Vulvar itching is a skin symptom, and the vulva is skin. It is subject to the same conditions that affect skin anywhere else on your body, plus a few that occur only here. Yeast infections get the credit for nearly all of it, but studies have repeatedly found that many women who buy over-the-counter antifungal…
Food safety guidance during pregnancy exists for two reasons: certain infections cross the placenta, and certain contaminants affect fetal brain development. Pregnancy changes your immune system in ways that make you more vulnerable to foodborne illness. The CDC estimates pregnant women are about 10 times more likely than the general population to get listeriosis, an…
Vaginal dryness is a lack of moisture in the vaginal tissue, and it is far more common than most women realize. It can cause itching, burning, irritation, and discomfort during sex or everyday activities. While many people assume it only happens during menopause, women can experience vaginal dryness at almost any age and for many…
Headaches that occur right before your period are a real and well-documented pattern, not just a coincidence. Many women notice a headache or full-blown migraine in the days leading up to their period, often accompanied by cramps, mood changes, and fatigue. These are known as menstrual or hormonal headaches, and they are tied closely to…
Hormone pellet therapy is a form of hormone replacement that uses small, rice-sized pellets to deliver bioidentical hormones into the body. The pellets are placed just under the skin, usually in the upper hip area, and they slowly release hormones such as estrogen or testosterone over a period of several months. This treatment is designed…
Bone loss is a gradual condition where bone tissue dissolves faster than the body builds new bone. For women, this process speeds up significantly during the years around menopause, when estrogen levels drop. Estrogen plays a key role in protecting bone density, so when it declines, bones can become thinner and more fragile. The good…
A urinary tract infection, or UTI, happens when bacteria enter the urinary system and cause infection, most commonly in the bladder. While a single UTI is frustrating enough, some women deal with them over and over again. Recurrent UTIs are generally defined as having two or more infections in six months or three or more…
Placenta previa is a pregnancy condition where the placenta partially or completely covers the opening of the cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that connects to the birth canal, so when the placenta sits too low, it can block the baby’s path for delivery. Placenta previa is found in roughly 1…
Heavy menstrual bleeding, known medically as menorrhagia, is more common than many women realize. It goes beyond just having a heavier-than-average flow. Menorrhagia means bleeding that soaks through a pad or tampon every hour for several hours, passing blood clots larger than a quarter, or needing to use double protection just to get through the…
If you’ve had a cesarean delivery in the past, you might be wondering whether you can deliver vaginally with your next pregnancy. The answer for many women is yes. A vaginal birth after cesarean, commonly called VBAC, is when you deliver your baby through the birth canal after a previous C-section. VBAC has become a…