Reproductive Health

5 Reasons you aren't pregnant

Michele Borboa, MS — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 14:44:00 -0700

According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 6.7 million women in the US are struggling with infertility. If you're one of them, you know the devastation every month when you get your period or when a missed period doesn't result in a positive pregnancy test. It could be that you are simply missing your window of ovulation opportunity or it could be something more serious. Dr. Brandon Bankowski, MPH, a reproductive endocrinologist at Oregon Reproductive Medicine, shares with SheKnows five common medical reasons women have trouble getting pregnant and the treatments that can help.

Tina Fey talks women's reproductive rights

Deirdre Kaye — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 22:19:00 -0700

Comedian Tina Fey gave a fiery speech this week at the Center for Reproductive Rights Inaugural Gala. Women's reproductive rights have become a hot-button issue this election.

4 Questions to ask your gynecologist

Maria Mora — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 12:00:00 -0700

No one likes heading to the gynecologist for an annual exam. Before you rush through your visit, tight-lipped and waiting for it to be over, consider the resource you have in your gynecologist. Here are some questions you should ask your gynecologist while you have her attention.

Non-surgical fibroid treatment: Uterine fibroid embolization

Michele Borboa, MS — Wed, 09 May 2012 08:00:00 -0700

If you are suffering from fibroids, a hysterectomy isn't the only solution. Board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Bruce McLucas, founder of the Los Angeles Fibroid Treatment Center, says a hysterectomy should be the last option for women, even though many doctors recommend it as a primary fibroid treatment. We talked with Dr. McLucas, who has been featured on The Doctors, about fibroids and his use of uterine fibroid embolization, an effective non-invasive procedure to treat fibroid tumors.

How to pamper yourself during your period

Naomi de la Torre — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 07:19:00 -0700

Bloated, crampy and ready to bite someone at a moment’s notice? Yep, it’s Shark Week. Don’t worry. You don’t have to miss out on all the fun just because you're feeling a little bloodthirsty. Take time to pamper yourself during your period and treat yourself like the goddess you really are.

Surefire ways to feel great all month long

Naomi de la Torre — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 04:05:00 -0700

Are the hormonal swings and other symptoms of your monthly cycle getting you down? Get off the roller coaster and learn practical tips to feel great all month long.

Body basics: How to track your cycle

Julie Kraut — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 07:47:00 -0700

Tracking your cycle may seem like a pain, but knowing when your period is coming is worth it. You can be prepared with supplies and know when to schedule certain events -- stressful meetings, romantic weekends, even high-calorie girls' nights. Tracking your cycle can also come in handy when you’re ready to get pregnant. You’ll have a better sense of when you’re ovulating and most fertile, and you'll be able to detect when you conceive earlier.

7 Best exercises during your period

Julie Kraut — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 07:22:00 -0700

Studies vary widely regarding menstruation's effects on workouts. Some say it helps, while others say it harms. Still others say it’s easier to get injured. The truth is that there’s only one real rule for working out during your period: Listen to yourself.

Pap smear basics

Mary Fetzer — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 06:28:00 -0700

Every woman knows that she should have regular Pap smears. Here's what the Pap test really is -- and why it is so important.

7 Secrets to a less painful period

Catherine Conelly — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:08:00 -0700

Even the most powerful women can use a few tips during her period. If you've ever found yourself, say, on the beach wishing your stomach didn't feel like a balloon, these seven tips will help make sure that you never regret a moment in the sand in front of the beautiful, blue sea again.

How to prevent urinary tract infections

Janice McDuffee — Fri, 06 May 2011 10:05:00 -0700

The onslaught of a urinary tract infection is clear: The constant urge to go; the burning; the discomfort. For those of us who’ve dealt with recurring urinary tract infections, we’re all too familiar with how the unpleasant events that follow those initial symptoms often develop at a rapid speed. Unfortunately, by the time we make it to the doctor and receive antibiotics to fight the infection, we are likely already experiencing a great deal of discomfort, and sometimes a great amount of pain. What can we do?

Preterm birth: Questions to ask your doctor

Angela Davids — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 11:05:00 -0800

No woman expects her baby to be born prematurely, so we tend to skip the high-risk pages in the pregnancy books and not ask our OBs about our own risk factors. We may even ignore the warning signs our bodies send us, not realizing how common pregnancy complications can be. Here are four questions about preterm birth every woman needs to ask her doctor.

Women’s health: 10 must-have health products

Michele Borboa, MS — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 04:18:00 -0800

Being healthy goes beyond sweating at the gym for two hours or running a marathon. Certainly, a moderate level of fitness needs to be at the top of the list, but there are other components of your health that need attention, including diet, reproductive health, brain health, stress management and skin care, just to name a few. Here are 10 must-have health products for women to help you improve your overall health in the New Year.

The menopause and insomnia link

Sarah Kelsey — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 09:41:00 -0800

If going through the ups and downs of menopause weren’t enough, there’s another reason to worry. In a recent survey, 76 percent of women said insomnia during menopause moderately to significantly affected their overall quality of life. SheKnows.com chatted with Karen Giblin, president and founder of Red Hot Mamas, to learn more about the menopause and insomnia link.

Polycystic ovary syndrome: PCOS, infertility and insulin resistance

Hillary Wright — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 12:21:00 -0800

Some women have a whole raft of symptoms – excess facial hair, acne, hair loss, easily accumulated “belly fat” and messed-up periods that only come regularly when hormonally managed with birth control pills. For others, the symptoms are more subtle, perhaps just limited to irregular or absent periods. What all these women may have in common is polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, the most common hormonal problem seen in women of reproductive age. PCOS is the main cause of infertility due to problems with ovulation, and is a major risk factor for the development of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and endometrial cancer. Here’s what you need to know about PCOS and your reproductive health.

Best foods to eat while on your period

Kristin Chessman — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:33:00 -0700

It’s that time of the month, and you’re tired, irritable and bloated. Though you’d much rather reach for a bag of potato chips than trail mix, eating poorly will only make your symptoms worse. Find out which foods can make your monthly cycle more manageable and follow these simple do's and don’ts.

5 Reasons getting your period is actually a good thing

Molly Cerreta Smith — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:48:00 -0700

When was the last time you got giddy over your period's arrival? It's never happened, right? Believe it or not, though, there are some reasons getting your period is a good thing. Don't buy it? Read on.

5 Ways to get menstrual cramp relief

Molly Cerreta Smith — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:40:00 -0700

You don't have to suffer through menstrual cramping every month. Take charge and make Aunt Flow's visit a bit less agonizing by following the advice of our medical experts, who offer five ways to get menstrual cramp relief.

Things that can affect your period flow

Sarah W. Caron — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:36:00 -0700

It’s your monthly visitor. Aunt Flo. The Crimson Wave. Whatever you call it, a menstrual period is just something with which most women must deal. But what if yours doesn’t come in that perfect 28-day rubric? The truth is, many factors can affect when your period comes and how heavy its flow is. Read on to find out why yours might be a little different.

A girl's guide to tampon use

Sarah W. Caron — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:19:00 -0700

You’ve probably heard how convenient tampons are from a friend or your mom. But when you’ve never used them before, the first time can be downright frightening. Here’s what you need to know about using tampons.

Choosing the right protection for your period

Laura Willard — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:03:00 -0700

We all know that the days of the one-size-fits-all pad are long gone, but do you really know all of your protection options? Don’t be overwhelmed with the choices. In this case, having so many is a good thing! Simply being aware of what is available and what your needs are will get you on the right track.