Perimenopause is the period of life that signals the end of a woman's reproductive abilities. During this period, estrogen levels fluctuate unevenly, causing many noticeable symptoms. Although reproductive ability ceases at the end of this period,...
Vagina itching can be irritating, frustrating and embarrassing. Determining the precise cause guides physicians to the correct treatment. The signs and symptoms of the underlying disorder are often similar, but there are sometimes visual...
Your vagina naturally contains certain types of bacteria that normally do not cause any health problems. Changes in the types of bacteria in your vagina can lead to health problems, including bacterial vaginosis. One way of treating bacterial...
Everyone has natural bacteria living in their bodies. In fact, according to Harvard Medical School, roughly 100 trillion bacterial microorganisms live in a healthy intestinal tract. While this may sound strange, or even distasteful, these living...
Instead of the male wearing a condom during sex, it's possible for the woman to use one to protect against STDs and conception. Female condoms are made from polyurethane and measure approximately 6- to 7-inches long. One end of the female condom...
The synthetic steroid generically named danazol may be prescribed for a variety of uses, the Mayo Clinic reports, that generally relate to sexual development and ailments. For example, danazol may be prescribed to reduce the pain of endometriosis,...
The pubococcygeus muscle, or PC muscle, is one of the pelvic floor muscles that support the bowel and bladder in both sexes. In women, it also supports the uterus and vagina. A weak PC muscle can cause urinary and fecal incontinence and sexual...
Douching is a type of female cleansing done to wash the vaginal canal. Feminine washes used in the douching process come pre-mixed over-the-counter and typically contain a mixture of vinegar, water, baking soda and iodine, according to the U.S....
One of the brand names in the United States for conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone is Activella. It is a medication used to treat some symptoms associated with menopause. These problems may include osteoporosis or bone thinning and...
Physicians may prescribe hormone replacement treatment primarily for women in menopause or following this change of life. One of the choices for hormone replacement, the medication sold in the United Kingdom and elsewhere as Femoston, combines...
Taking care of your reproductive health is important. If you are a woman, this means getting your annual pelvic exam and PAP smear, practicing safe sex and avoiding high-risk behaviors that put you at risk for an unplanned pregnancy. It is...
Visible blood in the urine, or gross hematuria, is a symptom that you should never ignore. Most of the time, hematuria is caused by a problem with the kidneys, bladder or urethra. Occasionally, blood in the urine can be caused by strenuous...
Pau d'arco, also known as lapacho or taheebo, is an herbal remedy made from the inner bark of trees native to Central and South America. Traditionally, the plant has many medicinal uses, but the safety and efficacy of pau d'arco has not been...
Many women treat vaginal yeast infections with over-the-counter medications, while others prefer alternative remedies. One yeast infection remedy recommended by holistic medicine professionals is taking probiotics, or helpful bacteria. Activia is...
The generically named moxifloxacin is an antibiotic medicine that can help treat different forms of bacteriological infections throughout a person's body. This medication, part of the fluoroquinolone group of antibiotics, interferes with the...
Lactobacillus Acidophilus, or L. acidophilus, is a commonly used probiotic. Known as "good" bacteria, probiotics like acidophilus are used to protect against "bad" bacteria that can multiply in the intestines and vagina, and cause a variety of...
A complete hysterectomy is a surgical procedure that removes the uterus, or womb, and, in some cases, the ovaries and fallopian tubes. One in every three women will have a hysterectomy by age 60, according to information from the National Library...
Both good and bad bacteria normally exist in the vaginal area. However, if the harmful kinds of bacteria build up, an infection can result. There are many causes of bacterial yeast infections, including sexual intercourse, use of birth control,...
Lesions on and around your vagina are usually not a serious health issue. In most cases they cause mild discomfort and are not cosmetically pleasing. However, certain conditions are possibly life threatening if left untreated. Some of these...
Bleeding that occurs between periods, is extremely heavy or lasts for more than a week at a time is abnormal, explains the Mayo Clinic. Although not all abnormal bleeding is dangerous, it sometimes indicates serious medical and gynecological...
Candida albicans is a fungus that causes yeast infections. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that exist within your digestive tract. They help fight certain illnesses. Yogurt is a fermented milk product that is created using probiotic bacteria as...
Perimenopause starts before actual menopause begins, when levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone start to decrease--typically between the ages of 45 and 55, notes WomensHealth.gov. These hormonal changes often cause a wide variety of...
If you're trying to conceive and are having difficulty, you may be wondering whether red clover -- traditionally used to help balance female hormones -- might help. However, there's no scientific evidence to suggest that red clover is either safe...
When the muscles of the uterus contract and the baby's weight puts pressure on the cervix, painful cramps develop in the back, groin and abdomen. Women who opt for a vaginal delivery with no pain medication experience varying levels of discomfort,...
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a family of viral infections of the skin. The American Social Health Association (ASHA) points out that nearly 70 different strains of HPV exist. Some strains cause warts on the hands or feet and others cause genital...
Amenorrhea refers to the absence of menstruation for one or more missed menstrual periods. Pregnancy is the most common reason for amenorrhea in women who are in good health and who are sexually active. There are many other explanations for...
Candida is a type of yeast that sometimes causes fungal infections in humans. Healthy people typically have low levels of Candida living in their bodies, and the fungi only starts growing out of control when a person's immune system becomes...
The bladder is a hollow, distensible organ located in the pelvis that serves to both store and expel urine from the body. A variety of different causes can result in bladder dysfunction. If you suspect that you or someone you know is suffering...
Abnormal uterine, or vaginal, bleeding is any bleeding that women experience unrelated to normal menstruation. Abnormal uterine bleeding is one of the most common reasons women see their physicians, according to the American Congress of...