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A combined contraceptive injection is a monthly birth control shot that contains the combination of estrogen and progestin. Like Depo-Provera and the Noristerat shot, combined contraception injections are a type of hormonal birth control. Some of these injections include Cyclofem, Lunelle, and Mesigyna. When to Get Your Injection Monthly combined contraceptive injections are very much like combination birth control pills. The estrogen and progestin hormones are injected into the muscle of your upper arm, thigh, or buttocks....

According to the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD), between 25 million and 45 million people in the United States have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and one out of every three is male. For the most part, the condition affects men and women in similar ways, but there are a few differences. How IBS Affects Men and Women IBS is a functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) that causes repeated episodes of severe abdominal cramps or stabbing or radiating pain, along with chronic constipation, frequent bouts of diarrhea, or both....

High cholesterol does not usually cause symptoms, so it may be tempting to ignore. However, having high blood cholesterol levels is strongly associated with an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, blocked blood vessels in the legs and kidneys, and may even contribute to dementia. Fortunately, diet, exercise, and medications help lower cholesterol levels and reduce your risk of these serious health problems. High Cholesterol and Heart Disease People who have high cholesterol have a much higher risk of developing heart disease than people with normal cholesterol levels....

Wrinkles, or rhytids, are lines, creases, and furrows in the skin. They develop as a normal part of the aging process as skin becomes thinner, dryer, slower to renew and repair itself, and is drawn downward by the pull of gravity. In women, hormonal changes associated with menopause further contribute to the development of wrinkles. The number and severity of wrinkles can be affected by lifestyle factors including sun exposure, smoking, and even repeated facial movements, which is why they’re especially prominent on the face, especially around the eyes and mouth....

Experiencing seasonal allergic symptoms is not uncommon, but hay fever–like allergy symptoms can occur year-round in some people. Unlike hay fever, year-round allergies can be triggered by allergens like dust or pet dander throughout the year. This occurs due to an overreaction in the immune system. Year-round allergies are referred to as perennial allergic rhinitis. This article discusses perennial allergic rhinitis symptoms, triggers, testing, and treatment options. Symptoms Perennial allergic rhinitis can cause year-round symptoms that may be similar to a cold....

Acupuncture has been used as an approach for migraine prevention. While less common, it has also been used for the treatment of acute migraine attacks. When done properly by a qualified acupuncturist, this treatment is generally very safe and is not typically associated with serious complications. You may have heard from friends who have tried acupuncture for their migraines that it helped or didn’t. In addition to personal stories, also consider the results of well-controlled research trials, which suggest that acupuncture may indeed be an effective approach for managing migraines....

Bronchitis is a condition where the tubes that carry air to and from your lungs, known as bronchi, become inflamed. The most prominent symptom of bronchitis is a cough. There are two different types of bronchitis: Acute: The worst symptoms of acute bronchitis clear up within days, although the cough can last for weeks.Chronic: This form lasts much longer, often indefinitely. Seventy-five percent of people with chronic bronchitis are smokers or former smokers....

You absolutely can have celiac disease without having diarrhea. In fact, you can have celiac with constipation as your major digestive symptom, you can have celiac with no digestive symptoms, or you even can have the condition with no obvious signs or symptoms at all. At one time, “common knowledge” held that almost everyone who was diagnosed with celiac had voluminous, smelly diarrhea coupled with abdominal pain, and was rail-thin due to weight loss caused by the condition....

Fully-vaccinated people can spend time outdoors without face masks, according to new guidance released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control in Prevention (CDC). Key Takeaways The CDC is relaxing outdoor mask-wearing recommendations for fully-vaccinated people.Fully-vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask outdoors, except at crowded events and venues.Before going maskless, consider the vaccination status of people close to you. They may still be at risk for COVID-19, and you still may able to transmit it....

Crest and Colgate are two of the leading brands of toothpaste in the United States. Both products want to be considered the most effective toothpaste on the market. If you look at a tube of either brand, you’ll see claims about all the major oral health categories, such as cavity prevention, teeth whitening, and breath freshening. The two brands of toothpaste are alike in some ways but very different in others....

Are you thinking about having surgery to fix that painful knee but are concerned about the effects of anesthesia? Perhaps you wonder if memory loss is one of the risks of general anesthesia. Or, if exposure to anesthesia could increase your risk of dementia. Feeling nervous about receiving anesthesia and its effects on your body is normal. Several studies have explored these questions, and their conclusions will hopefully help relieve your anxiety....

A hematoma is an abnormal pooling of blood that results from a broken or ruptured blood vessel. Hematomas are more serious than simple bruises. They can occur anywhere in the body and vary in severity depending on the nature of the injury. The most common symptoms are pain and swelling. A minor impact can cause skin discoloration, while a harder impact can cause a collection of clotted blood deep within a muscle, organ, or the skull that can require immediate medical attention and be life-threatening....

Prior to menopause, natural estrogen production helps decrease the risk of a heart attack. After menopause, though, estrogen levels fall, and by age 60 to 65, men and women have approximately the same risk of developing heart disease. As estrogen levels decline and stay low with age, recent data suggests women over the age of 75 may surpass men of the same age when it comes to heart disease risk.​...

Prednisone is a corticosteroid (steroid drug) used to treat inflammation. It is often prescribed to people with severe allergic reactions, certain forms of arthritis, various immune system disorders, and even certain types of cancer. Despite its usefulness, prednisone is known to cause side effects, one of which is a change in heart rate. This article explains how prednisone can affect the rate and rhythm of the heart. It also takes a closer look at who is at particular risk for this and if prednisone needs to be avoided by certain people....

Many of us crave that annual vacation when we can relax, spend time with loved ones, and be free of the stress of work and daily life. But if you are prone to headaches, vacation time can be an unfortunate headache trigger. The good news is that if you are proactive in your headache health, you can likely ward off any distracting head pain. Here are some tips to make your vacation headache-free....

Orthopedic surgeons specialize in the treatment of a variety of conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedists treat problems of bones, joints, muscles, nerves, and other parts of the musculoskeletal system. There are a number of sub-specialties within the field of orthopedic surgery. Facts and Statistics About Orthopedic Surgery Here are a bunch of facts and statistics about orthopedic surgery. Much of this information is collected from a survey of orthopedic surgeons completed by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons....

It’s most common now that people donate peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) for transplant, though in some cases people still donate bone marrow. If you are considering donating bone marrow instead of PBSCs check out the possible risks of donating bone marrow. Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Collection To understand the potential risks of donating stem cells, it can help to first review the process of how stem cells are collected for transplant....

Peritoneal washing (abdominopelvic washing) is a procedure used to diagnose whether certain types of cancer are present in the peritoneal cavity—the space between the membranes that line the abdomen. It is not performed on its own but during surgeries to remove tumors or see if tumors are present in the body. Peritoneal washing is most commonly performed during ovarian cancer surgeries but is also used in endometrial, pancreatic, and gastric cancer surgeries....

Peritonsillar abscess (PTA), or quinsy, is a bacterial infection that causes pus to collect next to the tonsils and the pharynx towards the back of the throat. It usually occurs only next to one of your tonsils and usually progresses from cellulitis to an abscess. In general, peritonsillar abscesses take about 2 to 8 days to form and are normally caused by Staphylococcus aureus (staph infection), Haemophilus influenzae (pneumonia and meningitis) and Group A hemolytic streptococci (GAS; common for strep throat or pharyngitis) bacteria....

Non-specific urethritis (NSU), refers to inflammation of the urethra (the tube through which urine passes). How It Spreads In most cases, it is a sexually transmitted disease that is passed on from an infected person during anal, oral, or vaginal sex. The incubation period is highly variable but is thought to be between one week and one month. Very rarely non-specific urethritis can be caused by excessive friction during masturbation or sexual intercourse or an allergic reaction to soap or detergents or even excessive alcohol intake....