women’s health news

What are common signs and symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)? Common signs of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) include the following: Irregular menstrual periods—Menstrual disorders can include absent periods, periods that occur infrequently or too frequently, heavy periods, or unpredictable periods. Infertility—PCOS is one of the most common causes of female infertility. Obesity—As many as 4 in […]

What is anxiety? Anxiety is a feeling of nervousness, worry, or concern. These feelings are normal and common. Anxiety and pregnancy are a common combination, especially among those who had anxiety before. An anxiety disorder is a mental health condition that happens when anxiety gets in the way of daily life. This is more than a

What is a birth defect? A birth defect is a condition that is present at birth. Some birth defects can be seen right after the baby is born, such as a clubfoot or extra fingers or toes. Special tests may be needed to find others, such as heart defects or hearing loss. Some birth defects

What is endometrial ablation? Endometrial ablation destroys a thin layer of the lining of the uterus. Menstrual bleeding does not stop but is reduced to normal or lighter levels. If ablation does not control heavy bleeding, further treatment or surgery may be needed. Why is endometrial ablation done? The lining of the uterus—the endometrium—is shed

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg grows outside of the uterus. Almost all ectopic pregnancies—more than 90%—occur in a fallopian tube. As the pregnancy grows, it can cause the tube to burst (rupture). A rupture can cause major internal bleeding. This can be a life-threatening emergency that needs immediate surgery. What are the risk factors

What are the warning signs of cancer? Certain changes in your body may be signs of cancer, including: a change in bowel or bladder habits a sore that does not heal unusual vaginal bleeding or discharge thickening or a lump in the breast or other parts of the body skin changes, including a wart or

Does obesity during pregnancy put me at risk of any health problems? Obesity during pregnancy puts you at risk of several serious health problems: Gestational hypertension—High blood pressure that starts during the second half of pregnancy is called gestational hypertension. It can lead to serious complications. Preeclampsia—Preeclampsia is a serious form of gestational hypertension that

What is Amenorrhea? Amenorrhea is the absence of menstrual periods. There are two types of amenorrhea: Primary amenorrhea—This is when a girl does not get her first period by age 15. Secondary amenorrhea—This is when a woman who already menstruates does not get her period for 3 months or more. Some causes of amenorrhea are normal, including pregnancy,

What is prenatal genetic testing? Prenatal genetic screening tests gives parents-to-be information about whether their fetus has certain genetic disorders. What are genetic disorders? Genetic disorders are caused by changes in a person’s genes or chromosomes. Aneuploidy is a condition in which there are missing or extra chromosomes. In a trisomy, there is an extra chromosome. In a monosomy, a chromosome is missing. Inherited disorders are caused