Women's Health

About 15-20 percent of women continue to have menopausal symptoms long after menopause, although they should diminish in intensity with time. There have been many research studies on non-estrogen treatments for... continue reading  about  I'm 53 and take Mimvey for hot flashes and sleeplessness. I've tried to stop but the symptoms return. Is there a "hump" to get over before they stop? How long is HRT recommended? Also, are my electrical and heart problems due to hormones? Can HRT help?

Infertility may be called unexplained only after the standard evaluation yields no obvious cause. The three major factors causing infertility are: 1. sperm abnormalities; 2. disorders of ovulation; 3. anatomic ... continue reading  about  What are the proper steps to take when researching unexplained infertility?

All birth control pills are formulated with a synthetic estrogen and progestin hormone (with the exception of one that has progestin only). Most common side effects of birth control pills occur when you first b... continue reading  about  My physician recently changed my brand of birth control pills. I read reviews that described bad side effects for the new brand. Do all birth control pills have the same ingredients? If so, why would some cause different side effects?

You should not expect to experience any symptoms related to the removal of your right ovary, since the remaining left ovary will continue to produce enough hormones for your well-being. Of course, your body wil... continue reading  about  I had a da Vinci hysterectomy last month. They removed my uterus, cervix, right ovary and fallopian tubes. They did not remove the left ovary. What kind of symptoms should I experience?

Some serious and not-so-serious medical conditions have fingernail manifestations. Examples include psoriasis and endocarditis. The serious illnesses would have other symptoms that are not subtle. Things like p... continue reading  about  My fingernails curve deeply underneath as they grow. My doctor says "Don't worry about it, just keep cutting them short". I don't think this is a correct answer or approach, and that it could be a serious condition or lack of some element(s) in my body.

It is not unusual for women to develop skin color changes around menopause. The skin is sensitive to hormone changes of the body at this time of life, in a similar way that the skin changes during pregnancy or ... continue reading  about  I'm a 54-year-old African-American woman (menopausal) who is experiencing facial discoloration, especially around my mouth and chin. My complexion is normally brown/caramel. Since menopause I have light patches of skin in this area. What can I do?

Herpes and shingles are actually caused by two different viruses, from the same family. What we traditionally call "herpes" is caused by herpes simplex. Oral herpes, causing fever blisters and cold sores, is ca... continue reading  about  What is the relationship between herpes and shingles? I have been diagnosed with herpes, and am experiencing breakouts of pimples/blisters on my arms, legs and chest, made worse by stress and physical activity that makes me sweat. What can be done?

Birth control pills often result in lighter periods with less blood flow and cramping. Prostaglandin inhibitors, such as ibuprofen and naprosyn, are also quite effective in reducing menstrual cramps, especially... continue reading  about  My daughter (16) has very painful periods, to the point of lying on the floor and crying. A friend told me that birth control pills will help. Needless to say, I'm not thrilled at the prospect but I hate to see her go through so much pain each month.

Thrombocytopenia is a condition in which a person has a low level of platelets. Platelets are a type of blood cell that help blood to clot anytime bleeding occurs in the body. Platelets are sticky "patches" tha... continue reading  about  I was recently diagnosed with thrombocytopenia. I have been extremely fatigued. I asked my doctor if that was a symptom and he said no. When I looked online I saw that fatigue was one of the most common symptoms. Is this accurate?