Sexual and Reproductive Health

Overview Parents-to-be are generally offered the option of having one or more ultrasounds of their baby over the course of the pregnancy. An ultrasound, also called a sonogram, is typically performed in the hospital or doctor’s office during a routine…
Read more

Although depression is classified as a mental condition, its causes, like its symptoms, are not restricted to the mind. Depression remains a serious condition with varying causes that can prove mentally, emotionally and physically disabling. Fortunately, depression is a treatable…
Read more

Overview AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a disease caused by an infection with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). This virus is transmitted via bodily fluids (such as blood and sexual fluids). Approximately 1 million people in the United States have HIV,…
Read more

The diaphragm is a large, dome-shaped muscle in the middle of the abdomen. When you take a breath, your diaphragm contracts and allows for your chest to expand and your lungs to be filled with oxygen-rich air. Diseases, such as…
Read more

Adoption laws vary from state to state and carry different requirements and options for adoptions. Independent placement does not use an agency as an intermediary; adoptive and birth parents make their own arrangements. Private and public adoption agencies may provide…
Read more

Developed by Dr. Arnold Kegel in 1948, Kegel exercises strengthen and tone the pelvic floor muscles. Exercising these muscles can decrease urinary and fecal incontinence, as well as enhance sexual function and enjoyment. Kegel exercises are performed by alternating contractions…
Read more

Overview In the year 2000, 1.6 million, or 2.5 percent of children in the United States were adopted according to the U.S. Census Bureau, as reported at Parenthood. Each year from 1987 to 2000 about 118,000 to 127,000 children were…
Read more

1. Frequency and Urinary Urge Most of the common symptoms of interstitial cystitis (IC) revolve around urination and commonly involve both frequency and urge. You may feel the need to urinate as many as 60 times a day, which can…
Read more

Deciding to have a baby is one of the most difficult and important decisions a person can make. Though having a baby can bring many joys and rewards, it also changes a person’s life forever. While many men are cognizant…
Read more

Overview The PC muscle, or pubococcygeus, is a muscle in the pelvic floor that connects the pubic bone to the tailbone. The muscle helps support the bowel and bladder and also the uterus in women. The exercises that can help…
Read more

In the textbook, “NSCA’s Essentials of Personal Training,” R. Earle and T. Baechle indicated that participating in an exercise program while pregnant can provide a woman with a variety of benefits such as increased self-esteem, improved cardiovascular and muscular fitness,…
Read more

Smoking while pregnant not only leads to low birth weight, according to the American Pregnancy Association, but “The 2001 Surgeon General’s Report” on women and smoking found that women who smoke while pregnant are at risk for serious pregnancy complications…
Read more

Each woman may experience different symptoms during pregnancy. Some women seem to have all the classic symptoms and others worry that something may be wrong because she may feel no common symptoms. Early in a pregnancy, the baby is tiny…
Read more

Miscarriage is a devastating emotional event, and traumatic both mentally and physically to a woman. It is an event that no woman wants to experience, and to worry if a miscarriage is happening or not makes the entire process more…
Read more

Men are under increasing pressure to improve their physical fitness and appearance. Media images of “six-pack” as and toned biceps as well as news reports of the obesity epidemics have influenced many men to begin fitness routines. Exercise can have…
Read more

International adoption has its critics. Some argue that it isn’t morally correct to adopt children from other countries when there are children in the United States who need families. Others argue that taking a child from her own culture and…
Read more

Women who might be pregnant are understandably eager to know whether they have conceived a child. But a pregnancy test isn’t accurate until about two weeks after conception, and some women with irregular periods may find judging the timing of…
Read more

Pregnancy is a rapid growth process inside the womb. Not only is your own body working hard to support your growing pregnancy, but your baby is also growing from two cells to a full-term baby in an average of 40…
Read more

While the ultimate proof of pregnancy is a pregnancy test, your body gives you signs weeks after conception–signs you cannot ignore, especially when you experience a combination of symptoms. If you have not missed your menses, but have a feeling…
Read more

Overview Strengthening your pelvic floor muscles can help reduce urinary incontinence or at least help keep it from getting worse. Both men and women can do Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor. Since these muscles are completely internal, you…
Read more

Pregnancy can be an exciting time in a woman’s life, but it can also be confusing. Your body gives clues that a pregnancy is developing, but the way in which these symptoms are experienced varies from woman to woman and…
Read more

Depo-Provera (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate) is an injectable prescription hormone used to prevent pregnancy in women. This medication mimics the action of the naturally-occurring hormone progesterone and acts by preventing the release of eggs from the ovaries. Discuss the disadvantages of…
Read more

While Kegel exercises–named after Dr. Arnold Kegel, who developed them in the 1940s to treat urinary incontinence–may be primarily associated with women, they’re also useful for men. Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles may help reduce both urinary and fecal incontinence…
Read more

Many people tend to use the chest and shoulders to breathe rather than using the diaphragm muscle, which is one of the main breathing muscles. According to Anthony Carey, owner of Function First Corrective Exercise in San Diego, chest breathing…
Read more

Urinary incontinence is a condition that mostly affects women, but men can experience urinary incontinence as well. As you age, your chance of developing urinary incontinence increases. According to the Spring 2004 issue of Your Health, a publication of the…
Read more

Overview Air travel during pregnancy is generally considered safe, but you should speak with your health-care provider to discuss your particular pregnancy and confirm that it is safe to travel. This also gives you time to organize vital information, such…
Read more

Following the birth of your baby, it’s natural to want to get rid of your baby weight. In addition to breastfeeding, exercise may be another option for burning off this weight. However, it’s important to make sure you clear your…
Read more

Curly hair can be difficult to work with than straight hair since it shows signs of damage and dryness much more easily. The key to maintaining curly hair’s health is prevention, since visible damage to the hair is impossible to…
Read more

When you become pregnant, your body goes through many changes to prepare it for carrying your baby for the next nine months. Symptoms of early pregnancy are associated with hormonal changes that begin as soon as you conceive. Although early…
Read more

In your fourth week of pregnancy you may have already missed your period and may have taken a home pregnancy test. Symptoms of pregnancy can occur as early as 1 to 2 weeks following conception. At four weeks pregnant your…
Read more