[facetwp facet="listing_categories"]
Article
|
Women's Health
It’s all natural. It’s from the drug store. It’s just a vitamin. Yeah, but is it safe?
•
A vast world of products fall under the umbrella of dietary supplements. Some supplements can be part of a healthy lifestyle and are safe in recommended doses, while others have significant safety concerns. It’s always good to assess supplements with a critical eye. Keep in mind that supplements — like…
Focus, knowledge and persistence — these are traits women often need to get the heart health care they require in a timely and respectful manner. “It’s true that women have delays in diagnosis and treatment,” says Sharonne N. Hayes, M.D., founder of the Women’s Heart Clinic, at Mayo Clinic. “But…
How can a woman best help herself after a serious diagnosis? This Mayo Clinic expert says it’s about focusing on yourself first — even when that’s not your usual habit.
Joy O’Neal was diagnosed with advanced heart failure — two years after she first started telling doctors that she was fatigued, gaining weight and just didn’t feel like herself. “In 2014 I was pushed aside and told my complaints were just because I was getting older,” she recalls. Her doctor…
Article
|
Women's Health
Vaginal moisturizers and lubricants: What’s the difference? Which do I buy?
•
As a women’s health specialist at Mayo Clinic, I’m baffled when I ask, “What lubricant do you use?” and the woman replies, “I don’t know, my husband buys it.” If you’re using something on your body — and particularly in your vagina — you should be comfortable with the product…
Sarah was having a regular, busy Tuesday morning when she hopped in the shower after yoga class. Sarah lathered up and was mentally making her grocery list when she suddenly realized something was not quite right with her vagina. On closer inspection, she found a lump near its opening. The…
At a typical yearly visit in primary care, your health care provider is likely to run through a checklist of screening questions with you. As you near middle age, you may dread that “it’s-time-for-your-first-colonoscopy” talk — and wonder what exactly will happen and why. Not to mention that you need…
Q: I’m going through perimenopause and I’ve been feeling down lately — can perimenopause contribute to depression? A: Perimenopause is the 2 to 8 years that lead up to your last menstrual period plus the year after that last menstrual period. For most women in the United States, perimenopause begins…
Article
|
Women's Health
You’re going to get a Pap smear from where?! Explaining the anal Pap smear
•
Carolyn came to my office as a new patient. She was 26 years old, and because she had a kidney transplantation a couple of years ago, she was on medications to suppress her immune system to help her body accept her transplanted kidney. She felt well overall, but was worried…
Q: I had my first mammogram this year and was told that everything was fine, but the radiologist sent me a letter saying that I have dense breast tissue. What does this mean, and should I be worried? A: The short answer is no. Dense breast tissue by itself does…
Since elementary school, I’ve had a scar on the front of my scalp from an injury. I’ve always been able to hide it with my hair. But recently, the scar has started peeking out. My hair is thinning. Parden the pun, but it seems that hair is an ever-growing concern…
Even if you make over your environment and do your best to avoid triggers, you may still experience hot flashes with the menopause transition. But what can you do? When you feel a hot flash coming on, try paced breathing. This type of breathing is slow, deep diaphragmatic breathing. With…
Men have heard about testosterone their whole lives, but women might not have stopped to consider testosterone’s role in their bodies. While testosterone is the main reproductive hormone in males, it is also made by women, though in much smaller quantities. Women make testosterone in their ovaries and adrenal glands.
Q: I started having mammograms at 40 as a woman at average risk for breast cancer. This year, I received a notice from the radiologist that I have calcifications in my breast that need further imaging. Should I be worried? A: While calcifications could be a cause for concern and…
You’ve been bloated before — and you probably remember the feeling well. But ask 10 different people to describe bloating symptoms, and you’ll be surprised at the range of responses. Bloating generally refers to a sensation of pressure and sometimes measurable distension in the abdomen — as if someone attached…
Maybe you saw a commercial on TV. Maybe your good friend just got one. Maybe you’re tired of taking your pill. Whatever the reason, IUDs are on your mind. It seems like they could be a good birth control option, but you’re nervous about the prospect of long-term birth control.
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the U.S. Since the mid 1980’s more women have died of heart disease than men. What is a woman’s best defense against heart disease? In this episode of the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Rekha Mankad, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist,…