Menopause is natural phase in a woman's life that is marked by the cessation of menstrual cycles and the end of fertility. This normal biological process occurs when the ovaries and other organs reduce the production of the female hormones...
Polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, involves a hormonal imbalance in the female reproductive system in which women produce too many male hormones. It can cause irregular menstrual cycles, skin issues, ovarian cysts and possibly infertility....
Females have two hormones specific to their bodies: progesterone and estrogen. The two hormones work in conjunction with one another to promote fertility and provide for a healthy menstrual cycle. Hormone levels can be affected by many...
Patients who have cancer or certain autoimmune diseases, such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, may find relief using a prescription medication called methotrexate. It is part of a class of drugs called antimetabolites, which work by...
Maca is found in many dietary supplements sold in health food markets or through various online vendors. Maca extract is associated with a way to enhance sexual libido and sexual performance, as well as increase fertility. However, there's still...
Congenital diseases refer to diseases that are present at birth. Sometimes, the congenital condition affects a certain body part or is an inherited condition that affects growth and development. Congenital diseases are typically present at birth,...
A cataract results when the natural lens inside your eye turns cloudy. This process typically takes many years to affect your vision. You might notice that you need more light to read and that night driving is difficult or impossible because of...
On average, menstrual flow occurs every 28 days---most women have cycles between 24 and 34 days---and lasts approximately four to seven days, reports Medline Plus. Not all women will experience a consistent menstrual cycle. Any woman that...
Your thyroid produces a hormone that controls a number of metabolic processes, and if you have too much or too little of this hormone due to poor thyroid function, you may have thyroid disease. This disease could affect many body processes, but...
Gluten intolerance or celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder involving the immune and gastrointestinal systems. The body exhibits an abnormal immune response to gluten that ultimately leads to damage within the small intestine. The damage...
Royal jelly is a popular health food said to produce numerous health benefits, including longevity, increased fertility and overall well-being. Royal jelly does have nutritional benefits, being a source of biotin, one of the B vitamins, says Dr....
Insulin resistance is diagnosed in a subset of women who have polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, a common cause of infertility. In this group of women, insulin resistance is believed to play a crucial role in causing hormonal imbalances leading...
Iodine is an essential nutrient the body requires to produce thyroid hormone and regulate metabolism. Iodine deficiency can result in certain health conditions and even can affect a woman's menstrual cycle. Consuming adequate amounts of iodine...
MayoClinic.com defines a hot flash as an episode of mild to extreme heat that causes flushing of the face, neck and chest and an increase in heart rate. Excessive sweating often accompanies a hot flash as well. Hot flashes are a common symptom of...
Chasteberry, a perennial shrub, is a member of the verbena family. It is also known by its botanical name Vitex agnus castus, as well as vitex, monk's pepper and chaste tree. Chasteberry is native to parts of Asia and the Mediterranean. The berry...
It is common to experience a little spotting or cramping in the days just prior to menstruation. Some women may experience these symptoms as a part of premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, which affects 3 out of 4 women, according to MayoClinic.com....
Maca is a cruciferous vegetable in the mustard and cabbage family of plants native to the Andes of Peru. It is central to traditional healing in Peru, where the plant is referred to as Peruvian ginseng and is used to increase energy, enhance...
Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, are medications that may help relieve symptoms of depression. Although there are several drugs in this category, all are accompanied by similar side effects, according to the Mayo Clinic. These...
Natural family planning or fertility awareness methods, also called NFP/FAM, are ways to prevent and sometimes achieve pregnancy by tracking the fertile and infertile phases of a woman's monthly cycle. These methods often are portrayed as...
Trauma to the abdominal cavity caused by C-section results in the formation of a type of internal scar tissue, called adhesions. Abdominal adhesions may remain asymptomatic or they can cause serious complications such as bowel obstruction,...
Many Chinese herbs balance hormones and strengthen the female reproductive system. Herbalists who practice traditional Chinese medicine use these herbs individually or together to treat women's health issues, such as premenstrual symptoms,...
Polycystic ovary syndrome affects women in their reproductive stage. The National Women's Health Information Center reports that one in 10 to one in 20 women of childbearing age are affected by polycystic ovary syndrome. They also state that women...
Primary amenorrhea is a condition in which menstruation is absent, according to MedlinePlus. This absence may or may not occur in the presence of puberty. Sometimes, underlying medical diseases can lead to primary amenorrhea. Fortunately, most of...
Endometrial tuberculosis, also referred to as uterine or genital tuberculosis, is a medical condition in women. This infection is caused by the abnormal presence of a specific type of bacterium, called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, within a woman's...
When hypogonadism occurs in your baby, it is most often discovered at birth. This is particularly true for boys. Lack of testosterone while in the womb impacts the fetal development of the sex organs. If your newborn has ambiguous genitalia,...
Progesterone is an important female hormone that has a significant impact on a woman's ability to get pregnant. The presence of progesterone stimulates changes in the uterus and the surrounding blood vessels to make the area more suitable for eggs...
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is becoming increasingly popular among Westerners for the treatment of infertility. Unlike Western infertility treatments, which treat the physical symptoms of infertility with drugs, TCM ministers to the mind,...
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that is also chronic in nature. This means that it is a lifelong disorder. Cystic fibrosis involves the secretory glands in the body. These glands secrete mucus for lubrication of surfaces within the body. In...
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder affecting approximately 7 to 10 percent of women of childbearing age in 2010, as discussed by the Hormone Foundation. PCOS is the most common disorder affecting hormones of women in the...
Pelvic inflammatory disease is a generic medical term used to cover inflammations of the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries. Learn more about pelvic inflammatory disease in this obstetrics video.
Endometriosis is a common medical condition in which the endometrium grows outside the uterus. Learn more about endometriosis, including symptoms and treatments, in this obstetrics video.
