Women's Health Medical Reference

Doctors use this word to describe the absence of menstrual periods. But why does it happen?

When your milk comes in, engorgement often follows. Use these tips to keep the pain at bay.

Many women have irregular periods. How "off" is yours?

Understand what defines a normal period timing, flow, and symptoms. Track your cycle and know when to consult a doctor for irregularities.

How do you treat toxic shock syndrome? Learn your treatment options, and how to prevent TSS.

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.

If you have pain around your vagina, it could be vulvar vestibulitis. Learn what the symptoms are and how it’s treated.

If you think you might have a yeast infection or similar problem, a vaginal wet mount test can help your doctor know for sure.

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.

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.

Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome is a complication of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) that can cause sudden abdominal pain.

Kegel exercises are an easy way to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. That means bye-bye, bladder leakage and hello, better orgasms.

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.

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.

A vaginal fistula can be an embarrassing medical condition. Find out what causes them and what complications could develop as a result.

Vulvodynia can affect everything from sitting to sexual desire. Find out more about this chronic vaginal pain.

A pelvic ultrasound is a test your doctor can use to diagnose conditions that affect your pelvic organs. Learn how it’s done and what it can show about your health.

If you have pelvic pain that doesn’t go away, see your doctor. She’ll work to find out what’s behind it. In the meantime, here are six things you can do at home to feel better.

Your breasts can hurt for lots of reasons. WebMD describes the types and causes of breast pain.

Pelvic organ prolapse can take a toll on your daily life. But there are small things you can do that can make a big difference in how you feel.

Do your breasts feel tender, sore, or lumpier than usual? You could have a very natural condition called fibrocystic breast changes. Learn the symptoms and when to call the doctor.

These symptoms and tests can help you find out whether you have pelvic inflammatory disease.

Pelvic inflammatory disease can cause serious problems if it’s not treated. Find out about symptoms you should look for, when to call your doctor, and when to get emergency treatment.

Do you think you may have pelvic organ prolapse? Learn more about the different tests doctors use to diagnose the condition.

What happens in pelvic organ prolapse? What causes it?

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) affects about 5% of women in the United States. Find out about the symptoms, how it is diagnosed and treated, and ways you can protect yourself.

Many women experience a yeast infection at some point in their lives, but 5-8% of women have recurrent yeast infections (4 or more in a year). Learn why recurrent yeast infections happen and how to help lower your risk.

Most women will get at least one yeast infection in their lifetime. Here’s how to recognize and treat the itchy and sometimes painful condition.

Vaginal itching, irritation, & discharge can often mean you have a yeast infection, but they can also be symptoms of something else.

Most urinary tract infections (UTIs) are simple and easy to treat. But in some cases, they get complicated and can lead to serious problems.

Bacterial vaginosis is a common infection in women. Find out what it is, what puts you at risk, and how it’s treated.

Yeast infections can affect your mouth, genitals, and even your blood. Here are the symptoms and treatments.

If you’re wondering whether you have a yeast infection, you’ll want to know which symptoms to look out for. Learn the symptoms of a yeast infection so you can get the right treatment.

It’s not always possible to prevent yeast infections, but there are several things you can do to reduce your risk.

A Pap test is an exam that can reveal whether you have cervical cancer. This article explains how it’s done and what your results can reveal about your health.

By itself a progesterone test isn't not enough to diagnose any particular problem with your pregnancy or fertility. But it could help, along with other tests.

Your period is over – or so you thought. Now you’re spotting. Why does this happen? Learn some common causes of bleeding between periods, and when you should call a doctor.

If you have pelvic inflammatory disease, most likely your doctor will give you antibiotics, but sometimes a hospital stay may be needed. Learn more about PID.

This foot problem can feel like there’s a marble where you step. Find out how doctors fix Morton’s neuroma and how to prevent it in the first place.

Each month, the ovaries make eggs in women who have not reached menopause. Cysts are a normal part of this cycle. But some cysts are not normal and need attention. Learn more about ovarian cysts and how to treat them.

Want to lower your chance of getting a urinary tract infection? Learn how to prevent UTIs with seven lifestyle changes and other doctor-prescribed methods that can help.

If you have a tender lump near the opening of your vagina, it may be a Bartholin’s gland cyst. Find out what they are, what causes them, and how doctors can treat them.

Vaginal bleeding after sex is unwelcome and can be alarming, but it's also relatively common, and often no cause for concern. Here's what you need to know about why it happens, how to know if it's the sign of a problem, and when to see a doctor.

If you’re having certain symptoms, like a heavy menstrual period, a hysteroscopy may help your doctor diagnose or treat your problem. Learn what the procedure is and what to expect.

When you’re pregnant, your breasts go through many changes, and when you breastfeed your baby, there are even more. Find out what’s in store and how to outsmart possible problems.

Questions about whether your breasts are OK? Find out what’s common and when it’s time to call the doctor to make sure your breasts are healthy.

From swelling to soreness to changes in shape, learn what changes are normal in your breasts during your monthly menstrual cycle—and how to help ease them.

Learn about what an intraductal papilloma is, including how to detect and treat these benign breast lumps.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition caused by an imbalance of hormones. Learn more about the symptoms, treatment options, and more.

Learn what a subareolar abscess is, including how to identify one, when to get treatment, and more.