Moronacity Health Journal » Women's Health
Artificial Light May Cause Breast Cancer
Weight, age, number of pregnancies – these are all factored into a woman’s risk for breast cancer, but what about exposure to artificial light? Did you know that women who are exposed to longer periods of light are at a greater risk for developing breast cancer? The effect of artificial light on melatonin production is the cause of the increased cancer risk. “Researchers have found that low melatonin levels in premenopausal women are associated … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured, Women's Health
Uterine Positions: What Is a Tipped Uterus?
Many women are told that they have a “tipped uterus.” This is significant because it can affect the difficulty of an exam, such as an ultrasound. Knowing the uterine position makes it easier for a physician to complete procedures such as biopsies, or help with pregnancy examinations. A physician may not be able to hear a heartbeat for a pregnancy in a retroflexed uterus as early as he might in an anteverted … Read entire article »
Filed under: Women's Health
Common Findings on Pelvic Ultrasound
Gynecologists prefer the pelvic ultrasound for examining the uterus and ovaries. It is one of the more affordable diagnostic imaging exams, and it is the safest. In fact, ultrasound has no known harmful effects on the body. Ultrasound is typically done for pelvic pain or abnormal bleeding. One may have excessive cramping, very heavy periods, spotting or bleeding between periods, or perhaps no menstruation, at all! The following are common findings … Read entire article »
Filed under: Women's Health
Pelvic Ultrasound
Ultrasound is the preferred imaging method used by gynecologists to aid in diagnosing uterine and ovarian conditions. Ultrasound uses sound waves instead of the ionizing radiation characteristic of x-rays and computed tomography (CT) scans. These sounds waves have no known harmful effects on the body, so they do not endanger one’s fertility. Ultrasound Transducers Two different ultrasound transducers are used for imaging the pelvis. The first camera is an abdominal transducer that uses lower-frequency … Read entire article »
Filed under: Women's Health
Endometrial Hyperplasia
The endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus that is shed every month during menstruation, or the period. It thickens throughout the menstrual cycle in preparation for pregnancy. In some cases, the endometrium may thicken significantly and abnormally—a condition called endometrial hyperplasia. Endometrial hyperplasia is usually benign and can be treated with hormones or simple surgical procedures, but it can develop into cancer. For that reason, it is best to obtain a … Read entire article »
Filed under: Women's Health
Mammograms, Breast Cancer Screening, and Risk Factors
Women are taught that they must have regular mammograms to protect against breast cancer, but they are not told the whole story. Understanding not only the benefits of mammograms, but also the risks, is important in determining what is right for you. Mammograms and Breast Cancer Screening The mammogram is used to find tissue with unusual density in comparison with the surrounding tissue. Sometimes, an area of tissue may look unusual—an abnormal density—so other imaging … Read entire article »
Filed under: Women's Health
Normal Menstrual Cycle Signs and Symptoms
The menstrual cycle is a normal process in which the body prepares for egg fertilization and pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur, the cycle starts over with a menstrual period. Each woman has a unique menstrual cycle and should keep track of the first day of each menstrual period. This helps to determine what is normal, including how long the woman’s cycle is, and whether her cycle varies in length each month. Change in the menstrual … Read entire article »
Filed under: Women's Health
Uterine Fibroid Symptoms – Abnormal Uterine Bleeding, Pelvic Pain and Pressure
Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous muscle tumors that occur in about 75% of women. Many women do not know that they have fibroids, while others have noticeable symptoms. Bleeding and pain are common symptoms, but some women may experience constipation and urinary problems. Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Submucosal fibroids either grow within or push on the inner, endometrial lining of the uterus. This is the lining that is disposed of each month during menstruation. Submucosal fibroids irritate the lining … Read entire article »
Filed under: Women's Health
What Are Uterine Fibroids? Definition of Uterine Fibroid Tumor
The uterus is a muscular organ where pregnancy occurs. It consists of three layers: the outer perimetrium; the thick, middle myometrium; and the inner endometrium. Dense tumors may affect any of these layers and may or may not have accompanying symptoms. Fibroid Tumor A fibroid tumor is a dense, muscle tumor. Some refer to them as “fibroid cysts,” but this is incorrect. A cyst is a fluid-filled sac. Fibroids may be cystic, meaning that there are fluid … Read entire article »
Filed under: Women's Health
