What Is Contraception? Contraception, also known as birth control, is designed to prevent pregnancy. What Are Some Methods of Contraception? There are several general methods of birth control,including (but not limited to)...
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Vaginitis is an inflammation of a woman’s vagina. As many as one third of women will have symptoms of vaginitis sometime during their lives. Vaginitis affects women of all ages but is most common during the reproductive years...
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Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Delivery: Deciding on a Trial of Labor It was once thought that if a woman had one cesarean delivery, all other babies she had should be born in the same way. Today, it is known that many women...
Uterine fibroids are benign (not cancer) growths in the uterus. They are the most common type of growth found in a woman’s pelvis. In some women, fibroids remain small and do not cause symptoms or problems. However, in some...
Many women have a urinary tract infection (UTI) at some point during their lives. Some women will have repeat infections and may have them often. Most UTIs are not serious. They are easy to treat with antibiotics, and symptoms...
The Pap test checks for changes in the cervix that may become cancer. If a Pap test shows these changes, the result is called abnormal. In women who have regular Pap tests, abnormal changes are almost always caught early...
Some women need to quit smoking, avoid alcohol, or stop the use of some drugs during pregnancy. These changes, along with regular prenatal care, are key to having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Advice about changing...
Stress urinary incontinence is leakage of urine with physical activity, such as exercise, or when coughing, laughing, or sneezing. It is a common problem in women. Stress urinary incontinence can be treated with both...
Pregnancy changes a woman’s body in many ways. Besides the change in weight, some of the most noticeable changes are those to the skin, hair, and nails. Many of these changes can cause anxiety because they can affect the way...
Screening tests can give information about a pregnant woman’s risk of having a baby with certain birth defects or genetic conditions. These tests also can help your doctor detect possible problems during your pregnancy...
Sonohysterography is a technique in which a fluid is injected through the cervix into the uterus, and ultrasound is used to make images of the uterine cavity. The fluid shows more detail of the inside of the uterus than when...
During pregnancy, all women have certain routine lab tests. These tests can help your doctor detect possible problems with your health and your baby’s health. You also may have other tests, depending on your medical history...
Most women feel physical or mood changes during the days before menstruation. When these changes affect a woman’s normal life, they are known as premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Premenstrual syndrome can affect menstruating women...
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder that occurs when levels of certain hormones are abnormal. Women with PCOS may have irregular or no menstrual periods, infertility, and excess hair growth. PCOS also can cause...
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a broad term used to refer to an infection of the upper reproductive organs, such as the fallopian tubes and ovaries. It is a common and, in some cases, a serious illness. Each year, PID...
Healthy eating is important during pregnancy. Good nutrition is needed to meet the added demands on your body as well as those of your growing baby. Although it may take a little effort, planning and eating healthy meals and...
Nausea and vomiting are common during pregnancy, especially during the first part of pregnancy. Although it is often called “morning sickness,” it can occur at any time of the day. Most cases of nausea and vomiting are not harmful.
Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when she stops having menstrual periods. The years leading up to this point are called perimenopause, or “around menopause.” Menopause marks the end of the reproductive years that began...
Around menopause, a woman’s menstrual cycles may become less regular. After menopause, you should not have any bleeding. Any bleeding after menopause should be checked by a doctor. Bleeding after menopause may be a sign of cancer.
Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure If you have an abnormal cervical cancer screening test result, your health care provider may suggest that you have a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) as part of the evaluation...
Today, more couples are starting families later in life. Older women often worry that their age will affect their fertility and the health of their babies. There is no set age that is unsafe for women to become pregnant.
Many women are not aware of their risk of heart disease. In the United States, it is the leading cause of death of women. Each year, more than 300,000 women die from heart disease. This compares to about 40,000 deaths from breast cancer.
Hysteroscopy is a technique used to look inside the uterus. A hysteroscope is a thin, telescope-like device that is placed into the uterus through the vagina and cervix. It may help diagnose or treat a uterine problem.
Hysterosalpingography (HSG) is used to diagnose problems of the uterus and fallopian tubes. Most often it is used to see if a woman’s tubes are partly or fully blocked. It also can show if the inside of the uterus is of a...
Hysterectomy is a way of treating problems that affect the uterus. Many conditions can be cured with hysterectomy. Because it is major surgery, you may want to explore other treatment options first. For conditions that have...
Infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) is very common in both women and men. More than 100 types of this virus have been identified. Some types of this virus are spread from person to person through sexual contact.
At menopause, a woman’s body makes less estrogen and she stops having menstrual periods. This is a natural stage in a woman’s life. The lack of estrogen can bring on symptoms such as hot flushes and vaginal dryness. It also...
If you are pregnant and have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), it can be passed to your baby. But there are steps you can take to stay healthy during and after pregnancy and help prevent your baby from becoming infected with HIV.
During menopause, a woman’s body produces less estrogen. This can cause changes that occur slowly over time. Some women find these changes uncomfortable. Treatment with hormone therapy (HT) may relieve some symptoms of menopause...
Today, more twins are being born than ever before. In 1980, twins were born only once in about every 55 births. Now, twins are born once in about every 31 births. This increase is mostly because of fertility treatments.
Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a type of bacteria that can be found in 10–30% of pregnant women. A woman with GBS can pass it to her baby during delivery. Most babies who get GBS from their mothers do not have any problems.
Infection with gonorrhea and chlamydia causes two of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Syphilis, another STD, occurs less often, but can be serious if it is not treated. STDs can be passed by vaginal, anal...
Diabetes mellitus (also called “diabetes”) is a condition that causes high levels of glucose in the blood. Glucose is a sugar that is the body’s main source of energy. Health problems can occur when glucose levels are too high.
Genital herpes is a viral infection that can be spread through sexual contact. It affects one in five adults in the United States—about 45 million people. It is more common in women than in men. This pamphlet explains:
Women with fibrocystic breast changes have lumpy, tender breasts. These changes most often occur near the time of a woman’s period. Fibrocystic breast changes are not a disease and they do not increase your risk of cancer.
Regular exercise builds bones and muscles, gives you energy, and keeps you healthy. It is just as important when you are pregnant. This pamphlet will explain: The benefits of being active How to start a healthy exercise program...
Regular physical activity—exercise that is done on most days of the week—has many health benefits. It can help you prevent or control disease, lose weight, and feel better. Exercise is key to a healthy lifestyle. This pamphlet...
The lining of the uterus is called the endometrium. Sometimes, endometrial tissue grows elsewhere in the body. When this happens it is called endometriosis. Endometriosis can cause pain before and during the menstrual period.
Endometrial hyperplasia is a condition that occurs when the lining of the uterus (endometrium) grows too much. It is a benign (not cancer) condition. In some cases, however, it can lead to cancer of the uterus. Some women are...
The lining of the uterus—the endometrium—is shed by bleeding each month during menstruation. Some women have heavy bleeding or bleeding that lasts longer than normal. For them, endometrial ablation may be a good treatment option.
In most cases a woman’s egg is fertilized by a man’s sperm in one of her fallopian tubes. The fertilized egg then moves through the tube to the lining of the uterus, where it implants and starts to grow. An ectopic pregnancy...
A woman’s breasts are always changing. They change during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause (when menstrual periods end). Along with these normal changes, problems can arise. Most of the problems...
Depression is a common illness that can affect anyone—children, adolescents, and adults. About 1 in 20 Americans—more than 17 million people—suffers from depression every year. Women are twice as likely as men to get depression.
Dilation and curettage (D&C) is a surgical procedure that is used to diagnose and treat many conditions that after the uterus. Dilation means to open the cervix so that a thin instrument can be introduced into the uterus for...
Cholesterol is a natural substance that serves as a building block for cells and hormones. A certain amount is good for you. But, excess cholesterol can stick to the walls of vessels, making it harder for blood to move through...
A breast self-exam is done to detect changes that could lead to breast cancer. To learn what is normal for your breasts and to find any problems, you should do a breast self-exam once a month. It is one of the best things you...
If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus, you need to plan for pregnancy. Women with poorly controlled diabetes are at risk of several pregnancy problems. These risks can be greatly reduced if you take steps to become as...
If you are like most expectant fathers, you are both excited and anxious about this big step in the lives of you and your partner. You can help your partner by understanding the changes she is going through and by being a...
Abnormal uterine bleeding is one of the most common reasons women see their doctors. It can occur at any age and has many causes. Some are easily treated, while others are more serious. Finding the cause is the first step in...
