A routine pap test screens for abnormal cells from the cervix associated with cancer or pre-cancer of the cervix. Depending on one's age, we are also testing for the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which is now fe... continue reading  about  What does a routine Pap smear show? Are there other routine tests should I ask for?

You can get pregnant only around the time of ovulation, which for most women with regular 28-day cycles corresponds to days 12-16. So if your period comes at the expected time and is normal in terms of flow, it... continue reading  about  I've heard that you can't get pregnant during your period. Is this just an old wives tale? Should I be concerned about protection during this time?

Most of the studies on the use of fertility drugs have examined hormonally sensitive tumors such as breast, ovarian and uterine malignancies. There does not appear to be any association between fertility drugs ... continue reading  about  Is a woman undergoing fertility treatments at higher risk of getting cancer than a woman of the same age who has not taken these drugs?

Prolapse of the pelvic organs should not be something that slows you down. In many cases relief can be obtained with a simple, noninvasive treatment called a pessary. A pessary is a silicon or rubber device tha... continue reading  about  I have prolapse that is made worse when I run. Running is something I need to be able to do, so what would you recommend? I've heard about pessaries - what are they?

Before you make any decisions, make sure that other possible causes of pelvic pain have been adequately evaluated by your doctor, including your bladder, gastrointestinal system, and pelvic floor muscles. Fibro... continue reading  about  I have several small fibroids that sometimes cause me pain. How severe does it need to be to consider doing something about it?

In general, tubal ligation is a very safe procedure associated with the small risks of laparoscopy and anesthesia in a healthy woman, regardless of her age. However, other permanent methods of tubal steril... continue reading  about  What are the risks of getting your tubes tied? Are your early 20s too soon to get this procedure done?

First of all, you are not alone. Millions of women experience pain during intercourse, but most are too shy or embarrassed to bring it up. I congratulate you for raising the question! Intercourse is a wonderful... continue reading  about  I'm a woman (60) who had not had sex for 10 years. I recently decided to start again, but intercourse was very painful. I have tried several times, but with the same results. What causes this pain and what can I do that will help?

Urinary incontinence is a common condition affecting 30-50 percent of women. The number of women affected by urinary incontinence increases with age but it should not be considered acceptable at any age. It is ... continue reading  about  How can a woman know when it's time to consider surgery for urinary incontinence?

Uterine fibroids are extremely common, affecting at least 70 percent of women. Fibroids are benign tumors of the uterus which never transform into cancer. Symptoms usually arise from enlargement of the fibroids... continue reading  about  How do I decide on a treatment plan for my uterine fibroids?