Women's Health Medical Reference
- What Is Cold Agglutinin Disease?
Find out more about cold agglutinin disease, a condition that happens when cold temperatures turn your body’s defenses against your red blood cells.
- What Is Symmastia? When Breasts Merge Into One
Sometimes breasts aren’t completely separate. Find out what causes this condition and how it’s treated.
- What Is Thyrotoxicosis?
Thyroid hormone helps make sure your body breaks down food and uses energy at the right speed. But what happens when you have too much of it? Find out what to watch for and what to do about it.
- Why Do My Nipples Hurt?
Nipples can hurt for many reasons. Learn what makes them sore and whether to see a doctor.
- What to Know About Ovarian Torsion
While age plays a role, ovarian torsion can occur unexpectedly and may require an emergency visit to your doctor. Here's what you need to know about this condition, including the symptoms, risks, and treatment options.
- What to Know About the Color of Period Blood
Learn more about the color of period blood and the colors that are considered normal. Also, learn when you need to visit a doctor for period problems.
- What Is Autoimmune Thyroiditis?
Autoimmune thyroiditis can block your thyroid gland from making hormones your body needs to work right.
- What Are Antithyroid Antibodies?
Sometimes, your body makes something called antithyroid antibodies to attack your thyroid gland by mistake. That can lead to too much or too little thyroid hormones.
- Vaginal Bleeding After Birth: When to Call a Doctor
Postpartum bleeding: How long does postpartum bleeding last and when should you call the doctor about it?
- What is HELLP Syndrome?
HELLP Syndrome: What you need to know about this serious pregnancy condition and what you can do to protect mom and baby.
- Pelvic Bone Problems After Childbirth
Sometimes, childbirth can cause long-lasting pain to the bones in your pelvic region. Learn what problems can develop and how to heal and ease the pain.
- Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
When does your period become a medical problem? Find out more about abnormal uterine bleeding: what it is, what causes it, and what you can do about it.
- Could My Meds Affect My Period?
Find out about some common medications that can change your menstrual cycle.
- Thyroid Biopsy: What to Expect
If your thyroid has lumps or feels larger than normal, your doctor may suggest a biopsy. Find out when you might need one, what it’s like, and what comes next.
- What Is LEEP?
How is a LEEP done? What can you expect from a LEEP?
- What to Know About Vulvitis
Find out what you need to know about vulvitis, and discover the symptoms, causes, risks, and more.
- Hyperparathyroidism: Symptoms and Treatment
Some people’s blood can have too much calcium in it. This could result in no symptoms or could lead to broken bones or kidney stones.
- What Is an Incompetent Cervix?
Learn what an incompetent cervix is, including risk factors and how it's treated.
- What Are Adnexal Tumors?
Learn what adnexal tumors are, including what causes them and how they're treated.
- Pads vs. Tampons: What to Know
Find out the differences between pads and tampons, and discover the pros, cons, and risks, and how to use them safely.
- What is Labia Minora Hypertrophy?
Labia minora hypertrophy is a condition that can heighten self-consciousness. Find out what it is, its causes, treatment, and care.
- Yeast Infection Treatments
You can treat some yeast infections yourself, but more persistent or chronic yeast infections may require a prescription. Find out about these medications.
- What Is Virilization?
Virilization is when women develop physical masculine traits. Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for this condition today.
- Symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, has a number of symptoms associated with it. Many of the symptoms of PCOS are common issues that many women deal with in their lives, so it may be many years before the disorder is diagnosed.
- How Do I Know If I Have PCOS?
Figuring out whether you have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) takes a few steps that could include a checkup of your symptoms, physical exam, pelvic exam, ultrasound, and blood tests. These are used to rule out other conditions that may have similar symptoms as PCOS.
- Menstrual Cramps
WebMD explains menstrual cramps, which can simply be a tightening of the muscles of the uterus or a symptom of a disorder of the reproductive organs.
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition in which your hormones are out of balance. PCOS can affect your health and pregnancy. Find out how.
- What Are the Types of Abortion Procedures?
There are a few different types of abortion procedures. Here’s what you can expect before, during and after them.
- Your Guide to Thyroid Eye Disease
Thyroid eye disease can sometimes change your appearance or affect your sight. But permanent vision loss is rare, and treatments can help ease swelling and other symptoms.
- What Is a TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) Test?
What does this test of the level of your thyroid stimulating hormone really tell you?
- 5 Things You May Not Know About Your Period
No matter how well you think you know your favorite monthly visitor, it can still manage to surprise you from time to time.
- Amenorrhea
Doctors use this word to describe the absence of menstrual periods. But why does it happen?
- Menorrhagia (Heavy Period)
Learn more from WebMD about the causes, complications, and treatment of heavy bleeding during periods.
- Common Period Problems
Getting your period means much more than blood. Here’s the down-low on the downside.
- Why Is My Period So Random?
Many women have irregular periods. How "off" is yours?
- Breast Engorgement
When your milk comes in, engorgement often follows. Use these tips to keep the pain at bay.
- Normal Period
Periods can be long and short, heavy and light. And it's all considered normal.
- Toxic Shock Syndrome: Treatment and Prevention
How do you treat toxic shock syndrome? Learn your treatment options, and how to prevent TSS.
- Toxic Shock Syndrome: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) can be dangerous. But with the right treatment, it’s also curable. It’s important to know the symptoms so you can spot it and treat it quickly.
- Vulvar Vestibulitis
If you have pain around your vagina, it could be vulvar vestibulitis. Learn what the symptoms are and how it’s treated.
- Vaginal Wet Mount
If you think you might have a yeast infection or similar problem, a vaginal wet mount test can help your doctor know for sure.
- What Is a FSH Test?
The follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) test looks at how much of this hormone you have through a blood or urine test. FSH helps both men and women in reproduction.
- Estrogen Test
Concerns about puberty, fertility, or menopause may prompt a doctor’s order for an estrogen test. The test measures levels of one to three forms of estrogen, and may be appropriate for women and men.
- What Is Fitz-Hugh-Curtis Syndrome?
Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome is a complication of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) that can cause sudden abdominal pain.
- What Are Cervical Polyps?
Cervical polyps are small growths on your cervix that usually don’t cause symptoms or problems. Learn what will happen if your doctor finds one during your Pap exam.
- Vaginal Fistula
A vaginal fistula can be an embarrassing medical condition. Find out what causes them and what complications could develop as a result.
- What Is Vulvodynia? What Causes It?
Vulvodynia can affect everything from sitting to sexual desire. Find out more about this chronic vaginal pain.
- What Is a Vaginal Self-Exam?
If you do regular breast self-exams, consider doing a vaginal self-exam, too. It can help alert you to health problems in between gynecologist appointments.
- Are Kegel Exercises Effective?
Kegel exercises are an easy way to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. That means bye-bye, bladder leakage and hello, better orgasms.
- What Is a Pelvic Ultrasound?
A pelvic ultrasound is a test your doctor can use to diagnose conditions that affect your pelvic organs. Learn it’s done, and what it can show about your health.