Treatment of Dry Skin to Abdomen

Stretching of the abdomen during pregnancy causes dry, itchy skin. Olive oil applied once per day is an effective treatment. Use only a small amount and massage it well into the skin after a bath or shower.

Folic Acid and Pregnancy

Taking the B vitamin folic acid at recommended levels early in pregnancy can help prevent certain birth defects.

Women´s Health Info - Alcohol Consumption and the Ovaries

Heavy and chronic alcohol drinking can lead to inadequate functioning of the women´s ovaries, resulting in hormonal deficiencies, sexual dysfunction, infertility, menstrual irregularities, and early menopause.

Pregnant Women Should Get Group B Strep Test

All pregnant women should be routinely screened for Group B streptococcus, a major cause of illness and death among newborns.

Group B streptococcus (GBS), or "strep," can cause serious infections, such as meningitis, in newborns. Infants can become infected with the bacterium during labor and delivery, so pregnant women are screened for GBS during the last few weeks of pregnancy. Women infected with strep may be treated with antibiotics to reduce the risk of passing on the infection.

Pregnancy and Exercise

Non-contact forms of exercise are encouraged during a normal pregnancy. Both the woman and her baby benefit from regular activities such as walking and swimming. It is important to combine exercise with pregnancy.

Heartburn During Pregnancy

Heartburn is a common complaint of pregnant women due to increased abdominal pressure caused by the fetus. Tums are a safe method of heartburn relief during pregnancy.

Smog and Pregnancy

Women exposed to high levels of ozone and carbon monoxide were three times more likely than others to have babies with cleft lips and palates and defective heart valves.

Hormone Replacement Therapy Trial Halted Due to Cancer, Heart Risk

Researchers announced July 9, 2002 that they have halted one of the largest and best-designed studies of hormone replacement therapy because women taking the hormones after menopause had a greater risk of breast cancer, heart attack, stroke and blood clots than those who did not take the drugs.

More than 6 million women in the US currently take estrogen/progestin hormone combination therapy for a variety of reasons, including cures of hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms. The hope--and the hype--has been that such hormones would also confer a number of other advantages, including a reduced risk of heart disease. The study suggests that when women take the drugs for more than about 5 years, the risks of the hormones clearly outweigh the benefits.

Symptoms of PMS

Eat right to counter symptoms of PMS. Studies have shown that certain foods can help ease PMS symptoms. These include complex carbohydrates such as pasta, vegetables and whole grain breads and cereals. Avoid foods that contain caffeine -- cola, coffee and chocolate can all trigger PMS symptoms.

Women´s Health Info - Alternate Breast Massage

Alternate breast massage will not only increase your breast milk supply, but it will also produce milk that is fattier and higher in calories. You do alternate breast massage almost the exact way you do your monthly breast self-exam. While breastfeeding (after your baby has stopped sucking vigorously) or pumping, take two fingers and starting at your armpit and going around your breast, gently massage in a circular motion.

Fish That Pregnant Women Should Not Consume

The FDA advises pregnant women not to eat four fish species that contain the highest levels of mercury: shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish (also known as golden or white snapper).

How to Treat Menopause

To ease the emotional ups and downs of menopause:

Exercise regularly for energy and to relieve stress.

Seek out and talk with other women who have or are going through menopause.

Avoid stressful situations whenever possible.

Incorporate relaxation techniques into your daily life. Meditation, yoga and massages can help ease the stress and emotional turmoil you´re going through.

Eat a nutritious, well-balanced diet and check with your doctor about taking vitamin supplements.

Easing Hot Flashes During Menopause

To help women ease hot flashes during menopause:

Wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothing made of natural fibers.

Limit your intake of beverages that contain caffeine or alcohol.

Avoid eating rich and spicy foods.

Drink lots of cool drinks, especially water.

Avoid drinking hot beverages.

Breastfeeding and Contraception

Breastfeeding IS NOT a form of birth control. Many couples have been fooled and have had Irish twins as a direct result. You should consult your OB/GYN about appropriate forms of birth control for nursing mothers.

Natural Hormone Remedies for Menopause

Many women find relief from short-term menopause-related changes with non-prescription remedies, such as estrogen-containing foods (soy products, whole-grain cereal, seeds, certain fruits and vegetables) and creams, certain herbs such as black cohosh, and vitamin E and vitamin B complexes. Researchers are studying the safety and efficacy of these non-prescription hormone therapies. Local non-hormonal therapy is available for vaginal dryness and urinary bladder conditions.

Hormone Therapy

Combined hormone therapy for women doubles the risk of dementias such as Alzheimer´s disease.

Combined hormone therapy also does not protect against mild cognitive impairment, a less severe loss of mental function, and it increases the risk of stroke.

Alternatives to Postmenopausal Hormones

All women can adopt a healthy lifestyle, like not smoking, regular exercise, and good nutrition. In addition, other prescription drugs, such as statins or beta-blockers, are available to lower blood lipid levels or blood pressure levels. A healthy lifestyle can also help decrease a woman´s risk of bone loss. Health professionals also recommend calcium and vitamin D supplements as a means of preventing osteoporosis. Other drugs, such as raloxifene, tibolone, alendronate, and risedronate have been shown to prevent bone loss. These drugs increasingly are becoming the treatment of choice for osteoporosis in many postmenopausal women.

More Women´s Health Info - Coffee and Pregnancy

Moms-to-be should take a break from coffee -- caffeine crosses the placenta and large amounts could lead to low birth-weight in infants.

Tampons and STD Diagnosis

STD [Sexually Transmitted Disease] testing just got easier and a lot less embarrassing. South African researchers have begun using tampons to diagnose the sexually transmitted disease trichomoniasis, which causes itching and vaginal discharge and can increase a woman´s chances of having a premature or low birth weight baby. Some 1,000 women inserted an ordinary tampon for 15 minutes. The tampons were then stored in a saline solution and transported to a lab where they were tested. The tampon test was highly effective at not only detecting trich, but chlamydia and gonorrhea as well.