Women’s Health

Guides to the key stages of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, from the first signs to recovery, feeding, and mood. This is not a complete guide, so always follow your own care team.

Bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections look alike but need different treatment. Here is how the symptoms differ, why a diagnosis matters, and how to lower your risk.

Fibroids are common, non-cancerous growths in the uterus. Here are the symptoms, who is at risk, how they are found, and the treatment options from medicine to surgery.

Who should get a mammogram and how often, what the appointment is like, what to do about pain, cost, and fear of results, and what a callback usually means.

What the Pap test and the HPV test check, how often you need them at each age, what the exam feels like, and what an abnormal result usually means.

What recovery after a cesarean birth looks like: the hospital stay, pain, incision care, walking, lifting, driving, bleeding, and the signs that need a call to your doctor.

Which foods and drinks to avoid or limit in pregnancy, why they matter, and which safe swaps work instead, based on FDA, CDC, and Office on Women’s Health advice.

Miscarriage is common, and it is rarely caused by anything you did. Here are the signs, causes, how it is diagnosed and treated, and when to get urgent care.

Preeclampsia is a serious blood pressure problem in pregnancy and after birth. Here are the warning signs, who is at higher risk, how it is diagnosed and treated, and when to get urgent help.

Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar that starts during pregnancy. Here is how it is found, who is more likely to get it, how it is managed, and what to expect after birth.

Ovulation is when an ovary releases an egg. Here are the common signs, how to track it, when the fertile window falls, and when to talk to a doctor.

Hormone therapy can relieve menopause symptoms, but it also carries risks. Here are the types, the benefits, the risks, who should avoid it, and how to decide with your doctor.

Emergency contraception can lower the chance of pregnancy after unprotected sex. Here are the options, how fast you need to act, who it may work less well for, and what to expect afterward.

There is no single best birth control method. Here are the main types, how well each one works, and what to think about when you choose.

Hot flashes are the most common menopause symptom. Here is what causes them, what triggers them, what helps at home, and which medical treatments have good evidence.

What happens at prenatal visits, how often they take place, and which scans and screening tests you may be offered in each trimester. Schedules differ between countries, so this guide shows what to ask your own team.

Nausea in early pregnancy is very common and can happen at any time of day. Here is what helps, who is more likely to have it, and when morning sickness needs medical care.

Tightening in the belly near the end of pregnancy can be practice contractions or the start of labor. Here is how to tell the difference, what other signs to watch for, and when to call.

A missed period is the best-known sign, but other changes can appear first. Here are the early signs of pregnancy, why they feel like PMS, and when a test can give a reliable answer.

Same diet and exercise, different results. Here’s why weight can change during perimenopause, and which habits and medical options can help.

Handfuls of hair in the shower a few months after birth are alarming, but almost always temporary. Here’s why postpartum hair loss happens and when it actually stops.

Birth classes and hospital bags are only part of it. Here’s what actually helps you prepare for labor, from a midwife’s honest take.