Women’s Health

The breasts are hormonally regulated tissues that undergo cycles of growth and development in utero, during puberty, throughout each menstrual cycle and during pregnancy. Cells within the breast respond to many factors within the blood to grow and divide, leading…
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A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the uterus and sometimes the ovaries and fallopian tubes as well. Although it is often called a hysterectomy, the medically correct term for removing the uterus, tubes and ovaries is hysterosalpingo-oophorectomy. The…
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Although a healthy reproductive system is not essential to staying alive, diseases of the reproductive system that cause infertility are significant because they can reduce the quality of life for people who want to have children. For example, in their…
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A yeast infection is a red rash, often consisting of small, red bumps that occurs in the diaper area of babies. According to the Mayo Clinic, the microorganism that causes yeast infections thrives in moist, wet environments. Yeast infections are…
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Overview An abnormal result from a pap test, also known as a pap smear, can be scary. Because the test looks for changes that indicate cervical cancer or precancerous conditions, many women worry that abnormalities indicate the presence of cancer….
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Though marketing has done a good deal to increase interest and awareness in herbal breast-enhancing products, little researched-based evidence exists to support some of the claims of the advertisers. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists discourages the use of…
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According to the Harvard Medical School, MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health, premenstrual syndrome or PMS comprises a group of symptoms that are commonly associated with the 7 to 14 days leading up to menstruation. It affects roughly 75 percent…
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A leiomyoma, otherwise known as a uterine fibroid tumor, is a benign, smooth muscle tumor of the uterus that can vary in location, size, and affect. There are four major types of fibroids, but most fibroid conditions consist of multiple…
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Native to Mexico, damiana (Turnera diffusa) is an aromatic, flowering herb that belongs to the Turneraceae plant family. Also known as old woman’s broom, the leaves of this herb are used for therapeutic and culinary purposes. Damiana leaf is available…
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Vaginal odor, which shouldn’t be confused with a vagina’s regular scent, means something’s wrong and the most likely culprit is a vaginal infection. You can’t effectively treat a vaginal odor unless you treat the infection causing it. Once you fix…
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Pregnancy is an exciting and scary time for new parents-to-be. Many women will make multiple phone calls to their physician throughout the course of their pregnancy. There are many different signs and symptoms during pregnancy, but many women wonder which…
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The female reproductive system consists of the organs that are necessary for the creation of new life. This includes the breasts, the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, the uterus, the cervix and the vagina. These organs work together to produce, nourish…
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Hot flashes are sudden bouts of sweating, facial flushing and uncomfortable sensations of extreme body heat. While they can be caused by a few different hormone-related conditions, they are most frequently associated with menopause. Hot flashes often occur at night…
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Overview Menopause occurs when a woman’s ovaries stop producing eggs, normally between the ages of 45 and 55. During the period leading up to menopause a woman produces less estrogen and progesterone and may experience a number of hormonal related…
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Fibroids grow as benign tumors inside and outside the uterus. Sometimes small and undetectable and sometimes large, weighing several pounds, fibroids can affect the menstrual cycle with heavy bleeding and flooding and cause back and leg pain. Medications can shrink…
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Vagina itching can be irritating, frustrating and embarrassing. Determining the precise cause guides physicians to the correct treatment. The signs and symptoms of the underlying disorder are often similar, but there are sometimes visual differences that will help diagnosis the…
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The IUD, or intrauterine device, is a method of birth control for women that is inserted into the uterus. Once the IUD is placed, it prevents pregnancy by making the uterus inhospitable to sperm. In the United States, approximately 2…
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Overview Dong quai, Angelica sinensis, is also known as “female ginseng” or “lady ginseng.” Native to the mountainous regions of East Asia, it has been used there in traditional medicinal preparations for over a thousand years. The science suggests it…
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Overview In the United States menopause occurs in women, on average, at age 51. Menopause is defined as cessation of menstrual periods for 12 consecutive months. Most women experience a variety of uncomfortable symptoms during perimenopause, which often lasts for…
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Most women have experienced painful cramps at some point. A monthly period often brings with it bloating and sharp pains across the belly and back. Since the average period lasts from five to seven days, the cramps can be debilitating…
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1. A Painful Problem Hysterectomy scar tissue, also known as adhesions, comes from an abnormal connection between two parts of the body. When surgeons remove the uterus, ovaries or both, the remaining organs sometimes form attachments to other organs. This…
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The Pap smear is a test used to distinguish normal cells from abnormal cells in the cervix. During a pelvic exam, a physician scrapes some cells from your cervix and smears them on a slide, and then sends it to…
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The average menstrual period occurs every 21 to 35 days with a duration and flow that will vary among individual women. Some women will experience menstrual bleeding for 7 to 9 days, while others may have a period for only…
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Overview The fruit of agnus castus is scientifically proven to help common symptoms associated with the female reproductive system. Native to Northern Africa and Southern Europe, it can grow in 20 U.S. states from California to Florida. Some states, including…
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Menopause is the permanent cessation of a woman’s monthly menstrual period and marks the end of her fertility. It may also mark the beginning of extra, unwelcome fat around the middle. Mayo Clinic doctors say it’s not uncommon for a…
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1. Keep the Vaginal Area Clean To prevent vaginal itching, also called vaginitis, make sure you’re keeping your vaginal area clean and dry. However, douching can increase vaginal itching since it washes away normal lubricants and bacteria. Wipe or wash…
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Each menstrual cycle involves cycles of hormonal changes within the body that cause ovulation, the release of the egg from the ovary, the thickening of the uterine wall in preparation for pregnancy and menses, which is the shedding of the…
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1. Use Gestational Age In early pregnancy, the use of ultrasound can effectively and accurately determine one’s estimated pregnancy due date. An obstetrician can use ultrasound to visualize a fetus as early as 5 to 6 weeks into a mother’s…
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Overview Pap smears are often performed as part of a normal gynecolgical exam to look for signs and risk factors for cervical cancer. With a Pap smear, a cotton swab is inserted into the vagina and brushed up against the…
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Yeast infections prove quite common amongst women. The American Pregnancy Association (APA) points out that such infections can actually become even more common during pregnancy than at any other time in a woman’s life. A yeast infection can cause a…
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