Unfortunately, poorly designed and executed studies at the turn of this century unnecessarily frightened millions of women and their doctors away from hormone replacement therapy (HRT). That’s millions of women who could’ve enjoyed the life-improving benefits of more balanced hormones before, during, and after menopause. In follow-up analyses in 2020,...
You’re in menopause after the cessation of your monthly menstrual period for a year. But menopause stops more than your period. It also pauses — or at least puts a severe damper on — the hormones your body produced plentifully when you were in your fertile years. One consequence of...
The Pap smear was introduced in 1943 by George Nicholas Papanicolaou. He developed the test to catch cervical cancer in its early stages, when it can be cured. This simple test is often performed as part of an annual well-woman exam, which makes it easy to incorporate into your self-care...
Your hormones are chemical messengers that regulate just about every process in your body. Hormones help you grow from babyhood to adulthood, control your appetite and metabolism, and are responsible for your reproductive capabilities. Estrogen and progesterone are the two main hormones associated with the female reproductive system. When you...
In 2020, nearly 32% of live births in the United States were delivered through cesarean section (aka C-section). Although vaginal birth is usually preferable, sometimes it’s not medically possible. In the past, once you had a C-section birth, all subsequent births had to also be by C-section. That’s not the case anymore. In...
The birth control you chose as a younger woman might not be right for you today. As your life evolves and your relationships change, you may find that you need to change the type of contraception you use, too. The right birth control for you depends on many factors, including...
When you notice something different “down there,” your first impulse may be to ignore it. Or Google it. Strange sensations, smells, or lesions may make you worry that you have a sexually transmitted disease (STD). And yet, you’re afraid to book an STD test and afraid of what the test...
Every year, about 1.3 million women in the United States enter menopause, usually at around 51 years of age. Many more are in the state leading up to menopause, known as perimenopause. Once you’re in menopause (you’ve had no period for at least 12 months), you stay there. That’s a lot of...
Although everything varies by individual, the healthier you are, the more fertile you’re likely to be. A Goldilocks weight — not too heavy and not too thin — increases the chance that you’ll easily conceive. So does eating the kind of diet that supports your body, rather than stresses it....
Up to 18% of women around the globe experience pain while having sex at some point in their lives. Depending on the type and location of the pain, painful sex can be known as: Vaginismus (involuntary spasms in the outer third of the vagina) Dyspareunia (pain in the genitals) Vestibulodynia (inadequate lubrication)...
A Pap smear is a fast, simple test that detects early cellular changes on your cervix that could indicate cancer or a precancerous condition. Pap smears have helped saved the lives of millions of women since it was first introduced in a book published in 1943. In fact, thanks to increased screenings with...
Menopause is a natural stage of life, but it’s not always comfortable. Or healthy. When your body reduces the production of hormones like progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone, almost every organ and system is affected. As you approach menopause in your 40s, you go through a stage called perimenopause, when you...
Your vagina is a living tissue filled with muscles that get stretched when you give birth. In fact, all of the muscles in your pelvic floor — a muscular sling that supports your vagina and other reproductive organs — are stretched and elongated during childbirth. After childbirth, or with increased...
The only fail-safe method to prevent pregnancy is 100% abstinence. However, few women make that choice. Not many decide to rely on “natural” forms of birth control either, such as male withdrawal or the “rhythm method,” in which you time sex to the least fertile times in your menstrual cycle....
Whether your doctor tells you that you have a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or a sexually transmitted disease (STD), it’s not a happy day. Nobody wants either, even though some STIs and STDs can be cured. Both STIs and STDs are on the rise though, with about 26 million new...
As wonderful as childbirth is, it takes a heavy toll on your body, particularly if you delivered your baby via C-section. A C-section is major surgery because your OB/GYN must cut through skin, muscle, and your uterus itself to deliver your child, and you may require up to eight weeks...
A Pap smear is the gold standard test for detecting cervical cancer or precancerous changes in cervical cells. Most cervical cancer is caused by a virus called the human papillomavirus (HPV). More than 79 million women and men in the United States are infected by HPV, but most aren’t aware...
Whether you’re sexually active, in a monogamous relationship, or haven’t had intercourse yet, you can develop a sexually transmitted infection (STI), also called a sexually transmitted disease (STD). An STD may take time to develop and may never create noticeable symptoms. And yet, it could severely impact your health and...
Although about 30% of American women over the age of 30 have uterine fibroids, when you get the diagnosis, you’re not happy to join that team. You may have never even heard of fibroids before. What did you do to get them? And what should you do now? Rafiq Mian,...
About 75% of women in the United States start prenatal care before the end of their first trimester, but even if you’re further along in your pregnancy, it’s not too late. Getting regular exams and adjusting your lifestyle to your growing baby’s needs increases your chances for a healthy delivery...
If you’re like the average woman, one third of your life will take place after you reach menopause, which occurs 12 months after your last period. Whether you’re currently in those postmenopausal years, or whether you’re in the stage of “change” known as perimenopause, your hormones have downshifted drastically since...
Choosing the right birth control is essential not only to your sexual health but also to your future. Our warm and compassionate staff at Mian OB/GYN & Associates understands how incredibly important birth control is to so many people and can give you close and caring guidance. For anyone who...