Women Health Advice

Cramps suck. But they’re nothing if not consistent. That’s why it can be so alarming when your cramps suddenly feel different. Maybe what was once tolerably painful is now incapacitating. Or the stabby feeling you’re used to continues even after your flow is over. Or you’re bleeding more—way more. Whatever the shift is, the fact that something has changed is a red flag you shouldn’t ignore, says Alyssa Dweck, M.D., ob-gyn in Mount Kisco, New York and author of V Is for Vagina . If you notice any kind of change, don’t blow it off. Let our guide give you insight into what your cramps are trying to tell you. You could have: uterine fibroids. These benign growths stem from inside or outside the muscular uterine wall. What causes them is unclear, but fibroids are super common, especially in women in their thirties and forties. The actual pain you feel, which Dweck describes as “off the charts,” can be triggered by inflammation or simply the fibroid itself pressing against your uterus...

Our society is obsessed with age. But thinking that you're too old—or too young—to do something creates unnecessary obstacles. Your greatest career, relationship, and self-growth opportunities can happen at any time. I went from working in the high-stakes field of venture capital to becoming a speaker and entrepreneur. Along the way, I met a man nine years my junior, had a baby at 40, and moved to South Africa. My greatest sources of happiness have resulted from never having let my age dictate where I should be—personally or professionally. And you shouldn't either. Follow these four tips to liberate yourself from the shackles of age-bound thinking. Let go of age milestones. We all have goals that we think we have to achieve by a specific age, such as getting married, having a kid, or buying a home. Ask yourself, What do I think I should have done by now? You'll be stunned at how controlling your subconscious mind is. Now, look at what you have achieved. Odds are...

Imagine living without illness to slow you down. While there are no lifetime guarantees, enough scientific research has been done to make long, healthy living a possibility. To help women boost health, WebMD examined five medical conditions that are of great concern to them: heart disease, breast cancer, osteoporosis, depression, and autoimmune diseases. We looked at the risk factors for each disease and asked the experts what women could do to prevent such ailments. In order to make full use of this information, Saralyn Mark, MD, encourages women to take charge of their health. She says women need to work in partnership with their doctors by finding out their family medical history, educating themselves on health issues, and paying attention to their bodies. "You know what makes you feel good, you know when you don't feel well. Understanding your body is key," says Mark, senior medical adviser for the Office on Women's Health at the U.S. Department o...