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Hip Fracture What is a hip fracture? Click Image to Enlarge A hip fracture is a break in the femur (thigh bone) of the hip joint. Joints are areas where two or more bones meet. The hip joint is a "ball and socket" joint where the femur meets the pelvic bone. The ball part of the hip joint is the head of the femur, and the socket is a cup-like structure in the pelvic bone called the acetabulum. Hip fracture is a serious injury and requires immediate medical attention. What are the different types of hip ...

Bone Density Test Some women are at greater risk for osteoporosis - the decrease of bone mass and density as a result of the depletion of bone calcium and protein - than others. Your physician can help you determine your risk of developing osteoporosis by taking your personal and family medical history, and by performing a bone density test or bone mass measurement. What is a bone density test? A bone density test, also known as bone mass measurement or bone mineral density test, measures the strength a...

Breast Health Breast development occurs in distinct stages throughout a woman's life, first before birth, and again at puberty and during the childbearing years. Changes also occur to the breasts during menstruation and when a woman reaches menopause. Listed in the directory below you will find some additional information regarding breast health, for which we have provided a brief overview. Anatomy of the Breasts Normal Breast Development Three-Step Plan for Preventive Care How to Perform a Breast Self-...

Contraception / Birth Control What is birth control? Birth control refers to any activity, medication, or equipment used to prevent pregnancy. There are many types of birth control available for women who do not wish to become pregnant. The decision on which method is right for you should be made with your physician, as well as with your partner. Birth control methods work in different ways to prevent pregnancy, including the following: creating a barrier that blocks sperm from reaching the egg killing ...

Cystocele (Fallen Bladder) What is a cystocele? Cystocele is the name for a hernia-like disorder in women that occurs when the wall between the bladder and the vagina weakens, causing the bladder to drop or sag into the vagina. What are the results of a cystocele? In addition to discomfort, the resulting dropped bladder can cause two kinds of problems to occur, including the following: urine leakage incomplete emptying of the bladder The dropped bladder stretches the opening into the urethra, and urine ...

Depression What is depression? A depressive disorder is a whole-body illness, involving the body, mood, and thoughts, and affects the way a person eats and sleeps, feels about himself or herself, and thinks about things. It is not the same as being unhappy or in a blue mood. Nor is it a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away. People with a depressive illness cannot merely "pull themselves together" and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months...

Diabetes (Type 1, 2, and Gestational) What is type 1 diabetes? Type 1 diabetes may also be known by a variety of other names, including the following: insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) juvenile diabetes brittle diabetes sugar diabetes There are two forms of type 1 diabetes: idiopathic type 1 diabetes - refers to rare forms of the disease with no known cause. immune-mediated diabetes - an autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system destroys, or attempts to destroy, the cells in the pan...

Domestic Violence What is domestic violence? Domestic violence is a term used to describe violence and abuse by family members or intimate partners such as a spouse, former spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend, ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend, or date. Other terms used for domestic violence include the following: intimate partner abuse family violence child abuse battering courtship violence marital rape date rape stalking Domestic violence can take many forms, but involves using intimidation and threats or vi...

Exercise Finding the right exercise program and the right preparation: To be physically fit you do not have to exercise intensely for long periods of time. Experts agree that physical activity does not have to be vigorous, and recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity daily, or on most days of the week. To achieve and maintain physical and cardiovascular fitness, health professionals advise following a balanced fitness program - a program that includes the following: If you have an exi...

Fibrocystic Breast Changes What are some common fibrocystic breast changes? Generalized breast lumpiness is known under many different names, such as "fibrocystic disease" and "fibroid breasts." Many of these are misnomers since physicians and researchers now believe that these are just part of the breast changes which many women undergo throughout the various stages of their lives. Many physicians feel that this term has become a catch-all phrase for general breast lumpiness. What do fibrocystic change...

Glossary - Women's Health | A | | B | | C | | D | | E | | F | | G | | H | | I | | J | | K | | L | | M | | N | | O | | P | | Q | | R | | S | | T | | U | | V | | W | | X | | Y | | Z | A [return to top] abdominal hysterectomy - the uterus is removed through the abdomen via a surgical incision. abortion - medical termination of a pregnancy before the fetus has developed enough to survive outside the uterus. adhesion - a band of scar tissue that joins normally separated internal body structures, most often a...

Gynecologic Inflammations and Infections There are many different gynecological inflammations and infections that require the clinical care of a physician or another healthcare professional. It is very important for a woman to seek medical care to determine the type of infection present and the appropriate treatment. Gynecological inflammations and infections can originate in either the lower or upper reproductive tract. Common infections include: Lower reproductive tract vulvitis vaginitis Upper reprod...

Gynecological Anatomy Click Image to Enlarge endometrium - the lining of the uterus. uterus - also called the womb, the uterus is a hollow, pear-shaped organ located in a woman's lower abdomen, between the bladder and the rectum. ovaries - two female reproductive organs located in the pelvis. cervix - the lower, narrow part of the uterus (womb) located between the bladder and the rectum. It forms a canal that opens into the vagina, which leads to the outside of the body. vagina - the passageway through ...

Gynecological Concerns There are many gynecological conditions that require clinical care by a physician or other healthcare professional. Listed in the directory below are some, for which we have provided a brief overview. Gynecological Anatomy The Menstrual Cycle Recognize Gynecological Symptoms Sexually Transmitted Diseases Pap Test Endometriosis Pelvic Pain Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Menstrual Conditions Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) Amenorrhea Dysmenorrhea Meno...

Health Promotion and Prevention From before puberty to after menopause, a woman's body is constantly changing and developing. At each stage of development and maturation, it is important to make healthy lifestyle choices and find ways to prevent problems. Getting regular healthcare examinations and learning to identify potential health problems are ways to help you live longer, live better, and live happier. Listed in the directory below you will find some additional health promotion and prevention info...

Topic Index Breast Health Colorectal Cancer Diabetes (Type 1, 2, and Gestational) Gynecological Concerns Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction) Hysterectomy Infertility Menopause Mental Health Osteoporosis Skin Cancer Urinary Conditions Health Promotion and Prevention Sports Injuries Glossary According to the World Health Organization (WHO), women outlive men by six to eight years on average. Evidence indicates that this trend continues into old age. In fact, women represent the majority of persons 85 yea...

Infertility What is infertility? Infertility is defined by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) as a disease of the reproductive system that impairs the body's ability to perform the basic function of reproduction. Although conceiving a child may seem to be simple and natural, the physiological process is quite complicated and depends on the proper function of many factors, including the following, as listed by the ASRM: production of healthy sperm by the man production of healthy eggs ...

Infertility Risk Factors for Men and Women For women - general factors that can affect the ability to ovulate, conceive, or deliver a child successfully include the following: age - women in their late 30s are generally less fertile than women in their early 20s endometriosis chronic diseases (diabetes, lupus, arthritis, hypertension, or asthma) hormonal imbalance environmental factors - cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, or exposure to workplace hazards or toxins excessive or very low body fat abn...

Introduction to Menopause What is menopause? When a woman permanently stops having menstrual periods, she has reached the stage of life called menopause. Often called the "change of life," this stage signals the end of a woman's ability to have children. Many physicians actually use the term menopause to refer to the period of time when a woman's hormone levels begin to change. Menopause is said to be complete when menstrual periods have ceased for one continuous year. The transition phase before menopa...

Manage Your Medications Managing medication can be complicated, particularly if you are taking several, and treating different conditions. Suggestions for managing medications: It is important that you make sure you understand the exact dose and timing of each medication from your physician when he/she prescribes it. Verify the information with your pharmacist when you have the prescriptions filled. If you go to different physicians for different conditions, it is extremely important to tell all of them...

Managing Stress The effects of emotional stress on the body: Many women face difficult challenges and responsibilities that may overlap or conflict, causing stress that can affect their health. Stress can arise out of difficulties at home, in relationships, and in the workplace. Family "well-being" includes stable relationships, and family members' ability to fulfill essential roles in the home, child rearing values and practices, and the mental and physical health and development of every family member...

Mental Health There are many mental health conditions that require clinical care by a physician or other healthcare professional. Listed in the directory below are some, for which we have provided a brief overview. Managing Stress Depression Domestic Violence

Online Resources - Women's Health This Web was compiled from a variety of sources including the online resources listed below, but is not intended to substitute or replace the professional medical advice you receive from your physician. The content provided here is for informational purposes only, and was not designed to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Please consult your physician with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition. This page contains links to other Worl...

Osteoporosis Index There are many factors involving osteoporosis that require clinical care by a physician or other healthcare professional. Listed in the directory below are some of the factors, for which we have provided a brief overview. About Osteoporosis Bone Density Test

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (Runner's Knee) What is runner's knee? Click Image to Enlarge Runner's knee, also known as patellofemoral pain syndrome, is a condition characterized by dull pain around the front of the knee (patella), where it connects with the lower end of the thigh bone (femur). What causes runner's knee? Runner's knee may be caused by a structural defect, or a certain way of walking or running. Other causes may include the following: a kneecap that is located too high in the knee joint ...

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) What is pelvic inflammatory disease? Click Image to Enlarge Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is caused by a type of bacteria, often the same type that is responsible for several sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia. In some cases, PID develops from bacteria that has traveled through the vagina and the cervix by way of an intrauterine device (IUD). PID can affect the uterus, fallopian tubes, and/or the ovaries. It can lead to pelvic adhesions a...

Pelvic Pain What is pelvic pain? Pelvic pain is a common complaint among women. Its nature and intensity may fluctuate, and its cause is often obscure. In some cases, no disease is evident. Pelvic pain can be categorized as either acute , meaning the pain is sudden and severe, or chronic (pain that either comes and goes or is constant) , lasting over a period of months or longer. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, pelvic pain lasting longer than 6 months and showing no...

Perimenopause What is perimenopause? Perimenopause refers to the transitional period of time before menstruation actually stops, which is marked by changes in the menstrual cycle, along with other physical and emotional symptoms. Perimenopause can last 2 to 10 years and during this time the following processes are occurring within a woman's body: ovaries release eggs less regularly ovaries gradually produce less estrogen and other hormones fertility decreases menstrual cycles shorten, there are fewer ov...

Plan and Prepare for Pregnancy When planning a pregnancy: If you are planning to become pregnant, taking certain steps can help reduce risks to both you and your baby. Proper health before deciding to become pregnant is almost as important as maintaining a healthy body during pregnancy. The first few weeks are crucial in a child's development. However, many women do not realize they are pregnant until several weeks after conception. Planning ahead and taking care of yourself before becoming pregnant is ...

Recognizing Gynecological Symptoms Gynecological signs and symptoms that may require medical attention: Vaginal bleeding and discharge are a normal part of your menstrual cycle prior to menopause. However, if you notice anything different or unusual, consult your physician before attempting to treat the problem yourself. Symptoms may result from mild infections that are easy to treat. But, if they are not treated properly, they can lead to more serious conditions, including infertility or kidney damage....

Shin Splints What are shin splints? Shin splints involve damage to one of two groups of muscles along the shin bone that cause pain. The location of the shin splint pain depends on which group of muscles is damaged. The two types of shin splints include the following: anterolateral shin splint - a type of shin splint that affects the front and outer part of the muscles of the shin and is caused by a congenital (present at birth) imbalance in the size of opposite muscles. posteromedial shin splint - a ty...

Sports and Fractures Information about sports and fractures: Fractures are breaks in the bone that are often caused by a blow or a fall. A fracture may be classified as a simple fracture (a thin fracture that may not run through the entire bone), or a compound fracture, in which the broken bone protrudes through the skin. Most fractures occur in the arms and legs. Symptoms may include tenderness over the bone, swelling of the affected area, deformity of the limb, and increased pain upon movement. What a...

Topic Index - Women's Health Women's Health Home Breast Health Anatomy of the Breasts Normal Breast Development Three-Step Plan for Preventive Care How to Perform a Breast Self-Examination Mammography Frequently Asked Questions: Mammograms Common Breast Conditions Mastalgia (Breast Pain) Common Breast Lumps Fibrocystic Breast Changes Nipple Problems and Discharge Breast Infections and Inflammations Diagnosing Benign Breast Conditions Colorectal Cancer Diabetes (Type 1, 2, and Gestational) Gynecological ...

Urinary Conditions There are many disorders of the urinary system that require clinical care by a physician or other healthcare professional. Listed in the directory below are some, for which we have provided a brief overview. Anatomy of the Urinary System Urinary Incontinence Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) Interstitial Cystitis

Urinary Incontinence What is urinary incontinence (UI)? Urinary incontinence (UI) is the loss of urine control, or the inability to hold your urine until you can reach a restroom. According to the National Association for Continence, approximately 25 million adult Americans experience temporary or chronic urinary incontinence. UI can strike at any age. Women over age 50 are the most likely to develop UI. Urinary incontinence may be a temporary condition, resulting from an underlying medical condition. I...

Watch Your Weight When is watching your weight necessary? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 65 percent of US adults are overweight. Maintaining a healthy weight is especially important if you have had any of the following: heart disease type 2 diabetes stroke high blood pressure cancer of the uterus, gallbladder, kidney, stomach, breast, or colon a high total cholesterol level If your weight is not in the healthy range for your height and build, the best way to...

Women's Healthcare Guidelines The National Women's Health Information Center offers the following 10 things you can do to help live longer, live better, and live happier: Be Informed. Learn about health promotion and disease prevention and ask your physician for specific information regarding your needs. Be Good To Your Bones. For healthy bones, be sure to replenish your stock of calcium every day with plenty of foods such as milk and dairy products, tofu, leafy, green vegetables, canned salmon or sardi...

Thyroid Disorders in Women Functions of the thyroid gland: The thyroid gland, which plays an important role in the body's metabolism, secretes several hormones: thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), and calcitonin. Other functions of the thyroid include regulating body heat and bone growth. The pituitary gland and thyroid gland work hand-in-hand. If the thyroid is emitting below-average levels of thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism), the pituitary gland secretes more thyroid-stimulating hormones (TSH) to s...

Migraines and Endometriosis Women who have endometriosis may also be more likely to have migraines, according to a recent Italian study. Researchers from the University of Genoa found that women who had endometriosis were twice as likely to also have migraines. Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue that is normally found only in the womb grows outside the uterus, causing bleeding, inflammation, pain and infertility. The researchers, who published their results in the December 2004 issue of the jo...

Heart Disease: How Disease Management Helps Regular physical activity and a heart-healthy diet are two essential components of managing heart disease. On some days, though, it may be difficult to keep up with your exercise routine or meal plan. It’s not always easy coping with heart disease on your own—but the good news is you don’t have to. When you participate in a disease management program for people with heart disease, you get lots of help and support. That can help motivate you to stick with your ...

Symptoms of Heart Attacks in Women Heart attacks, also known as myocardial infarctions or "MIs", often feel different to a woman than to a man. Women are more likely than men to have "silent" or unrecognized heart attacks. Not all heart attacks begin with sudden, crushing chest pain, the way they are often shown in the movies and on TV. Heart attack symptoms may be severe from the start, or they may be mild at first, and then gradually worsen. Women are more likely than men to have nausea, pain high up ...

When the Immune System Chooses the Wrong Target Your symptoms are vague: a feeling of fatigue; some tingling in arms or legs that comes and goes; aching muscles; perhaps a headache. Are you sick? Or are you just imagining that something's wrong? Many women who have reported these symptoms to their doctor have been dismissed as hypochondriacs or suffering from anxiety. But the real diagnosis is much more subtle, at least at first. Those symptoms may indicate one of a host of autoimmune diseases such as l...

For Young Women, What's Your Stroke Risk? Although most strokes occur in people older than 50, about one in 5,000 women ages 15 to 49 suffers a stroke each year, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). A stroke occurs when brain cells die because the brain is deprived of oxygen. The most common cause of stroke is a blockage in an artery, a blood vessel that brings oxygen-rich blood to the brain. This type of stroke is called an ischemic stroke. The blockage is n...

Sexual Harassment's Emotional Toll According to researchers at the American Psychological Association (APA), nearly 50 percent of American working women will experience on-the-job sexual harassment at some point in their careers. "I've assessed a number of these cases myself, and one frequent outcome is deep depression," says Dana Westmoreland, who frequently counsels working women in Charlotte, N.C. "We also see a lot of anxiety disorders and other stress-related symptoms. Many of these women have been...

Think Before Buying a Treadmill There was a time when the only place you'd find a treadmill was in a physiology lab or a sports medicine clinic. Not anymore. Treadmills have become one of the hottest-selling exercise machines in the country, according to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association. Thousands have run out to stores so they could bring home a treadmill and do their walking in the comfort of the living room or den. Unfortunately, starting an exercise program is not as simple as plunking d...

Women with Asthma Can Have Healthy Babies Pregnant women with asthma are just as likely to have healthy, normal babies as women without asthma, as long as their disease is kept under control. That means getting regular monitoring and taking medication as needed, according to the American Lung Association. The Asthma and Pregnancy Working Group of the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program concluded that it is riskier to leave a woman's asthma uncontrolled than it is to use asthma medicines dur...

Could This Be Menopause? A generation ago, hot flashes, irregular periods, and mood swings would have been labeled menopause or “the change of life.” Today, your doctor is more likely to call this perimenopause , a new term for the transitional years leading up to the end of menstruation. Perimenopause often begins around age 47 and lasts for about five years. During this time, the ovaries gradually become smaller and fertility declines. At the same time, the levels of the hormones estrogen and progeste...

Managing Menopause Menopause occurs when the ovaries stop making estrogen and progesterone. It's defined as not having a period or spotting for 12 or more months. The average age of natural menopause in the United States is 51. It can occur anytime between ages 40 and 55. Some women notice little difference in their bodies or moods. Others find menopause very uncomfortable and disruptive. Health issues The most serious issues women face after menopause are an increased risk for heart disease and osteopo...

Protect Yourself from Sexual Assault Sexual assault, including but not limited to rape, is any kind of sexual physical contact that involves force or any form of coercion or intimidation. Rape can happen to anyone—children, grandmothers, students, working women, wives, mothers, and even males. Many victims know their assailants. In more than half of reported cases, the rapist is an acquaintance, neighbor, friend, or relative of the victim, according to the National Women's Health Information Center. Mos...

How Women Can Avoid Midlife Weight Gain Most women between ages 35 and 55 find it difficult to avoid gaining weight, especially inches that tend to settle around their waistlines. In fact, on average, women gain about a pound a year during the years leading up to menopause and beyond. But middle-life weight gain doesn't have to be inevitable. Weight gain during middle age is caused by a combination of factors: Pregnancy. Weight gain during pregnancy is normal and necessary for a healthy baby, but most w...

Contraception: Many Options About half of all pregnancies in this country are unplanned, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. For a woman who wants to plan when she becomes pregnant, however, there are many choices. Contraception -- also called birth control -- refers to methods or devices that prevent pregnancy either by preventing a woman’s egg from being fertilized by sperm or by preventing a fertilized egg from being implanted in the uterus. Which method or methods y...

Recognizing a Partner's Emotional Abuse Physical violence is just one form of domestic abuse. If you have a partner who verbally humiliates you, demands all your attention, blames you for everything that goes wrong or threatens to harm you or your children, you’re also being abused. “Emotional abuse can be subtle at first and may consist of name-calling, ignoring your feelings or cursing at you,” says Sue Maisch, M.S.W., of Child and Family Counseling in Glenwood Springs, Colo. “However, over time it us...

Answers to Questions About HPV The human papilloma virus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the United States, with more than 20 million Americans currently infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). HPV is most common in women and men in their late teens and early 20s. By age 50, at least 80 percent of women will have acquired HPV infection. Learning about HPV can help you avoid infection and seek treatment, if necessary. What are the symptoms of HPV? Th...

Female Athlete Triad: An Unhealthy Condition A small minority of girls who take part in sports face a threat unique to women: the female athlete triad. The triad is made up of these factors: disordered eating, disrupted menstrual cycles (missing three or more periods in a row) and osteoporosis (low bone mass). The condition, while common, isn't healthy or normal. It can start when an active girl cuts back on calories to lose weight or burns more calories exercising than she's taking in, says Anne Z. Hoc...

How a Woman's Gender Affects Her Health Health can be confusing, regardless of gender. But women have an added disadvantage. In the past, medicine was dominated by a male point of view. And early medical research focused on—you guessed it—men. "Now there's a growing understanding that there are significant gender differences in health care," says Wendy Klein, M.D., an internal medicine and women's health specialist. A report by the Institute of Medicine emphasized that researchers needed to know the dif...

Weighing in on Weight Training for Women Misconceptions about weight training—often based on unfounded fears of becoming too muscular—can keep women from pushing their fitness levels. That’s unfortunate because weight training provides several important health benefits for women. Most important, it helps them maintain a healthy weight as they approach and pass menopause. It also can help them avoid osteoporosis and prevent back problems. Muscle size Misconception: Women who lift weights develop huge mus...

6 Vital Nutrients Women May Be Missing Women's diets often fall short in vital minerals and vitamins. A woman's physiology can make it harder to hang onto some nutrients, too. Women also are more likely than men to develop an eating disorder, which makes it difficult to maintain healthy nutrition. Here are six nutrients that women are often deficient in, either because they lose too much of a nutrient, don't get enough of a nutrient, or both. Calcium Why you need it: Calcium builds teeth and bones, curb...

Mammograms: What Every Woman Needs to Know This year, more than 192,000 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. More than 40,000 women will die of the disease, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Except for skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. Mammograms can detect many breast cancers before anyone can feel them. When breast cancer is found in its earliest stages, the majority of patients survive for at least five years. The benefits and limitations ...

Women and Anger Anger is an emotion that says something is wrong. It can be expressed to tell others about your personal limits, values, rules and boundaries. Learning how to express anger assertively and constructively can improve your personal interaction and your health. Being angry and expressing it is normal and healthy; yet, from an early age, most women are taught that such expression is unacceptable. The result is many women aren't in touch with their anger or they feel it but don't know how to ...

Women's Guide to Staying Healthy Women can't always stay healthy and prevent disease. But by having certain screening tests and practicing healthful behaviors, they are more likely to live long, healthy lives. Review the following guidelines for women at average risk and discuss them with your health care provider. If you have risk factors for a disease or a diagnosed condition, these recommendations may not apply to you; talk to your provider about when you should have these tests. Screening tests Scre...