Amenorrhea

Detailed information on amenorrhea, including causes, diagnosis, and treatment

Anorexia

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is eating disorder that is a form of self-starvation. A person with AN has abnormally low body weight, a distorted body image, and an intense fear of gaining weight.

Arthritis

Arthritis and other rheumatic diseases are characterized by pain, swelling, and limited movement in joints and connective tissues in the body.

Asthma

Detailed information on asthma, including triggers of an asthma attack, symptoms, diagnosis, management, and treatment

Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder is an illness that resembles bulimia nervosa and is characterized by episodes of uncontrolled eating or bingeing. It differs from bulimia because its sufferers do not purge their bodies of the excess food.

Bulimia

Bulimia nervosa is defined as uncontrolled episodes of overeating (bingeing) usually followed by self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, enemas, or medications in an attempt to control weight.

Caring for the Mother: Physically and Emotionally

During the first few weeks after your baby is born, you need to take good care of yourself to rebuild your strength. Take naps when the baby naps, to compensate for sleep lost during night feedings.

Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer develops from abnormal cells on the surface of the cervix that spread deeper or to other tissues or organs. This type of cancer occurs most often in women older than 40.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Detailed information on chronic fatigue syndrome, including symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment

Cluster Headaches

Detailed information on cluster headaches including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

Common Discomforts During Pregnancy

Nausea and vomiting are common in the first trimester, as is fatigue. Other common discomforts are hemorrhoids and heartburn.

Depression

Depression involves the body, mood, and thoughts, and affects the way a person eats and sleeps, feels about himself or herself, and thinks about things.

Diabetes and Heart Disease

Diabetes affects the cardiovascular system, but many problems aren't apparent until a person has a heart attack or stroke.

Diagnosing Benign Breast Conditions

To diagnose a breast condition, your doctor will examine your breasts and may order imaging tests or a biopsy.

Dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea is a menstrual condition marked by severe and frequent menstrual cramps and pain. Dysmenorrhea can be either lifelong or caused by another medical condition.

Eating Disorders: When Food Is the Enemy

What's behind the rise in eating disorders? For one thing, experts' growing awareness may lead to more diagnoses. Another reason: A weight-obsessed culture bombarded by media "thin" messages.

Endometrial Cancer

Cancer of the endometrium is a disease in which cancerous cells are found in the lining of the uterus. It is highly curable when found early.

Endometriosis

Women with endometriosis develop tissue that looks and acts like endometrial tissue outside the uterus, usually on other reproductive organs inside the pelvis or in the abdominal cavity.

Fibrocystic Breast Changes

Fibrocystic lumpiness seems to become more obvious as a woman approaches middle age and the milk-producing glandular tissue gives way to softer, fatty tissue.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) / Heartburn

Gastroesophageal reflux is the return of acidic stomach juices, or food and fluids, back up into the esophagus.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a condition in which a pregnant woman has elevated glucose levels and other symptoms of diabetes—but did not have diabetes before she became pregnant.

Gestational Hypertension

Pregnancy-induced hypertension is also called toxemia or preeclampsia. It occurs most often in young women with a first pregnancy.

Group B Streptococcus

Although group B streptococcus infection usually causes no problems in healthy women before pregnancy, it can cause serious illness for the mother and baby during pregnancy and after delivery.

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are blood vessels normally present in and around the anus and lower rectum that have become swollen because of stretching under pressure. Hemorrhoids are very common in both men and women.

Herpes

It is important that women avoid contracting herpes during pregnancy, because a first episode during pregnancy creates a greater risk of transmission to the newborn.

High Blood Pressure / Hypertension

High blood pressure, or hypertension, increases the risk for coronary heart disease (heart attack) and stroke (brain attack).

HIV and AIDS

AIDS is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus, which kills or impairs cells of the immune system and progressively destroys the body's ability to fight infections and certain cancers.

Infertility

Many different factors and problems can cause infertility, including problems in the female reproductive system, the male reproductive system, or a combination of the two.

Interstitial Cystitis

Interstitial cystitis is a complex, chronic disorder marked by an inflamed or irritated bladder wall. It can lead to scarring and stiffening of the bladder and decreased bladder capacity.

Low Back Pain

Low back pain can range from mild, dull, and annoying to persistent, severe, and disabling.

Managing Stress

A nutritious, well-balanced diet and exercise can keep your body fit and able to resist disease, and exercise is an excellent way to elevate your mood.

Menorrhagia

Menorrhagia is the most common type of abnormal uterine bleeding characterized by heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding.

Migraine Headaches

A migraine headache is unique among headaches because it includes symptoms other than pain. Nausea and vomiting, lightheadedness, and sensitivity to light are common with a migraine.

Miscarriage

Ultrasound is usually used to diagnose miscarriage. If the fetus is no longer in the uterus, or there is no longer a fetal heartbeat, miscarriage is diagnosed.

Multiple Sclerosis

Detailed information on multiple sclerosis, including causes, symptoms, evaluation procedures, treatment, and rehabilitation

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis causes a loss of bone mass and destruction of bone tissue. The bones most often affected are the hips, spine, and wrists.

Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer can develop in one of three types—the first, on the surface of the ovary; the second, in the cells that form the eggs; the third, in the cells that produce female hormones.

Overview of Obesity

Obesity is a serious, chronic disease that can inflict substantial harm to a person’s health. Learn about obesity causes and obesity health effects.

Overview of Stroke

Stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted. The disruption is caused when either a blood clot or piece of plaque blocks one of the vital blood vessels in the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Untreated, PID can cause infertility and can also lead to chronic infection or even peritonitis.

Planning a Pregnancy

Planning ahead and taking care of yourself before becoming pregnant is the best thing you can do for you and your baby.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

This syndrome results from several related factors, including insulin resistance. This can lead to obesity and type 2 diabetes and affect fertility.

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Most females experience some unpleasant or uncomfortable symptoms during their menstrual cycle. The type and intensity of symptoms vary.

Recognizing Gynecologic Problems

Vaginal bleeding and discharge are a normal part of your menstrual cycle. If you notice anything different or unusual, talk with your health care provider.

Risk Factors for Breast Cancer

Factors that appear to raise a woman's risk for breast cancer include advancing age, family history, benign breast conditions, and a late menopause.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

STDs are among the most common infectious diseases in this country—the United States has the highest rates of STDs in the industrialized world.

Sinusitis

Detailed information on sinusitis, including anatomy of the sinuses, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment

Sleep Apnea

Detailed information on sleep apnea, including characteristics, who is at risk, causes, diagnosis, and treatment

Snoring

Detailed information on snoring, including causes, prevention, and treatment

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus)

Most people who have lupus are young women. The effects of the disease can range from mild to severe.

Tension Headaches

Detailed information on muscular contraction and tension headaches

The Facts on Chlamydia

Chlamydia is the most frequently reported infectious disease in the United States. Anyone who has sex is at risk for chlamydia.

Thyroid Disorders in Women

Detailed information on thyroid disorders in women

Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)

Detailed information on toxic shock syndrome, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention

Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is often caused by specific changes in body function that may result from diseases, use of medications, and/or the onset of an illness.

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

Urinary tract infections are a serious, but common, health problem that affects millions of people each year. Women are especially prone to urinary tract infections.

Uterine Fibroids

Some estimates say that 20 to 50 percent of women of reproductive age have fibroids, although not all are diagnosed. In most cases, fibroids are benign.

Vaginitis

Vaginitis is a common problem for women of all ages. Bacteria, yeast, viruses, and chemicals in creams or sprays can cause it.