Adenomyosis is a painful condition that often causes severe dysmenorrhea and heavy bleeding. The presence of endometrial cells in the outer walls of the uterus indicates the presence of adenomyosis. Endometrial cells are normally found only in the endometrial lining of the uterus which sheds during your period. Thickening of the uterus and an enlarged uterus occurs in adenomyosis.

Symptoms of Endometriosis

It's National Women’s Health Week, again. As women, we often are overwhelmed with things to do and other people to take care of which makes it easy for us to forget to take care of our own health. National Women’s Health Week gives us a chance to remember to take care of ourselves by having age appropriate health screenings that can help us live longer, healthier lives. It’s also a time to bring attention to the priority that needs to be given to women’s health issues.

Today, is National Women’s Health Checkup Day and women are urged to visit their doctor, or set up appointments for women’s health screenings such as Pap tests, mammograms, and other screenings as needed.

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Your Gynecology Checkup

Most of us are looking for ways to save money and reduce waste. "But, what does reducing waste and saving money have to do with menstruation?", you ask. Simply, everything! As women, we spend billions of dollars annually on sanitary protection products such as tampons and pads. When we've used these products, what happens? If we don't flush them into our sewers, we fill our landfills with them. Take a look and find out how making our periods green can save us thousands of dollars over our reproductive years, while helping to reduce waste.

Do you know how the phrase "on the rag" originated? Take a look at the history behind the phrase "on the rag." If that's not enough menstrual history for you, then take a look at what women frequently wore during their periods during the 18th and 19th centuries. Finally, find out some of the myths about menstruation women have been told and discover the truth you may not have known about your menstrual cycle and menstruation.

One of the most convenient products for menstrual hygiene is the tampon. Women have used tampons for centuries; in fact, the ancient Egyptians were the first to use tampons. Fortunately, today’s women have better tampons to choose from than those first disposable tampons made from softened papyrus. Find out what you should know about tampons.

Can I Go Swimming During My Period?
What Do Tampon Absorbency Ratings Mean?
How Often Do I Need to Change Tampons During My Period?

Retroversion of the uterus occurs when the uterus tilts toward the back instead of the front. You may hear retroversion of the uterus referred to as a "tilted" or "tipped" uterus. Though having a retroverted uterus sounds a bit scary, the truth is that it is perfectly normal; about 20% of women naturally have a retroverted uterus. Learn the facts about the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of retroversion of the uterus.

Pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse or vaginal penetration is never normal and can have a profound impact on your relationship. The medical term for painful sex is dyspareunia. Various genital or vaginal conditions can cause pain during or after sex. Fortunately for the majority of women experiencing dyspareunia, effective treatment is available. learn more about what what causes painful sexual intercourse.

Top Causes of Bleeding After Sexual Intercourse
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Four years ago Gina thought she had her world well in control. At twenty-three, she was engaged to be married and actively pursuing a career in law enforcement. Then her life took a nasty turn. Find out more about what happened and read Gina's story.

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Symptoms of Genital Herpes

When was the last time you went to your gynecologist? Maybe, you've never had a gynecology exam. It's extremely important to see your OB/GYN for pelvic exams and Pap smears at the recommended times.

Your annual pelvic and Pap smear are not the only times when you should see your gynecologist. In fact, there are many other reasons you may need to see your gynecologist such as times when you experience any unusual menstrual conditions including heavy bleeding, late periods, premenstrual symptoms, or any other reproductive health symptoms.

More: How to Prepare for Your Next Pelvic Exam
What Happens During Your Pap Test and Pelvic Exam

Over 600,000 women undergo hysterectomy every year in the U.S. Did you know that the only sugery performed more often than hysterectomy on women are C-sections? Are you at risk for having a hysterectomy? You could be if you exibit just three clinical characteristics.

According to the results of a recent four-year study of 762 women that is reported in the current issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, the presence of only three clinical characteristics increases a woman's chance of having a hysterectomy over the next four years up to 95 percent. Women with none of these clinical characteristics had only a 20 percent chance of having a hysterectomy during the next four years. The chance of having a hysterectomy increases with each clinical characteristic that is present. These clinical characteristics are:

1. Having multiple pelvic symptoms or having uterine fibroid tumors that caused symptoms. (Not all women with uterine fibroids experience symptoms.)
2. Having previously used a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist, such as Lupron, to treat symptoms.
3. Having been unable to find an acceptable amount of symptom relief from various treatments.

According to the report, physicians may use these clinical characteristics, to help determine whether alternative treatments are likely to fail or succeed in a particular woman.

More: What You Need to Know Before You Have a Hysterectomy