If you're finding it difficult to get enough shut-eye during menopause, you're not alone. About two out of three menopausal women report having trouble sleeping, but there are ways to beat those odds and get a good night's sleep:
Women's health covers a lot of topics, from fertility to osteoporosis and hot flashes to stretch marks. But the one constant in every phase of a woman's life is her sexuality, and it's a subject that often goes unmentioned in conversations between women and their health care providers.
In a recent survey, less than 10 percent of gynecologists said they spoke to their patients about sexual issues, and only 28 percent offered appointments solely for sexual health problems. The subject of sexual health isn't completely ignored. The Journal of Sexual Medicine reports that gynecologists tend to ask women about their sex lives and sexual health after childbirth, at the start of menopause, following gynecological surgery, or when choosing a new birth control method. Even though sexual problems are regarded as an important issue in gynecological care, the study concluded that addressing a patient's sexuality on a regular basis is still not part of routine practice.
Summer heat is here, and along with it comes a problem that many women face when the temperature rises. It's not uncommon for a woman to develop to a skin rash under the breast during hot weather, and it occurs more often as we age. Often, the culprit is moisture from sweat that's trapped under the breast and becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, fungus and infections.
There are a number of ways to avoid an under-breast rash. You can minimize the moisture by using an antiperspirant under your breasts and on the chest area where they rest. A rash can also be an allergic reaction to a cosmetic or hygiene product you’re using, so try switching soaps or creams that could be causing your breast rash.
While that “baby bump” might be the cutest swelling you'll ever see, there's nothing cute about suffering with swollen feet when you're pregnant. The condition, known as edema, occurs when excess fluid collects in your tissue. This is normal during pregnancy because you are retaining more water. Plus, your growing uterus puts pressure on your pelvic veins and slows the return of blood from your legs. This forces fluid from your veins into the tissues of your feet and ankles.
You want to have children some day, but what can you do now to improve the odds that you'll be able to conceive when you're ready to start a family? First, some good news: infertility in the U.S. is on the decline. According to the Centers for Disease Control, only about one-in-ten women report difficulty getting pregnant or carrying the baby full term. The chances of infertility do increase as you age, but there are things that you can do to put yourself on the road to motherhood:
Eat Right – What's good for your heart is also good for your eggs. Studies have shown that women who ate more healthy unsaturated fats were less likely to experience infertility due to ovulation problems than those whose diets included more unhealthy fats.