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Welcome to WomensGuide.org, your source for quick answers to all your questions about women’s health issues. In these pages you’ll find informative guides about women’s health concerns such as Osteoporosis, Menopause, Breast Cancer and more.
These guides are meant to be direct and easy to read overviews so you can get in and get out fast with the information you need.
Feel free to peruse the articles below, or browse through the subjects that interest you using the navigation bars.
In addition to the guides on this site, you’ll find helpful links to related information about health insurance, hypertension, diabetes, and more.
Osteoporosis
What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a condition where your bones become weak and are thus more likely to break. Your bones lose calcium and the insides become porous, like a honeycomb. Technically speaking, this is called…[read more]
How do you diagnose Osteoporosis?
For most women, your doctor will be able to diagnose your condition without additional tests. However, where appropriate, your doctor may use special equipment to conduct a bone mineral density test (BMD). The most common test for diagnosing osteoporosis is called … [read more]
How do you prevent Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is preventable! While the best way to prevent osteoporosis is to build strong bones while you are young (<30), it’s never too late to defend yourself against bone loss. Help yourself or your loved ones who are at risk by staying informed and make good lifestyle choices such as the ones listed below … [read more]
What treatment options are there for osteoporosis?
If you have osteoporosis, your doctor will work with you create a total treatment program that will include the various lifestyle, diet, and exercise options discussed above. Your doctor, if appropriate, may also recommend prescription medications to you to help prevent and/or stop bone loss. Example of medications … [read more]
Which calcium supplements are best for me?
Calcium exists in nature only in combination with other substances. This is called a compound. There are many different calcium compounds available. When considering your options, be sure to look at the … [read more]
What other supplements are there for osteoporosis?
Many calcium supplements include additional vitamins, minerals, and organic additives that have shown to have synergistic and beneficial effects on bone health. The most common … [read more]
How do I avoid falls and prevent stress fractures?
Stress fractures are one of the most common consequences of having osteoporosis. Each year, roughly 1.5 M people suffer fractures due to weak bones. In fact, you may not know you have osteoporosis until you break or fracture a bone.In a stress fracture, your bones develop partial or complete cracks, either due to fatigue or bone insufficiency … [read more]
Are there any special osteoporosis risks for African American women?
While African American women tend to have higher bone mineral density (BMD) than white women throughout life, they are still at significant risk of developing osteoporosis. The misperception that osteoporosis is only a concern for white … [read more]
Are there any special osteoprosis risks for Asian American women?
Asian American women are at high risk for developing osteoporosis (porous bones), a disease that is preventable and treatable. Recent studies indicate a number of facts that highlight the risk that Asian American women face … [read more]
Are there any special osteoporosis risks for Hispanic women?
It is a common misconception that osteoporosis only affects white women. But, according to the Surgeon General’s Report on Bone Health and Osteoporosis, in the United States, the prevalence of osteoporosis in Hispanic women is similar to that in white women. Fortunately, osteoporosis is preventable and treatable. As a Hispanic woman, it is important that …[read more]
What special considerations are there for juvenile osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is rare in children and adolescents. When it does occur, it is usually caused by an underlying medical disorder or by medications used to treat the disorder. This is called secondary osteoporosis. Sometimes, however, there is no … [read more]
Do men get osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a disease that causes the skeleton to weaken and the bones to break. It poses a significant threat to more than 2 million men in the United States. After age 50, 6 percent of all men will experience a hip fracture and 5 percent will have a vertebral fracture as a result of … [read more]
What do I have to know about Asthma and Osteoporosis?
People with asthma tend to be at increased risk for osteoporosis, especially in the spine, for several reasons. First, anti-inflammatory medications, known as glucocorticoids, are commonly prescribed for asthma. When taken by mouth, these medications can decrease calcium … [read more]
What should Breast Cancer survivors know about Osteoporosis?
Women who have had breast cancer treatment may be at increased risk for osteoporosis and fracture for several reasons. First, estrogen has a protective effect on bone, and reduced levels of the hormone trigger bone loss. Because of chemotherapy or surgery, many … [read more]
What do I have to know about Celiac Disease and Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a complication of untreated celiac disease. The small intestine is responsible for absorbing important nutrients, such as calcium. Calcium is essential for building and maintaining healthy bones. Even people with celiac disease who consume … [read more]
What do I have to know about Diabetes and Osteoporosis?
Type 1 diabetes is linked to low bone density, although researchers don’t know exactly why. Insulin, which is deficient in type 1 diabetes, may promote bone growth and strength. The onset of type 1 diabetes typically occurs at a young age when bone mass is still increasing. It is possible that people with type 1 diabetes achieve lower peak bone mass, the maximum strength … [read more]
What do I have to know about Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Osteoporosis?
The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America reports that 30 to 60 percent of people with IBD may have low bone density, which puts them at significant risk for osteoporosis. People with IBD are often treated with medications known as glucocorticoids (such as prednisone or cortisone) to reduce the inflammation caused by their disease … [read more]
What do I have to know about Lupus and Osteoporosis?
Studies have found an increase in bone loss and fracture in individuals with SLE. In fact, women with lupus may be nearly five times more likely to experience a fracture from osteoporosis.Individuals with lupus are at increased risk for osteoporosis for many reasons. To begin with, the glucocorticoid medications often prescribed to treat SLE can trigger … [read more]
What is the link between Osteoporosis and Osteogenesis Imperfecta?
The term osteoporosis describes bone loss that is extensive enough to increase the risk of fracture. The term is a general one, not related to any specific cause for the bone loss. In fact, there are many causes of osteoporosis. Almost all people with OI have osteoporosis, because they do not develop appropriate … [read more]
What do I have to know about Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoporosis?
Studies have found an increased risk of bone loss and fracture in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis. People with rheumatoid arthritis are at increased risk for osteoporosis for many reasons. To begin with, the glucocorticoid medications often prescribed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis can trigger significant bone loss. In addition, pain and loss … [read more]
What is the link between Alcoholism and Osteoporosis?
Alcohol negatively impacts bone health for several reasons. To begin with, excessive alcohol interferes with the balance of calcium, an essential nutrient for healthy bones. It also increases parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels, which in turn … [read more]
What is the link between Anorexia Nervosa and Osteoporosis?
Anorexia nervosa has significant physical consequences. Affected individuals can experience nutritional and hormonal problems that negatively impact bone density. Low body weight in females causes the body to stop producing estrogen, resulting … [read more]
What is the link between Smoking and Osteoporosis?
Cigarette smoking was first identified as a risk factor for osteoporosis more than 20 years ago. Recent studies have shown a direct relationship between tobacco use and decreased bone density. Analyzing the impact of cigarette smoking on bone health is complicated. It is hard to determine whether a decrease in bone density is due to smoking itself … [read more]
What do Lactose Intolerant people need to know about Osteoporosis?
One of the primary risk factors for developing osteoporosis is not getting enough calcium in your diet. Since dairy products are a major source of calcium, you might assume that people with lactose intolerance who avoid dairy products could … [read more]
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Menopause
What is Menopause?
Menopause is a natural biological process that signals the end of a woman’s reproductive years. Women who’ve reached menopause no longer have periods and are not able to have any children. While some people refer to menopause as the “change”, menopause is not just a single event. Menopause includes the transitory phase where … [read more]
What are the symptoms of Menopause?
In natural menopause, women go through a stage called perimenopause where their body starts undergoing hormonal fluctuations that eventually culminate in full menopause. During this period, ovulation and menstruation still occur, but the changes the body is undergoing often trigger uncomfortable side effects. Symptoms often start when a women reaches … [read more]
Are irregular periods a normal symptom of Menopause?
Irregular periods are often the first sign of menopause. While 10% of women simply stop menstruating one day and never have another period again, the remaining 90% of women experience 4 to 8 years of irregular periods. These irregularities are characterized by a wide … [read more]
What are hot flashes?
Hot flashes are the most common symptom of menopause. Approximately 75-85% of women in the US experience hot flashes as they go approach menopause and post menopause. While hot flashes are known to occur up to a year or two after menstruation has stopped, the intensity and frequency decreased as time goes by. On average, 25-50% of women have … [read more]
Is insomnia a symptom of Menopause?
Difficulty sleeping (insomnia) is often experienced around menopause. This is particularly the case if the insomnia is trigger by hot flashes that occur during sleep. These are called night sweats. Many women report waking up soaked, cold, and shivering after having a hot flash during … [read more]
Are headaches a normal symptom of Menopause?
During perimenopause, many women report central nervous symptoms such as headaches, changes in memory and concentration, depression, mood swings, and anxiety … [read more]
Is vaginal dryness a symptom of Menopause?
Nearly one third of all women will experience some sort of vaginal symptom such as discharge, irritation, burning, dryness, itchiness, and pain during their lifetime. During menopause, the most commonly reported symptom is vaginal dryness … [read more]
Is urinary incontinence a symptom of Menopause?
As we age, urinary symptoms such as incontinence (leakage) become more and more likely. This is particularly the case for women who are much more prone to urine leakage then men. Up to 30% of women in midlife experience urinary incontinence … [read more]
What menopause treatment options are available?
Doctors are continuing to learn more about the human body every day so it’s important for you to talk to your doctor about your symptoms and treatment options so that you can make an … [read more]
What is hormone replacement therapy?
In hormone replacement therapy, women supplement their natural estrogen production with external sources of the hormone. Because menopause symptoms are directly caused by decreases in estrogen and progesterone, external supplementation is extremely effective in decreasing the severity of symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, bone loss, and mood … [read more]
What supplements and herbal remedies are available to treat menopause?
Chinese medicine and herbal remedies have been effectively treating hot flashes and menopause for centuries. While the exact mechanisms of all the herbal remedies are not exactly known, it is thought that many of the herbs contain phytoestrogens (e.g. Black Cohosh) …