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MSD Manual
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HEALTH TOPICS
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Quick facts
Quick Facts: Women's Health Issues
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Medicine and Drug Use During Pregnancy
Medicine and Drug Use During Pregnancy
How do drugs affect pregnancy?
How do I know if a medicine is safe to take during pregnancy?
Vaccines
What problems do drugs cause during pregnancy?
Alcohol
Caffeine
Cigarettes
Marijuana
Aspartame
What problems do illicit drugs cause during pregnancy?
Amphetamines
Bath salts
Cocaine
Hallucinogens
Opioids
Endometriosis
Endometriosis
What is endometriosis?
What causes endometriosis?
What are the symptoms of endometriosis?
How can doctors tell if I have endometriosis?
How do doctors treat endometriosis?
Family Planning
Hormonal Methods of Birth Control
What are hormonal methods of birth control?
How well does hormonal birth control work?
Who can use hormonal birth control?
What are the different types of hormonal birth control?
Birth control pills
Skin Patch
Vaginal ring
Birth control implant
Birth control shot
Barrier Contraceptives
What are barrier contraceptives?
How do I use barrier birth control?
Condoms
Diaphragms
Cervical caps
Contraceptive sponges
Spermicides
Intrauterine Devices
What are intrauterine devices (IUDs)?
How do IUDs prevent pregnancy?
What types of IUDs can I use?
Who can use IUDs?
What are problems with IUDs?
What are benefits of IUDs?
Emergency Contraception
What is emergency contraception?
What are the types of emergency birth control?
Medicines for emergency contraception (morning-after pills)
Copper IUDs
Abortion
What is abortion?
What are the types of abortion?
What happens before an abortion?
What happens during a surgical abortion?
What happens during an abortion with medicine?
How safe is abortion?
Fibroids
Uterine Fibroids
What is a uterine fibroid?
What causes uterine fibroids?
What are the symptoms of uterine fibroids?
How can doctors tell if I have uterine fibroids?
How do doctors treat uterine fibroids?
High-Risk Pregnancy
Overview of High-Risk Pregnancy
What is a high-risk pregnancy?
What can make your pregnancy high risk?
What causes mothers to die?
What causes babies to die?
How do doctors tell if your pregnancy is high risk?
How do doctors treat high-risk pregnancies?
Menopause
Menopause
What is menopause?
What causes menopause?
What are the symptoms of menopause?
How can doctors tell if I have menopause?
How do doctors treat menopause?
Hormone therapy
Symptoms of Gynecologic Disorders
Pelvic Pain in Women
What causes pelvic pain?
When should I see a doctor for pelvic pain?
What will happen when I go to the doctor for pelvic pain?
How do doctors treat pelvic pain?
Vaginal Bleeding
What is vaginal bleeding?
Is vaginal bleeding normal?
When is vaginal bleeding abnormal?
Is abnormal vaginal bleeding serious?
What causes abnormal vaginal bleeding?
When should I see a doctor?
What will happen when I go to the doctor?
How do doctors treat abnormal vaginal bleeding?
Vaginal Discharge
What is vaginal discharge?
Is vaginal discharge normal?
When is vaginal discharge abnormal?
What causes abnormal vaginal discharge?
When should I see a doctor?
Yeast infection
What will happen when I go to the doctor?
How do doctors treat abnormal vaginal discharge?
Genital Itching
What is genital itching?
What causes genital itching?
When should I see a doctor?
What will happen when I go to the doctor?
How do doctors treat genital itching?
Vaginitis and Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
What is the vagina?
What is bacterial vaginosis (BV)?
What causes BV?
What are the symptoms of BV?
How can my doctor tell if I have BV?
How do doctors treat BV?
Cervicitis
What is the cervix?
What is cervicitis?
What causes cervicitis?
Infections that causes cervicitis
Other causes of cervicitis
What are the symptoms of cervicitis?
How can my doctor tell if I have cervicitis?
How will my doctor treat cervicitis?
How can I prevent cervicitis?
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
What is pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)?
What causes PID?
What are the symptoms of PID?
Early symptoms of PID
Later symptoms of PID
Can PID cause other problems?
How can my doctor tell if I have PID?
How will my doctor treat PID?
How can I prevent PID?
Trichomonal Vaginitis
What is trichomonal vaginitis?
What causes trichomonal vaginitis?
What are the symptoms of trichomonal vaginitis?
How can my doctor tell if I have trichomonal vaginitis?
How do doctors treat trichomonal vaginitis?
How can I prevent trichomonal vaginitis?
Vaginal Yeast Infection (Candidiasis)
What are vaginal yeast infections?
What are the symptoms of yeast infections?
How can my doctor tell if I have a yeast infection?
How do doctors treat yeast infections?
Complications of Pregnancy
Cervical Insufficiency
What is the cervix?
What is cervical insufficiency?
What causes a weak cervix?
What are the symptoms of a weak cervix?
How can my doctor tell if I have a weak cervix?
How do doctors treat a weak cervix?
Ectopic Pregnancy
What is an ectopic pregnancy?
What are the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy?
How can doctors tell if I have an ectopic pregnancy?
How do doctors treat an ectopic pregnancy?
Medicine
Surgery
Hyperemesis Gravidarum
What is hyperemesis gravidarum?
How can doctors tell if I have hyperemesis gravidarum?
How do doctors treat hyperemesis gravidarum?
Intra-Amniotic Infection
What is amniotic fluid?
What is an intra-amniotic infection?
What are the symptoms of an intra-amniotic infection?
What are the risks of an intra-amniotic infection?
How can doctors tell if I have an intra-amniotic infection?
How do doctors treat an intra-amniotic infection?
How can I prevent an intra-amniotic infection?
Miscarriage
What is a miscarriage?
What causes a miscarriage?
Causes in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy
Causes in weeks 13 through 20 of pregnancy
Causes of repeated miscarriages
What are the symptoms of a miscarriage?
How can doctors tell if I've had a miscarriage?
How do doctors treat a miscarriage?
How can I prevent a miscarriage?
How can I feel better after a miscarriage?
Pemphigoid Gestationis
What is pemphigoid gestationis?
What causes pemphigoid gestationis?
How can doctors tell if I have pemphigoid gestationis?
How do doctors treat pemphigoid gestationis?
Placenta Previa
What is the placenta?
What is placenta previa?
What are the symptoms of placenta previa?
How can doctors tell if I have placenta previa?
How do doctors treat placenta previa?
Placental Abruption
What is the placenta?
What is placental abruption?
What are the symptoms of placental abruption?
How can doctors tell if I have placental abruption?
How do doctors treat placental abruption?
Preeclampsia and Eclampsia
What are preeclampsia and eclampsia?
What are the symptoms of preeclampsia?
How can doctors tell if I have preeclampsia?
How do doctors treat preeclampsia?
Mild preeclampsia
Very serious preeclampsia and eclampsia
Delivery
After delivery
After returning home
Problems With Amniotic Fluid
What is amniotic fluid?
What are amniotic fluid problems?
Too much amniotic fluid
Too little amniotic fluid
How can doctors tell if I have an amniotic fluid problem?
How do doctors treat amniotic fluid problems?
Too much amniotic fluid
Too little amniotic fluid
Polymorphic Eruption of Pregnancy
What is polymorphic eruption of pregnancy?
What causes these rashes?
How do doctors treat these rashes?
Rh Incompatibility
What is the Rh factor?
What is Rh incompatibility?
Why is Rh incompatibility a problem?
How can doctors tell if I have Rh incompatibility?
What will doctors do if I have Rh incompatibility?
How can I prevent Rh incompatibility?
Vasa Previa
What are the placenta and umbilical cord?
What is vasa previa?
What are the symptoms of vasa previa?
How can doctors tell if I have vasa previa?
How do doctors treat vasa previa?
Stillbirth
What is a stillbirth?
What causes a stillbirth?
Problems with the placenta
Problems with the fetus
Problems with your body
What are the symptoms of a stillbirth?
How can doctors tell if I have a stillbirth?
What do doctors do if I have a stillbirth?
Complications of Labor and Delivery
Prelabor Rupture of the Membranes (PROM)
What is prelabor rupture of the membranes (PROM)?
How do I know if my water broke?
What are the risks if my water breaks too early?
How will my doctor or midwife confirm that my water broke?
What will the doctor or midwife do if my water broke too early?
Fetal Distress
What is fetal distress?
How can doctors tell if my baby has fetal distress?
How do doctors treat fetal distress?
Cesarean Delivery (C-Section)
What is a cesarean delivery (C-section)?
Why would I need to have a C-section?
Can I delivery a baby vaginally if I had a C-section before?
What happens during a C-section?
How safe is a C-section?
Prolapsed Umbilical Cord
What is a prolapsed umbilical cord?
What causes a prolapsed umbilical cord?
How can doctors tell if I have a prolapsed umbilical cord?
How do doctors treat a prolapsed umbilical cord?
Excessive Uterine Bleeding at Delivery
What is excessive uterine bleeding?
What causes too much bleeding during delivery?
What can doctors do to stop me from bleeding too much?
How will doctors know if I am bleeding too much?
What happens if I start bleeding too much?
Breast Disorders
Breast Lumps
What are breast lumps?
What causes breast lumps?
When should I go to the doctor for a breast lump?
What will happen at my doctor visit?
How do doctors treat breast lumps?
Fibrocystic Changes of the Breast
What are fibrocystic changes?
What are the symptoms of fibrocystic change?
How do doctors treat fibrocystic changes?
Nipple Discharge
What is nipple discharge?
What causes nipple discharge?
When should I go to a doctor for nipple discharge?
What will happen at my doctor visit?
How do doctors treat nipple discharge?
Breast Infection and Breast Abscess
What are breast infections and breast abscesses?
What are the symptoms of a breast infection?
What causes breast infections?
How do doctors treat a breast infection or breast abscess?
Breast Cancer
What is breast cancer?
What causes breast cancer?
What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
How can doctors tell if I have breast cancer?
If you don't have symptoms
If you have symptoms
After breast cancer is diagnosed
Breast cancer stages
How do doctors treat breast cancer?
Surgery
Radiation therapy
Chemotherapy
Hormone-blocking medicines
After breast cancer treatment
What if treatment doesn't work?
Cancers of the Female Reproductive System
Cervical Cancer
What is cervical cancer?
What causes cervical cancer?
What are the symptoms of cervical cancer?
How can doctors tell if I have cervical cancer?
How do doctors treat cervical cancer?
How can I prevent cervical cancer?
Ovarian Cancer, Fallopian Tube Cancer, and Peritoneal Cancer
What is ovarian cancer?
What are the symptoms of ovarian cancer?
How can doctors tell if I have ovarian cancer?
How do doctors treat ovarian cancer?
How can I prevent ovarian cancer?
Menstrual Disorders and Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
What is premenstrual syndrome (PMS)?
What causes PMS?
What are the symptoms of PMS?
How can doctors tell if I have PMS?
How do doctors treat PMS?
Menstrual Cramps
What are menstrual cramps?
What causes menstrual cramps?
What are the symptoms of menstrual cramps?
When should I go to a doctor for menstrual cramps?
How can doctors tell if I have menstrual cramps?
How do doctors treat menstrual cramps?
Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB)
What is abnormal uterine bleeding?
What causes abnormal uterine bleeding?
What are the symptoms of abnormal uterine bleeding?
How can doctors tell if I have abnormal uterine bleeding?
How do doctors treat abnormal uterine bleeding?
Pregnancy Complicated by Disease
Diabetes During Pregnancy
What causes diabetes during pregnancy?
What problems can diabetes during pregnancy cause?
How can doctors tell if I have diabetes during pregnancy?
How do doctors treat diabetes during pregnancy?
Before pregnancy
During pregnancy
During labor and delivery
After pregnancy
High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
What is high blood pressure during pregnancy?
What are the symptoms of high blood pressure during pregnancy?
How can untreated high blood pressure affect me and my baby?
How can doctors tell if I have high blood pressure during pregnancy?
How do doctors treat high blood pressure during pregnancy?
Infertility
Infertility
What is infertility?
What is ovulation?
What causes infertility?
When should I see a doctor about infertility?
What tests will my doctor do?
How do doctors treat infertility?
Where can I get more information about infertility?
Normal Pregnancy
Pregnancy Tests and Due Dates
How can I tell if I'm pregnant?
Home pregnancy tests
Doctors' pregnancy tests
When will my baby be born?
How pregnant am I?
Development of the Fetus
How does a pregnancy start?
What happens after fertilization?
Twin pregnancy
Physical Changes in the Mother During Pregnancy
What physical changes are cause for concern?
What physical changes happen in early pregnancy?
Morning sickness
Heartburn
What physical changes happen in late pregnancy?
Backache
Varicose veins
How will my breasts change during pregnancy?
How will my skin change during pregnancy?
Medical Care During Pregnancy
Should I see a doctor before I try to get pregnant?
What happens at my first doctor visit?
What medical care will I need during my pregnancy?
Taking Care of Yourself During Pregnancy
How can I take good care of myself during pregnancy?
What should I eat while I’m pregnant?
What shouldn't I eat or drink while pregnant?
What about mercury in fish?
How much weight should I gain during pregnancy?
What should I avoid while pregnant?
Should I take medicines and supplements while I’m pregnant?
Is it safe to exercise while I’m pregnant?
Can I have sex while I’m pregnant?
Can I travel while I’m pregnant?
Blood Clot Disorders During Pregnancy
What are the symptoms of a blood clot disorder during pregnancy?
How can doctors tell if I have a blood clot disorder during pregnancy?
How do doctors treat a blood clot disorder during pregnancy?
Postpartum Care
Overview of Postpartum Care
What is the postpartum period?
What happens right after I deliver?
When can I go home?
How soon can I exercise?
What should I expect as my body heals from delivery?
Hemorrhoids
Breastfeeding
When is it okay to have sex?
Birth control
What are warning signs of problems after delivery?
Infections of the Uterus After Delivery
What is an infection of the uterus?
What causes a postpartum uterus infection?
What are the symptoms of a postpartum uterus infection?
How can doctors tell if I have a postpartum uterus infection?
How do doctors treat postpartum uterus infections?
Bladder and Kidney Infections After Childbirth
What are bladder and kidney infections after childbirth?
What are the symptoms of bladder and kidney infections after childbirth?
How can doctors tell if I have a bladder and kidney infections after childbirth?
How do doctors treat bladder and kidney infections after childbirth?
Mastitis
What causes mastitis?
What are the symptoms of mastitis?
How do doctors treat mastitis?
Postpartum Depression
What is postpartum depression?
What causes postpartum depression?
What are the symptoms of postpartum depression?
What is postpartum psychosis?
When should I go to the doctor for postpartum depression?
How can doctors tell if I have postpartum depression?
How do doctors treat postpartum depression?
How can I prevent postpartum depression?
Labor and Delivery
Overview of Labor and Delivery
What decisions do I have to make about labor and delivery?
Who should be with me?
Where should I have my baby?
How should I prepare for labor and delivery?
Labor
What is labor?
What happens during labor?
How will I know when labor starts?
When should I go to my hospital or birthing center?
How do doctors check the baby during labor?
How do doctors treat labor pain?
Delivery
Where will I deliver my baby?
What happens when I give birth?
What can help with delivery?
How is the placenta delivered?
What happens after delivery?
Biology of the Female Reproductive System
Female Reproductive System
What is the female reproductive system?
How does the female reproductive system work?
What can go wrong with a woman's reproductive system?
Puberty in Girls
What is puberty?
What causes puberty?
What changes happen in puberty?
What can go wrong with puberty?
Menstrual Cycle
What is a menstrual cycle?
What can go wrong with a menstrual cycle?
