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It’s the stuff of classic sitcoms. A pregnant woman is ready to head to the hospital to have the baby, but her bag’s gone missing. Or worse, the father brought the wrong one! That may be cute on TV, but there’s nothing funny about not having the things you need when you’re at the hospital delivering a baby. So, what should you bring? Before we answer the “what” question, let’s talk about when you should pack your hospital bag. Week 32 is typically a good time to get it done, but if you’re having twins or experiencing a high-risk pregnancy you’ll want to have that hospital bag ready by Week 30, in case labor comes early.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection. Nine out of ten sexually active men and women have been exposed to HPV and the Centers for Disease Control estimates 79 million Americans are currently infected with some form of HPV. An HPV infection usually has no symptoms and often goes away on its own, but HPV can lead to cervical, vulvar, vaginal, anal or penile cancer. The only visible signs of an HPV infection may be genital warts that appear as small cauliflower-like bumps, flat sores, or tiny stem-like protrusions. Using a condom doesn’t eliminate the risk because any skin-to-skin contact can spread HPV. Because HPV is so prevalent, it makes prevention even more important. Since 2014, there has been a vaccine available that can prevent HPV from developing into cancer, and now even more people can be protected with vaccination.
A breast exam is part of your annual women’s health checkup, but when should you begin breast cancer screening with a mammogram? It’s a question that has split government health officials, healthcare providers and cancer experts. For women with an average risk of breast cancer, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force guidelines recommend that breast cancer screening begin at age 50 and continue at two-year intervals. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends offering annual screening starting at age 40 but not later than 50. The American Cancer Society says yearly mammograms should be an option for women ages 40 to 44 and are recommended beginning at age 45.
We know menopause as a time of hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and mood changes. But you’re experiencing some of this now and you’re not in your 50’s. It can’t be menopause, right? Medically speaking, it’s not menopause yet. When most women talk about “going through menopause” they’re describing the experience of perimenopause. Menopause is when the ovaries have ceased to function, and you’ve gone a year without a period. Perimenopause is when a woman’s body changes before menstruation ends and can last for up to 10 years.
Ovarian cancer is rare in women younger than 40. Most ovarian cancers develop after menopause and half of all ovarian cancers are found in women 63 years of age or older. The most common symptoms of ovarian cancer are pelvic or abdominal pain; trouble eating or feeling full quickly or feeling the need to urinate urgently or often. Some women may experience fatigue; an upset stomach or heartburn; back pain; pain during sex, constipation or menstrual changes. |
This year, more than 22,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and about 14,000 women will die from it. Early detection can be the key to survival and that’s why every woman should know the warning signs of ovarian cancer.
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