Contraception and birth control Archive

Nail fungal infections affect up to 14% of the adult population. While completely curing these infections is difficult, the right treatments can discourage the problem from spreading and make your nails look better.

A new technique for prostate cancer treatment can limit side effects from radiation therapy. It relies on specialized types of medical imaging scans that allow doctors to visualize the cancer during treatment.

Pregnancy and reproductive complications, including high blood pressure, diabetes, pre-eclampsia, infertility, and stillbirth, are linked with higher cardiovascular risks in affected women many years later. Such complications affect 5% to 10% of pregnancies and are rising as obesity rates increase and more women postpone pregnancy. Ongoing preventive care and screenings are crucial for women who experienced pregnancy complications to monitor blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels and treat any irregularities aggressively.

The FDA has approved an over-the-counter topical gel to treat erectile dysfunction that men apply immediately before intercourse. It works in approximately 10 minutes.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening can help identify early prostate cancer, but it also can lead men to have biopsies and invasive treatments they may not need. This complexity has caused the medical community to re-evaluate how best to use PSA testing. More doctors are using PSA screening in ways that minimize the use of biopsies, such as by following a worrisome test result with MRI of the prostate. If a man does have a biopsy and a cancer is found, PSA testing can help the man follow active surveillance.

Dry skin and athlete's foot affect many men. There are several treatment options for both conditions, and steps you can take to prevent them from occurring or returning.

Men with mild-to-moderate symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia can try a conservative approach called watchful waiting. Behavior changes can help control symptoms. If these don't work, a discussion with a doctor about drugs or surgery is in order.

In some men with localized prostate cancer, focal therapy is an alternative to radical prostatectomy. This procedure removes only the cancerous part of the gland, and growing evidence shows it can be an effective strategy.

In May 2023, the FDA approved fezolinetant (Veozah), a nonhormonal drug specifically designed to reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes in women. Potential side effects include liver damage, abdominal pain, diarrhea, insomnia, or back pain.

Bleeding after sex can happen for many reasons, including vaginal dryness; inflammation from vaginal infections, including sexually transmitted infections; cervical polyps; or gynecological cancers. Women should see a doctor about unusual vaginal bleeding.