Women's Health Archive

Articles

The morning after pill: Options after unprotected sex

There are options after unprotected sex. Dr. Richard Zane explains the concerns and the choices. Watch now.

The no-period pill Lybrel V

If you've heard about Lybrel, the no-period pill, and wondererd about its safety, Dr. Julie Silver has the information you need. Watch to learn more about the benefits and risks of this oral contraceptive.
 

Experts recommend low-dose aspirin to prevent stroke in women

Lower doses are as effective as higher doses and are likely to be safer.

Women ages 55 to 79 should consider taking a daily aspirin to reduce their risk of having a stroke, according to new guidelines from the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), an expert panel that reviews evidence and recommends preventive health strategies. The guidelines reflect evidence showing that the cardiovascular benefits of aspirin vary by gender. Aspirin reduces women's risk for ischemic stroke, the most common kind (caused by blood clots), but not heart attacks. In men, it lowers the risk of heart attacks but not strokes.

The guidelines, which were published in the Annals of Internal Medicine (March 17, 2009), apply only to people with no history of heart disease or stroke. The USPSTF discourages aspirin therapy in women under age 55, because their risk for stroke is generally so low that the risk of aspirin-related gastrointestinal bleeding outweighs any benefit. Because evidence was lacking, the group made no recommendation for women ages 80 and over.

Preparing for a colonoscopy

Worse than the colonoscopy itself? Probably. Here's how to make this unpleasant but essential task go more smoothly.

If you shudder at the thought of having a colon cancer–screening colonoscopy, chances are it's the "prep" that's stoking your apprehension. It's certainly a major inconvenience: getting ready for the procedure takes much longer — according to one study, 16.5 hours, on average — than the time you'll spend at a medical center the day of your colonoscopy (usually no more than three hours). But what's most off-putting is the purgative part — taking a powerful bowel-clearing substance and coping with the resulting diarrhea.

Managing common vulvar skin conditions

There are a number of skin conditions that can affect the vulva. Sometimes the products a woman uses every day can irritate the skin or provoke an allergic reaction.

Depression at perimenopause

Depression at perimenopause: More than just hormones

New research has confirmed a link between depression and the menopausal transition, or perimenopause — that time of erratic periods, chaotic hormone fluctuations, disturbed sleep, and, for some, uncomfortable hot flashes. Among the findings: little or no correlation between hormone levels and depression during perimenopause. However, a host of other factors have been implicated.

The connection

In 2006, the Harvard Study of Moods and Cycles reported that one in six participants with no history of depression developed depressive symptoms during perimenopause. In addition to hormone fluctuations, researchers have explored the possible influence of psychosocial factors, hot flashes and their impact on sleep, and genetic vulnerabilities. In 2006, the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation identified several genetic mutations that increase the likelihood of perimenopausal depressive symptoms.

What to do about fibroids

ARCHIVED CONTENT: As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date each article was posted or last reviewed. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. ​

New options for managing troublesome fibroids continue to appear. Here's help in finding what's best for you.

What to do about hemorrhoids

Bulging blood vessels in the backside can be a pain, but you have many options for treating them.

Some women have a passing encounter with hemorrhoids during pregnancy. By midlife, many more of us have had one or more of the classic symptoms, which include rectal pain, itching, bleeding, and possibly prolapse (protrusion of hemorrhoids into the anal canal). Leakage of feces may also occur. Although hemorrhoids are rarely dangerous, they can be a painful recurrent bother. Fortunately, there's a lot we can do about them.

The ups and downs of folic acid fortification

During our reproductive years, extra folic acid is essential. After that, it may be too much.

Folic acid is a synthetic form of folate, a B vitamin found naturally in various fruits, vegetables, and legumes. We need folate to produce and maintain new cells (in particular, red blood cells) and to keep nerve cells functioning properly. It also helps prevent DNA changes that may lead to cancer. In the body, folic acid and naturally occurring folate are identical in their actions, but the bioavailability of folic acid is somewhat higher than that of folate.

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