Thousands of British women have hysterectomies each year - and yesterday, the Duchess of Cornwall became one of them. But all too often, this invasive approach is completely unnecessary, says Dr…

There is no clear benefit from a hormone commonly prescribed to enhance the effectiveness of infertility treatments, according to a new review of studies.

The steroid hormones…

A method of natural family planning that closely monitors two indicators of fertility is just as effective as oral contraception in preventing unwanted pregnancies if used correctly, European researchers report.

Women who use a contraceptive patch appear to be more than twice as likely to develop a dangerous blood clot in their veins as those who use an oral contraceptive,…

Pregnant women considering a cesarean section, with no clear medical reason for it, should know that the procedure is not without risk, Canadian doctors caution in a report published this week.

What you should know about menopausal hormone therapy – from the renowned Harvard doctor who helped to pioneer the latest research

This year, millions of women worldwide will experience a universal…

Although both ibuprofen and acetaminophen reduce menstrual pain, ibuprofen appears to have more potent effects, according to investigators from the West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown.

Although ibuprofen is accepted…

Menopause, which marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years, usually occurs around age 50 or 51. But for various reasons, some women experience early menopause. Early menopause can be an emotional blow and…

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is calling for healthcare providers, employers, and hospitals to support women who elect to breastfeed their infants, according to a statement released Wednesday.

Breastfeeding…

Drugmakers should use more realistic methods for evaluating the effectiveness of birth control pills, patches and other hormonal contraceptives, a U.S. panel of experts said on Tuesday.

Of particular concern…

Could a handful of nutrient-rich dried plums each day help keep the doctor away by actually reversing bone loss in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis or osteoarthritis? A unique clinical study…

Male infants are more likely to be born by spontaneous preterm birth than are female infants. Laboratory studies are also more likely to show evidence of placenta infection when infants…

Florencia Scocchera, a sassy 22-year-old waitress and trapeze artist, didn’t have time for a baby. So when the condom that she and her lover used broke, she quickly took the morning-after…

A couple of previous studies have indicated that women with endometriosis may not develop strong bones, but a new report shows that the condition does not increase the long-term risk of suffering…

A few nonjudgmental counseling sessions can prompt women to both scale back risky drinking and practice more effective contraception, according to a new study funded by the Centers…

Diagnosis is suspected based on typical symptoms but must be confirmed by biopsy, usually via pelvic laparoscopy but sometimes via laparotomy, vaginal examination, sigmoidoscopy, or cystoscopy. Both endometrial glands and stroma must be present to…

Pelvic pain, pelvic mass, alteration of menses, and infertility are typical. Some women with extensive endometriosis are asymptomatic; some with minimal disease have incapacitating pain. Dyspareunia and midline pelvic pain before or during…

The most widely accepted hypothesis is that endometrial cells are transported from the uterine cavity and subsequently become implanted at ectopic sites. Retrograde flow of menstrual tissue through the fallopian tubes could transport…

Endometriosis is common among women of reproductive age, and its prevalence increases to 30-40% among infertile women. Clinical findings vary greatly depending on the number, size, and extent of the lesions and on the…

Proper counseling of patients with endometriosis requires attention to several aspects of the disorder. Of primary importance is the initial operative staging of the disease to obtain adequate information on which to base future decisions…

Treatment options are dictated by the patient’s desire for future fertility, her symptoms, the stage of her disease, and to some extent her age. It must be emphasized that therapy for endometriosis requires operative inspection…

Several classification schemes to assist in describing the anatomic location and severity of endometriosis at operation have been created. Although none is entirely satisfactory, the scoring systems are useful for reporting operative findings and for…

Complications

It is generally agreed that pelvic pain occurs premenstrually in endometriosis patients. Because of this, pain from endometriosis is thought to be due to stimulation from estrogen and progesterone during the menstrual cycle; the…