Monday, November 9, 2009

Diseases & Conditions - Women's Health

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Get information on prevention, symptoms, tests, treatment, and management of various women's health issues.

Breast Cancer

Each year, about 215,000 women in the United States are found to have invasive breast cancer. Changes that should be promptly evaluated are the appearance of a lump in the breast or underarm, flakiness around the nipple, or a reddening of the skin.

About | Prevention | Symptoms | Tests | Treatment | Managing

Cervical Cancer

Because so many women have Pap tests annually, deaths from cervical cancer have decreased greatly and are now rare in the United States. Chances of successfully treating cervical cancer are highest when it is detected early.

About | Prevention | Symptoms | Tests | Treatment | Managing

Endometrial Cancer

In the United States, the most common cancer of the female reproductive system is endometrial cancer, in which malignant cells grow in the endometrium, the lining of the uterus. Fortunately, most endometrial cancers are discovered early because of warning signs such as irregular or postmenopausal bleeding.

About | Prevention | Symptoms | Tests | Treatment | Managing

Fibroids

Most women get fibroids during their reproductive years—and most never know it. A single fibroid might never cause a symptom, never pose a health risk, and create no problems with fertility. But the "tumors" can grow large enough to cause severe cramping and heavy bleeding and, in some cases, a hysterectomy.

About | Symptoms | Tests | Treatment

Gestational Diabetes

As it grows, the placenta secretes hormones that make it harder for a woman's body to use insulin normally. She needs an increasingly large amount of insulin to maintain normal blood glucose levels. When Mom's pancreas can't keep up with the higher demand, the body falls behind in processing glucose, and gestational diabetes results.

Integrative Medicine

As the American healthcare system grows more and more stressed and truly patient-centered care is increasingly difficult to find, many people are looking for alternatives to the conventional healthcare model. Some find this in integrative medicine, which combines alternative therapies with conventional treatments to care for the whole person.

Ovarian Cancer

The symptoms of ovarian cancer are often common and vague, which makes it difficult to diagnose. If ovarian cancer is diagnosed early, which happens in about 25 percent of cases, 90 percent of women survive for five years or longer. Ovarian cancer is usually treated with surgery and chemotherapy.

About | Prevention | Symptoms | Tests | Treatment | Managing

Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence can be a mild bother or socially and emotionally debilitating, with the patient avoiding social gatherings out of fear of the involuntary release of large amounts of urine. It can often be treated with exercises, but medications and surgery can also be options.
Overview | Prevention | Tests | Treatment | Links

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Women's Health Videos

Birth Control Methods

Learn about condoms, diaphragms, and other barrier methods of birth control.

Video: Breast Self-Exam

Breast Self-Exam

Step-by-step instruction on how to perform a breast self-exam.

Video: What Is Breast Cancer?

What Is Breast Cancer?

Watch how cancer forms inside the breast, and learn the possible signs and symptoms of breast cancer."

Video: Prepping for Pregnancy

Prepping for Pregnancy

How to get your body and mind prepared for a safe and healthy pregnancy.

Video: Cosmetic Procedures

Cosmetic Procedures

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Video: The Life Change of Menopause

The Life Change of Menopause

There's no way to avoid menopause, but you can treat the symptoms.

Video: Women's Health Quick Tips

Women's Health Tips

Health tips on dealing with stress in relationships, managing birth control, preventing brittle bones, and more.

Health Rankings

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Symptom Search

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Discover possible causes of your symptoms.

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