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Excision surgery is the gold standard for both diagnosing and treating endometriosis. Excision surgery involves cutting out and removing endometriosis lesions and their surrounding tissue. However, access to endometriosis excision specialists is limited, expensive, and frequently not covered by insurance. In this article, learn more about excision surgery and its recovery process. Excision vs. Ablation Surgeries for Endometriosis Excision and ablation are two different methods for endometriosis surgery. Ablation is more common than excision because excision may not always be possible due to the location and extent of the endometriotic lesions....

Endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are gynecologic conditions that affect female reproductive organs. Although PCOS only affects the ovaries, endometriosis can affect the ovaries, the uterus, and other organs, including the bladder and intestines. One in 10 people with a uterus have been diagnosed with endometriosis and 4% to 20% have been diagnosed with PCOS worldwide. Both conditions can lead to infertility and other health conditions. This article discusses the differences between PCOS and endometriosis....

Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment is an eye ointment used to treat bacterial eye infections like bacterial conjunctivitis in newborns and adults. Erythromycin is in a class of medications called macrolide antibiotics, which kill bacteria. It cannot treat eye infections due to a virus or fungus. There are multiple brand names for this medication, including Ilotycin Ophthalmic and Romycin Ophthalmic, but there are also generic versions of this ointment. This article explains erythromycin eye ointment uses, dosage, and side effects....

Parents expecting a new baby usually wonder what their baby will look like. One common question is what color their baby’s eyes will be. But although eye color is determined by genetics, it takes a year for a child’s permanent eye color to develop. It’s normal for parents to wonder why their bouncing blue-eyed baby is sporting hazel peepers as a toddler. It’s because a baby’s eye color will change during the first year of life, as the eye takes on its permanent color....

Gamma-aminobutyric acid—often referred to as GABA—is an amino acid and a neurotransmitter, a chemical responsible for carrying signals from one nerve cell to another. Specifically, GABA changes brain activity, producing a calming effect. While GABA is a naturally occurring chemical in your brain, it’s also widely available as a supplement. However, in supplement form, only minimal amounts of GABA can actually cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and have any effect on the brain....

Genital herpes, a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), is not all that different in males as it is in people of other sexes. It causes the outbreak of painful blisters and sores on the genitals or rectum that can recur during moments of illness, stress, or fatigue. Where genital herpes can differ is in the risk of transmission in men versus women. Due to the differences in genital and reproductive anatomy, certain complications can occur in males that don’t occur in females....

As the early testing and treatment of HIV have increased life expectancy rates to that of the general population, greater emphasis is now being placed on the health of those aged 50 years and older, who may experience premature illness as a result of long-term HIV infection. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), by 2018, up to 51% of Americans who lived in dependent areas had HIV were aged 50 and older....

A hernia is a tear in a muscle or other tissue that lets part of an internal organ bulge through it. Often, it’s the intestines. This sounds like it would cause noticeable symptoms—and sometimes it does. However, many don’t have any hernia symptoms at all, or they simply notice a bump or bulge. Hernias can produce a bulge that is constant or that may come and go, depending on your position or what you’re doing....

Nail changes are common in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). While some are caused by the virus itself, others are the result of having a weakened immune system or side effects of various antiretroviral therapies. Clubbing Clubbing—also known as hypertrophic osteoarthropathy—is the thickening and curving of nails around a person’s fingertips or toes. This can make nails look like upside-down spoons. Although there isn’t one specific aspect of HIV that causes clubbing, it can be the result of low levels of oxygen in the blood....

Hops are the flower of the hop plant (Humulus lupulus) used to make beer. In addition to imparting flavor to ales and pilsners, hops are also believed to offer health benefits. Many of these are attributed to compounds found in the plant’s artichoke-shape buds, including the flavonoids xanthohumol and 8-prenylnaringenin and the essential oils humulene and lupuline. Alternative practitioners believe that these compounds have anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, analgesic (pain-relieving), and even anti-cancer properties....

Want to get care from an out-of-network doctor, clinic, or hospital? You might pay a lot more than you would if you stay in-network. In fact, with HMOs and EPOs, your health insurance might not pay anything at all for out-of-network care. Even if your health insurance is a PPO or POS plan that contributes toward your out-of-network care, your portion of the bill will be much larger than you’re used to paying for in-network care....

Deciding what medications to put in a first aid kit, if any, tends to be a bit harder than stocking standard supplies like gauze and bandages. What are you likely to need? Will you use it before it expires? Is it something that is safe for everyone who uses the kit to have access to? Medications that people sometimes keep in first aid kits include: Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers and fever reducersAntibiotic ointmentAntihistamines (allergy medications)Antidiarrheals Not all of these may be appropriate for your needs or situation....

A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of a woman’s uterus, commonly known as her womb. In some cases, other reproductive organs (e.g., ovaries, cervix) may also be removed during this procedure. While generally considered very safe, there are risks involved. The pros of its use in treating uterine cancer, endometriosis, fibroids, and other issues must be carefully weighed against the cons in every woman’s specific case. What Is a Hysterectomy? A hysterectomy is a common surgery performed in adult women....

Tears help to keep your eyes comfortable. When you have dry eyes, your eyes don’t make enough tears, or the tears they make are of poor quality. Punctal plugs are a possible treatment for dry eye, especially if other treatments are not effective. The procedure to insert punctal plugs is called punctal occlusion. The tear ducts in your eye, also called puncta, are small holes that drain any tears. Tear ducts are located near the inner corner of your upper and lower eyelids....

The Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) gene directs cells to make the JAK2 protein, which stimulates cell growth and division. The JAK2 protein is particularly important for controlling blood cell production from hematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cells. These stem cells are located in the bone marrow (the spongy tissue inside the bones) and have the ability to develop into new blood cells. Blood cells include red blood cells (carry oxygen to tissues), white blood cells (fight infections), and platelets (help clot blood to stop bleeding)....

Nitrates and nitrites are found in chemicals like sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate. These are used as preservatives, preventing harmful bacterial growth in certain foods like bacon and other cured meats. Nitrates occur naturally in plants and can have cardiovascular (heart) health benefits. Dietary nitrate is absorbed in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and much of it is excreted in the urine. The salivary glands play a significant role in reabsorbing the nitrate from the body and concentrating it....

Normal cholesterol levels vary by age. Cholesterol levels tend to rise as people get older, particularly after menopause. You need some cholesterol to build healthy cells, but an accumulation of the bad kind can be problematic, increasing the risk of atherosclerosis (clogged arteries). Find out what cholesterol levels are, why age is a factor, and how to keep your levels within a healthy range. What Are Cholesterol Levels? Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that plays many roles in the body, including synthesizing hormones and vitamin D....

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States. PPIs like omeprazole (Prilosec), rabeprazole, lansoprazole, and esomeprazole are used to treat helicobacter pylori infection, acid reflux, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Emerging evidence from a number of studies suggests there is an association between long-term use of proton pump inhibitors and the development of gastric cancer. If needed, alternatives to PPIs are available. PPIs and Cancer When digesting food, the stomach uses gastric acid to break food down....

Therapy, also referred to as psychotherapy, is a branch of medical treatment designed to address and treat mental health disorders. There are several variations and methods available, one of which is person-centered, or client-centered, therapy. Person-centered therapy empowers the client to take ownership of their mental well-being. Read on to learn more about person-centered therapy, techniques, and benefits associated with this form of treatment. Defining Person-Centered Therapy Person-centered therapy, also known as Rogerian therapy, was developed in the 1940s by humanist psychologist Carl Rogers....

You can get almost any part of your body pierced, including your nipples. While nipple piercing seems pretty harmless, it does carry health risks that you should be aware of. The most common are infections and bleeding, which usually occur shortly after getting a piercing but can happen even years later. Scars, tears, and nerve damage are also possible. These may be related to how the piercing was done, how clean you keep the wound or both....