Women's Health
Information about women's health
188 conditions
Obstetrical Tetanus
Obstetrical tetanus represents one of medicine's most preventable tragedies. This severe infection strikes women during pregnancy or within six weeks after delivery, caused by tetanus bacteria entering through contaminated wounds during childbirth or unsafe abortion procedures. The condition develops when bacterial spores release powerful toxins that attack the nervous system, causing painful muscle spasms and potentially fatal complications.
Abnormal Fetal Heart Rate
Fetal heart rate monitoring has become a cornerstone of modern obstetric care, providing doctors with real-time information about how well a baby is doing during pregnancy and labor. When healthcare providers detect changes in the normal rhythm and rate of a baby's heartbeat, this signals what's known as an abnormal fetal heart rate pattern.
Puerperal Galactophoritis
Puerperal galactophoritis represents one of the most challenging complications new mothers can face during their breastfeeding journey. This inflammatory condition affects the milk ducts in the breast, causing painful blockages that can make nursing extraordinarily difficult just when mothers are trying to establish their milk supply and bond with their newborns.
Abdominal Pregnancy
Abdominal pregnancy represents one of the rarest and most dangerous forms of ectopic pregnancy, occurring when a fertilized egg implants somewhere in the abdominal cavity instead of the uterus. Unlike the more common fallopian tube pregnancies, this condition involves the embryo attaching to organs like the bowel, liver, or abdominal wall lining called the peritoneum.
Gestational Pemphigoid (Herpes Gestationis)
Despite its misleading name, gestational pemphigoid has nothing to do with herpes. This rare autoimmune blistering condition affects pregnant women, causing intensely itchy bumps and blisters that typically appear during the second or third trimester. The condition earned its confusing nickname decades ago when doctors didn't fully understand its cause.
Bronchial Endometriosis
Bronchial endometriosis represents one of the most unusual places endometrial tissue can grow. This rare condition occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus implants itself in the lungs or bronchial tubes. Unlike typical endometriosis that affects pelvic organs, this form creates a direct connection between a woman's menstrual cycle and her respiratory system.
Abnormal Cervical Cytology
Abnormal cervical cytology refers to changes in the cells of the cervix that are detected during routine screening tests like Pap smears. These cellular changes range from minor abnormalities that often resolve on their own to more significant changes that require monitoring or treatment. Most abnormal results don't indicate cancer, but rather show that cells are responding to infections, hormonal changes, or other factors.
Hemorrhoids in Pregnancy and Puerperium
Pregnancy brings many changes to a woman's body, but few are as uncomfortable and embarrassing as hemorrhoids. These swollen, inflamed veins around the rectum and anus affect the majority of expectant mothers, particularly during the third trimester and immediately after childbirth. The condition represents one of the most common complaints during pregnancy, yet many women suffer in silence due to discomfort discussing the symptoms.
Obstetric Air Embolism
Obstetric air embolism represents one of the most serious complications that can occur during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. This life-threatening condition happens when air bubbles enter the mother's bloodstream and travel to vital organs, potentially blocking blood flow to the heart, lungs, or brain. While extremely rare, it can develop rapidly and requires immediate medical intervention.
Subluxation of Symphysis Pubis in Pregnancy
During pregnancy, the body releases hormones that soften and relax ligaments to prepare for childbirth. While this natural process helps accommodate a growing baby and facilitate delivery, it can sometimes cause the joint at the front of the pelvis to shift out of its normal position. This condition, known as subluxation of the symphysis pubis, occurs when the cartilage joint connecting the two halves of the pelvic bone becomes unstable.
Varicose Veins of Lower Extremity in Pregnancy
Pregnancy brings many changes to a woman's body, and varicose veins in the legs rank among the most visible and uncomfortable. These swollen, twisted veins appear as blue or purple rope-like bulges beneath the skin, most commonly on the calves, thighs, and behind the knees. While they can develop at any time during pregnancy, they typically become more prominent as the baby grows.
Failed Attempted Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)
When a woman who has previously delivered by cesarean section attempts a vaginal birth with her next pregnancy, she's pursuing what doctors call a VBAC - vaginal birth after cesarean. This option appeals to many women who want to experience vaginal delivery or avoid repeat surgical procedures. However, not every VBAC attempt succeeds.
Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy (PUPPP)
Roughly one in every 200 pregnant women develops an intensely itchy rash that seems to appear out of nowhere during the third trimester. This condition, known as Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy or PUPPP, represents the most common pregnancy-specific skin condition that drives expectant mothers to their doctors seeking relief from relentless itching.
Cutaneous Endometriosis
Cutaneous endometriosis represents one of the most visible forms of a condition that usually hides deep within the body. When endometrial tissue - the same type that lines the inside of the uterus - grows in or under the skin, it creates a unique set of challenges that can be both physically uncomfortable and emotionally distressing for women who experience it.
Menstrual-Related Hypersomnia
Many people who menstruate notice they feel unusually sleepy or exhausted during certain times of their cycle, but few realize this could be a recognized medical condition called menstrual-related hypersomnia. This cyclical sleep disorder causes episodes of excessive sleepiness that occur predictably around menstruation, typically appearing one to two weeks before periods begin and sometimes continuing through menstruation itself.
Foreign Body in Genital Tract
Foreign objects accidentally or intentionally placed in the genital tract represent a medical situation that emergency physicians encounter more often than many people realize. These cases span all age groups and backgrounds, from curious toddlers to adults experimenting with intimacy, and they require immediate medical attention to prevent serious complications.
Abnormal Breast Changes
Most breast changes women notice are completely normal and benign. The breast is a dynamic organ that responds to hormonal fluctuations throughout a woman's life, creating lumps, bumps, tenderness, and texture changes that can feel alarming but are usually harmless. Understanding what's normal for your body helps distinguish between routine changes and those that warrant medical attention.
Abnormal Cervical Cytology in Pregnancy
Approximately 3 out of every 100 pregnant women receive news that their routine Pap smear shows abnormal cells. This discovery during pregnancy creates a unique medical situation that requires careful balance between maternal health and fetal safety. Abnormal cervical cytology refers to changes in the cells of the cervix detected through a Pap test, ranging from mild cellular irregularities to more concerning precancerous changes.
Urinary Tract Infection in Pregnancy
Urinary tract infections occur more frequently during pregnancy than at almost any other time in a woman's life. The combination of hormonal changes, physical pressure from the growing baby, and shifts in immune function creates the perfect storm for bacteria to take hold in the urinary system. What makes pregnancy UTIs particularly concerning is that they can progress quickly from a simple bladder infection to a serious kidney infection if left untreated. The good news?
Fetal Growth Restriction (Mild)
Mild fetal growth restriction affects roughly 3 to 5 percent of all pregnancies, making it one of the most common concerns obstetricians encounter. This condition occurs when a baby grows more slowly than expected during pregnancy, typically measuring below the 10th percentile for gestational age. While the term might sound alarming, mild cases often resolve with careful monitoring and appropriate care.
Sign up for our weekly newsletter
Get the latest health information, research breakthroughs, and patient stories delivered directly to your inbox.