Contraception and birth control Archive

Women officially reach menopause a year after periods end. Any vaginal bleeding after menopause should be evaluated. Bleeding can come from vaginal dryness or atrophy, medication side effects, various infections, endometrial thickening, or cancer.

During midlife and later, men often experience a lower energy level, sour mood, and decline in sex drive. These changes have been tagged with the term "male menopause." A low testosterone level may be a factor. Lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, increasing exercise, and following healthy sleep patterns, can help raise low levels. Another option is testosterone replacement therapy, but men need to weigh the possible benefits versus the risks.

The FDA added a boxed warning in December 2024 to fezolinetant (Veozah), a nonhormonal drug that reduces hot flashes and night sweats in menopausal women. The drug may cause rare but serious liver injury.

An estimated six in 10 women will at some point experience symptoms from pelvic floor weakness. Risk factors include pregnancy (especially with vaginal delivery), chronic constipation, family history, smoking, aging, menopause, obesity, chronic coughing, and occupations involving heavy lifting. Women with pelvic floor weakness may experience signs such as leaking urine, having trouble using a tampon, being unable to fully empty their bladder or rectum, and feeling a bulge in their vagina.

The troubling symptoms of prostatitis, or inflammation of the prostate, accounts for roughly two million doctor visits every year. Fortunately, research advances are leading to some encouraging developments for men suffering from this condition.

Most men with prostate cancer have low-grade cancer, meaning the cancer is unlikely to spread or affect quality of life or longevity. But men whose initial prostate biopsy shows an intermediate-risk or high-risk cancer, or those who began active surveillance for low-risk cancer but develop a rising PSA or new symptoms suggesting aggressive cancer, have several treatment options available. These include different combinations of radiation, surgery, androgen deprivation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and anti-androgens.

While blood in semen may look alarming, in most cases it is caused by a recent medical procedure. Other possible causes are trauma to the genital area, a bladder infection, prostatitis (inflammation to the prostate), or a sexually transmitted infection.

Although a clinical trial showed daily aspirin use didn't help women with breast cancer avoid recurrence or improve survival, other evidence-backed measures might. Exercise, weight control, and a healthy diet are linked with lower recurrence and longer survival, but alcohol use, smoking, and supplement use are not. While it's not always clear how lifestyle approaches help lower the odds of recurrence or death from breast cancer, healthy measures can improve women's ability to keep other conditions at bay or manage them more effectively.

Looking after a loved one who has prostate cancer can be overwhelming. Caregivers play crucial roles in supporting a patient's physical and psychological well-being. But what does that entail? Here's what to know about effective communication, day-to-day support, and taking care of yourself.