Women's Health Archive

Articles

By the way, doctor: Is vaginal estrogen safe?

My doctor prescribed a low-dose vaginal estrogen cream, applied twice a week, for atrophic vaginitis. I've heard this dose is so low that it carries no health risk. Do you agree?

Air pollution: How to reduce harm to your health

Some air pollution levels have inched up in recent years, and accumulating evidence suggests that higher levels of particulates in the air are linked with increased levels of hospitalization for many serious health problems. But we can make choices to help both the environment and our health.

Can you recommend strategies to help me manage my posterior vaginal prolapse?

Lifestyle changes, such as adding fiber to the diet and increasing water intake, can help minimize symptoms caused by a specific type of pelvic organ prolapse called rectocele, where the rectum bulges into the vagina.

Migraines linked to high blood pressure after menopause

Women with migraine headaches may be more likely to develop high blood pressure after menopause.

Reducing heart risks in the wake of breast cancer treatment

Hormone therapy is a highly successful breast cancer treatment for women, but it can elevate cardiovascular risk. Women can reduce those risks by being vigilant about their heart health and working closely with their doctors. Women who have taken or are taking these medications as part of breast cancer treatment should focus on adopting a healthy lifestyle, exercising regularly, and keeping close tabs on their blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar levels.

Pregnancy problems may foretell future heart disease

Women who develop health problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes while pregnant face an increased risk of heart disease later in life.

Postpartum anxiety is invisible, but common and treatable

It's not unusual for women to feel down or depressed after giving birth, but if the feelings persist or become debilitating, it's cause for concern. Many of the symptoms overlap between postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety, but some women do not respond as well to some treatments for depression, so it's important to establish the correct diagnosis.

Ready for your routine medical checkup?

Before the pandemic did you schedule a routine, in-person health checkup every year? Is this necessary or can you safely skip a year or consider a telehealth visit or a combination of in-person and virtual care? There are pros and cons to these options and no single solution will work for everyone.

Genital herpes: Common but misunderstood

Studies report that at least a quarter of all adults are infected with the sexually transmitted herpes virus. A guide to managing its sympoms and protecting yourself from this highly infectious disease.

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