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Contraception and birth control Archive

Articles

Do I need prolapse surgery?

For women with pelvic organ prolapse, surgery is typically considered when symptoms interfere with daily life and when conservative measures to relieve the symptoms have failed or are unappealing.

Musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause: When menopause makes you ache all over

Musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause is a newly recognized condition that links falling estrogen levels to widespread joint and muscle pain, stiffness, fatigue, and other symptoms. Estrogen loss at midlife can also reduce muscle mass and bone density.

Could my blood pressure medication be causing my hot flashes to return?

After starting treatment for high blood pressure, your hot flashes are back. Explore how medications and other conditions might be involved.

What should you do if you discover a lump in your breast?

A new breast lump can be alarming, but not all require immediate surgery. A doctor will determine the appropriate next steps, which may include medical tests.

Late-start hormone therapy: Safe or risky?

Guidelines recommend that women starting hormone therapy do so before age 60 and within 10 years of menopause onset. Starting later may raise the risks of heart attack, stroke, or dementia. Women who start hormone therapy at 70 or older face even greater cardiovascular risks.

Staying active throughout middle age may lower women's risk of dying early

A 2026 study suggested that women who consistently stay active throughout middle age have a significantly lower risk of dying early than peers who are inactive.

What could cause a painful breast lump in a man?

A new, tender lump in a man’s breast doesn't necessarily mean cancer. But it should not be ignored. Gynecomastia is one possible cause, but there are others.

Do all erectile dysfunction drugs have the same side effects?

Erectile dysfunction medicines act similarly but can vary in side effects, duration of action and food interactions.

Symptoms of early-stage prostate cancer

Prostate cancer often develops quietly, with few or no early warning signs, and can resemble normal age‑related prostate changes. When symptoms arise, they usually involve subtle changes in urination. Doctors combine careful questioning, physical examination, blood tests, and modern scans to distinguish harmless enlargement from serious disease.

How chemotherapy can affect women's sexual health — and what can help

Chemotherapy treatment in women can diminish hormone levels that affect sexual health and intimacy. It can also alter self-image, sex drive, and emotions. Research suggests anywhere from 40% to 100% of cancer survivors struggle with sexual dysfunction.

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