Blog Archive
It’s natural to want to have a child. It’s also common in this double-career family, fast-paced society to push off having children until you’re more established in your mid- to late 30s. The problem is, women have a window of opportunity for bearing a child, and 35 starts to push...
Perimenopause and menopause are defining times in a woman’s life. In the former, her body transitions from a fertile state to a non-fertile one; in the latter, it has ended its reproductive capacity. Much is made of the numerous uncomfortable symptoms, such as night sweats and mood swings, that accompany...
Sex is a natural part of life, but you might not want to get pregnant as a result, and that’s okay. There are numerous types of contraceptives that can prevent an unwanted pregnancy without compromising your health. At the OB/GYN practice of Dr. Hany H Ahmed, we offer our patients...
Irregular menstrual bleeding may be disconcerting, but it doesn’t always mean there’s something seriously wrong. Board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Hany H Ahmed sees all manner of irregular bleeding at his practice in Houston, Texas, diagnosing and treating a wide range of gynecological conditions. Here’s when you needn’t be concerned about irregular...
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) come in many forms, some more easily transmissible than others. Board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Hany H Ahmed offers education about and testing for STDs at his office in Houston, Texas. If you’re concerned you might be at risk of getting or transmitting an STD, come into the...
If you’re looking for contraception options, tubal ligation, where your fallopian tubes are blocked so sperm can’t reach the egg, is about 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. Colloquially known as “having your tubes tied,” it’s generally recommended only if the woman is sure she doesn’t want more children since it’s...
If you’re pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, routine prenatal care can ensure you and your unborn child are safe and healthy. Board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Hany H Ahmed provides comprehensive pregnancy care before, during, and after delivery. Here’s what you need to know about prenatal care and what to expect...
Fibroids are benign tumors that grow in or on the uterus but don’t always produce symptoms. If they do, those can range from heavier-than-normal menstrual cycles to infertility. Board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Hany H Ahmed diagnoses and treats all types of irregular bleeding at his practice in Houston, Texas, including that...
Cervical cancer was once the leading cause of cancer deaths among women. However, that’s changed over the last 40 years, primarily because of the Pap smear, or Pap test, now part of a routine well-woman exam. The Pap test screens for precancerous cells that may turn cancerous and cancerous lesions....
Menopause is the stage in a woman’s life where her fertility comes to a close. The diagnosis becomes official when you haven’t menstruated for 12 consecutive months. Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause that comes with all the nasty symptoms women complain about. While the exact timing is...
Sex is a normal, healthy part of life, but that doesn’t mean you always want to run the risk of getting pregnant. Fortunately, different kinds of contraception can prevent pregnancy. How do you know, though, which type is right for you? Board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Hany H Ahmed offers a variety...
If you’ve been trying to have a child without success, it could mean you’re infertile, or it could mean there’s something blocking the reproductive process — anything from spotty periods to problems with your pituitary gland. Medically, a couple is considered infertile if they’ve tried to become pregnant for a...
Estrogen is one of a collection of hormones that regulate sexual and reproductive development in women. The ovaries are the primary source, though the adrenal glands and fat cells make small amounts as well. Estrogen is a workhorse. It not only regulates the menstrual cycle but impacts bone density, breast...
Irregular bleeding is any bleeding not normal for you, whether it’s heavier-than-normal menstrual bleeding, spotting between periods, or bleeding after sex. Bleeding can result from a number of causes, but one of the most common is uterine fibroids. Board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Hany H Ahmed diagnoses and treats all manner of...
If you’re looking for contraception, there are many options. If you want something long-term with no muss, no fuss, an intrauterine device (IUD) might be a good choice. Board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Hany H Ahmed offers a variety of contraception options, including IUDs, at his office in Houston, Texas. When you come in for...
Cervical cancer was once the most common cause of cancer-related deaths among women. That changed, largely because of a test called the Pap smear, now part of a routine well-woman exam. The Pap smear, or Pap test, is a screening tool for precancerous cells that may become cancerous. Detecting such...
A couple trying to become pregnant for one year without success is medically considered infertile. If the woman is over 35 years old, the length of time drops to six months for an infertility diagnosis. Infertility doesn’t include miscarriages or an inability to carry a baby to term. At the...
If you’re pregnant, you’re already dealing with weight, balance, and stamina issues, so why would you want to incorporate exercise into your daily routine, especially during the hot summer months Texas is famous for? Because, as board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Hany H Ahmed says, exercise is part of staying healthy, and when you’re...
Endometriosis occurs when tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside the uterus. It affects more than 11% of American women ages 15-44 and is especially common among women in their 30s and 40s during their peak childbearing years. At the OB/GYN office of Dr. Hany H Ahmed in Houston, Texas, Dr. Ahmed and...
Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the United States. It’s so common that, by age 50, about 4 in 5 women have been infected with HPV at some point. More than 40 HPV strains can infect the genital areas of men and women,...
Infertility is more common than you might think. In the U.S., 1 in 5 heterosexual women 15-49 with no prior births can’t get pregnant after a year of trying, the medical definition of infertility. About 1 in 4 has impaired fecundity, difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term....
When it comes to contraception, you have many choices. But how do you decide which type is right for you? If you’re looking for something long-term, an intrauterine device (IUD) might be a good choice. Board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Hany H Ahmed offers a variety of birth control options, including IUDs, at his office...
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can affect any person at any age. If caught early enough, it can be managed with medication and lifestyle changes. For women who are pregnant, though, hypertension puts them and their babies at high risk and requires prompt medical attention. Board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Hany H Ahmed and...
Menopause marks the end of a woman’s ability to give birth. When you haven’t menstruated for 12 consecutive months, you’re medically considered to be in menopause. The dreaded symptoms that come with this phase of life are actually a product of perimenopause, the period leading up to menopause. Symptoms generally...
Sexual intercourse is a natural, healthy part of life, but you may not always want to get pregnant as a result. That’s where contraception comes in. There are many types of contraception, including the intrauterine (IUD) device, which can be a long-term solution for birth control. At the OB/GYN office...
Estrogen is any of a group of hormones, signaling molecules important for normal sexual and reproductive development in women. The primary source of these hormones is a woman's ovaries, though the adrenal glands and fat cells also make small amounts. Estrogen regulates the menstrual cycle, but it also affects the...
Doctors consider a couple infertile if they try to become pregnant but fail to do so within one year. If the woman is over 35, the amount of time drops to six months to receive an infertility diagnosis. Infertility doesn’t include miscarrying or being unable to carry a baby to...
Some 40 years ago, cervical cancer was the most common cause of cancer deaths among women. That changed, largely because of the Pap smear, now part of a routine well-woman exam. The Pap smear, sometimes called a Pap test, is a screening tool for precancerous cells that may become cancerous. Detecting precancerous...
Sex is a normal, healthy part of life, but you don’t always want to become pregnant as a result. Fortunately, you have a number of contraception options available to help avoid an unwanted pregnancy. Board-certified OB/GYN specialist Dr. Hany H Ahmed understands the importance of contraception in a healthy relationship, which is why he...
Heavy menstrual bleeding, or menorrhagia, occurs when your periods are extremely heavy or last longer than seven days. Bleeding may be so heavy you have to change your tampon or pad every hour for several hours, and you may pass blood clots larger than a quarter. While heavy periods are...
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a medical problem caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones. It affects 1 in 10 women in their childbearing years. Many women discover they have it when they have difficulty becoming pregnant. At the OB/GYN office of Dr. Hany H Ahmed in Houston, Texas, we offer innovative treatments for...
Menopause marks the period in a woman’s life where she can no longer bear children. Medically, you reach that point when you haven’t menstruated for 12 consecutive months. Most women dread the symptoms that come along with menopause, but they’re acually a product of perimenopause, the period that leads up...
Until your baby is born, it’s entirely dependent on you to survive, develop, and thrive. That’s why prenatal care, the medical care you get while you’re pregnant, is so important. Every time you come into the office, your doctor checks both your health and the health of your fetus. With...
Getting your “tubes tied” (medically known as tubal ligation or female sterilization) is a relatively permanent form of birth control. By tying, cutting, or blocking your fallopian tubes, the procedure prevents eggs from moving to your uterus with ovulation and also prevents sperm from reaching the egg to fertilize it....
Uterine fibroids, also called myomas or leiomyomas, are noncancerous growths that develop within the uterine lining, often during a woman’s childbearing years. They’re not associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer, nor do they commonly develop into any form of cancer. Fibroids range in size from tiny spots you...
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of infertility in women. It’s due to a hormonal imbalance that affects normal ovulation, and it may lead to fewer than eight menstrual cycles per year. PCOS affects 1 in 10 women during their peak reproductive years. At the OB/GYN practice...
Cervical cancer occurs in the cells of the cervix — the lowermost part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. Most cases are caused by various strains of HPV, the human papillomavirus, a sexually transmitted infection. At the OB/GYN practice of Dr. Hany H Ahmed in Houston, Texas, Dr....
Chronic pelvic pain, pain that lasts six months or longer, affects up to 15% of women of childbearing age. The pain may stem from a number of sources, but they all lead to the same endpoint — moodiness, depression, and a constant feeling that you’re at odds with your body....
Having a baby and starting a family can be a wonderful experience, but if you’re a woman over 40, pregnancy is considered high-risk. So the question becomes: If you’re over 40, can you have a safe and healthy pregnancy, for both you and your baby? Experienced and board-certified OB/GYN Dr....
Sex is a normal, healthy part of your life. But not every woman wants to become pregnant. That’s why many types of contraceptives exist. All work toward the same goal, but they each get there in a different way. Intrauterine devices (IUDs) have been around since the beginning of the...
Menopause marks the end of a woman’s fertility. You officially reach that milestone when you haven’t menstruated for 12 consecutive months. Perimenopause is the period leading up to menopause that has all the nasty symptoms. Those symptoms generally start between ages 45-55 and last about four years. The exact timing...
Cervical cancer used to be the most common cause of cancer deaths among women. That’s changed over the last 40 years, largely because of the Pap smear, also known as a Pap test, which is now part of a routine well-woman exam. The test is used to screen for precancerous...
Sexual intercourse is a normal and healthy part of your life, but you don’t always want it to lead to pregnancy. Fortunately, women have a number of options available to help avoid an unwanted pregnancy. At the OB/GYN practice of Dr. Hany H Ahmed in Houston, Texas, we’re pleased to...
A normal menstrual cycle is 24-38 days, with bleeding that lasts no more than eight days. However, 14% of women experience irregular, abnormal, or even painful periods. While it’s absolutely normal for your cycle to change over time — and even month to month — abnormal bleeding can signal that...
Prenatal care is any medical care you get while you’re pregnant. At every visit, your doctor checks on your health and the health of your fetus. By getting early and regular prenatal care, you’re more likely to have a healthy pregnancy and carry your baby full term — the time...
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), also known as polycystic ovarian syndrome, is a health condition caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones that affects 1 in 10 women of childbearing age. Most women learn they have PCOS in their 20s and 30s, when they have problems getting pregnant. It’s the leading...
Sex is a normal and healthy part of life, but you don’t always want it to lead to pregnancy. Fortunately, there are effective methods a woman can use to prevent an unwanted birth. At the OB/GYN practice of Dr. Hany H Ahmed in Houston, Texas, we’re pleased to offer our...
Up to 15% of women of childbearing age experience pelvic pain that lasts longer than six months, making it a chronic and distressing condition. The pain can come from a wide variety of sources, but the end result is the same — you’re uncomfortable, you get moody or depressed, and...
Infertility can be a major stumbling block in a couple's relationship, and in their lives. Infertility for a woman is defined as the inability to get pregnant or stay pregnant after 12 months of trying, or after six months for women 35 and older. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the...
Uterine fibroids, also called leiomyomas or myomas, are noncancerous growths in or on the uterus that often appear during a woman’s childbearing years. They aren’t associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer, and they rarely develop into any form of cancer. Fibroids range in size from tiny spots invisible...
Vaginal bleeding after sex (postcoital bleeding) isn’t uncommon. Up to 63% of postmenopausal women experience bleeding or spotting due to vaginal dryness, and up to 9% of menstruating women experience the same, though usually from issues with the cervix. Occasional, light bleeding is rarely dangerous and probably doesn’t need the...
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that’s diagnosed for the first time during gestation, or pregnancy. Like other forms of the disease, gestational diabetes affects how your cells use glucose, the sugar that provides energy for your body, increasing blood sugar to levels that can affect both you and...
Cervical cancer used to be the leading cause of cancer deaths among women. That’s changed over the last 40 years, due in large part to the Pap smear. A Pap smear, also known as a Pap test, is now part of a routine well-woman exam. A Pap smear is used...
For most women, menopause isn’t a sudden event. Instead, it’s a transitional period that can last months — often years — as the ovaries gradually reduce their production of reproductive hormones. When this happens, many women find themselves feeling off-kilter and wondering whether it’s their “new normal.” Fortunately, OB/GYN Hany...