Hysterectomy and surgical menopause Archive

Huma Farid, MD

Vulvar health: Navigating the nether regions

Published April 1, 2019

David R. Topor, PhD, MS-HPEd

Preventing depression in pregnancy: New guidelines

Published March 26, 2019

Marwa A. Ahmed, MD, MS

Can exercise extend your life?

Published March 13, 2019

Women's Health

Did exercise cause my prolapsed bladder?

Updated March 1, 2019

Ask the doctors

Q. I was recently diagnosed with a prolapsed bladder. The doctor said it could be due to too much exercise. I've been exercising for more than 40 years and wonder if this is more likely to be age-related. Should people worry about exercise causing this problem?

A. When the bladder drops down from the pelvis and protrudes into the vagina, it's said to be prolapsed. This condition, known as cystocele, is uncomfortable and can also cause urinary problems.

Women's Health

The upsides of your aging brain

Published February 22, 2019

Heidi Godman

Should you try kettlebells?

Published February 19, 2019

Women's Health

Do you need a thyroid test?

Updated February 7, 2019

Undetected low levels of thyroid hormone may underlie subtle changes that can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease.

For a gland only two inches in size, the thyroid has a huge influence on our health. It produces a hormone that is carried in the bloodstream to all parts of the body. Thyroid hormone plays a major role in regulating metabolism—the process by which body cells convert nutrients into energy—and thereby helps regulate body temperature, heart rate, and even brain function. So when thyroid hormone levels fall, the body slows.

You're probably aware of the common symptoms of low thyroid hormone—fatigue, fuzzy-headedness, weight gain, cold hands, and dry skin. But if you're like most of us, you're likely to blame your diet and exercise regimen instead of your thyroid if your cholesterol levels and weight are creeping up, especially if you don't have any of the other symptoms of low thyroid. "Symptoms are often nonspecific, and since women over 60 generally have more of these nonspecific symptoms, their doctors may not think to test for hypothyroidism," says endocrinologist Dr. Jeffrey Garber, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and author of The Harvard Medical School Guide to Overcoming Thyroid Problems.