Trichomonads are motile, flagellate, protozoan organisms known to cause a diverse spectrum of diseases in humans. Most of these diseases are rare. The single exception is Trichomonas vaginalis, the most significant of these parasites, which infects between 3 and 5 million American women each year. The organism causes an inflammation of the vaginal wall, or [...]
Tattoos have been used in many cultures to identify beauty, position or status, and worth. They mark rites of passage, such as a life cycle event (marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, death), change in an individual’s social position, the progression from childhood to puberty, and the initiation into social and different family groups. For instance, both men [...]
Striae gravidarum, also known as “stretch marks,” arise during pregnancy in the majority of women. Common locations include the abdomen, breasts, buttocks, and thighs. Although the exact etiology is unknown, mechanical stress on connective tissue due to increased size of the various portions of the body is thought to be important. There are no significant [...]
Approximately 28% of all men and 22% of all women are current cigarette smokers. Factors that influence smoking initiation, addiction, and smoking cessation as well as the health consequences of smoking are generally similar in men and women. SMOKING INITIATION Many women start to smoke as teenagers. Current figures indicate that, in 2000, about 30% [...]
Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that affects 1% of the world’s population. Contrary to popular opinion, schizophrenia is not a “split personality.” Schizophrenia is a chronic disorder in which individuals experience disturbances in thinking and behavior. People with schizophrenia have a higher risk of suicide, and approximately 10% of all people with schizophrenia commit [...]
Sexual contact is the most common route of transmission of HIV in women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 50%, or 19.2 million, of the 38.6 million adults living with HIV or AIDS worldwide are women. Furthermore, the majority of women who were reported with AIDS were infected through heterosexual exposure [...]
Oral contraceptives (birth control pills) are either combined estrogen and progestin or progestin-only formulations that prevent conception. Estrogen is the female hormone secreted by the ovary in the first half of the menstrual cycle. Progesterone is the hormone produced by the ovary in the second half of the cycle. The pill’s estrogens and progestins (substances [...]
Breasts share the same basic structure. The mammary glands produce milk and are found in clusters throughout the breast. Ducts take the milk from the glands to the nipple during breastfeeding. Lymph nodes are present under the arm. The lymph nodes are small, normally bean-sized structures that help to fight infection and enlarge in the [...]
This widely used term Depression may be referred to as a symptom, a syndrome, an illness, or a disorder. A depressive symptom refers to a temporary, subjective sense of sadness that everyone does experience at one time or another and it may be related to any condition. A depressive syndrome is defined as a collection of [...]
Also known as designer drugs, club drugs are a group of manufactured, psychoactive substances. While club drugs can differ substantially in their effects and pharmacologic classifications, they are subsumed under the category of club drugs because they are often abused in the context of dance clubs or raves (all-night parties). There is some disagreement as [...]
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Syphilis is a potentially progressive disease that if untreated may cause debilitating disease of the entire body. Syphilis currently is of particular concern because it is believed to increase the transmission of HIV. Syphilis is transmitted during sexual or nonsexual contact with a [...]
Middle childhood is a time of discovery, consolidation, and strengthening of key competencies. During this period of development, ranging between ages 6 and 12 years, physical skills mature, personality traits solidify, and social interactions become more sophisticated. Parents remain at the center of children’s social world, but peers become increasingly important. Although biology provides a [...]
The meaning of the word yoga may be defined as yolking, union, or a bringing together of the mind, body, and soul; the bridging and forming a relationship with oneself and with ultimately how one lives in harmony with the world. The practice of yoga brings with it strength to the body, relaxation to the [...]
Yeast vaginitis (candidiasis) is an infection or inflammation of the vagina caused by a fungus, usually the yeast-like fungus Candida albicans (C. albicans). It is the second most common type of vaginal infection. It is estimated that approximately 75% of all women in the United States will have a yeast infection at least once in [...]
Human skin, like all other organs of the body, undergoes changes with aging. In addition to intrinsic or chronologic changes, environmental exposure can be a major cause of skin damage and wrinkling. Over time, the skin’s network of elastin and collagen fibers which provide elasticity to the skin is altered. The thickness of the skin [...]
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1990 established the U.S. Office of Research on Women’s Health. In 1991, this office launched its first national study on women’s health called the Women’s Health Initiative. The Women’s Health Initiative was initiated because there had been insufficient medical research relating to women’s health. Such research is critical [...]
Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania (WMC), widely but erroneously called “Women’s,” was founded as The Female Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia in 1850, and renamed in 1867. With the support of Philadelphia-area Quaker physicians and businessman-philanthropist William J. Mullen, the College was incorporated, in the era of reform movements for women’s rights, improved health [...]
Maintaining a healthy weight is just one part of a healthy lifestyle. Being either overweight or underweight can be unhealthy, and many people who are not obese are interested in maintaining a healthy weight. Often, overweight or obese people are also interested in maintaining their weight. Many people find that they can lose weight to [...]
Vitamins are a group of substances found in foods that are essential for growth, health, and preservation of life itself. The relationship between important food components and health and well-being had been known for hundreds of years, but the specific role of these components was discovered in the 20th century. Vitamins are grouped together as [...]
Violence is a major contributor to premature death, injury, and disability both in the United States and throughout the world. Each day throughout the world, an average of 4,400 people die from violent acts, for a total of 1.6 million deaths each year. Since many violent deaths are unreported, this estimate is an undercount. Many [...]
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a pattern of birth defects resulting from d... 
Technique for surgical abortion: Surgical abortion can be performed in an office or hospital setting. The su... 
