Do You Know Enough About Ovarian Cancer? Most Women Don’t.
Ovarian cancer is more treatable, and possibly curable, in its early stages. A recent study by the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition asked 1,531 women diagnosed with the disease to share their experience before and after diagnosis. Yet in all 44 countries surveyed, very...
What Does a Nurse-Midwife Do Exactly?
Midwives do more than deliver babies. The motto of the American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM) is “Today’s Midwife: With Women, for a Lifetime.” Nurse-midwives support women during pregnancy, labor, delivery, postpartum and afterward. Typically, they learn about the...
Why is Taking Folic Acid so Important? Everything You Need to Know
Why is Taking Folic Acid so Important? Everyone needs folic acid. It helps red blood cells form and grow as well as makes and repairs DNA. For prenatal care, taking folic acid is essential for the growth of the spinal cord in the womb. Because the spinal cord is one...
Five Types of Non-Cancerous Benign Breast Conditions
Five Types of Non-Cancerous Benign Breast Conditions Does finding a lump in your breast always mean cancer? No, most breast changes—even lumps—are benign (non-cancerous). Some breast changes can cause symptoms that are like those from breast cancer, so it can be hard...
Toxic Shock Syndrome: Facts, Causes, and Symptoms You Need to Know
What is Toxic Shock Syndrome? A 16-year-old teenager died on a school field trip from toxic shock syndrome (TSS) in March 2017. The death appears to be linked to the teen’s tampon use. But what is toxic shock syndrome? And why is it linked to tampons? The young...
Hormone Replacement Therapy: What is it and is it Right For Me?
What Is Hormone Replacement Therapy? Hot flashes. Insomnia. Vaginal dryness. Incontinence. Are you looking for relief from these common menopause symptoms? During menopause, your estrogen levels fall. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)—which is also known...
Why is Vaginal Dryness such a Secret?
Vaginal dryness is a common problem, but most women don't talk about it, not even to their doctors. As a woman transitions through menopause, her body experiences decreased vaginal blood flow. This can lead to vaginal dryness, irritation, itchiness, and pain during...
Maternal Mortality – How You Can Protect Yourself
Let’s start with the good news: Infant mortality has reached an all-time low. While this is cause for celebration, a recent analysis by the CDC found that mothers in the United States have a higher rate of dying after giving birth than many other developed countries....
Before Pregnancy: 11 Important Ways to Prepare
What can you do to be ready for your little one? Take care of you! Before you even begin trying to conceive, you can take important steps to prepare your body and your life for a new baby. Planning for Pregnancy 1. Eat Right: Months before you begin eating for two,...
Uterine Fibroids – What Do I Need to Know?
Fibroids are extremely common and affect more than 60% of women. However, even though it sounds a bit frightening that so many women have tumors in their uterus, fibroids rarely turn into cancer and having them doesn’t mean you’re more likely to get uterine cancer....