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 …
Which Contraceptive is Right For Me?
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. Questions to Guide Your Decision There are a few critical questions you’ll …
Treating Vulvodynia and Dyspareunia
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 …
What is Pelvic Organ Prolapse?
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 …
Thyroid Disease: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatments
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 …
Gestational Diabetes: Diagnosis & Treatment
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: Causes and Diagnosis
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 …
Why Exercise During Pregnancy?
For many years and in many cultures (some still to this day), physical activity was discouraged while a woman was pregnant. There were fears propagating that women could harm themselves and the baby if they were to exert themselves in any way. Well, the truth has made its way throughout the world as medicine has advanced, health discoveries have been …
What to Know About Smoking and Pregnancy
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 …