Women's Healthcare Topics

WebMD Health Headlines Texas Has Highest Rate of Uninsured Health insurance coverage rates are much lower for Hispanics in the U.S. than for African-Americans and whites, new Census Bureau figures confirm. FDA Rethinks Spiriva Stroke Warning The FDA is reconsidering its warning that the lung disease drug Spiriva might up stroke risk. A recent study shows no link between stroke and Spiriva. Your 9-Point Health Bailout Package Experts weigh in with tips on staying healthy amid financial stress in the struggling economy. 25% of Teen Girls Got HPV Vaccine 25% of teen girls have been vaccinated against sexually transmitted HPV, which causes cervical cancer. It's a good start toward its 90% goal, CDC says. FDA OKs TMS Depression Device The FDA has "cleared" the NeuroStar TMS brain-stimulating device for treating depressed adults for whom 1 antidepressant has failed to work. ©2005-2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

WebMD Health - Pregnancy Childbirth Options: What’s Best? While a traditional hospital birth is still popular, more women are exploring new and different childbirth options. Pregnancy Cravings: When You Gotta Have It What's behind pregnancy food cravings, and can they ever be harmful? Music Reduces Pregnancy Stress A new study shows that pregnant women who listen to music for a half hour per day see a reduction in stress, anxiety and depression after two weeks. Pregnancy: Eating Healthfully for 2 Following a healthy pregnancy diet is imporant for having a healthy baby. Find out which foods you should avoid and which you should eat. The Pre-Baby Vacation Before the baby comes, you want one last taste of freedom. It's called the "babymoon." ©2005-2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

WebMD Health - Genital Herpes Half a Billion Have Genital Herpes Virus Worldwide, 536 million people aged 15-49 are infected with the herpes simplex virus type 2, according to a study published by the World Health Organization. ©2005-2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

WebMD Health - Getting Pregnant 7 Tips for Getting Pregnant Faster What should you do – or not do – to help increase your chances of getting pregnant ASAP? Read on for seven WebMD expert-approved tips for getting pregnant. Fast-Track Your Conception Want to get pregnant fast? Increase your chances of a speedy conception with tools that predict ovulation, home tests that measure semen and saliva, and more. Dad's Age Plays Role in Fertility A woman's age plays a key role in her ability to get pregnant, but a landmark study now shows that dad's age may be just as important. CDC to Young Women: Take Folic Acid Most young women aged 18-24 don't take supplements containing folic acid, raising the risk of brain and spinal birth defects, says the CDC. 1% of Newborns Now Test-Tube Babies CDC: 1% of U.S. newborns were conceived via in-vitro fertilization. Half these babies came in multiple births with a 66%-97% risk of being born preterm. ©2005-2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

WebMD Health - Healthy Sexuality What Experts Say About Sexual Health Rumors and half-truths have a lot of women scared and confused about sexual health and intimate care. Find out what experts are really saying about these topics and learn the secrets that will let you enjoy a sexuality that is both safe and healthy. 365 Nights of Sex: Can It Strengthen a Marriage? When their marriages fell into the doldrums, two long-married couples decided to find out if having sex every day could boost their relationships. Making Marriage Matter Marriage is more than just a ring on your finger -- it’s a bond between two people that should grow over time and add value to your life. 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. Pill Users Choose 'Wrong' Sex Partners A woman is sexually attracted to men who smell like a good genetic match -- but birth control pills make her smell out the "wrong" men, a U.K. study shows. ©2005-2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

WebMD Health - Healthy Women Dental Health Care for Children: Tots, Tweens, and Teens Your children's dental health needs change as they grow. Keep their smiles bright with these top tooth tips. Cervical Cancer and the HPV Vaccine: A Shot of Prevention Regular Pap tests and the HPV vaccine -- do you really need both? Think Pink: Get Your Mammogram There are more screening options than ever before , so make that mammogram appointment -- today. Cut Death Risk by Changing These 5 Bad Habits A new study suggests that middle-aged women who followed certain key lifestyle habits had lower risk for death than those who did not. Women Over 50: Your Professional Checklist Women over 50, it's time to take charge of your professional life. These quick tips can help you keep your finances and career in optimal shape. ©2005-2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

WebMD Health - Infertility_Reproduction Technology to Make IVF More Affordable? New technology could eventually make infertility treatments more effective and less expensive. Though it has so far only been tested with mouse embryos, the hope is that it could improve the process of selecting the most viable embryos for in vitro fertilization. Study: Infertility Treatments No Help Two common infertility treatments do not improve fertility when used alone, according to a study conducted in the U.K. 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. Soy Foods, Sperm Concentration Link? Men who eat a lot of soy foods may have a lower sperm concentration than men who don't eat soy food, according to a new study. Male Infertility Treatment Skips Surgery A new treatment for a cause of male infertility may reduce the need for surgery and increase couples’ chances of becoming pregnant. ©2005-2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

WebMD Health - Menopause Women May Walk Off Menopause Stress Around the time of menopause, women who walk or get other physical activity report less stress, a new study shows. Non-estrogen Option for Menopause New research results show that a non-estrogen drug called Ophena significantly improves symptoms of vaginal dryness and painful intercourse in postmenopausal women, raising hopes of an alterative to estrogen replacement therapy. Menopause Ups Lean Women's Asthma Risk When they reach menopause, lean women -- those with a BMI score of less than 23 -- have a fourfold higher risk of asthma. Hormone May Predict Age at Menopause A hormone that is used to help assess the potential for pregnancy in assisted reproduction might prove to be an accurate predictor of a woman's age at menopause, a study shows. FDA Goes After 'Natural' HRT Claims Federal regulators have warned several pharmacy companies to stop marketing so-called "natural" hormone replacement therapy, calling their sales to women "false and misleading." ©2005-2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

WebMD Health - Sexual Conditions Sex and Aging: Women in for a Surprise? Both men and women over 50 say they expect the desire for and ability to have sex to diminish with age. Women, however, are more likely to have physical symptoms and more likely to be surprised by them, according to a new study. What Is a Sex Therapist? How sex therapists help couples work out issues and regain a healthy sex life. Viagra for Her Viagra, often prescribed to help men's erectile dysfunction, also helps women who experience sexual problems linked with their antidepressant use, according to a new study. Spermicide Nonoxynol-9 Gets FDA Warning The FDA has ordered gels and foams containing the spermicide nonoxynol-9 to warn that the products don't protect against HIV or other STDs. Pill to Treat Gonorrhea Is Back The CDC is getting the word out that a pill to treat gonorrhea is back on U.S. pharmacy shelves. ©2005-2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

WebMD Health - Womens Conditions 50 Great Things About Women Over 50 Women over 50 are loving their age. Here are 50 great things about being over 50. A Lifetime of Healthy Breasts Breasts: Some women worry that theirs are too big or too small or not as firm and youthful as they once were, but here’s one thing that every woman desires -- healthy breasts for a lifetime. Motherhood Not on Everyone’s To-Do List Today U.S. women are having fewer babies, with more women choosing to be childless. When Your Period Signals a Problem Pain, bleeding, and missed periods may be signs that something is wrong. Women's Health Report Card: Grim Grades The U.S. got an "unsatisfactory" grade on a women's health report card from the Nat'l. Women's Law Center and Oregon Health & Science Univ. ©2005-2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

WebMD Health - Breast Cancer Breast Cancer: Sex and Intimacy WebMD looks at a sensitive topic for breast cancer patients: sex and intimacy. Discover ways you can keep intimacy alive even though you’re dealing with breast cancer and its treatment. Birth Size May Up Breast Cancer Risk Big babies have an increased risk of breast cancer later, according to a new study finding bigger birth size, especially length, boosts breast cancer risk. DCIS Recurrence Rate Low in Young Women Young women with DCIS breast cancer have about the same recurrence rate as older women, says a new study. Shorter Breast Cancer Treatment Effective A breast cancer treatment protocol that involves just one week of radiation instead of six or seven looked highly promising in a four-year follow-up study, researchers say. Acupuncture Cuts Ails of Breast Cancer Drugs In breast cancer patients, acupuncture eases menopausal side effects of anti-estrogen treatment -- and ups sexual function and well-being as well. ©2005-2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.