The vagina can lose elasticity or become excessively narrow due to a number of conditions. When this happens, sex can become painful and urinary function can be impaired. Loss of vaginal elasticity also presents challenges for a woman and her health care provider during a routine pelvic exam or when there is a need for […]
If you are one of the 10% of women in the U.S. with endometriosis, you may also experience dyspareunia. Simply put, dyspareunia is pain during sex. Sometimes pain occurs before, during, or after intercourse in women with endometriosis and can impact mental health and relationships. But here’s the good news: It doesn’t have to be
If you’ve endured a urinary tract infection (UTI), you’re not alone. Up to fifty percent of women will experience a UTI over the course of their lives. UTIs are disruptive and uncomfortable; even more so when they don’t seem to go away. Why does this happen and is there anything you can do to prevent
Have you begun to experience a little something extra when you sneeze, cough, laugh, or lift something heavy? Yes, you guessed it; we’re talking about uncontrollable bladder leaks. And it can even happen seemingly out of the blue, without an obvious trigger. Chronic bladder leakage, aka urinary incontinence, is a vexing problem that can be,
Some of us may be familiar with polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, the hormonal disorder that occurs when women’s bodies produce too much testosterone. FemmePharma sat down with professor of medicine Dr. Katherine Sherif of Thomas Jefferson University to discuss how diseases such as PCOS represent a paradigm of women’s health in the changes in
Autoimmune diseases are more common in women than they are in men. Up to 78% of people with an autoimmune condition are women. Exactly why this is the case is still up for debate, but researchers cite changing hormones, stress, and genetics as possible reasons. If you’re diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, it’s likely that
Let’s clear this up: Women can still reach an orgasm both during and after menopause. It’s a common misconception that once you enter menopause, you lose any ability to orgasm or experience a fulfilling sex life. So while in short, the answer is yes, you can have an orgasm after menopause, however, there are some
Stressed out, anxious, can’t sleep? There is a powerful amino acid that may help. L- Theanine, an amino acid found almost exclusively in green and black tea, provides a variety of health benefits primarily by acting on the nervous system. Among its benefits, l-theanine is neuroprotective; improves cognitive function; has antistress, antianxiety, and antidepressant effects;
Although premenopause is often used to refer to this time of transition, the proper medical term is perimenopause. Premenopause is the period of time during which women are in their reproductive years, and will continue to have their menstrual cycle. Perimenopause is characterized by hormonal shifts and physiological changes and as any woman who has
As a couple trying to conceive the more you can learn about practical steps that can improve your chances of conception, the better. But sorting through the all of the available information and contradictory opinions can seem overwhelming. Additionally, while your well-meaning healthcare practitioner may recommend the use of a personal lubricant as an aid
Most women — up to 75% will experience a vaginal yeast infection at some point in their life. They can cause itching, irritation, and discomfort to the vagina and the vulva. A vaginal yeast infection, also known as thrush, is the most common form of vaginitis, a condition where the vagina may be swollen and painful. The good
A good night’s sleep eludes many of us. There are plenty of reasons you may be struggling to fall or stay asleep. Whether it is stress, medical issues, or a busy household, the result is the same – you wake up already feeling exhausted. Many of us turn to prescription sleeping pills to save our