelvic exam.
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Brown Vaginal Discharge - What Does It Mean?
Brown vaginal discharge can be a cause for concern as it may indicate a pregnancy and an early miscarriage or other issues such as infection or hormonal problems.
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Endometrial Hyperplasia
Endometrial hyperplasia is the thickening of the uterine endometrium (lining of the uterus).
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Does PCOS Put Women at Risk for Other Conditions?
Women with PCOS can be at an increased risk for developing several other conditions. Irregular menstrual periods and the absence of ovulation causes women to produce the hormone estrogen, but not the hormone progesterone.
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Why Does PCOS Cause Menstrual Cycle Issues?
The ovaries are two small organs, one on each side of a woman's uterus. A woman's ovaries have follicles, which are tiny sacs filled with liquid that hold the eggs. These sacs are also called cysts.
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Infrequent Very Light menstrual Period Menstruation
Oligomenorrhea literally "not enough menstrual periods" are menstrual periods or menstrual bleeding that is infrequent or that is associated with very light menstrual bleeding. A woman who has oligomenorrhea has less than 10-12 menstrual periods a year, usually between four and nine periods a year and menstrual cycles that last over 35-40 days. ... read more »
Loop Eletrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP)
Loop Electrosurgical excision procedure, known as a LEEP, is a surgical procedure which removes abnormal tissue on the cervix using an electrically charged wire loop.
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Cholesterol and Health
Cholesterol is so important to the life of an animal that it is made in every organ system and used in every cell; it only becomes a problem when too much of it is consumed via animal-rich diet.
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Vaginal Itching: Vulvovaginitis
Vaginal itching is of a symptom associated with vulvovaginitis which affects women in every age group.
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Women's Health Guide: Topics A-Z
This women's health guide covers just about everything affecting the health of women: mentally, emotionally, and physically.
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Estrogen
Estrogen, the hormone most closely associated with women, actually represents several specialized female hormones that play various roles at various stages throughout a woman’s life.
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Uterine Fibroids - Leiomyoma Uteri
Fibroids, or uterine fibroids, are growths that originate in or on the uterus, specifically the smooth muscle of the uterus or myometrium. Fibroids typically develop during child-bearing years with up to 75% of women suffering from the growths during their lifetime.
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Obesity, Overweight, Infertility, and Pregnancy
The current obesity epidemic isn’t just limited to the United States; many developed countries are showing similar trends as their diets and lifestyles become more like life in the US.
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Pelvic Inflammatory Disease - PID
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) estimates that
more than 750,000 women suffer from pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
PID affects reproductive organs, including the fallopian tubes and
uterus as a result of bacterial infection.
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Alzheimer's Disease
The Alzheimer’s Association estimates as many as 5.2 million Americans 65 or older have the disease in 2014. Half a million Americans die from the disease each year.
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What is a Cold Knife Cone Biopsy Procedure?
A cone biopsy is used to remove abnormal cervical tissue for evaluation and treatment of certain conditions.
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Fibromyalgia
The pain of FM is often described as an aching or throbbing pain deep in the muscles. Sometimes the pain is said to be an intense burning sensation or a stabbing or shooting pain.
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Post-Menopausal Bleeding
With the most common cause of postmenopausal bleeding being vaginal or endometrial atrophy, there is always a concern of the presence of endometrial cancer, as 10% of women with PMB have the disease.
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What is Colposcopy and Why is it Used?
A colposcopy procedure is performed by your healthcare provider as a tool to evaluate your cervix, vagina and/or vulva for abnormal findings.
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Adenomyosis
Adenomyosis is a condition in which the tissue lining the uterus, the endometrium, grows through the myometrium (the wall of the uterus).
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BRCA Mutation
BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations are not gender specific and can affect both men and women. A genetic counselor can discuss with you your individual risks and recommend certain methods of genetic testing.
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Vulvodynia
Vulvodynia is a condition causing chronic pain of the vulva without an known or identifiable cause with varying symptoms among women.
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What are the Causes and Symptoms of Fibroids?
Uterine fibroids are common among women during reproductive years. Many
women have fibroids, but location, growth pattern and size determine
whether or not symptoms develop.
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Alternative Treatment for Menopause
Suffering from hot flashes and/or night sweats but do not want to take estrogen?'' Here are some non-estrogen options:
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The Story Of Menstruation
Walt Disney made a movie about menstruation. In 1946, Disney released "The Story Of Menstruation" as an educational aid for sex ed classes.
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Hot Flashes
The term hot flash is one most women in menopause are familiar with. Hot flashes are characterized by a sudden rise in body heat focused on the upper half of the body. Racing heart beat, sweating, and nausea are also common symptoms associated with the typical menopause hot flash.
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Menopause Alternative Treatments – 5 You Need to Know
At the end of a woman's reproductive life, there is menopause. By the time women enter their menopause years, most are finished having children and many have grandchildren running around. Natural menopause gradually reduces estrogen, progesterone, and other female hormone levels in the body.
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Hormone Replacement Therapy
When women think about hormone replacement therapy (HRT), they may immediately imagine pills taken every morning to curb the worst menopause symptoms. Hormone replacement therapy is available in forms other than pills.
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Complementary and Alternative Therapies For Hypothyroid
People diagnosed with hypothyroidism need medical treatment, but nutrition and herbs can help support conventional treatment.
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Pap Papanicolaou Smear - Results
A Pap test short for Papanicolaou test is a test done during a cervical or vaginal examination. Cells frrom the time of the cervix are scraped off and examined to check for precursors or actual cetvical cancer. Results from the Pap test can either be normal or they can show other results. ... read more »
All About the Pap Smear
A Pap smear or Pap test is a routine test performed once or twice a year on women during their yearly gynecological check-up.
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Halakhah - Jewish Law and Women's Health
The word "halakhah" (aka halacha, halakha, halachah or halochois) is usually translated as "Jewish Law". A more literal (and more appropriate) translation might be "the path that one walks." The word is derived from the Hebrew root Hei-Lamed-Kaf, meaning to go, to walk or to travel. ... read more »
Sexual Dysfunction
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defines sexual dysfunction as sexual difficulties that last six months or longer, causing extreme distress and strained relationships.
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Birth Control for Cancer Prevention
The risk of developing certain forms of cancer can be decreased by using hormonal birth control.
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Toxic Shock Syndrome
While uncommon, toxic shock syndrome is a life-threatening condition caused by bacteria such as staphylococcus aureus and group A streptococcus (streptococcus pyogenes).
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Multiple Sclerosis
MS is an autoimmune disease, causing the immune system to attack one’s own healthy body tissue just as the immune system does when it works to destroy foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses.
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Rheumatoid Arthritis
Cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a form of joint degeneration related to autoimmune function, have gone up in women in recent years, affecting 9.8 per 1,000 American women in 2005.
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Stroke
Many people survive a stroke, with varying degrees of recovery, but brain damage is often permanent. Data indicates one in five women (20%) will have a stroke during her lifetime.
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Lung Cancer
Exposure to cigarette smoke causes as many as 443,000 deaths in the United States each year; an additional 49,000 lung-cancer deaths are caused by secondhand exposure.
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Autoimmune Diseases in Women
An autoimmune disease is a disease characterized by antibodies, proteins created by a person against their own immune system.
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Heart Disease
Heart disease, one of the leading causes of death in the United States, accounts for the death of one out of every four women.
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Vaginismus
Vaginismus is an involuntary condition in which the muscles of pelvic floor tighten when intercourse is attempted.
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