Women's Health. Find daily tips on women's health from Dr. David Samadi. Discover latest news and health benefits for common issues related to women's health such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, female cancer screenings and prevention,
Pelvic inflammatory disease is an infection that occurs in a woman’s reproductive organs. The disease is usually a complication that is caused by untreated sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia. It can also be caused by infections that are not sexually transmitted. It’s important for women to know about pelvic inflammatory disease because it can be prevented.
Read MoreNew research has called a common treatment for early stage breast cancer into question. The treatment can often be disfiguring. According to a study published in the journal JAMA Oncology found that women with stage 0 breast cancer which is also known as ductal carcinoma in situ or DCIS who undergo treatment have the same likelihood of dying of breast cancer within 20 years as women in the general population. DCIS is often diagnosed after abnormal cells have been found in the breast's milk ducts. This is most often detected through a mammogram. It not makes up about one in five new breast cancer diagnoses according the American Cancer Society. The good thing is almost all women diagnosed at this stage can be cured.
Read MoreA woman suffering from an aggressive form of cancer is suing a New Jersey hospital for using a potentially dangerous device that she says spread cancer cells through her body during what was supposed to be a routine hysterectomy.
Read MoreCervicitis is a condition that causes inflammation in the cervix. The cervix is located at the lower part of the uterus which opens into the vagina. There are millions of women that develop cervicitis in the United States every year. More than 50 percent of women will be affected by the condition at some point during their life. Cervicitis can be acute or chronic, meaning it can occur suddenly for a short period of time, or it can last for several months.
Read MoreVulvodynia is a condition that is characterized by chronic pain near the opening of the vulva (also known as the vagina). There is no known cause for vulvodynia. Women who experience vulvodynia often have symptoms such as burning and pain that may be severe enough to make it difficult to have sexual intercourse or even sit in a chair. Vulvodynia can last for months or even years. There are about six million women in the United States have vulvodynia. Vulvodynia may also be known as vulvar pain syndrome, vestibulitis, vestibulodynia, or clitoridynia.
Read MoreBartholin’s cyst is a fluid filled sac that develops in the Bartholin’s glands. The Bartholin’s glands are located on each side of the opening of the vagina. These glands are responsible for secreting fluid that provides lubrication for the vagina. The Bartholin’s glands can sometimes become blocked, which causes fluid to get backed up into the glands. As a result, a cyst forms called a Bartholin’s cyst. A Bartholin’s cyst is mostly painless but can swell. In some cases, a Bartholin’s cyst can become infected if bacteria gets trapped in the cyst.
Read MoreThere has been a significant increase in the number of women requesting double mastectomies after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Some people are even calling it “the Angelina effect” after Angelina Jolie, who had a double mastectomy after finding out she was a carrier of the BRCA1 gene. The BRCA1 gene increases the risk for breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Jolie explained in an op-ed piece that her having the BRCA1 gene mutation gave her an estimated 87 percent risk of developing breast cancer and 50 percent risk of developing ovarian cancer.
Read MoreDid you know the morning after pill, usually from the brand name Plan B, can be purchased by teens without a prescription. One would assume this could lead to overuse. More than 1 in 5 sexually active teens have used the morning-after pill which experts have deemed that this increase is major and likely reflects how easy it is to obtain emergency contraceptive. A new report released this week concluded teens use the morning-after pill increased from a decade earlier where it was 1 in 12. Now all teens can purchase it without a prescription.
Read MoreMany of us may have never knew that fetal tissue can be donated until these past few weeks but since the pro-life organization, Center for Medical Progress, released videos that ignited a battle on some of these reproductive issues around abortion and Planned Parenthood, we're learning that this is quite common. What is fetal tissue donation? It's a little known byproduct of abortions where the use of organs and tissue from aborted fetuses and embryos are donated for both technical and monetary research.
Read MoreOvarian cysts are a common condition among women, especially during their childbearing years. They occur on the outside of a woman’s ovaries and develop in the form of sacs that are filled with fluid. Ovarian cysts may not pose any problems or discomfort, but sometimes, they can be quite painful. Follicular cysts are the most common type of ovarian cysts. They often go away on their own but some may require treatment. Women have two ovaries that are located on each side of the uterus. Their role is to act as a host to the eggs that develop and mature when a woman is trying to have a baby.
Read MoreThere are millions of cases of vaginal yeast infection in the U.S. every year. So what is it? A vaginal yeast infection causes itching and irritation of the vagina and vulva (folds of skin outside the vagina). Yeast is a type of fungus that normally live in the vagina, along with bacteria and other organisms. When something causes an imbalance in these organisms, yeast grow and cause irritation. A yeast infection is not an STD and clears up quickly with treatment.
Read MoreWhen that time of the month comes around, many women suffer from severe cramps, sometimes for several days. This can make for a long menstrual cycle. Popping the Midol, Aleve or Advil is not always the only solution. There are two causes for these types of cramps, one being chemical the other being functional. What actually happens is the uterine muscles contract due to stimulation by a chemical series called prostaglandins.
Read MoreWomen are raising concern about the use of certain tampons after a California model named Lauren Wasser lost her leg as a result of developing toxic shock syndrome from a tampon. Wasser lost her leg in 2012 and is now suing the tampon brand Kotex Natural Balance after almost dying from using them.
Read MoreHere we go, the age-old question, what do women really want? In the bedroom, that is. Sexual health varies in every way for men and women and when it comes to their libido, we couldn't be more different.
Read MoreAnew study suggests that women who are obese and postmenopausal may have a higher risk for developing breast cancer compared to thinner women.
Read MoreDo newborns delivered by C-section face higher risk of chronic health problems later in life. NYU Langone Medical Center recently had a study published in the British Medical Journal, where Researchers evaluated whether newborns delivered by C-section are more likely to develop chronic diseases later in life.
Read MoreThe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is one step closer to approving flibanserin, otherwise known as the female version of Viagra. An advisory committee to the FDA voted last week to recommend that the FDA approve the drug under certain conditions.
Read MoreRape is a very serious issue in the United States. Every year in the United States, 1,270,000 women experience rape. One in four women have reported surviving or attempted rate and it's estimated that roughly 68% of rape cases go unreported.
Read MoreWhen it comes to weight loss, many so-called "facts" have been thrown around. It's important to understand the facts when it comes to losing weight. Here are 15.
Read MoreA drug dubbed ‘female Viagra’ won backing from an FDA panel yesterday. This pill is aimed at women who have lost their sex drive, and could help them regain some of their youthful vigor in the bedroom. The FDA advisory committee voted 18-6 to recommend that the FDA approve the little pink pill.
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