Some women in their 40s can still get pregnant without assistance from fertility clinics. That’s good news for those who have postponed motherhood, but for women who have completed their family, continuing fertility can be problematic. Today, the Pill and the IUD (intra-uterine devices) are both considered good options for some women in their fourth […]
Continue Reading 1 comment April 8th, 2008
Over the past six months, I took a breather from writing blog articles for Healthcareupdates.com. During that period, I put more effort into my personal writing which includes poetry and my autobiography in progress. I also served as chief copy editor for my daughter, who just completed her doctoral dissertation.
For relaxation, I took three special […]
Continue Reading Add comment April 8th, 2008
In recent years, several large studies have shown that quicker and cheaper “virtual colonoscopy” is a viable alternative to traditional colonoscopy. Although still considered “experimental” and not covered by most insurance for routine screening, the noninvasive X-ray procedure is available for those willing and able to pay the $1,100 cost. Traditional colonoscopy, the “gold standard” […]
Continue Reading 1 comment October 8th, 2007
A large study conducted over 24 years at Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program in Oakland, California, concluded that having three or more alcoholic drinks a day can increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer by 30%. Those who drank one to two drinks per day had an increased breast cancer risk of 10%. Women who […]
Continue Reading Add comment September 28th, 2007
Although still very small, the risk of dying in childbirth is rising in the U.S. Between 2003 and 2004, maternal mortality rates rose from 12 deaths in 100,000 live births to 13 in 100,000 (Fewer than 600 American women giving birth in 2004 died in the process.) Infant mortality is actually more common than death […]
Continue Reading Add comment August 26th, 2007
Several decades ago, doctors routinely told their pregnant patients to gain about 25 pounds but no more than 35 pounds. Today, however, more expectant mothers may already be overweight or obese before conceiving. In these instances, weight gain guidelines should be reduced.
According to the March of Dimes, carrying too much weight while pregnant increases risks […]
Continue Reading Add comment August 17th, 2007
A German study indicates that women at high-risk for breast cancer can benefit from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans by detecting a nonmalignant tumor called ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS). If the pre-cancerous growth is discovered and removed before it becomes malignant, breast cancer could be prevented. Almost all malignant breast cancer is believed to begin […]
Continue Reading Add comment August 11th, 2007
Ovarian cancer is one of the most difficult female cancers to find early. The symptoms are often vague, illusive, or nonexistent until the cancer has spread beyond the ovary and into the abdominal cavity. As a result, only 45% of all women with the disease survive at least five years after diagnosis.
When ovarian cancer is […]
Continue Reading Add comment June 13th, 2007
This month the FDA approved the first birth-control pill designed to stop women’s menstrual periods indefinitely. Lybrel, expected to be on the market by July, is approved for continuous use to prevent pregnancies.
Lybrel can have troubling side effects for some women, especially in its first year of use. About half the women enrolled in the […]
Continue Reading Add comment May 28th, 2007
Many people take vitamin supplements daily, believing they will be healthier in the process. No studies have ever shown a true benefit from taking multivitamins and minerals. Some studies have indicated that vitamin A and iron are toxic at high levels. And Beta-carotene can increase the risk of lung cancer in those who smoke.
Taking vitamins […]
Continue Reading 1 comment May 17th, 2007
