When a woman becomes sexually active, or by about the age of 16, she should begin having regular annual exams with a gynecologist to protect her health. During an annual exam, a full pelvic exam, including a pap smear, is typical. Pap smears...
The prostate gland is responsible for making up the components of semen. Sometimes, the prostate gland becomes infected, resulting in a medical condition called prostatitis. The Mayo Clinic says symptoms of prostatitis include pain with urination,...
Men and women have many options when it comes to choosing the right form of birth control. Talk to your health care provider if you are having trouble picking a method to avoid unintended pregnancy. Any birth control method can fail, leading to...
A sexually transmitted disease (STD) occurs when an infection passes from an infected person through intimate contact to another person, states "Understanding Medical Surgical Nursing" by Linda Williams and Paula Hopper. Areas most commonly...
Mumps is caused by a viral infection and is highly contagious. It can be contracted by breathing in saliva droplets that are disbursed through the air when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Since a mumps vaccine was introduced in 1967, the...
For women, hair growth on the chin can be embarrassing and emotionally upsetting. FamilyDoctor.org states that hirsutism is a condition in which excess hair grows on the face or body in women. This can be caused due to hereditary factors. It...
Estrogen is any substance, natural or artificial, which induces estrogenic activity. Estradiol is the most potent form of estrogen produced by the body. Derived from cholesterol, it is produced by fat cells, arterial walls, adrenal glands, brain...
High-fructose corn syrup is everywhere. It's virtually impossible to purchase processed and prepared foods that don't list high-fructose corn syrup as a major ingredient -- especially if you purchase sweet drinks like soda. As Americans consume...
Testosterone is a naturally occurring male hormone that is produced in the testes. Males produce testosterone for many of the same reasons that women produce estrogen, to allow the reproductive system to function properly. For individuals who have...
Testicular pain can be excruciating due to the sensitivity of these organs. The pain can start in the testicles themselves or can radiate from the groin or abdomen area to one or both testicles, according to the Mayo Clinic. As a result, it is not...
Blood glucose monitors enable a patient with diabetes to monitor his blood sugar levels at home. According to MayoClinic.com, the ability to monitor glucose levels allows diabetics to adjust the factors that influence blood glucose. Most blood...
"STD" stands for "sexually transmitted disease". They occur from having unprotected sex. They are not exclusive to heterosexual or homosexual relations, and you can get them from vaginal, anal and oral sex. The Mayo Clinic states that condoms are...
Unwanted facial hair is a problem for many women of different age groups. Hormonal imbalances due to normal aging, pregnancy or medications may cause facial hair to sprout up where you least expect it. Hair growth under the chin, around the...
Sports physicians and physical therapists know that hamstring injuries can be troublesome. If you are treating athletes who depend on running agility and speed and yet repeatedly present weak hamstrings, test their hamstring strength. Even in the...
Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the thin layer of tissue that surrounds the brain. Bacteria and viruses cause most cases of meningitis in children. Health providers can diagnose meningitis clinically and by doing a lumbar puncture,...
Knee pain can be caused by many things. You can have an injury to the tendons, ligaments or muscles surrounding the knee. Your pain can also be due to a form of arthritis. The only way to tell is to see your doctor for a proper diagnosis. Tests...
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, sciatica refers to symptoms of irritation of the sciatic nerve. Sciatica can be caused by a variety of ailments, the most common being disk disorders such as herniated disks, spinal...
There are several underlying causes that can result in symptoms of headaches and sore eyes. An examination by a health-care professional is often necessary to determine if these symptoms are due to a serious health condition. Three factors can be...
Nerve damage, also called neuritis and neuropathy, can result from injuries, infections, diabetes and viral diseases, toxic agents, autoimmune disorders, muscle spasm and vitamin deficiency. Damage to peripheral nerves may affect how you feel heat...
Testosterone replacement therapy is used for men who don't naturally produce enough of the hormone for normal function. Testosterone controls the development of the male sexual organs and helps maintain essential "maleness" or secondary male...
The neck is comprised of multiple structures including seven vertebrae, nerves, discs and muscles. Any of these can be injured causing cervical neck pain. This pain may start out as a dull or intense shooting pain. Your neck feels stiff and it...
Osteoarthritis is a degeneration of a joint and typically comes with age. It is the most common form of arthritis. It can make simple activities of daily living, like brushing your teeth or opening a jar, feel like impossible tasks. Luckily, there...
Tuberculosis, abbreviated TB, is a serious, contagious bacterial infection that most commonly affects the lungs. People with this infection may not develop detectable symptoms but can still pass this infection to other people. A TB test, also...
The kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra filter and expel wastes from the body. The most common sites for a urinary tract infection (UTI) are the bladder and the urethra. Bladder infections and urethritis (infection of the urethra) are more...
The purpose of resistance muscle testing, whether performed manually or by a machine, is to determine the extent of muscular weakness as the result of an injury, disease or disuse. Anti-gravity resistive muscle testing was first developed by Dr....
Every woman fears finding a lump in her breast, but in most cases breast lumps turn out to be harmless. Some lumps are first found during self-examination, while others get noticed during a visit to the doctor.
The knee, the largest joint in the human body, acts as a hinge so that the leg can easily bend to walk, run and kick. Synovial fluid in and around the knee insures joint flexibility. Ordinarily, the correct amount of fluid is present, but...
According to a 2010 review published in the "Archives of Pharmacal Research," only 20 drugs are currently available for transdermal delivery. This technique uses a small patch placed directly on the skin to gradually infuse medications. New...
Heel pain can be due to a variety of conditions. Doctors can usually diagnose the cause of heel pain by taking a careful history and examination. Sometimes, it may be difficult to differentiate the causes of heel pains and tests such as...
Kidney stones or renal lithiasis are small, hard deposits of mineral and acid salts on the inner surfaces of your kidneys. Normally, the substances that make up kidney stones are diluted in the urine. When urine is concentrated, though, minerals...
Symptoms of ectopic pregnancies. Learn about obstetrics from a doctor in this video on understanding pregnancy.
Underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, leads to a large range of symptoms, often resembling other illnesses. Learn more about underactive thyroids in this health video.
Fibromyalgia, FM, is a disorder of tactile allodynia and come-and-go pains, with symptoms varying greatly from day to day. Learn about fibromyalgia, including treatments and symptoms, in this health video.
Renal Cell cancer (kidney cancer) is found in the kidney and can occur in both adults and children, but most commonly in adults. In this video learn more about this cancer and its various forms, its symptoms, treatments, and preventative techniques.
