Birth control, also known as contraception, is anything that is used to prevent pregnancy from occurring. Family planning is the planning of the number and timing of children, this may include efforts to prevent or delay pregnancy at times when a...
Although many countries offer free or low-cost health coverage to all pregnant women, in the United States, expectant mothers are frequently uninsured or underinsured. As of 2010, private health plans paid for only half of U.S. births because of...
The harmful effects of smoking cigars, cigarettes or pipes extend beyond the tobacco user to nonsmokers who inhale secondhand smoke. Consequences to nonsmokers range from putting up with an unpleasant odor to suffering respiratory irritation and...
Reproductive health education has been controversial in spite of the lifelong impact of reproductive decisions. Some feel this education should be provided privately. Others point to diseases, unwanted pregnancies and the right to be educated...
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 18.3 percent of adult women in the United States currently smoke cigarettes. Additional reports note that in 2007 approximately 20 percent of high school students in the...
According to the World Health Organization, reproductive health is defined as the ability to engage in a mutually satisfying and responsible sexual relationship. It also means being able to decide how often and when to do so. Reproductive health...
Reproductive rights does not just cover abortion. It encompasses the right to accurate, timely information and education about reproductive choices. It also means access to services that support reproductive health and choices about birth control...
According to 2002 data from the Department of Health and Human Services, 55 percent of adult Americans consume alcohol. Regardless of your age or gender, drinking beer may lead to various problems, including an increase in liver illnesses and...
Federal law makes abortion a legal medical procedure in the United States, but each state is allowed to regulate abortion services in its own way. This makes for a complicated and varied set of laws that gives women in the United States different...
Menopause is the stage of a woman's life, typically between the ages of 45 and 55, when she stops having menstrual periods. The transition from a reproductive stage to menopause occurs naturally over a period of years, but it can also be brought...
Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that form in or on your ovaries -- paired organs that play an important role in female reproductive health. While many ovarian cysts cause no notable symptoms, according to the U.S. Department of Health and...
According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, men are 70 percent less likely to see a doctor for health concerns compared to women and are 80 percent less likely to have a regular doctor. This reluctance to take care of...
Smoking mothers are twice as likely to have low birth weight babies, according to the March of Dimes. A study done by the Reproductive Epidemiology Section of the California Department of Health Services reported in "Epidemiology," a medical...
Technically, no. Soy does not lower testosterone, but it may raise estrogen levels over time. While soy enjoys a generally good reputation as a heart-healthy alternative to red meat, there are many scientists raising a concern about soy's...
The United Nations considers family planning--planning when to have children and using contraceptives and other techniques to implement these plans--to be key to achieving Millennium Development Goals of reducing child mortality and improving...
Polycystitis ovarian syndrome, or polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS, is the most common endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, PCOS affects approximately 5 million women...
Cervical inflammation, also known as cervicitis, affects more than 50 percent of all women at some point in their lives, according to PubMed Health. Alternative practitioners use many herbs in teas, douches or vaginal applications to treat...
Once reserved for special health food stores and vegetarians, soy milk is now available at most grocery stores and a popular alternative to cow's milk for many people. Despite the recent popularity of soy milk, you might not know too much about...
The rate of teen pregnancy increased in 2006 for the first time in 10 years, up 3 percent, according to a January 26, 2010 report by the Guttmacher Institute, a research and public education firm. "After more than a decade of progress, this...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a child born to a teen mother is more likely to have behavior problems, chronic medical issues and lower proficiency scores upon entering kindergarten. He is at risk of being...
Irregular bleeding may occur in various parts of your body, including your urinary, respiratory, gastrointestinal and reproductive tracts. The National Health Service of the United Kingdom states that irregular bleeding is common between your...
Caffeine is a stimulant found in several products, including soda, chocolate, tea and some medications. The side effects of consuming caffeine can be more pronounced in children, and you may find that caffeine affects your child's growth and...
