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.
What Every Woman Needs to Know About 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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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 Is Osteoporosis?
There are some health conditions for which women specifically tend tounfortunately be predisposed to. One such condition is osteoporosis, and if you don't know much about it then you need to learn and beproactive.
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Does Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Change at Menopause?
Researchers are looking at how male hormone levels change as women with PCOS grow older.
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Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD)
Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD) is a condition that causes
feelings of intense genital arousal in females. The condition may or may
not cause genital engorgement and orgasm.
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How are Fibroids Treated?
After being diagnosed with fibroids or uterine fibroids, treatment is
discussed with the patient. There is a long list of treatment options,
with a specific treatment plan individualized including one or more
treatments for each patient.
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How Do I Know I Have Fibroids?
By the age of 50, about 50% of women will have suffered from fibroids;many of whom would never have known the fibroids existed if it weren'tfor advanced diagnostic techniques.
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What are the Risk Factors for Fibroids?
Fibroids development occurs when cells, genetically different from
other uterine cells, multiply to create a mass. The mass can develop
within the uterine wall, in the uterine cavity or on the outside wall of
the uterus.
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What You Need to Know About Yeast Infections
Yeast is a type of fungus that lives in our bodies and thrives in warm, moist environments. Normally, yeast doesn't bother us, but in certain conditions, it can multiply and cause infection.
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Laparoscopy - What is it?
A laparoscopy is a surgical procedure in which a telescope is inserted into the abdomen, usually in the area around the belly button, in order to examine the abdominal and/or pelvic organs.
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What are Uterine Fibroids?
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.
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Types of Hysterectomy
As with many surgeries, there are varying types of hysterectomies depending on the reason it is being performed.
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Vaginal Atrophy
Vaginal atrophy is a condition in which the vagina experiences effects due to hormonal changes which cause thinning, drying and inflammation of the walls of the vagina.
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Cosmetic Procedures
Many people enjoy the results of cosmetic procedures to enhance the body and improve physical appearance even when no injury or illness prompts it.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Endometrial Hyperplasia
Endometrial hyperplasia is the thickening of the uterine endometrium (lining of the uterus).
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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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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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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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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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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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Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a medical term used to describe an infection that affects reproductive organs. The condition can be diagnosed independently or as a symptom of STDs.
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Loop Electrosurgical 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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Is it safe if he takes his wife's prenatal vitamins?
Do prenatal vitamins contain female or other hormones? ... read more »
How to Deal With an 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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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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