Women's Health

Women have the unique ability to bear children, which requires a highly sophisticated reproductive system complete with unique sexual hormones and organs. Hormones have a major role to play in a woman’s body, directing puberty, the development of eggs and menstruation, and later, to menopause. At each step of a woman’s life, hormones change and, in some sense, define the stage of life in which the woman finds herself. Due to the complex interplay between the reproductive system and the rest of the body, many women must undergo some form of hormone monitoring and adjustment to ensure proper body function. Treatments aid in the achievement of total balance in a woman’s body.

Contraception

Women today have many options available to them when it comes to birth control. Many of these options involve hormones and can be oral (the “pill”), implanted (either in the uterus or under the skin), injected or absorbed (from vaginal devices or patches worn on the skin). Most hormone contraceptives are combinations of estrogen and progesterone and work in two ways: they prevent the monthly release of an egg from the ovaries and they thicken the mucous in the cervix and vagina, making it difficult for sperm to get through in case an egg is accidentally released. All of these options are reversible - if a woman decides she wants to become pregnant, she can simply stop using whatever method of contraception she has chosen.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a common medical condition characterized by growth beyond or outside the uterus of tissue resembling endometrium, the tissue that normally lines the uterus. In endometriosis, the endometrium is found to be growing outside the uterus, most commonly in the pelvis. Endometriosis is one of the most common gynecological diseases, affecting more than 5.5 million women in North America. An estimated 2 percent to 10 percent of women of reproductive age have endometriosis.

Infertility

Infertility primarily refers to the biological inability of a man or a woman to contribute to conception. Infertility may also refer to the state of a woman who is unable to carry a pregnancy to full term. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, infertility affects about 6.1 million people in the U.S., equivalent to ten percent of the reproductive age population. Female infertility accounts for one third of infertility cases, male infertility for another third, combined male and female infertility for another 15 percent and the remainder of cases are "unexplained."

Libido

Libido is commonly defined as sexual desire and is affected by many things. Obesity, being underweight, oral contraceptives, SSRIs and beta blockers can all affect a woman’s desire for sexual activity. Usually, if the cause of reduced libido (in women this is called female androgen deficiency) is determined, it can be removed and libido will return to normal. There are instances, however, in which libido slows down to the point where desire for sexual contact is strongly reduced. In these cases, treatments, both psychological and medicinal, can be sought to help return libido to its normal level.

Menopause

Many of the changes women experience during menopause are due to declining levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Menopause happens to all women and usually begins around age 40, as they shift out of the reproductive stage of their lives. It can also happen to women of any age who have undergone removal of their ovaries, which produce estrogen and progesterone, or of their uterus, which helps regulate the body’s hormone levels. Every woman is affected different by menopause and symptoms may include hot flashes, changes in the menstrual cycle, insomnia, mood changes, sexual and urinary problems and bone loss, which can lead to osteoporosis. Some women may experience many symptoms, others almost none at all.

Premenstrual Dysmorphic Disorder (PMDD)

Premenstrual Dysmorphic Disorder, or PMDD, is a chronic condition that can severely impact a woman’s life and requires medical evaluation and treatment. It is estimated that only three to eight percent of women have PMDD during their reproductive years. During her monthly menstrual cycle, a woman’s hormones generally rise and fall and often lead to premenstrual symptoms (PMS). Symptoms of PMDD are like those of PMS but much worse. These include breast tenderness, acne, headaches, gastrointestinal discomfort, hot flashes, mood swings, increased appetite, difficultlty concentrating and oversensitivity. About 75 percent of women of childbearing age have some PMS problems. About 2 to 10 percent of women in this age group have PMDD.

Vaginal Dryness

Vaginal dryness occurs when the vagina does not produce enough naturally occurring lubricant. It is normal for the amount and consistency of the lubricant to vary during a woman’s menstrual cycle, but certain medications, diets and illnesses can decrease the amount produced. This can lead to discomfort during sexual intercourse. Treatments seek to restore natural moisture levels to a woman’s vagina.

Vaginal Infections

Vaginitis is an inflammation of the vagina and falls into one of three categories: hormonal, irritant, or infectious. Most infections are due to external irritants such as allergies to condoms, spermicides, soaps, perfumes, tampons, or topical medications and infectious irritants such as yeast, chlamydia, herpes and gonorrhea. Vaginitis is usually harmless; however, if it is caused by an infectious organism such as chlamydia, the infection can spread to the fallopian tubes or ovaries and lead to infertility. Symptoms include irritation and/or itching of the genital area, inflammation of the genitals, vaginal discharge, foul odor and discomfort upon urinating. Treatments usually include topical ointments and antibiotics.