Younger women generally do not consider themselves to be at risk for breast cancer. Only 5 percent of all breast cancer cases occur in women under 40 years old. However, breast cancer can strike at any age, and all women should be aware of their personal risk factors for breast cancer. There are several factors [...]
Archives for September, 2008
Menopause: Signs and Symptoms
Menopause is the absence of menstrual periods for 12 months. The menopausal transition starts with varying menstrual cycle length and ends with the final menstrual period. Perimenopause means “the time around menopause” and is often used to refer to the menopausal transitional period. It is not officially a medical term, but is sometimes used to [...]
category: Menopause
tags: Menopause, signs & symptoms
Exploring Birth Control Options
If a woman is sexually active and she is fertile and physically able to become pregnant she needs to ask herself, “Do I want to become pregnant now?” If her answer is “No,” she must use some method of birth control (contraception). If a woman does not want to get pregnant at this point in [...]
category: Birth Control & Family Planning
Ovarian Cysts
Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled, sac-like structures within an ovary. They can form for numerous reasons. The most common type is a follicular cyst, which results from the growth of a follicle. A follicle is the normal fluid-filled sac that contains an egg. Follicular cysts form when the follicle grows larger than normal during the menstrual [...]
category: Reproductive Health
tags: ovarian cysts
Understanding Hot Flashes
Hot flashes are experienced by many women undergoing menopause. A hot flash is a feeling of warmth that spreads over the body, but is often most strongly felt in the head and neck regions. Hot flashes may be accompanied by perspiration or flushing. Hot flashes usually last from 30 seconds to several minutes. Although the [...]
category: Menopause