There are several reasons why a woman may have a heavy period. The term heavy period is relative, and any woman that notices a change in her menstrual flow should see her doctor. While some cases of increased menstrual flow are the result of...
Polymenorrhea is the medical term used to describe prolonged menstrual bleeding. The rise and fall of hormonal levels during the month control the menstrual cycle. The cycle is general between 21 and 35 days long and begins on the first day of...
Although some couples use the same contraception throughout their reproductive years, many change their minds and decide to use a new birth control method. Unpleasant side effects, limited availability, the financial cost, wanting a more permanent...
The "Morning After" pill is the common name for the emergency contraceptive known as Plan B. This contraceptive can be used for up to 72 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse or contraceptive failure. The pill works by using a high level of...
Some women may choose to stop using birth control because they wish to become pregnant or because they no longer want the hassle of taking a daily pill. According to the Mayo Clinic, as long as you are in good health, you can stop taking birth...
The menstrual cycle is between 25 to 36 days, with three to seven days of bleeding, according to Merck. Menstrual bleeding can be light, medium or heavy and should never be heavy enough to soak a pad every hour or contain blood clots larger than a...
Exercise is no longer blamed for causing longer periods, increasing blood clots or increasing the risk of cramping. In fact, exercise is now understood to be the perfect antidote to each of these common complaints during menstruation. If you...
Most women conceive, notice a missing period, and then spend nine months (plus about six months after delivery) without any menstrual flow. Other women, however, experience menstrual or menstrual-like bleeding after a positive pregnancy test. Some...
A normal menstrual cycle lasts anywhere between 25 to 36 days. During this cycle, bleeding should only occur in this first week for three to seven days. However, some women may experience light brown bleeding in between periods known as spotting....
Technically, menopause refers to the end of a woman's fertility. The defining point at which menopause is reached is one year after the final menstrual cycle. FamilyDoctor.org states that the average age of menopause in American women is 51, and...
ParaGard IUD is an intrauterine device that is made out of copper and contains no hormones. Since there are no synthetic hormones, it is not known exactly how the ParaGard IUD prevents pregnancy, according to yourcontraception.com. However, the...
Different types of reproductive cancer, ovarian and uterine cancers affect only women. The National Women's Health Information Center points out that two forms of uterine cancers exist: endometrial cancer and uterine sarcomas. With the endometrial...
When you become pregnant, your body goes through many changes to prepare it for carrying your baby for the next nine months. Symptoms of early pregnancy are associated with hormonal changes that begin as soon as you conceive. Although early signs...
From the time a girl experiences her first period, menstruation is tied directly to fertility. During puberty, women begin their periods as ovulation begins. Every month, the ovaries release an egg, and if it isn't fertilized, the uterus sheds its...
Mirena is a form of birth control that is 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy. It is a levonorgestrel (progesterone) releasing intrauterine system, also known as an IUD. It is made of soft flexible plastic that is inserted by your...
The average menstrual period occurs every 21 to 35 days with a duration and flow that will vary among individual women. Some women will experience menstrual bleeding for 7 to 9 days, while others may have a period for only 2 to 3 days. Any change...
One of the many changes your body will make after childbirth is reestablishing the normal routine of your menstrual periods. The way you are nursing your newborn will affect the time, duration and flow of your first postnatal period. Although it...
Vaginal discharge may appear in many forms. In some cases the discharge may be heavy with a foul odor, odorless and clear or white, "fishy" smelling, or slightly bloodied. The type of discharge occurring will often point to the cause. This symptom...
Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths on the uterus, explains the Mayo Clinic. They are sometimes referred to as fibromyomas, leiomyomas or myomas. Fibroids are generally harmless and can be treated with medications that can shrink or remove...
The cervix is the narrow end of the uterus, and it is located between the bladder and the rectum. The cervix forms a passageway that opens into the vagina and leads to the outside of the body, according to the Ohio State University Medical Center....
Cysts are small fluid pockets that build on the surface of an ovary. Many women have ovarian cysts and never know it. They are quite common once ovulation begins. Cyst is a generalized term for this formation. Whether they are painful or not...
Obstetrical and gynecological (OB-GYN) surgery is performed for a number of reasons. While cesarean sections are the most common OB-GYN surgery, surgery may also be performed to improve fertility by removing endometriosis or adhesions, to treat...
While the likelihood of getting pregnant while taking birth control as directed isn't high, it is still possible. As such, all women should be aware of the signs and symptoms of pregnancy. Getting proper prenatal care early in the pregnancy is...
Catheter ablation, or cardiac ablation, is a medical procedure used to treat some heart rate problems, also known as arrhythmias. A catheter, which is a long, thin, flexible tube, is usually inserted into a vessel in your arm, groin or neck and...
The first menstrual period, called the menarche, can be a very scary and moving time in a young girl's life. A girl's first period signals the end of childhood and the onset of womanhood. The timing of a female's first period varies from person to...
Hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, vaginal dryness and decreased sex drive are all symptoms of menopause. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, about 50 million American women have reached this period of life, with most...
Candidates for sinus surgery can thank fiber optic technology for removing the risk of disfigurement from the procedure. Prior to advances in current standards for sinus surgery, doctors had to make incisions in the face in order to access the...
Abnormal menstrual cycles can occur at any point in a woman's reproductive years. These periods of abnormality can occur for any reason, from stress to influenza. However, some events that happen in a woman's life, such as childbirth, can cause...
The length of a normal menstrual cycle generally ranges between 21 and 35 days in adult women and 21 and 45 days in teenage girls, the National Women's Health Information Center explained, with most women experiencing abnormal bleeding at some...
