Women's Health Medical Library Stories & Articles

Wendy Denmead couldn't believe her eyes during her most recent obstetrician visit. "With the 4-d ultrasound, it's like you're peeking right inside the womb. Wendy was truly able to get up close and personal with her baby, watching its every move... ( Read more about 4-D Ultrasound | Breakthroughs in Diagnostic Imaging)

It's that time of year again. Summers here, and most people can't wait to enjoy the beach, the pool, and backyard barbeques. Summer's great- but all that time outdoors means a lot more sun exposure. While it'ss nice and actually healthy to get... ( Read more about 5 Ways to have Fun in the Sun Without Getting Burned)

Exercise may not halt the aging process, but mounting evidence suggests people who stay active can slow its effects. The latest issue of Mayo Clinic Women's Healthsource offers 8 benefits to regular exercise. It Provides Energy: Feeling tired... ( Read more about 8 Ways Exercise Keeps You Young and Healthy)

For people with sensitive nerves and stomachs, coffee can be an irritant. But for the 87 percent of Americans who drink coffee daily at an average of 8 ounces a day, there are many benefits. Here are nine of them:

Weight loss.... ( Read more about 9 Benefits of Drinking Coffee)

The researchers from Imperial College London hope to raise families' awareness of the importance of reducing levels of stress and anxiety in expectant mothers. They say that reducing stress during pregnancy could help prevent thousands of children... ( Read more about A Mother's Stress Can Affect Child Development)

Even though many don’t want to talk about it, depression is a very common problem---major depression affects 20% of American women at some point in their lives. So when a woman becomes pregnant, is it safe to take an antidepressant? The answer... ( Read more about Anti-Depressants and Pregnancy)

Women need to become far more aware than they are of the signs of a heart attack, which differ significantly from heart attack symptoms in men, many doctors say.
   
And they desperately need to be educated in how to... ( Read more about Awareness Needed of Female Heart Attack Signs)

Older Americans frequently turn their bodies into mixing bowls for multiple medications that can have dangerous, even deadly, effects, a recent study shows. The researchers, writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association,... ( Read more about Be Alert When Mixing Medications)

“I am still worried about how the baby is developing,” says expectant mom, Lori Minkin. Lori is 5 months pregnant. Like all expectant moms, she is concerned that her baby is growing and is healthy. Before becoming pregnant Lori regularly hit... ( Read more about Beauty Guide For Pregnant Moms)

What is the Depo Provera?

Depo Provera is a birth control injection that a woman get every 3 months. It consists of a synthetic form of the female hormone progesterone.

It’s back on the road again for 31 year old Jill Pearson. Jill, a technology trainer, travels extensively for work, but, monthly painful periods which included crushing migraines, were making her business trips unbearable. She decided to try... ( Read more about Birth Control Options)

Gilian Behar is busy planning for her October wedding. Theres the gown, the catering hall, flowers and the choosing of birth control. I feel like I cant get pregnant now, says Gilian. Gilian and her fiance, Larson, definitely want a family one... ( Read more about Birth Control Options and Myths)

37 year old Michelle Michaels is taking every precaution to protect herself against breast cancer. "My mother had inflammatory breast cancer three years ago, and my grandmother had breast cancer at 38, so I'm considered high, high risk." says... ( Read more about Breast Ultrasound)

It's a problem that affects ten to twenty percent of women, and many of the people close to them: PMS. Now, a natural way-calcium-which can reduce symptom severity has been shown to also prevent the development of PMS in the first place. But... ( Read more about Calcium and PMS)

Natalie is grateful that she listened to her body. It helped doctors in her cervical cancer detection and treatment. "I had one missed period and for me that wasn't normal, so I went to the doctor." says Natalie. A pap smear revealed that at... ( Read more about Cervical Cancer Bio-Probe)

There is a medical breakthrough tonight in the prevention of cervical cancer. A major drug company has announced its experimental cervical cancer vaccine is highly effective. This cervical cancer vaccine, which is not the only one in... ( Read more about Cervical Cancer Vaccine)

29 year old Melissa Gilbert received the ultimate gift on Valentine’s Day. Her daughter Kendal Grace entered the world. But, just two years ago, holding her own baby, seemed like an impossibility. A pap smear revealed she had cervical cancer.... ( Read more about Cervical Cancer and Miracle Baby)

Perhaps the best way to make a “no”—as in not a yes decision, is, in fact, to make no decision—preventing the yes vote from ever happening. Many are arguing that’s been the tactic of the FDA over the past two years with regard to making... ( Read more about Clinton's stand on Plan B)

Researchers at Yale University have identified proteins in the blood that play a significant role in miscarriages, preterm delivery, and other common problems in pregnancy. This has to do with low levels of clotting proteins called protein z... ( Read more about Clotting Proteins and Pregnancy)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the battle towards prevention of sexually transmitted diseases needs to move front and center. Sexually transmitted disease prevention is a crucial issue, particularly since the rates... ( Read more about Condom Concerns)

Labor and delivery is not uncharted territory for 38 year old Karen Asar, she’s mom to six year old Ben and four year old Lucas and is due any day now with baby number three. But, unlike her prior pregnancies, Karen developed gestational... ( Read more about Diabetes and Pregnancy)

Women with the condition pre-eclampsia have been found with red blood cells containing unusually high levels of a compound found in unpasteurized food, according to research published in the journal Reproductive Sciences. The findings are... ( Read more about Discovery Links Pre-Eclampsia to Diet)

An alcoholism-conquering testimonial by a French cardiologist is helping an obscure muscle relaxant become a lightning rod in the global medical community.
    Olivier Ameisen, one of the top heart specialists in France and... ( Read more about Doctor Stirs Furor Over "Cure" for Alcoholism)

A new Down syndrome test may help ease the fears of pregnant women about Down syndrome and other genetic disorders. It's actually two tests, one at-home and another at the woman's doctor's office. The key is that the new Down syndrome test can... ( Read more about Down Syndrome Test)

It's one of the most controversial medical issues: the use of the morning after pill as en emergency contraception method to prevent pregnancy. There is significant opposition to the drug treatment designed as an emergency contraception method,... ( Read more about Emergency Contraception Study)

There’s good news tonight for some women who want to use estrogen during and after the menopause. In those women have had their uterus’ removed, but only in these women, it appears----even after seven years of treatment with estrogen—using this... ( Read more about Estrogen Okay for Some)

It is clear, with regard to the healthcare of Americans, that the haves and have-nots are often defined by ethnic backgrounds. Now a major medical organization has issued new guidelines to help correct the problem of ethnic disparities in... ( Read more about Ethnic Disparities)

Natural therapies are becoming increasingly popular among menopausal women seeking to ease their symptoms. A study published in the latest issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention found that a simple, brisk walking routine can... ( Read more about Exercise Reduces Menopausal Symptoms)

With dieting being the most commonly adopted method to lose weight, many of us refrain from taking up exercise. For people who are markedly overweight, it can be difficult to start an exercise program. But, the latest data shows the combination... ( Read more about Exercise Study)

The FDA approves an oral contraceptive that also eliminates menstruation. Wyeth's oral contraceptive Lybrel is now approved by the FDA to eliminate monthly menstrual periods. The drug has a lower level of synthetic hormones than other oral... ( Read more about FDA Approves New Contraceptive Pill Lybrel)

There’s good news and bad news surrounding birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy. While one new study reinforces previous findings that estrogen and progesterone hormones together increase blood clot risk, another shows birth... ( Read more about Female Hormones And Vascular Disease)

In recent years the scientific community has made big strides in the treatment of AIDS, meeting with considerable success in holding off progression of the disease. Now some researchers are focusing their fight on HIV prevention. As the fight... ( Read more about HIV Gel Special Report)

The new vaccine against the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus (HPV) may have the happy side effect of reducing the number of preterm births by an estimated 60 percent among those women surgically treated to rectify HPV tissue damage to... ( Read more about HPV Vaccine May Reduce Premature Births)

According to a new national survey, married women are more likely to have sexual difficulties than either single women or married men. Women were significantly more likely than men to say that they had experienced a short or longer term problem... ( Read more about Health Wrap Up)

A new study finds that habitual snoring in women is strongly tied to body mass index—a marker of fatness-- and age. Overall, 7.6 percent of women snore. The frequency of snoring reaches its peak in women ages 50 to 59. Frequent snoring was... ( Read more about Health Wrap:Snoring, Fetuses and Pain)

According to new research in the medical journal the lancet, the number of people that have dementia--the common form is Alzheimer’s disease--is going to double every twenty years. Given that 24 million worldwide have dementia today, that... ( Read more about Healthwrap - Dementia, SIDS, Breast Cancer)

Hispanics are the nation’s largest minority group, and they are also the fastest growing group, accounting for about half of the growth in the U.S. population since 2000. Thus Hispanic healthcare is an increasing concern that a lot of doctors... ( Read more about Hispanics and Osteoporosis)

As a nurse, Maura Sakovich did extensive research on hormone replacement therapy and the side effects of hormone replacement therapy, to find out how she could get relief once she hit menopause. "There are usually 5 hormones involved- estrogen,... ( Read more about Hormone Replacement Therapy)

Hot flashes are an unpleasant part of menopause that affects nearly all women in the US. Now new research shows a simple and natural way to reduce the frequency of hot flashes. With all the news and studies concerning estrogen and how it is a... ( Read more about Hot Flashes Treatment)

Dr. Marianne Legato explains that the male "Y chromosome", which at one point was called a wasteland, has genes responsible for the "housekeeping issues" in tissues. It's not just dedicated exclusively to male fertility and determining the male... ( Read more about How the Y Chromosome Drives Evolution)

Today, thanks to the miracle of science, thousands of couples desperately wanting children, who can't conceive naturally, are able to become parents. "In the in vitro fertilization process women are given hormonal treatments to try to stimulate... ( Read more about In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) - Making Futures Possible)

Having three or more miscarriages and undergoing hormone treatment for infertility increase pregnant women’s risk for pre-eclampsia, a condition of high blood pressure during pregnancy, a recent investigation shows.

In the study,... ( Read more about Infertility Treatment Jeopardize Pregnant Women's Health)

There is important new research which shows women can safely get significant labor pain relief early on in the course of labor. More than 3.5 million women go into labor each year, and almost half get an epidural anesthetic. Now this new study... ( Read more about Labor Pain control study)

Michelle Haziza is overwhelmed with joy at the arrival of her baby boy. But, at first, during the early stages of labor, she was overwhelmed with pain. "The pain was just so bad, it was unbearable, that I couldn't handle it." says Michelle. As... ( Read more about Labor and Epidurals)

What is the maximum possible maternal age, after which having a baby is simply out of the question? This is the question being raised in a major medical journal, especially in light of advanced maternal ages among women. More and more women are... ( Read more about Maternal Age)

There is new research tonight that provides powerful evidence of a treatment that works to prevent menstrual migraines in many women. Approximately half of all women who seek clinical treatment for migraines have reported an association between... ( Read more about Menstrual Migraine Treatment)

Are pollutants in our air causing many of our children to become mentally retarded? According to new research released today, the U.S. is losing billions of dollars each year due to the impact of mercury poisoning on brain development. There... ( Read more about Mercury Poisoning)

There are important new diabetes guidelines just released that instruct most Type 2 diabetics to take cholesterol-lowering medication. The goal is to cut down on their risk for heart attacks and strokes, common killers in this patient... ( Read more about New Diabetic Guidelines)

Nearly 4 years ago, Janice Paulshock's world came crashing down when she learnt that she had ovarian cancer. "I was completely shocked. At that time my husband was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and I thought, this can't happen to us, we... ( Read more about New Ovarian Cancer Detection)

There’s new hope for ovarian cancer patients. Doctors are saying that giving chemo through the abdomen rather than through the vein should now be the way many ovarian cancer patients are treated. This is actually an old method to deliver chemo;... ( Read more about New Ovarian Cancer Treatment)

For a pregnant woman, perhaps the city is not the best place to be. A new National Institutes of Health study shows the polluted air in the inner city is definitely affecting unborn babies, causing DNA damage while they are still in the womb.... ( Read more about New Research on Air Pollution and Unborn Babies)

Many women have to face a very difficult decision to electively remove their ovaries because of an inherited ovarian cancer risk. But now the findings of new research are making that decision a bit more difficult. Mayo Clinic researchers have... ( Read more about Ovarian and Dementia Risk)

Can high levels of stress increase the risk of having painful periods? New research by Chicago researchers says it can. Jessica Lindstrom is 27 years old, and although she's totally healthy, sometimes her body turns on her at the time of the... ( Read more about Painful Periods)

Many women are looking at permanent birth control methods that do not entail intensive surgical procedures. 35 year old Laura Katz is the proud mother of three children and she wants it to remain that way. “I’m so done having kids. I’m at my... ( Read more about Permanent Birth Control)

Researchers have found the presence of numerous harmful pesticides in the placentas of pregnant women. According to a study by the University of Granada, fifteen different substances linked to pesticides have been found in pregnant women.... ( Read more about Pesticides Found in Pregnant Women)

There continues to be response and fallout as a result of a congressional investigation into the FDA’s rejection of allowing the Plan B morning after pill to be sold over the counter without a prescription. There are several issues which need... ( Read more about Plan B Fall-out)

For years the movement of the Plan B drug to over the counter status has been a controversial issue, but in 2003 the FDA made their first step towards making the change. One of their advisory panels voted 23 to 4 in favor of making the drug... ( Read more about Plan B OTC Revisted)

A new study just released looks at a problem that affects millions of people going for surgery each year postoperative nausea and vomiting. This research tested a variety of different regimens, altering the combinations of anesthetics, pain... ( Read more about Postoperative Nausea)

Breastfeeding can counter the effects of depression in new mothers. Studies published in the International Breastfeeding Journal, conducted by University of New Hampshire researcher Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, has found evidence supporting a... ( Read more about Postpartum Depression and Breastfeeding)

Every minute, a baby is born prematurely. Many of these babies are of extremely low birth weight. Now, new research shows infections which are common in these infants are associated with poor development overall.

There’s a one in eight chance that if you’re having a baby, you will delivery prematurely. This staggering statistic is the reason why today is Prematurity Awareness Day. The goal: help women learn how to protect themselves and their unborn... ( Read more about Prematurity Awareness)

A study just released shows many will have developmental issues that play out during the school years. This is an example of how technology and medical advances have improved outcomes but created new sets of problems. More and more children who... ( Read more about Prematurity and Development)

In statistics almost unchanged from those in 1981, blacks have been found to be significantly more likely to develop and die of cancer than whites, a recent study revealed. And blacks, once diagnosed with cancer, don’t live as long as... ( Read more about Racial Gap in Cancer Mortality Stubbornly Persists)

A Review in The Lancet reveals the importance of healthy lifestyle choices to reduce stressors related to cardiovascular risk factors. Researchers from John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore examined records between 1990 to 2006. They observed how... ( Read more about Reducing Stress Lowers Risk of Cardiovascular Problems)

National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, who was nominated by President Bush Tuesday to be the next Secretary of State, underwent a minor non-surgical procedure Friday for a problem called uterine fibroids.

Are stress and infertility linked? Is the ability to conceive impacted by the pressures that people have to deal with in their daily lives? At the age of 36 Deborah Horskey was faced with a brutal reality. Her biological clock had been fast... ( Read more about Stress and infertility)

A year ago, Orhan Sarki's incapacitating migraines started. And just a few weeks ago, he blacked out at work. "I am 36 years old, married, three children. Health-wise, medical history-wise, I've had a fairly healthy life so far." says Orhan.... ( Read more about Stroke PFO Implant Study)

What is the Endometriosis?

Understanding Endometriosis | Symptoms, Causes, Treatments)

What is the Mammograms?

A mammogram is a special type of X-Ray that allows doctors to visualize the breast tissue. The mammography machine compresses the breast and this will cause... ( Read more about Understanding Mammograms)

What are Menstrual Cramps?

When you have your menstrual period, you may get mild to bad menstrual cramps or pain in your abdomen or back. You may also have nausea, vomiting,... ( Read more about Understanding Menstrual Cramps | Symptoms, Causes, Treatments)

What is Reyes Disease?

Reyes disease is a early childhood disease which can strike without warning. All internal organs can be affected, especially the... ( Read more about Understanding Reyes Disease | Symptoms, Causes, Dangers)

Well, if you need a reason to lose weight and get into shape, here is a new motivation in the form of a health warning for women: being overweight increases one’s risk of developing breast cancer. The latest study, in the journal of the... ( Read more about Weight Gain in Postmenopausal Woman and the Risk of Breast Cancer)

What is Cancer?

Cancer is a term used to describe a group of illnesses all having certain common characteristics. There are over 200 different types of cancer and all have a... ( Read more about What is Cancer and How it is Caused)

By Dr. Chitti Moorthy -Director, Departments of Radiation Medicine and Radiology, New York Medical College, Valhalla , NY The cause of cancer lies deep within the building blocks of a person's cells (genes and DNA). If these blocks become... ( Read more about What is Cancer? Searching for the Cause)

Dr. Sateesh Babu of Vascular Associates of Westchester discusses "What is Carotid Stenosis?", the treatments, who should be screened and future developments, such as new stenting techniques.

Video: Dr. Jonathan Cohen of the Concorde Medical Group discusses Gastroenterology. Gastroenterology is a specialized field of medicine that focuses on the digestive tract - from the mouth to the anus. Gastroenterolgy studies the functioning... ( Read more about What is Gastroenterology?)

Once autumn arrives, Michael Panella can be found spending a lot of time outdoors. He loves taking on home projects that allow him to work in his back yard. But, the dropping temperature causes Michael’s rosacea, a flushing and redness of the... ( Read more about Winterizing Your Skin)

“My grandmother died at 67 of heart disease and she was a diabetic, my mother died at 59 from heart disease, my sister who was two years older than me died at 51 from heart disease, my oldest sister who is five years older than me had her first... ( Read more about Women & Heart Centers)

In a study that has powerful implications for dating, the fashion industry, product design and marketing, the color red was shown to distinctly boost men's attraction to the opposite sex. "It's fascinating to find that something as ubiquitous... ( Read more about Women in Red Attract Men More)

The fattening of America is so out there, so obvious, the question has become how do we get the message that we need to reverse the trend? Perhaps, the message is sinking in, at least among women. New research released by the CDC shows, among... ( Read more about Women, Obesity Rates, and the Fountain of Youth)

It would make sense at first glance that workplace stress leads to heart disease--no surprise, right? But the latest research shows chronic stress at work can also leads to diabetes--and that--raises eyebrows. “Deadlines, they ask you questions... ( Read more about Work Stress and Metabolic Syndrome)

You know, every year at this time, we talk about pollen counts and every year they always sound high. And it seems almost every year we’re saying this year is a bad allergy year. But this year really is a horrible year for allergies. In fact,... ( Read more about Worst Allergy Season Ever!)

Most people would npt consider a 35 year old a likely candidate for serious heart trouble, even if she is a young smoker. But new research shows that young smokers between 35 and 39 are at a significantly higher risk of heart attacks than their... ( Read more about Young Smokers)