How diabetes affects women’s health
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Blood glucose is our body’s main source of energy which comes from the food you eat. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose from food get into your cells to be used for energy.
Read MoreWOMEN'S HEALTH
What women should know about cervical cancer
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The other screening test for cervical cancer is the HPV (human papillomavirus) test. HPV tests can find any of the high-risk types of HPV that are commonly found in cervical cancer.
Read MoreHormonal acne in women: Causes and how to treat it
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It’s one thing to have acne as a teenager. But if you’re a woman having acne in your thirties, forties or beyond is simply unacceptable.
Read More12 reasons to see your OB/GYN
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12 reasons to see your OB/GYN
To promote good health, women of all ages should not only have a primary care doctor but also an obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN). Starting in the teen years and over the course of a woman’s life, regular evaluation by an OB/GYN is a great way to monitor a woman’s health and well-being ensuring they are being treated properly for any conditions from menstruation to menopause that may arise.
There are multiple reasons why seeing an OB/GYN is a smart move for women. Whether a woman wants advice on starting a family, evaluating problems with her sex life or needing treatment for dealing with menopausal symptoms, an OB/GYN can guide and advise a woman on a wide-variety of female health issues.
Here is a look at 12 reasons why it’s best for women to see an OB/GYN:
1. Any woman having issues with vaginal itching, dryness, discharge, or odor, are all medical conditions an OB/GYN will know about and can help treat.
2. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in women due to bacteria getting into the urethra after sexual intercourse. OB/GYN’s can provide tips on preventing UTIs along with medication to rid the body of the infection.
3. Cancer screening can be done during an OB/GYN visit. They can not only test for but also advise on ways to reduce the chance of developing ovarian, uterine, breast, and cervical cancers.
4. A woman can have her annual health screening conducted with an OB/GYN. They can test for high blood pressure, diabetes, and even bone density if it is something that applies to a woman.
5. Many women battle with depression and this is something women can discuss with their OB/GYN. They can help assess the severity of the symptoms and make recommendations on further evaluation by mental health professionals.
6. Any concerns or problems with menstrual periods are another issue to discuss with an OB/GYN. They can educate a woman on what is considered normal and how to address issues such as heavy menstrual cycles or irregular periods. They can also provide information and treatment for painful periods.
7. Any woman experiencing premenstrual syndrome symptoms should discuss this with their OB/GYN. These symptoms can vary among women so by talking with their doctor, a woman can find the solutions that work best for her.
8. The topic of sex can be openly discussed with an OB/GYN. They can explain what happens during intercourse, what may be causing pain during intercourse, and how hormonal changes can affect discomfort during sexual activity. A discussion on ways to have safe and healthy sex with a partner is also a vital topic to bring up.
9. Preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is very important. An OB/GYN will be very knowledgeable on what steps a woman can take to lower her risk of becoming infected with an STI or with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). OB/GYNs can also administer tests for STIs and HIV for any woman who is sexually active and would like to be tested.
10. All women who are sexually active will need to consider family planning and will benefit greatly if they discuss with their OB/GYN birth control options, determining which method is best.
11. When a woman is ready to get pregnant, it is important for her to discuss with her OB/GYN what steps to take to ensure a healthy and safe pregnancy. OB/GYN’s also conduct official medical tests to determine if a woman is pregnant or not.
12. For women going through perimenopause and menopause, an OB/GYN can help them with the challenges of that stage of their lives. Vaginal dryness, hot flashes, and irregular bleeding are all issues that should be discussed. There are a variety of treatment options available that OB/GYNs will be familiar easing these common problems.
Women with diabetes and vaginal yeast infections
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If you are a woman with diabetes and you keep having yeast infections, the blame most likely is your disease. Simply being a woman with diabetes means there is a very good chance you will develop a vaginal yeast infection at some point in your life.
Read MoreHow Caffeine Affects Your Estrogen
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Research shows that more than one cup of coffee a day increased estrogen in women between the ages of 36 and 45 in the first stage of the menstrual cycle.
Read MoreIs it normal to have nipple discharge?
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Any woman who notices nipple discharge from her breast and is not breastfeeding may immediately go into panic mode. However before immediately fearing the worst, the sight of discharge from a nipple can be alarming but in the vast majority of cases, it most likely is either normal or a minor issue.
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Not Your Momma’s Mammogram
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That could be the tagline for a new report just published in JAMA Internal Medicine. A study has shown that over 80 percent of doctors are still recommending annual mammograms for women in their early 40s, even though guideline changes have pushed back the age for yearly breast cancer screening.
Read MoreLab-Grown Womb Reveals Secrets
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They’re called “organoids,” miniature functioning models of organs grown in vitro that are complete with realistic and working micro-anatomies. As the techniques for creating them have become more sophisticated, their value to the scientific community – and to your future health – has grown appreciably.
Read MoreBartholin's Cyst
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Cysts – sac-like lumps filled with fluid, air or other substances – can occur just about anywhere in your body, and are typically no cause for alarm. Bartholin's cysts – those which occur when the vagina's Bartholin's glands become obstructed – are no different. They are, in fact, relatively common, most often forming after childbirth or surgery.
Read MoreWhen a woman has bladder prolapse
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A common but not always talked about condition that up to 11 percent of women will experience is bladder prolapse. Many women who have this condition may not even realize what has happened but may express “I have low back pain,” or “It feels like I’m sitting on a ball,” or “It’s difficult for me to urinate.”
Read MorePremature Ovarian Failure
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Most women know not to try and get pregnant after age 40 because of the variety of complications that can occur, but some women simply cannot give birth after that age. They have lost normal function in their ovaries, a condition known as premature ovarian failure.
Read MoreHot flashes may increase risk of heart disease
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Hot flashes may be more than just a woman feeling the heat – they may also be increasing a woman’s risk of heart disease. Hot flashes, typically associated with menopause is when a woman may have a quick feeling of intense heat along with sometimes a red, flushed face and sweating. Up to 70% of women experience hot flashes with a third describing them as frequent or severe. Now a new study has discovered a link between women who get frequent hot flashes during menopause who may be susceptible to vascular dysfunction which can lead to heart disease.
Read MoreWhat middle aged women should avoid like the plague
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Growing older as a woman is not easy. Particularly during the phase of a woman’s life called “middle age.” Of course, men also become middle aged but men have the advantage of being referred to as “distinguished” or maybe even “sophisticated.”
Read MoreWill New Drug Flush Your Hot Flushes?
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The most frequent symptom of menopause and perimenopause is hot flushes, also known as hot flashes. They occur when the blood vessels near you skin's surface dilate to cool, but science still don't know the cause of the dilation.
Read MoreWhy Women's Fertility Declines with Age
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All women of a certain age are keenly aware that their fertility begins to decline significantly around age 35, but have you ever stopped to wonder why? Or if there was anything that could be done about it.
Read MoreFrequent Urination in Women – What Can You Do?
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Frequent urination is a problem most often associated with older men, but it can also affect women, of any age. Frequent urination can have a genuinely harsh effect on your quality of life, whether it causes you to lose sleep at night or prevent you from going out and about for fear of being too far from a bathroom for too long.
Read MoreWhat every woman must share with her gynecologist
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A trip to the gynecologist is usually not at the top of most women’s list of things to do. You’re flat on your back, feet in stirrups with your private parts being inspected by someone you mainly see once a year. But that yearly visit to the gynecologist is a very important part of a woman’s health making it imperative to not hold back on certain health issues.
Read MoreUnexpected signs of a stroke in women
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The third leading cause of death in women is a stroke. Yet few women realize there are gender-specific signs of a stroke putting them in a unique situation for certain risk factors. Having a stroke is not always a clearly recognizable event. For women, it can even be more difficult to diagnosis and to realize what is going on before it’s too late.
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