Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive a child despite trying for 1 year. The condition affects about 5.3 million Americans, or 9% of the reproductive age population. To become pregnant, a couple must have intercourse during the woman’s fertile time of the month, which is right before and during ovulation. Because it is […]
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Endometriosis is a common disease that affects millions of women. The disease occurs only in women who are having menstrual periods. In other words, it does not affect children prior to puberty and rarely affects postmenopausal women. Endometriosis can present itself in many different ways, but most common is pain in the pelvic region particularly […]
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In a normal menstrual cycle there is regular hormone production and thickening of the lining of the uterus. This cycle prepares the endometrium (uterine lining) for implantation of a developing embryo. If no implantation occurs, the lining sheds, resulting in a menstrual period. There are two phases in the menstrual cycle: the follicular phase and […]
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What Are Shin Splints? The term “shin splint” is a common misnomer in sports medicine. It does not imply a diagnosis, but rather a the symptom of pain over the front of the tibia (shinbone.) “Shin splints” is simply the name given to pain felt over the front of the shin while walking or running. […]
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The rotator cuff is not a single structure. There are a group of muscles in the shoulder that rotate and lift the arm at the shoulder joint. The tendons of these muscles come together and form a single common sheet of tendon through which they all attach together to bone. This common sheet of tendons […]
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There are two main causes of muscle pain, cramps and strains. Brief acute pain is usually due to muscle cramps. Continuous pain is usually due to muscle overuse from a strenuous activity. Muscle Cramps Muscle cramps are caused by fatigue in a muscle. The muscle contracts but does not relax leading to a condition described […]
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What is Chlamydia? Chlamydial (“kla-mid-ee-uhl”) infection is one of the leading sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the United States today. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that more than 4 million new cases occur each year. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a serious complication of chlamydial infection, has emerged as a major cause […]
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Chancroid occurs continuously in some areas of the United States and in discrete outbreaks in other areas. Chancroid is usually present for HIV transmission to occur. High rates of HIV infection among patients who have chancroid have been reported in the United States and other countries. An estimated 10% of patients who have chancroid could […]
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Vaginitis is usually characterized by a vaginal discharge or by vulvar itching and irritation; a vaginal odor may be present. The three diseases most frequently associated with vaginal discharge are trichomoniasis (caused by T. vaginalis), Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) (caused by a replacement of the normal vaginal flora by an overgrowth of anaerobic microorganisms and Gardnerella […]
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During delivery, many of your vaginal tissues are stretched and often torn. Your cervix dilates and often undergoes a certain amount of trauma. It takes approximately 6 weeks for your uterus, cervix, and vaginal tissues to return to their normal pre-pregnant state. Because of this, your physician will probably ask you to wait for six […]
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What is amniocentesis? Amniocentesis is a procedure performed on pregnant women in their second trimester to diagnose or rule out birth defects. The procedure is usually performed in the doctor’s office by an obstetrician. With the help of ultrasound, a thin needle is inserted through the abdomen into the uterus to remove a small amount […]
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Most health care providers now routinely offer their pregnant patients a blood test called the maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) screening test. This test identifies pregnancies at higher-than-average risk of certain serious birth defects, such as spina bifida (open spine) and Down syndrome (characteristic facial features, mental retardation, and possible heart defects and other problems). The […]
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Risk Factors for Heart Disease Include: Cigarette smoking High blood pressure High blood cholesterol Overweight Physical inactivity Diabetes The more risk factors you have, the greater your risk. So take action–take control! Coronary heart disease is a woman’s concern: Every woman’s concern. One in 10 American women, 45 to 64 years of age, has some […]
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Q. Why is colorectal screening important? A. Colon cancer is the second highest cancer killer in America. 55,000 Americans will die this year because of colorectal cancer. Q. Why have screening tests done? A. Screening can prevent cancer by removing precancerous growths (polyps)* Early detection diagnosis of cancer before it has a chance to spread […]
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Q. What check-ups and tests do I need and how often should I get them? Blood pressure measurements every 1 to 2 years. Breast exams monthly SELF exams; annual physician. Annual mammography after age 40. Cholesterol levels every 5 years after age 18. All women who are or have been sexually active, or have reached […]
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Saccharin In February 1974, Canada’s Health Protection Branch — FDA’s counterpart there — began a major rat study to resolve the scientific uncertainties surrounding saccharin. The Canadian project, in which parent rats and their offspring were exposed to saccharin, focused on the effects of the suspect impunity in saccharin, orthotoluenesulfonamide (OTS). In early 1977, the […]
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Alcohol gained the attention of cancer researchers early in this century, when it was noted that alcoholics in France had a high incidence of cancers of the stomach and esophagus. It recently gained the attention of health-conscious consumers when studies linked moderate alcohol consumption to lower risk of coronary heart disease. But how does alcohol […]
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What is CIN? CIN, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, is a disorder in the surface and lining of the cervix (the beginning of the uterus from the vagina). In essence, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, or cervical dysplasia, is the presence of abnormal cells on the cervix. The detection of these abnormal cells is done through a Pap smear […]
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Bladder control problems occur when someone has trouble holding or releasing urine. One of the most common bladder problems people experience is accidental loss in urine, also referred to as urinary incontinence. If you experience this issue daily, here are some ways that you can manage it easier. Medication and bladder Control If so, one […]
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What is atrophic vaginitis? Atrophic vaginitis is an inflammation or irritation of the vagina caused by the thinning of the vaginal lining and by a decrease in lubricating secretions of the vagina. This is often associated in postmenopausal women or women who have had the removal of both ovaries because of their lower estrogen levels. […]
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