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Homeempowering women

Women’s Health

Staying healthy and well is one of the most important things women can do for themselves and for their loved ones, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some ways women can put their health first:

 

Stay Active

Regular exercise can help women boost their mood, maintain a healthy weight, and improve sleep. It also lowers risk for heart disease, breast cancer, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Women should speak with their doctor about what type of exercise is right for them.

Eat Healthy
Eating healthy can help women improve their health and prevent diseases. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, as well as lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts. Avoid having too much sodium, sugar, cholesterol, saturated fats, and trans fats.
Get Regular Checkups
Regular checkups and wellness exams help women increase their chances of living a longer, healthier life. Women should check with their primary care provider about the care and screenings they need, and whether they should schedule an in-person or telehealth appointment.

Follow Recommended Screenings

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Maintain Healthy Levels
A well-rounded diet and regular exercise can help keep women’s blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar at healthy levels. Women should talk to their primary care provider or heart specialist about safely reducing their risk and setting goals for a healthier heart.
Avoid Smoking
Smoking or using tobacco products greatly increases women’s risk of heart disease. Women who want to quit should speak to their primary care provider for help and to see if there are medications or nicotine replacement products that are right for them. Non-smokers who have high blood pressure or high blood cholesterol also have a greater risk of developing heart disease when they’re exposed to secondhand smoke.

More on Women's Health


Ovarian Cancer: Learn the Risks and Symptoms
9/12/2023 • Posted by Dr. Thomas Raskauskas, Obstetrician-Gynecologist and Senior Medical Director

Woman speaking with doctor
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, recognized annually in September, is a time to raise awareness about the risk factors, symptoms, and prevalence of ovarian cancer.

What is ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer is the abnormal growth of cells in the ovary and can spread throughout the body. There are different types of ovarian cancer. The most common type of ovarian cancer is on the surface of the ovary, called epithelial ovarian cancer.

How common is ovarian cancer?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, “In 2020, the latest year for which incidence data are available, in the United States, 18,518 new cases of ovarian cancer were reported among women, and 13,438 women died of this cancer. For every 100,000 women, 9 new ovarian cancer cases were reported and 6 women died of this cancer”1.

What are symptoms of ovarian cancer?

There is no set of symptoms that are specific to ovarian cancer. The symptoms are usually common complaints such as bloating, increase in waist size, getting full quickly after eating, and bladder symptoms. Sometimes it causes vaginal bleeding. If you experience these symptoms for two weeks or more, you should see your health care provider.

Is there a screening test for ovarian cancer?

Unfortunately, there are currently no screening tests to help detect ovarian cancer.

How is ovarian cancer diagnosed?

Ovarian cancer is usually diagnosed when the cancer has already spread. On a physical exam, there may be masses felt in the pelvis, leading to imaging studies that then show growths on the ovaries or in the abdomen.

What are risk factors for ovarian cancer?

  • Risk increases with age, especially after middle age.
  • Risk is increased if your mother, sister, aunt, nieces, or grandmother had ovarian cancer.
  • If you have a family or personal history of a genetic mutation called BRCA1 or BRCA2, or with Lynch Syndrome, your risk is increased.
  • If you are of Eastern European or are Ashkenazi Jewish, your risk is increased.
  • Not having any children increases your risk.
  • If you have endometriosis (cells from the lining of the uterus grow in other areas of the pelvis and abdomen), your risk is increased.

Is there anything that will help reduce the risk of getting ovarian cancer?

  • The use of birth control for five or more years reduces the risk.
  • Having your tubes tied, removing the ovaries and/or fallopian tubes reduces the risk.
  • Having children reduces the risk.
  • If you have relatives with ovarian cancer or genetic defects, some women choose to have their ovaries and or tubes removed to lower the risk of ovarian cancer. It is recommended for women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations between ages 35 to 45, or when childbearing is complete. It may also be recommended for women with Lynch syndrome.

How is ovarian cancer treated?

Usually, treatment starts with surgery to find the extent of the cancer, and to remove as much of the cancer as possible. It is then usually followed with chemotherapy.

Where can I learn more about ovarian cancer?

For more information, you can go to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists at https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/ovarian-cancer, or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/ovarian/index.htm

 

  1. https://gis.cdc.gov/Cancer/USCS/#/AtAGlance/

 

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