The number of people seeking treatment for infertility—and talking about it—is on the rise: According to a 2023 poll, 42 percent of adults said they had pursued a fertility treatment or personally knew someone who had, compared to 33 percent of adults who said the same in 2018. Of course, infertility being common doesn’t make…
When you’re dealing with infertility, it’s normal to feel like other couples get pregnant easily, even automatically. And while it’s true that some people conceive without much effort, there are always many things that must go right for that pregnancy test to turn positive—the release of hormones, the mechanics of fertilization, the timing. If you’re…
Many women spend decades using birth control of one kind or another, except for when they’re trying to conceive or are pregnant. So when you know you’re done having babies or if you plan to stay child-free, you might be interested in a permanent option that eliminates the need for pills, IUDs, rings and other…
Every year, about 40,000 babies born in the United States—nearly 1 percent of all births—have a congenital heart defect, meaning that some part of their heart didn’t form correctly in the womb. About 1 in 4 of those infants have a critical congenital heart defect, serious enough to require surgery within their first year of…
Living with infertility means experiencing a lot of big—and often painful—emotions. Taking one pregnancy test after another and getting negative results can lead to shame and despair. You might feel grief or anger when you hear a friend or relative is pregnant. Seeing baby clothing in a store or a commercial with a toddler could…
If you have a vasectomy scheduled, you might be a little nervous or unsure of what to expect. After all, it’s surgery on a very sensitive area, and hearing people casually call it “the snip” could leave you feeling a bit apprehensive. But rest assured that “most men find the process to be smooth and…
Sex after menopause can mark a new chapter in your life, full of both positive changes and unique challenges. First, the good news: Your sex life may get better once you’re no longer dealing with periods. “You may find that your sex life is improved when you don’t have the ebbs and flows of menstrual…
In middle age, there are many concerns that can affect your ability to get a good night’s sleep. You might be worried about a child, an aging parent or an issue at work. But if you’re a woman, your sleep issues could be caused by the hormonal changes associated with the menopause transition. These sleep…
Spare tire. Beer belly. Muffin top. We have a lot of unkind terms for excess abdominal fat, and we see a lot of images (often fake) of perfectly flat tummies. As a result, the belly is a part of the body that many people are sensitive about and want to change. You may wish for…
‘Tis the season for family dinners, work parties and cross-country flights, all in the name of togetherness. Unfortunately, it’s also the perfect season for viruses to make their rounds. The good news is you can improve your odds of staying healthy by using basic infection-prevention methods while you’re partaking in all the festive fun. “People…
During the fall and winter months, a cough or runny nose could mean any number of things—a cold, the flu, COVID-19, RSV, fall allergies. Now, you might add so-called “walking pneumonia” to your list of concerns. In October, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an alert that cases of walking pneumonia, an…
Medical charts are supposed to contain the cold, hard facts of our health: conditions, medications, surgical and family history, and allergies. Many people mistakenly believe they’re allergic to penicillin— a workhorse class of antibiotics that treats ear infections, strep throat, and more—when in reality, only a small number truly are. “Even though a good 10…
