Painful sex, known medically as dyspareunia, is pain in the vulva, vagina, or deep in the pelvis that happens before, during, or after intercourse. It is one of the most common concerns women bring to a gynecologist, and one of the least talked about. The pain can be sharp, burning, aching, or cramping, and it…
Pregnancy weight gain is the expected, healthy increase in body weight that supports a growing baby. It is not extra fat to be shed. Most of it is the baby, the placenta, amniotic fluid, a larger uterus and breasts, and a big jump in blood volume. How much you should gain depends mostly on where…
Chronic pelvic pain is pain below your belly button and between your hips that lasts six months or longer. It can be constant or come and go, and it may or may not be tied to your period. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists estimates it affects roughly 15% to 20% of women between…
Vaginal health depends heavily on a bacterial ecosystem called the vaginal microbiome. In most women, a healthy vaginal pH is between 3.8 and 4.5. That acidity is what discourages the overgrowth of yeast and the bacteria involved in bacterial vaginosis. Diet is one of several factors that influence this system, alongside hormones, medications, and hygiene…
Yeast infections occur when a fungus called candida, which normally lives in small amounts in the vagina, grows out of balance. The result is itching, burning, redness, and a thick white discharge. For many women, a single infection is an annoying one-time event. But for others, these infections keep coming back, sometimes four or more…
Light bleeding, or spotting, in early pregnancy is more common than many people know. “Spotting” refers to small amounts of blood, often noticed when wiping or as a few drops on your underwear. Studies suggest that a large share of pregnant women experience some spotting in the first trimester, and in many cases the pregnancy…
An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac that forms on or inside one of the ovaries. Up to 30% of women will have at least one cyst at some point in their lives, and the majority cause no symptoms. Many cysts come and go without you ever knowing they were there. But some types can…
Most adult women need between seven and nine hours of sleep each night. Research suggests women may need slightly more sleep than men, often about 20 minutes more on average. Yet many women fall well short of that mark. Surveys show that more than one in three adults regularly get less than seven hours, and…
If your obstetrician has mentioned labor induction, you probably have questions. Labor induction is the process of using medical techniques to start labor before it begins on its own. It is one of the most common procedures in obstetrics, and understanding why it happens and what it involves can help you feel more prepared as…
Hormonal shifts are a normal part of being a woman, but that does not make the visible changes any less frustrating. Hair loss, acne flare-ups, and skin changes are common complaints tied to fluctuations in estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and thyroid hormones. These shifts happen most often during the postpartum period, perimenopause, and in women living…