Women's Health
Women have many unique health concerns — menstrual cycles, pregnancy, birth control, menopause — and that's just the beginning. A number of health issues affect only women and others are more common in women. What's more, men and women may have the same condition, but different symptoms. Many diseases affect women differently and may even require distinct treatment.
We tend to think of breast cancer and osteoporosis as women's health diseases, but they also occur in men. Heart disease in a serious concern to both men and women, but risk factors and approaches to prevention are different. Women may also have specific concerns about aging, caregiving, emotional health issues, and skin care.
Women's Health Articles
Changes in female hormone levels can bring about mood changes or mild mood disorders during perimenopause and the transition into menopause. However, this is also a time when life circumstances or physical changes can play a role in mood shifts. Women should be aware that this may occur and be certain to bring bothersome mood changes to the attention of their doctors.
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Researchers are embarking on a study to test whether contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) screening is better than other technologies at finding breast cancers in women with dense breast tissue.
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A urinary tract infection is an infection involving the organs that produce urine and carry it out of the body. These structures include the kidneys, ureters (long, slender tubes connecting the kidneys with the bladder), bladder and urethra. Doctors often divide urinary tract infections into two types, lower tract infections and upper tract infections:
Women are affected much more often than men because women have short urethras that allow relatively easy passage of bacteria into the bladder. Sexual intercourse can cause bacteria to spread upward into the bladder. Also, the use of contraceptive diaphragms and spermicides may change the normal bacterial environment around the urethra and make infection more likely.
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Many women are reporting symptoms they believe are associated with their breast implants. Sometimes called breast implant illness, this combination of vague symptoms—such as hair loss, fatigue, anxiety, and depression—is also associated with a number of other conditions, including menopause, thyroid problems, and autoimmune conditions. Researchers are now working with patient advocacy groups to better understand the problem. Experts recommend that women understand the potential risks and benefits of breast implants before having the surgical procedure.
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A growing number of urinary tract infections are now resistant to common antibiotics. This makes them harder to treat and raises the potential that women will develop complications, such as kidney or blood infections. Women can help protect themselves from UTIs by following good hygiene practices and staying well hydrated.
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Many risk factors for osteoporosis, such as sex, age, and genes, are not modifiable. But women at risk can make changes to improve bone health, such as not smoking and limiting alcohol consumption, exercising more, and adopting a healthy diet rich in calcium and getting enough vitamin D.
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Providing genetic testing for all women diagnosed with breast cancer is not only cost-effective, but could save numerous lives, according to a new study.
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Female hair loss is a common problem. Causes of hair loss in women range from pregnancy and hormonal shifts to genetic causes or illness. Some hair loss is also caused by overuse of styling products and tools. Treatment for hair loss depends on the cause, but can include everything from medication to hair transplant surgery.
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Hormone therapy is linked to a higher risk of breast cancer. A new study shows that risk is higher with both estrogen-only hormone therapy and progesterone-estrogen combination therapy. In addition, women who take hormones for a longer time have a higher risk of developing breast cancer. If a woman opts to take hormone therapy, it should be for as short a period as possible to manage symptoms.
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Bladder training is a strategy that people suffering from urinary frequency or overactive bladder might try to improve their condition. It involves urinating on a schedule, gradually extending the time between bathroom visits, to improve bladder function.
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