The stage before a woman becomes pregnant is known as preconception, and if she is hoping to become pregnant, then staying healthy is very important during this stage. Preconception health includes understanding risk factors that could affect you and your baby if you become pregnant. It also includes learning how certain health conditions you may have can affect pregnancy and …
If you have insomnia, night sweats, hot flashes, and mood changes, you may be starting to wonder if you’ve reached that menopausal stage of life. That could be, but did you know that there are different stages within menopause? Each is important to understand because it can affect your body and life in different ways.
For most people, eating well and exercising regularly is the best way to stay healthy. However, for some, following a specific diet can be useful to get back on track and bring weight to a healthier level. There are many different diets to choose from. We’ve covered some of the more popular options below. US Dietary Guidelines To help physicians …
Choosing the type of contraception that’s right for you is a big decision and depends on many factors. Before you make a decision, it’s important to see your gynecologist and ensure that the options you are leaning toward would be a healthy decision for your unique biological needs. There are a few critical questions you’ll want to get answers to …
Some of the more common women’s sexual health problems includes vulvar pain, called vulvodynia, and pain with intercourse, or dyspareunia. These problems can be overwhelming for many women. Evidence shows that more than 21% of women have some form of sexual pain. Women have complained of dyspareunia for centuries, and just recently the area of dyspareunia and vulvodynia has become …
Pelvic organ prolapse is when the bladder, uterus, or rectum prolapses or “bulges” into the vagina. It’s less common than other pelvic disorders like incontinence, but still affects 3% of women, according to the Office on Women’s Health. Causes and Risk Factors Pelvic organ prolapse occurs due to weakened muscles or connective tissues in the pelvis. There are a few …
Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland at the base of your neck that secretes hormones and controls a number of things throughout your body. It may be a small gland but it can cause big problems for some women. Women are more likely than men to develop thyroid issues, with 1 in 8 experiencing issues at some point in her …
What is Gestational Diabetes? Gestational diabetes, or diabetes during pregnancy, affects between and 2 and 10 percent of pregnancies in the United States. Insulin is a hormone that enables sugar in the bloodstream to enter the cells of the body, where it is used as a source of energy. During pregnancy, the placenta releases a hormone that makes a mother …
Infertility can be a challenging problem for many women. The good news is that with the proper diagnosis and treatment there is hope for many couples who may currently have difficulty having children. Infertility can be defined as a failure to achieve pregnancy after twelve months of unprotected intercourse or intrauterine insemination in women under 35 or for 6 months …
It’s well known now that smoking is unhealthy for anyone and everyone, but the magnitude to which it affects a mother and child before and during pregnancy is more severe than many realize. Babies born to mothers who smoke can be born prematurely, have birth defects, and even die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Furthermore, smoking isn’t the end …
