Women’s health refers to the branch of medicine that focuses on the treatment and diagnosis of diseases and conditions that affect a woman’s physical and emotional well-being.
Women’s health includes a wide range of specialties and focus areas, such as:
PREVENTATIVE CARE AND SCREENINGS
Preventative care for women includes the following services:
See also: Breast self exam
BREAST CARE SERVICES
Breast care services include the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, which may involve:
The breast care services team may also diagnose and treat noncancerous conditions of the breast, including:
SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES
Your sexual health is an important part of your overall well-being. Women’s sexual health services may include:
GYNECOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES
Gynecology and reproductive health services may include the diagnosis and treatment of various conditions and diseases, including:
PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH SERVICES
Regular prenatal care is an important part of every pregnancy. Pregnancy and childbirth services includes:
INFERTILITY SERVICES
Infertility specialists are an important part of the women’s health services team. Infertility services may include:
BLADDER CARE SERVICES
The women’s health services team can also help diagnose and treat bladder-related conditions. Bladder-related conditions that may affect women can include:
If you have a bladder condition, your women’s health specialist may recommend that you do Kegel exercises to strengthen the muscles in your pelvic floor.
OTHER WOMEN’S HEALTH SERVICES
TREATMENTS AND PROCEDURES
Members of the women’s health services team perform a variety of different treatments and procedures. Among the most common are:
WHO TAKES CARE OF YOU
The women's health services team includes doctors and health care providers from a variety of different specialties. The team may include:
This list may not be all-inclusive.
Freund K. Approach to women's health. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 245.
Schrager SB, Paladine HL, Cadwallader K. Gynecology. In: Rakel RE, ed. Textbook of Family Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 25.
Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director and Director of Didactic Curriculum, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington. Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Bellevue, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc.
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