Domestic violence during the holidays is an unfortunate reality, but hardly surprising since intimate partner violence occurs every day. Gynecologists routinely screen all women for intimate partner violence at annual office visits, preconception visits and family planning visits. During pregnancy, most OBGYNs perform screenings at the first prenatal visit, once during each trimester and at [...]
To address sexual problems in women, it’s important to understand common sexual issues and why they occur. Sexual health encompasses all the physical, emotional, mental and social factors that affect sexuality. Each of these plays a role in a woman’s sexual desire and enjoyment. Contrary to what you may read in magazines or hear from [...]
Late night comedians often ridicule premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, but for women who suffer from the condition, it’s no laughing matter. Premenstrual syndrome is a name that describes physical and emotional symptoms that routinely occur in the days leading up to menstruation. Likely caused by fluctuating hormone levels, PMS occurs in the 5 days [...]
Non-cancerous, or benign, breast conditions are often seen in women. Breasts come in many different shapes and sizes and are made up of a combination of fatty tissue, glandular tissue and connective tissue. Benign breast conditions can develop in any area of the breast, producing symptoms that may be mistaken for breast cancer. Fluctuating [...]
Many women travel by car at some point during pregnancy, especially during the holiday season. Lengthy car trips are best taken mid-pregnancy, since complications are more common during the first and third trimesters. Late in pregnancy, after week 28, it may be uncomfortable to sit for long periods of time making car travel more difficult. [...]
Having a baby is exciting, but pregnancy after age 34 (35 years or older and otherwise known as Advanced Maternal Age) requires taking steps to protect your health and that of your baby. If you already have known health issues and you become pregnant after age 34, you should be monitored even more closely. When [...]
Depression is a very real condition likely caused by a combination of biological, environmental, psychological and genetic factors. Severity ranges from mild to moderate or even severe. More than just feeling down or blue, depression is a serious illness requiring professional treatment. Simply being female increases the risk of depression, since women are twice as [...]
Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are very common in women, with an estimated 50 percent of females experiencing at least one UTI in their lifetime. One reason urinary tract infections occur so often is the structure of the female anatomy. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside the body [...]
The dangers of tobacco, alcohol and drug use during pregnancy are many. These harmful chemicals are easily passed from mom to fetus, affecting development and posing serious health risks. Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of preterm birth and can also interfere with the way the placenta attaches to the uterus. Nicotine and carbon monoxide [...]
Painful sex is a problem that affects an estimated 75 percent of women at some time during their lives. Dyspareunia, the medical term for painful intercourse, describes pain that occurs immediately before, during or after sex. If you are experiencing painful sex, it may be an indication of a gynecologic problem. Ovarian cysts, endometriosis and [...]