Women's Health

Don't give up! As many women approach menopause they find themselves experiencing unexplained weight gain, especially around the waist and hip areas, despite their best efforts to watch what they eat and to inc... continue reading  about  I'm a very active pre-menopausal 50-year-old who eats right and works out four to six times a week. Why in the world can I not lose my belly cellulite and build more muscle? I'm ready to quit everything and just get fat and eat junk food!

Digital mammograms do seem to improve the cancer detection rate in younger women with dense breasts. The radiation dose is not necessarily lower, but images can be manipulated to overcome some of the problem re... continue reading  about  My mom died of breast cancer at the age of 55, so I've been getting mammograms since the age of 30. Is there a risk of radiation exposure from having regular mammograms? Should I be getting digital mammograms instead?

Any persistent breast pain should be evaluated by your healthcare provider. Breast cancer, which of course is our biggest concern, usually is not painful, but it can be, so your symptoms need to be evaluated. M... continue reading  about  I'm getting ready to have my 53rd birthday, and for the last two weeks my breasts (especially my nipples) has been very sore and tender. There has never been any breast cancer diagnosed in my family. Should I be concerned?

For women who have a history of endometriosis, and they choose to go on hormone therapy, it will not stimulate endometriosis if they take continuous estrogen and progesterone. The progesterone reduces any stimu... continue reading  about  I was told that my endometriosis will go away once I pass menopause. What if I decide to take hormone therapy during menopause - will that continue to aggravate the endometrial lesions?

Yes, you should definitely consult with your gynecologist and have an exam and pelvic ultrasound. There may be a structural problem in your uterus, such as a polyp or fibroid (benign muscle mass) that can cause... continue reading  about  I am 37 years old and experiencing longer periods - two to three weeks long. I also have some bleeding after orgasm. What could be causing this? Do I need to see a doctor?

Pelvic prolapse is a loss of support for the organs in the pelvis, including the bladder, uterus or rectum. When these organs shift out of position, they can cause symptoms that affect functioning, including ur... continue reading  about  I've heard that the sling procedure is especially helpful for pelvic prolapse. How do I know if I am a good candidate for it?

If you want to have children after having your tubes "tied," there are two ways to do it. You can have in vitro fertilization (IVF) by getting the eggs from your ovaries, fertilizing them in the laboratory, and... continue reading  about  What is the success rate for tubal ligation reversal? What options for getting pregnant does a woman have if she's had a tubal ligation?

Most of the studies on the use of fertility drugs have examined hormonally sensitive tumors such as breast, ovarian and uterine malignancies. There does not appear to be any association between fertility drugs ... continue reading  about  Is a woman undergoing fertility treatments at higher risk of getting cancer than a woman of the same age who has not taken these drugs?

Before you make any decisions, make sure that other possible causes of pelvic pain have been adequately evaluated by your doctor, including your bladder, gastrointestinal system, and pelvic floor muscles. Fibro... continue reading  about  I have several small fibroids that sometimes cause me pain. How severe does it need to be to consider doing something about it?