Pap smears are essential for detecting abnormal cervical cells early, helping prevent cervical cancer. This simple, routine test can identify changes before symptoms appear, making it a vital part of womenโs preventive health. Regular screenings empower women to stay proactive about their health.
Which IUD is right for me? Over the past 20 years, IUDsย (IntraUterine Device) have become increasingly popular in the United States. This popularity stems from the fact that they are extremely effective at preventing pregnancy, convenient to use, long-lasting and can be used by women of all ages, including teenagers. Some can also be used to treat heavy and painful periods. IUDs have thankfully come a long way since the 1970s when the most commonly used IUD was plagued with safety concerns. The current IUDs are very safe and completely different from those of 50 years ago. With five different IUDs to choose from, which one is right for you? The effectiveness and discomfort with insertion is similar for all of the different types of IUDs. They can all be removed if you would like to try to get pregnant before the device is expired or if you no longer want to use it because of side effects. What is different among the various types is how long they can be in place and the possible effects it can have on your period. DEVICE NAME CONTENTS APPROVED TIME FOR USE EFFECT
Hot Flashes in Menopause Symptoms, Causes, Risk Factors, and Treatment Options Hot flashes are the most common symptom associated with menopause. If you are suffering from them, know that you are not alone as 75-80% of women experience hot flashes at some point during menopause. However, only 20-30% of women ever seek medical attention for their symptoms. Most women develop hot flashes during perimenopause (the years leading up to menopause) but some women will not develop them until they are past the onset of menopause. Risk Factors for Hot Flashes Risk factors for hot flashes include obesity, smoking, lack of exercise and ethnicity (incidence is highest for African Americans, followed by Caucasians, and lowest for women of Asian descent particularly Chinese and Japanese). Duration of Hot Flashes For most women, hot flashes will last from 6 months - 2 yrs. However, some recent data suggests that up to 10% of women will experience them for more than 10 years after menopause โ even into their 70โs! While menopause is almost always the reason for hot flashes - there can be other rare medical conditions that should not be
So many โVโ words. ย This article provides a brief explanation of external genital anatomy. In my many years as a gynecologist, Iโve heard an amazing array of words to describe anatomy. But, the most common word is always vagina. Even when patients donโt actually mean the anatomic vagina, this is the word they often use to describe anything in their genital region. Many articles written about the topic are part of the problem. Diagrams of genital anatomy are often labeled incorrectly. Itโs no wonder that thereโs confusion over the correct terminology. As an obstetrician-gynecologist, I am thrilled by the growing cultural acceptance of the word vagina and my patientsโ comfort with using it. But I would like to introduce another โVโ word,ย vulva, and explain the difference between the vagina and the vulva. The Vagina Letโs start with the word that everyone is already familiar with. Vagina. The vagina is the internal muscular tube that leads from the external genitalia to the cervix and uterus.ย It is an internal structure. The vagina is the place where a tampon or a menstrual cup sits during the period. It is the canal that a penisย is inserted
