Ear wax is a substance made in your ear to protect the skin from water and infection, according to the American Hearing Research Foundation. The wax can trap bacteria, dust and foreign particles from getting in your ear. Sometimes, this wax builds...
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...
A sexually transmitted disease, trichomoniasis commonly occurs in women ages 16 to 35, according to MedlinePlus. Caused by the bacterium Trichomonas vaginalis, trichomoniasis can survive in the penis or vagina, but not in the rectum or mouth. In...
A pap smear is an examination performed by a doctor to check for abnormalities in the cervix. The examination is helpful for detecting precancerous or cancerous cells in the cervix. Early detection of cancer cells increases the chances of...
Sinus and inner ear problems are some of the most common health conditions in Americans, according to the book "Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery" by Byron Bailey. Infections commonly cause ear problems, which most often present as pain in the...
The World Health Organization estimated in 1999 that nearly one million people worldwide contracted a new sexually transmitted disease, or STD, every day. Doctors use several different tests to look for STDs based on the characteristics of the...
A Pap smear is routinely used to screen women for cervical cancer or abnormal cervical cells which may develop into cancer, called cervical dysplasia. A woman with an abnormal Pap smear usually undergoes additional testing, such as a cervical...
Women should have a Pap smear test done at least once per year. A doctor, physician assistant, nurse midwife or nurse practitioner administers the exam. Women are asked to remove their clothing or at least undress from the waist down and cover up...
The process for inserting an intrauterine device (IUD) begins with a bimanual exam. To do this, the doctor has the woman lay on the examining table with her knees bent, in stirrups if necessary. The doctor then places one hand on the woman's...
Before the Mirena IUD can be inserted, a pelvic exam must be conducted by a medical care provider. During the exam, a speculum is inserted into the vagina to reveal the cervix. The practitioner must assess the shape and size of the uterus to...
To terminate a pregnancy, a surgical abortion is performed in a clinical setting. It differs from a medical abortion, which involves the use of drugs to end a pregnancy. Surgical abortions are typically performed between 6 to 12 weeks of fetal...
Midwives, nurse practitioners and doctors perform pelvic exams during an early prenatal visit for several reasons. This manual examination of a woman's reproductive organs can yield information about the pregnancy. It also provides an opportunity...
A Pap smear offers women the only way to detect early cervical cancer, which is the most preventable of the female malignancies and curable when caught early. You should have a Pap smear within three years of having sexual intercourse for the...
The Pap smear test, a way for doctors to check for signs of cervical cancer, is a routine part of most gynecological annual exams. Since the Pap smear test began to be implemented 50 years ago, it has greatly reduced the cases of cervical cancer...
As early as 1500 B.C., Egyptians believed in maintaining health by using enemas fashioned out of cat skin to flush their colons of waste. Over 3500 years later, people all over the world use colon hydrotherapy in the belief that it works to rid...
Cervical cancer was once the leading cause of cancer death in women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It has decreased over the past 40 years, primarily because of the prevalence of cervical cell testing, known as the...
Before administering a colonoscopy, doctors often perform colonic irrigation to clear your bowels of waste. Some alternative medicine advocates believe this technique cleanses the colon of dangerous toxins and can improve your health. Because use...
Overview Routine pelvic exams are important for good reproductive health. A woman should have her first GYN exam when she first thinks about becoming sexually...
An abortion involves ending a pregnancy before the fetus has been fully developed. The termination of the pregnancy may be voluntary or recommended for medical reasons. Planning to get an abortion can be extremely nerve wracking and knowing what...
Gynecologic procedures are used to help diagnose and treat gynecologic problems or if your physician notices anything abnormal during your pelvic exam. Some procedures can be done right in the physician's office, while others are done in a clinic...
Colon hydrotherapy is also known as a colonic or colonic irrigation, and is performed in many naturopathic clinics as a way of removing wastes from the body. Colon hydrotherapy is an elective treatment that has its share of detractors, and is not...
The smear test (Pap smear) is a screening test in which a scraping from the cervix is examined for precancerous or cancerous cells. Cervical cancer is cancer starting in the lower part of the womb that opens into the vagina. It is one of the most...
IUDs come in two types: copper and hormonal. The copper IUD can last for 12 years, while the hormonal can remain in place for five years. A woman does not need to have it removed before it's expiration unless she experiences complications or...
A Pap smear is a very important test to ensure a woman is healthy and free of any signs of cancer or other diseases. Thus it is crucial to learn how to relax during a Pap smear so the test is not difficult. A Pap smear is easier if the doctor has...
Women who have become sexually active or over the age of 21 should get an annual Pap smear. During this annual exam, medical professional uses a speculum, which they insert into the vagina, and then wipe the cervix with a sterile swab. This swab...
Pap smears are generally done during a gynecological exam. Once the vagina has been spread using a device called a speculum, a small, sterile brush is used to gather cells from inside the cervical opening and a small spatula to obtain cells from...
Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in women, commonly affecting those age 30 and over. The cancer is primarily caused by HPV, human papillomavirus, infection. HPV is a virus spread by sexual activity. However, the Centers for...
According to the National Institutes of Health, colonoscopy and papanicolaou smear are routine tests used to screen for cancer. A colonoscopy is mainly used to screen for colorectal cancer, while a papanicolaou test or Pap smear is used to screen...
The Mirena IUD is an intrauterine device that prevents pregnancy. It contains progestin that prevents ovulation, explains Drugs.com. It can also change the lining of the uterus to prevent a fertilized egg from implanting, should there be an egg...
A pap smear is a gynecological test designed to detect premalignant and malignant processes in the cervix and uterus. Get tips and advice on preventing, diagnosing, and treating cervical and uterine cancer in this medical video.
Menstrual disorders refer to any abnormality in the menstrual cycle in a woman. Get expert tips and advice on diagnosing and treating menstrual disorders in this video.
