OVERVIEW Have you been to your OB/GYN for your annual exam? While receiving an annual exam may not always be pleasant, they are key to ensuring your good health as you age. The Importance of Annual Exams Annual gynecological exams serve a number of purposes. The most important is to diagnose any abnormalities

OVERVIEW While most people immediately think of giving birth in a hospital, you may be surprised to hear that you do have other options, including home births and birth centers. Read on to find out which birthing option is best for you! Hospital Pros: Hospitals have plenty of emergency personnel on hand,

OVERVIEW Contraception, also known as birth control, prevents pregnancy by using one or more methods, medications or devices. Medical contraception has been available since the 1960s, and, in that time, a wide variety of options have been introduced, ranging from permanent sterilization to products for

OVERVIEW Family planning is a process in which an individual or couple comes up with a strategy of when to become pregnant and how to use birth control methods to carry out these plans. Family planning is a concept typically used by a female-­male couple to control when, how and if they conceive. For

OVERVIEW Tubal ligation is a surgical method of sterilization for women. The fallopian tubes are blocked or severed to prevent fertilized eggs from traveling down the tubes into the uterus. While tubal ligation is typically performed laparoscopically, with tiny abdominal incisions rather than a large

OVERVIEW What is a First Trimester Screening? A first trimester screening, performed roughly between 11-13 weeks of pregnancy, is used to detect chromosomal abnormalities such as Down's Syndrome, Edwards' Syndrome and Patau's Syndrome. It involves two parts, a blood test and an ultrasound screening referred

OVERVIEW While the amount of blood a woman loses during a menstrual cycle can vary widely depending on the woman and the cycle, some unlucky women experience blood loss and cramping so severe that it interferes with their day-to-day activities. The condition is called menorrhagia, and it affects more

OVERVIEW While complications could potentially happen in any pregnancy, a high­-risk pregnancy is one in which there is a greater risk of complications. A pregnancy could be considered high-­risk whenever the mother has one or more of the following risk factors: Age: Women who are younger than 18

OVERVIEW A hysterectomy is a medical procedure in which all or part of a woman's uterus is removed. A woman's ovaries and Fallopian tubes may also be removed at the same time, depending on the reason for the hysterectomy. When is a Hysterectomy Needed? A hysterectomy can be used to treat a number of

OVERVIEW Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after one year of regular, unprotected sex. This span is shortened to six months if the woman is over the age of 35. Women who can become pregnant but are unable to sustain the pregnancy may also considered be infertile. Approximately a third

OVERVIEW Hormone replacement therapy is a medical intervention designed to boost a woman's hormone levels. As women get closer to menopause (the average age at onset is 51), their naturally occurring hormone levels ­- particularly estrogen and progesterone ­ decrease considerably. This deficiency can

OVERVIEW Menopause is a natural and expected hormonal shift that marks the end of the childbearing age with the cessation of the menstrual cycle. Nearly all women go through this change at some point in their lives, with the vast majority of women experiencing it between the ages of 40 and 60. Menopause

OVERVIEW What are Ovarian Cysts? Ovarian cysts are pockets of fluid that form on the surface of a woman's ovary. Ovarian cysts are very common, and most women have one away on their own without treatment. Symptoms Ovarian cysts do not always cause symptoms. When they do, the symptoms can include loss

OVERVIEW A Pap smear, sometimes called Pap test or cervical smear, is a routine screening done at a gynecologist's office to detect irregularities in and on the cervix. Its name is an abbreviation of its inventor, Greek doctor Georgios Papanikolaou, who developed the test in 1923. It is the most common

OVERVIEW What is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome? Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS, is a common endocrine disorder affecting as many as 1 in 10 women of childbearing age, according to womenshealth.gov. PCOS is characterized by enlarged ovaries that contain follicles, or small collections of fluid, and

OVERVIEW Giving birth is a beautiful, natural process, but it can also take quite a toll on your body. Thankfully, there are plenty of tips and products out there designed to make your recovery easier. Here is what nurses and experienced moms everywhere recommend. Pain Reduction Find out if your hospital