Women's Health Archive

Ask the doctors

Q. I've had endometriosis since I was in my 30s. I'm now approaching menopause. Will my symptoms get better or even go away after menopause?

A. Possibly, but not always. Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue that resembles the tissue that lines the uterus, called endometrial tissue, grows in other locations inside the body. Typically, it grows on structures and organs in the pelvis, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, or bowels. When a woman menstruates, this tissue behaves like the lining of the uterus and bleeds. But because this blood has no way to exit the body, it pools inside. This leads to pain, inflammation, and scarring.

The FDA approved a new medication that may help some women experiencing low sexual desire, but there are restrictions on who can take it, and side effects to consider.

Avoid boredom and boost the benefits you gain from exercise with these simple tips to wake up your weight or treadmill workout.

Research shows that older people who are socially engaged and keep their minds active are more likely to remain mentally sharp. But what specific activities should people do? And does it matter if they start late in life or sooner?

Lifestyle changes may not always be enough to control biologically driven body changes.

You spend hours in the gym every day. You eat nothing but grilled chicken, fish, and salads. Yet the numbers on the scale don't budge — or worse, they slowly creep up, along with your waist measurement.

Welcome to menopause.

"The change" actually does bring changes for many women, including weight gain that can resist even the most diligent efforts to reverse it, says Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Human papilloma virus (HPV) causes about 40,000 cases of cancer every year. A long-term study of the HPV vaccine finds it offers protection against many strains of the virus, yet many teens haven’t had this safe, effective vaccine.

There are several treatment options for kidney stones. Which is best for you may depend on size and number of stones and their location in the kidney. Imaging and blood tests can help your doctor determine the right course of treatment.

Osteoporosis affects 10 million people in the United States, the majority of them women. Romosozumab is a new type of medication for treating osteoporosis that offers another treatment option for some women after menopause.

If you’re trying to take 10,000 steps a day, it can be discouraging to miss that well-known target. But why is 10,000 steps the goal? And is it really necessary to take that many steps every day?

The discomfort and potential embarrassment of urinary incontinence keeps many people from the activities they enjoy, but some simple behavioral changes can improve bladder control.