Menorrhagia is the medical term for menstrual periods in which bleeding is abnormally heavy or prolonged. Although heavy menstrual bleeding is a common concern among premenopausal women, most women don't experience blood loss severe enough to be defined as menorrhagia.

With menorrhagia, every period you have causes enough blood loss and cramping that you can't maintain your usual activities. If you have menstrual bleeding so heavy that you dread your period, talk with your doctor. There are many effective treatments for menorrhagia.

Polycystic (pah-lee-SIS-tik) ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a health problem that can affect a woman's:
• Menstrual cycle
• Ability to have children
• Hormones
• Heart
• Blood vessels
• Appearance

With PCOS, women typically have:
• High levels of androgens (AN-druh-junz).These are sometimes called male hormones, though females also make them.
• Missed or irregular periods (monthly bleeding)
• Many small cysts (sists) (fluid-filled sacs) in their ovaries

How many women have PCOS?
Between 1 in 10 and 1 in 20 women of childbearing age has PCOS. As many as 5 million women in the United States may be affected. It can occur in girls as young as 11 years old.

What causes PCOS?
The cause of PCOS is unknown. But most experts think that several factors, including genetics, could play a role. Women with PCOS are more likely to have a mother or sister with PCOS.

A main underlying problem with PCOS is a hormonal imbalance. In women with PCOS, the ovaries make more androgens than normal. Androgens are male hormones that females also make. High levels of these hormones affect the development and release of eggs during ovulation.

Researchers also think insulin may be linked to PCOS. Insulin is a hormone that controls the change of sugar, starches, and other food into energy for the body to use or store. Many women with PCOS have too much insulin in their bodies because they have problems using it. Excess insulin appears to increase production of androgen. High androgen levels can lead to: • Acne
• Excessive hair growth
• Weight gain
• Problems with ovulation

Uterine fibroids are very common non-cancerous (benign) growths that develop in the muscular wall of the uterus. They can range in size from very tiny (a quarter of an inch) to larger than a cantaloupe. Occasionally, they can cause the uterus to grow to the size of a five-month pregnancy. In most cases, there is more than one fibroid in the uterus. While fibroids do not always cause symptoms, their size and location can lead to problems for some women, including pain and heavy bleeding.

The good news : With good nutrition, exercise, and stress reduction, you can offset the downside of a hysterectomy.
• You'll keep weight under control.
• You’ll sleep better.
• And you can protect yourself against a host of diseases: heart disease, stroke, broken bones (because of osteoporosis), type 2 diabetes, cancer, and possibly the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

Recipe for a Healthy Lifestyle before Your Hysterectomy

Whether you're preventing weight gain -- or trying to melt body fat -- the basics are the same. Cut calories. Get regular aerobic exercise. Do strength training by lifting weights. It's the secret of weight loss: As you build more muscle, the body burns more calories.

"A lot of women get an exercise trainer before the surgery, and get into Weight Watchers or another program to change their diet; they understand they would have a hard time after surgery, so they started this beforehand to avoid it. Some of the healthiest women I've seen are those who were counseled before their surgery."

If you’re having a hysterectomy and want optimal health, there are tips to follow for better nutrition, stress reduction, and fitness.

Flying is not harmful to you or your baby, but discuss any health issues or pregnancy complications with your midwife or doctor before you fly.

The likelihood of going into labour is naturally higher after 37 weeks (around 34 weeks if you're carrying twins), and some airlines will not let you fly towards the end of your pregnancy. Check with the airline for their policy on this. After week 28 of pregnancy, the airline may ask for a letter from your doctor or midwife confirming your due date, and that you aren't at risk of complications.

Long-distance travel (longer than five hours) carries a small risk of blood clots (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT). If you fly, drink plenty of water and move about regularly – every 30 minutes or so. You can buy a pair of support stockings in the pharmacy over the counter, which will reduce leg swelling.

Take short, frequent breaks. Getting up and moving around for a few minutes can reinvigorate you. Spending a few minutes with the lights off, your eyes closed and your feet up also can help you recharge.

Snack often. Crackers and other bland foods can be lifesavers when you feel nauseated. Keep a stash at work for easy snacking. Ginger ale or ginger tea might help, too.

Handling fatigue You might feel tired as your body works overtime to support your pregnancy — and resting during the workday can be tough. It might help to:

• Eat foods rich in iron and protein. Fatigue can be a symptom of iron deficiency anemia, but adjusting your diet can help. Choose foods such as red meat, poultry, seafood, leafy green vegetables, iron-fortified whole-grain cereal and beans.

• Go to bed early. Aim for seven to nine hours of sleep every night. Resting on your left side will maximize blood flow to your baby and ease swelling. For added comfort, pla ce pillows between your legs and under your belly.

• Drink plenty of fluids. Keep a water bottle at your desk or in your work area and sip throughout the day

• Cut back on activities. Scaling back can help you get more rest when your workday ends. Consider doing your shopping online or hiring someone to clean the house or take care of the yard.

• Keep up your fitness routine. Although exercise might be the last thing on your mind at the end of a long day, physical activity can help boost your energy level — especially if you sit at a desk all day. Take a walk after work or join a prenatal fitness class, as long as your health care provider says it's OK.

Breast cysts are fluid-filled sacs within your breast, which are usually not cancer (benign). You can have one or many breast cysts. They're often described as round or oval lumps with distinct edges. In texture, a breast cyst usually feels like a grape or a water-filled balloon, but sometimes a breast cyst feels firm.

Breast cysts don't require treatment unless a cyst is large and painful or otherwise uncomfortable. In that case, draining the fluid from a breast cyst can ease your symptoms. Breast cysts are common in women before menopause, between ages 35 and 50, but can be found in women of any age. If you have breast cysts, they usually disappear after menopause, unless you're taking hormone therapy.

Symptoms
• A smooth, easily movable round or oval breast lump with distinct edges (which typically, though not always, indicates it's benign)
• Usually found in one breast, but can affect both breasts at the same time
• Breast pain or tenderness in the area of the breast lump
• Increase in breast lump size and breast tenderness just before your period
• Decrease in breast lump size and resolution of other signs and symptoms after your period

Having one or many simple breast cysts doesn't increase your risk of breast cancer. But having cysts may interfere with your ability to detect new breast lumps or other abnormal changes that might need to be evaluated by your doctor. It's important to become familiar with how your breasts normally feel so that you'll know when something is new or changing or just doesn't feel right.

When to see a doctorNormal breast tissue in healthy women often feels lumpy or nodular. But if you detect the presence of any new breast lumps that don't go away after a menstrual period, or if a previously evaluated breast lump seems to have grown or otherwise changed, make an appointment with your doctor to get it checked out right away.

Preparing for your appointment For evaluation of a new breast lump or changes on your breast exam, you'll likely start by seeing your primary care provider. In some cases, based on a clinical breast exam or findings on an imaging test, you may be referred to a breast-health specialist.

What you can doThe initial evaluation focuses on your medical history. You'll discuss your symptoms, their relation to your menstrual cycle and any other relevant information. To prepare for this discussion, make lists that include:
• All your symptoms, even if they seem unrelated to the reason you scheduled the appointment
• Key personal information, including major stresses or recent life changes
• All medications, vitamins, herbal remedies and supplements that you regularly take
• Questions to ask your doctor, from most important to least important in case time runs out

Basic questions to ask your doctor include:
• What is causing my symptoms?
• Does having cysts increase my risk of breast cancer?
• What kinds of tests will I need?
• What treatment is likely to work best?
• What are the alternatives to the primary approach that you're suggesting?
• Are there any restrictions I'll need to follow?
• Are there any printed materials that I can take home? What websites do you recommend?
Don't hesitate to ask questions anytime you don't understand something.
What to expect from your doctor Be prepared to answer questions that your doctor may ask, such as:
• When did you first notice the cyst or lump?
• Have you noticed a change in the size of the cyst or lump?
• What symptoms have you experienced, and how long have you had them?
• Do your symptoms occur in one or both breasts?
• Have any symptoms changed over time?
• Have you experienced any breast pain? If so, how severe is your pain?
• Do you have a nipple discharge? If so, in one or both breasts?
• How does your menstrual cycle affect the cyst or lump?
• When was your last mammogram?
• Do you have a family history of breast cysts or lumps?
• Have you previously had a breast cyst or lump, or a breast biopsy?
• Do you have a personal history of precancerous or cancerous breast lumps?

Surgery

Surgical removal of a cyst is necessary only in unusual circumstances. Surgery may be considered if an uncomfortable breast cyst recurs month after month or if a breast cyst contains blood-tinged fluid or shows other worrisome signs.