The average healthy woman begins menopause at 51, though some women will begin in their 40s or in their late 50s. It's a natural biological process that marks the time a woman ends her menstrual cycle.

During National Women's Health Week, health care professionals at Mayo Clinic want to remind all women that mood swings, hot flashes and ...Read more

As the Supreme Court appears poised to return abortion regulation to the states, recent experience in Texas illustrates that medical care for miscarriages and dangerous ectopic pregnancies would also be threatened if restrictions become more widespread.

One Texas law passed last year lists several medications as abortion-inducing drugs and ...Read more

It’s estimated that millions of people in the U.S. use period-tracking apps to plan ahead, track when they are ovulating, and monitor other health effects. The apps can help signal when a period is late.

After Politico published on May 2 a draft opinion from the Supreme Court indicating that Roe v. Wade, the law that guarantees the ...Read more

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, which makes this and good time to learn about the three main types of skin cancer and what you can do to keep yourself healthy.

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. And most skin cancers are preventable.

The three main types of skin cancer are:

•Basal ...Read more

A uterine fibroid is a benign or noncancerous growth of the muscle portion of the uterus. While common, they may cause pain and excessive bleeding, and concerns about fertility and pregnancy for some.

Dr. Michelle Louie, a Mayo Clinic gynecologic surgeon and fibroid specialist, says it is important to know your treatment options and work with a...Read more

MANKATO, Minn. — Learning your ABCs can alert you to changes in moles that could signal melanoma — the most serious type of skin cancer.

For Skin Cancer Awareness Month in May, Mayo Clinic Health System is reminding people that while most moles are harmless and rarely become cancerous, monitoring them is still an important step in detecting...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I love the changing seasons and am looking forward to the warmer days of spring. Unfortunately, I am often miserable because of seasonal allergies. What can I do to keep the box of tissues at bay and enjoy the springtime weather?

ANSWER: As we flip the calendars to April and May, spring is in the air. Warmer springtime ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I love the changing seasons and am looking forward to the warmer days of spring. Unfortunately, I am often miserable because of seasonal allergies. What can I do to keep the box of tissues at bay and enjoy the springtime weather?

ANSWER: As we flip the calendars to April and May, spring is in the air. Warmer springtime ...Read more

Stroke is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. In the U.S., about 800,000 strokes occur per year.

Of all strokes, 87% are ischemic. This means they occur when a clot blocks a blood vessel in the brain and stops blood flow. The remaining 13% are hemorrhagic, where a blood vessel ruptures and ...Read more

After years of trying to have a baby without success, Brenna Kaminski and her husband, Joshua Pritt, decided to try in vitro fertilization.

Only 15 states require insurance to cover fertility treatments, and Florida, where Kaminski and Pritt live, isn’t one of them. Still, the couple’s insurance, from Pritt’s job at an energy company, did...Read more

May is National Stroke Awareness Month. According to the CDC, a stroke occurs every 40 seconds in the U.S. Do you know that stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in the United States?

A stroke happens when blood supply to the brain is interrupted or reduced, preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients. This causes ...Read more

Researchers say there are precautions those heading outside can take to limit risk from disease-carrying ticks. Take time to familiarize yourself with which tick species may be common in your area, as well as some common steps below that can help keep you protected while enjoying the warmer weather.

If you do happen to find a tick attached to ...Read more

Setting its sights on national growth, Charlotte-based health care giant Atrium Health announced major plans on Wednesday to double its size through a deal with a Midwestern hospital system.

This is Atrium Health’s largest business deal to date — a strategic combination with Illinois and Wisconsin-based hospital system Advocate Aurora ...Read more

There’s nothing worse than experiencing stomach pain, cramps and gas during a morning meeting or on your commute to the office, and certain foods can definitely cause your belly to act up. By knowing which breakfasts to eat for better digestion, you’ll go into your office feeling comfortable, confident and at ease.

Suffering from ...Read more

The idiom, “you are what you eat,” is well accepted when it comes to increasing or decreasing your risk for heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and some types of cancer. But it may come as a surprise that research increasingly suggests that what you put on your plate can either increase or decrease pain that stems from osteoarthritis, ...Read more

When it comes to health and disease — and, of course, many other aspects of life — one thing is certain: genes matter. A single gene mutation can cause some conditions, such as sickle cell anemia and cystic fibrosis. More often, multiple genes are involved in disease development, and they act in concert with nongenetic factors, such as diet ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am a former smoker who began smoking in high school. I quit a few years ago after a lung cancer scare. As a father, I have often shared with my children about the dangers of smoking. Recently, I overheard my son talking to his friends about vaping. Should I be as concerned about vaping as I am about smoking cigarettes?

...Read more

National Women's Health Week is observed May 8-14, which makes this a good time to learn about the biggest threats to women's health and what you can do to keep yourself healthy.

Two of the leading causes of death for women in the U.S. are heart disease and cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The good news is ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I recently was diagnosed with diabetes and am learning about various components of my health care that require special attention. For instance, I was told I'd need to take special care of my feet. Can you explain why foot care is so important and what is necessary? Do I need to see a special type of doctor?

ANSWER: You're ...Read more