Women's health
Women's health refers to the branch of medicine that focuses on the treatment and diagnosis of diseases and conditions that affect a woman's physical and emotional well-being.
Information
Women's health includes a wide range of specialties and focus areas, such as:
- Birth control, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and gynecology
-
Breast cancer
,
ovarian cancer
, and other female cancers
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer that starts in the tissues of the breast. There are 2 main types of breast cancer:Ductal carcinoma starts in the tubes (duct...
Ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is cancer that starts in the ovaries. The ovaries are the female reproductive organs that produce eggs.
-
Mammography
Mammography
A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breasts. It is used to find breast tumors and cancer.
-
Menopause
and hormone therapy
Menopause
Menopause is the time in a woman's life when her periods (menstruation) stop. Most often, it is a natural, normal body change that most often occurs...
-
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break (fracture).
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Sexual health
-
Women and heart disease
Women and heart disease
People often DO NOT consider heart disease a woman's disease. Yet cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of women over age 25. It kills nearl...
- Benign conditions affecting the function of the female reproductive organs
PREVENTATIVE CARE AND SCREENINGS
Preventative care for women includes the following services:
- Regular gynecological checkups, including a pelvic exam and breast exam
-
Pap smear
Pap smear
The Pap test checks for cervical cancer. Cells scraped from the opening of the cervix are examined under a microscope. The cervix is the lower part...
-
Bone density testing
Bone density testing
A bone mineral density (BMD) test measures how much calcium and other types of minerals are in an area of your bone. This test helps your health care...
- Breast cancer screening
- Discussions about colon cancer screening
- Age-appropriate immunizations
- Healthy lifestyle risk assessment
- Hormonal testing for menopause
- Immunizations
- Screening for STIs
Breast self exam instruction may also be included.
Breast self exam
A breast self-exam is a check-up a woman does at home to look for changes or problems in the breast tissue. Many women feel that doing this is impor...
BREAST CARE SERVICES
Breast care services include the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, which may involve:
- Breast biopsy
-
Breast MRI scan
Breast MRI scan
A breast MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the breast and sur...
-
Breast ultrasound
Breast ultrasound
Breast ultrasound is a test that uses sound waves to examine the breasts.
- Genetic testing and counseling for women with a family or personal history of breast cancer
- Hormonal therapy, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy
- Mammography
- Mastectomy and breast reconstruction
The breast care services team may also diagnose and treat noncancerous conditions of the breast, including:
- Benign breast lumps
-
Lymphedema
, a condition in which excess fluid collects in tissue and causes swelling
Lymphedema
Breast cancer - self-care for lymphedema; Mastectomy - self-care for lymphedema
SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES
Your sexual health is an important part of your overall well-being. Women's sexual health services may include:
- Birth control (contraceptives)
- Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of sexually-transmitted infections
- Therapies to help with problems with sexual function
GYNECOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES
Gynecology and reproductive health services may include the diagnosis and treatment of various conditions and diseases, including:
- Abnormal Pap smears
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding
- Bacterial vaginosis
-
Endometriosis
Endometriosis
Endometriosis occurs when cells from the lining of your womb (uterus) grow in other areas of your body. This can cause pain, heavy bleeding, bleedin...
- Heavy menstrual cycles
- Irregular menstrual cycles
- Other vaginal infections
- Ovarian cysts
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- Pelvic pain
-
Polycystic ovary syndrome
(PCOS)
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition in which a woman has an imbalance of female sex hormones. This may lead to changes in the menstrual ...
-
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and
premenstrual dysphoric disorder
(PMDD)
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a condition in which a woman has severe depression symptoms, irritability, and tension before menstruation....
-
Uterine fibroids
Uterine fibroids
Uterine fibroids are tumors that grow in a woman's womb (uterus). These growths are typically not cancerous (benign).
- Uterine and vaginal prolapse
- Vaginal yeast infection
- Various conditions affecting the vulva and vagina
PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH SERVICES
Regular prenatal care is an important part of every pregnancy. Pregnancy and childbirth services include:
- Planning and preparing for pregnancy, including information about proper diet, prenatal vitamins, and review of pre-existing medical conditions and medicines used
- Prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum care
- High-risk pregnancy care (maternal-fetal medicine)
- Breastfeeding and nursing
INFERTILITY SERVICES
Infertility specialists are an important part of the women's health services team. Infertility services may include:
- Testing to determine the cause of infertility (a cause may not always be found)
- Blood and imaging tests to monitor ovulation
- Infertility treatments,
- Counseling for couples who are dealing with infertility or loss of a baby
Types of infertility treatments that may be offered include:
- Medicines to stimulate ovulation
- Intrauterine insemination
- In vitro fertilization (IVF)
- Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI): Injection of a single sperm directly into an egg
- Embryo cryopreservation: Freezing embryos for use at a later date
- Egg donation
- Sperm banking
BLADDER CARE SERVICES
The women's health services team can also help diagnose and treat bladder-related conditions. Bladder-related conditions that may affect women can include:
- Bladder emptying disorders
-
Urinary incontinence
and overactive bladder
Urinary incontinence
Urinary (or bladder) incontinence happens when you are not able to keep urine from leaking out of your urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries...
-
Interstitial cystitis
Interstitial cystitis
Interstitial cystitis is a long-term (chronic) problem in which pain, pressure, or burning is present in the bladder. It is also called painful blad...
- Prolapse of the bladder
If you have a bladder condition, your women's health specialist may recommend that you do Kegel exercises to strengthen the muscles in your pelvic floor.
OTHER WOMEN'S HEALTH SERVICES
- Cosmetic surgery and skin care, including skin cancer
- Diet and nutrition services
- Psychological care and counseling for women dealing with abuse or sexual assault
- Sleep disorders services
- Smoking cessation
TREATMENTS AND PROCEDURES
Members of the women's health services team perform a variety of different treatments and procedures. Among the most common are:
- Cesarean section (C-section)
- Endometrial ablation
- Endometrial biopsy
- D&C
- Hysterectomy
- Hysteroscopy
- Mastectomy and breast reconstruction
- Pelvic laparoscopy
- Procedures to treat precancerous changes of the cervix (LEEP, Cone biopsy)
- Procedures to treat urinary incontinence
- Tubal ligation and reversal of tubal sterilization
- Uterine artery embolization
WHO TAKES CARE OF YOU
The women's health services team includes doctors and health care providers from a variety of different specialties. The team may include:
- Obstetrician/gynecologist (ob/gyn): A doctor who has received extra training in the treatment of pregnancy, reproductive organ problems, and other women's health issues
- General surgeons specializing in breast care
- Perinatologist: An ob/gyn who has received further training and specializes in the care of high-risk pregnancies
- Radiologist: Doctors who received extra training and interpretation of different imaging as well as performing different procedures using imaging technology to treat disorders such as uterine fibroids
- Physician assistant (PA)
- Primary care doctor
- Nurse practitioner (NP)
- Nurse midwives
This list may not be all-inclusive.
References
Freund K. Approach to women's health. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine . 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 237.
Schrager SB, Paladine HL, Cadwallader K. Gynecology. In: Rakel RE, Rakel D, eds. Textbook of Family Medicine . 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 25.
Review Date: 4/5/2016
Reviewed By: Irina Burd, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.