Women's Healthcare Topics

WebMD Health Headlines Oral Contraceptives May Help Treat Asthma Treatment with oral contraceptives may benefit premenopausal women with asthma, even if their asthma symptoms are not strongly linked to their monthly menstrual cycles, early research suggests. First Impressions Surprisingly Accurate A new study shows that we can accurately evaluate strangers' personalities based just on appearance. Expert Panel Rejects Abstinence-Only Sex Ed There's no evidence that abstinence-only sexual education programs cut teens' risk of sexually transmitted disease, HIV, or pregnancy, a task force of public health experts finds. Early Morning Colon Cancer Tests Work Best Colon cancer screening exams may be more effective if done very early in the day rather than later, yielding more polyps per patient, says a new study. Aspirin May Prevent Prostate Cancer Recurrence The use of anti-clotting drugs, including aspirin, appears to lower the odds that cancer will recur in men undergoing radiation treatment for prostate cancer, researchers report. ©2005-2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

WebMD Health - Pregnancy Preemies Raise U.S. Infant Mortality Rate The high percentage of preterm babies is the main cause of the high infant mortality rate in the U.S., the CDC says in a new report. Artificial Insemination Works Better This Way Patients who undergo artificial insemination who lie on their backs for 15 minutes after the procedure may increase their chances of getting pregnant, according to a new study. Progress in Quest for Group B Strep Vaccine Researchers are a step closer to developing a vaccine to protect pregnant women against a serious bacterial infection that is a leading cause of death and disability in newborns. Obese Women Retain More Pregnancy Weight Obese women who gain more weight than they should during pregnancy are more likely to keep the weight on afterward. U.S. Pregnancy Rate Is Dropping The U.S. pregnancy rate dropped by 11% from 1990 to 2005, a new CDC report shows. ©2005-2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

WebMD Health - Genital Herpes Condoms Help Cut Risk of Genital Herpes Condom use reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk of contracting genital herpes, according to a new review of research. ©2005-2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

WebMD Health - Getting Pregnant 8 Ways to Boost Your Fertility Trying to get pregnant? Pay attention to simple things -- diet, timing of sex, even your lubricant -- and you may conceive faster. A Healthy Beginning for Pregnancy Why managing your health, your weight, and your habits is so important before conception. The Truth About Sexual Positions and Getting Pregnant Myths abound when it comes to sexual positions and conception. Getting Pregnant After Birth Control How soon can you get pregnant after stopping birth control? Get the facts in this article. ©2005-2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

WebMD Health - Healthy Sexuality Why Foreplay Matters When it comes to sex, taking the time to let things heat up can be key to satisfaction. Women Over 35 Embrace Healthy Sexuality A new online survey of 500 women aged 35 to 49 showed that 76% of women are interested in maintaining a healthy sex life and almost 50% say they initiate sex with their partner. A Woman's Guide to Reviving Sex Drive As baby boomers age, more and more women report they've lost their sex drive. But experts say it may just be matter of knowing where to look. Chronic Illness and Relationships: Communicating and Managing Stress WebMD has tips for helping your marriage survive a chronic illness. Find out how to manage stress and emotions that wreak havoc on relationships. Who Marries and When Only 17% of American women haven’t married by age 35, compared to 25% of men, new research indicates. ©2005-2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

WebMD Health - Healthy Women Mammograms Cut Risk of Breast Cancer Death Three-fourths of deaths due to breast cancer occur among women who do not undergo regular screening mammograms, a large study shows. Women's Weight Tied to Healthy Aging For women, the odds of being healthy at age 70 are best for those who don't gain a lot of weight between ages 18 and 50 and who aren't obese at 50, a new study shows. Padma Lakshmi's Secrets How does Top Chef co-host Padma Lakshmi manage to stay so svelte, slim, and healthy? Lakshmi's secrets may surprise and inspire you. Health Evaluations When You’re Buying a Home Is the new home you are about to buy safe and healthy? Find out which home inspections you need for mold, radon, CO2, and other health hazards. 6 Surprisingly Dirty Places in Your Home Where are bacteria and cold viruses lurking in your home? You may be surprised. ©2005-2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

WebMD Health - Infertility_Reproduction Getting Pregnant: Easy Ways To Encourage Fertility Having trouble getting pregnant? Standard fertility treatments can usually help, but so can a host of other, less costly techniques -- some of which couples can try on their own. Gene Discovery May Inspire Male Contraceptive Researchers have found mutations on the CATSPER1 gene that are linked to male infertility and may inspire development of a male contraceptive. Octuplets' Birth Sparks Fertility Debate As the mother and grandmother of the two-week-old California octuplets squared off on competing morning talk shows, infertility specialists continue to voice their dismay over the fertility treatment that led to the birth of the eight babies. Common Chemicals May Affect Fertility Exposure to a type of chemical found in everyday items such as clothing, carpets, and food packaging may be adversely affecting women's fertility, delaying the time it takes them to become pregnant, according to a new study. New Estimates for IVF Live Birth Rates Although many statistics on in vitro fertilization focus on the number of resulting pregnancies, a new study sheds light on the likelihood of IVF resulting in a live birth. ©2005-2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

WebMD Health - Menopause How to Whittle Your Middle After Menopause Losing weight once you're past menopause can be harder than when you were in your 20s. But it's not impossible. Fertility Drug May Be New Hot Flash Treatment Women suffering severe postmenopausal hot flashes get relief from daily injections of the fertility drug Cetrotide, a small Dutch study shows. HRT Is Linked to Deaths From Lung Cancer Hormone replacement therapy may raise women's risk of dying from lung cancer, a study shows. Hormones Raise Risk of Lung Cancer Death The hormone replacement therapy taken by millions of women to relieve hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause may raise the risk of dying from lung cancer, researchers say. Too Young for Menopause What causes premature menopause and what can you do? Get information about early menopause here. ©2005-2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

WebMD Health - Sexual Conditions New Cure for 4-Hour Erections? Men suffering penis pain and damage from priapism -- erections lasting over 4 hours -- may benefit from a drug used in kids with a severe immune disorder, mouse studies suggest. A Woman's Guide to Erectile Dysfunction (ED) WebMD explains to women what erectile dysfunction is, how it affects the man in your life (and you!) and how you and your partner can work together to find ways to cope. Get the STD Picture Do you know as much as you think you do about STDs? It's easy to find out. Read through the list of symptoms, then name that STD. Vaginal Treatment Prevents Herpes Small anti-herpes RNA molecules applied to the vagina protect mice against new herpes infections for 1 week. It's hoped a similar strategy will work for HIV. The chemistry behind love What scientists have discovered about the nature of interpersonal attraction. ©2005-2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

WebMD Health - Womens Conditions Healthy Lifestyle Tips After a Hysterectomy Find 15 tips and simple ways to nurture your health after a hysterectomy – and keep weight and stress under control. A Fresh Look at Hysterectomy For quicker hysterectomy recovery, many women are choosing laparoscopy. Just make sure your surgeon is skilled. Here’s what women should know about hysterectomy. When Your Period Signals a Problem Pain, bleeding, and missed periods may be signs that something is wrong. Sheryl Crow's 8 Life Lessons How superstar Cheryl Crow came out stronger than ever after the toughest two years of her life. Hysterectomy: Spare Ovaries, Boost Health? Ovary removal during a hysterectomy is often done to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. But doing so also boosts the risk of heart disease and death long-term, according to a new study. ©2005-2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

WebMD Health - Breast Cancer Quick Radiation Works for Breast Cancer A shorter, cheaper, and more convenient three-week course of radiation appears to work just as well as the traditional six-week schedule for some women with early-stage breast cancer, a new study suggests. Too Many Mastectomies? Maybe Not Doctors recommend breast-conserving surgery for 3 in 4 women with early breast cancer. Second opinions rarely differ, so surgeon advice doesn't raise mastectomy rates. Gene Predicts Tamoxifen Success in Breast Cancer A single gene variant predicts breast-cancer survival after tamoxifen treatment. In the 46% of women with the "good" gene, tamoxifen works as well as newer drugs. Breast Cancer Deaths Drop Again Breast cancer death rates continue to drop by 2% a year. Despite the decline, African-American women die of breast cancer 40% more often than white women. Breast Cancer Survivor Mary Manasco: Mastectomy After Breast Cancer Recurrence Breast cancer survivor Mary Manasco, 59, talks about her lumpectomy, double mastectomy, breast cancer recurrence, and mastectomy. ©2005-2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.