meetara-lab/vectorstore-women_health huggingface dataset:
Q: How will menopause affect my health?
A: After menopause, your ovaries make very little
of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. This can 
raise your risk for certain health problems, such as: 

• Heart disease. Estrogen helps keep blood vessels
relaxed and open. It also helps the body maintain
a healthy balance of good and bad cholesterol.
Without estrogen, cholesterol may start building
up on artery walls leading to the heart.

• Stroke. Your risk for stroke doubles every decade
after age 55. The lower levels of estrogen in your
body may play a role in cholesterol buildup on
artery walls leading to the brain.
Top Questions About Menopause

2

• Osteoporosis. Having less estrogen after

menopause causes you to lose bone mass much
more quickly than you did before, which puts you
at risk for osteoporosis. Osteoporosis causes your
bones to become brittle and weak and break easily.
menopause causes you to lose bone mass much
more quickly than you did before, which puts you
at risk for osteoporosis. Osteoporosis causes your
bones to become brittle and weak and break easily.

• Lead poisoning. Blood lead levels can rise after
menopause. This increases your risk for high
blood pressure and atherosclerosis (sometimes
called hardening of the arteries).

• Urinary incontinence.  About half of

postmenopausal women have trouble holding
in their urine.

• Oral issues. Dry mouth and an increased risk for

• Be active. Try to get 30 minutes of physical activity
on most days of the week. Ask your doctor about
what activities are right for you.

• Eat well. Getting vitamins, minerals, fiber, and

other essential nutrients is important during and
after menopause. You may need fewer calories
for energy than you did before menopause. Ask
your doctor or nurse whether you need a calcium
supplement or whether you need more vitamin D.
• Quit smoking. Smoking damages your bones and
can lead to heart disease and cancer in women.
Stay away from secondhand smoke and get help
quitting if you need it.

cavities are more common after menopause.

• Practice safe sex. As your body transitions to

Q: How can I stay healthy during and after
menopause? 
A: You can take steps to build your health
in the years around menopause.

menopause, you can still get pregnant. Use birth
control to prevent pregnancy. Also, during and
after menopause, use a condom to prevent sexually
transmitted infections (STIs, or STDs).

For more information…
For more information about menopause, call the OWH Helpline at 800-994-9662 or contact the 
following organizations: 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
800-232-4636 • www.cdc.gov

Hormone Health Network 
www.hormone.org

National Institute on Aging (NIA) 
800-222-2225 • www.nia.nih.gov

North American Menopause Society 
440-442-7550 • www.menopause.org
Hormone Health Network 
www.hormone.org

National Institute on Aging (NIA) 
800-222-2225 • www.nia.nih.gov

North American Menopause Society 
440-442-7550 • www.menopause.org

All material contained in this fact sheet is free of copyright restrictions and may be copied, reproduced, or duplicated without permission of the 
Office on Women’s Health in the Department of Health and Human Services. Citation of the source is appreciated.

Page last updated: August 28, 2017.

Content last reviewed: June 12, 2017.

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A  FACT  SHEET  FROM  THE  OFFICE  ON  WOMEN’S  HEALTH

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a health prob-
lem that affects one in 10 women of childbearing age. 
Women with PCOS have a hormonal imbalance and 
metabolism problems that may affect their overall  
health and appearance. PCOS is also a common and 
treatable cause of infertility. 

Q: What are the symptoms of PCOS?
A: Some of the symptoms of PCOS include:
•  Irregular menstrual cycle. Women with PCOS may 
miss periods or have fewer periods (fewer than eight 
in a year). Or, their periods may come every 21 days 
or more often. Some women with PCOS stop having 
menstrual periods. 

•  Too much hair on the face, chin, or parts of the 
body where men usually have hair. This is called 
“hirsutism.” Hirsutism affects up to 70 percent of 
women with PCOS. 

•  Acne on the face, chest, and upper back 

•  Thinning hair or hair loss on the scalp; male- 

pattern baldness
•  Acne on the face, chest, and upper back 

•  Thinning hair or hair loss on the scalp; male- 

pattern baldness

•  Weight gain or difficulty losing weight

•  Darkening of skin, particularly along neck creases, 

in the groin, and underneath breasts 

•  Skin tags, which are small flaps of excess skin in 

the armpits or neck area

Q: What causes PCOS? 
A: The exact cause of PCOS is not known. Most experts 
think that several factors, including genetics, play a role: 

•  High levels of androgens. Higher than normal 

androgen levels in women can prevent the ovaries 

from releasing an egg (ovulation) during each  
menstrual cycle, and can cause extra hair growth 
and acne.
androgen levels in women can prevent the ovaries 

from releasing an egg (ovulation) during each  
menstrual cycle, and can cause extra hair growth 
and acne. 

•  High levels of insulin. Insulin is a hormone that 
controls how the food you eat is changed into 
energy. Insulin resistance is when the body’s cells 
do not respond normally to insulin. As a result,  
your insulin blood levels become higher than  
normal. Many women with PCOS have insulin  
resistance, especially those who are overweight 
or obese, have unhealthy eating habits, do not get 
enough physical activity, and have a family history 
of diabetes (usually type 2 diabetes). Over time, 
insulin resistance can lead to type 2 diabetes.
Q: How is PCOS treated? 
A: There is no cure for PCOS, but you can manage the 
symptoms of PCOS. You and your doctor will work on a 
treatment plan based on your symptoms, your plans for 
children, and your risk for long-term health problems 
such as diabetes and heart disease. Many women will 
need a combination of treatments, including:

•  Weight loss. Losing weight may help to lower your 
blood glucose levels, improve the way your body 
uses insulin, and help your hormones reach normal 
levels. Even a 10 percent loss in body weight (for 
example, a 150-pound woman losing 15 pounds) 
can help make your menstrual cycle more regular 
and improve your chances of getting pregnant. 

•  Hair removal or slowing hair growth. You  
can try facial hair removal creams, laser hair 
removal, or electrolysis to remove excess hair.  
A prescription skin treatment (eflornithine HCl 
cream) can slow down the growth rate of  
new hair in unwanted places.
www.womenshealth.gov | 800-994-9662
• Prescription medicines. Your doctor may prescribe
hormonal birth control, such as the pill, patch, shot,
vaginal ring, or hormonal intrauterine device (IUD),
to improve acne and reduce unwanted hair. Other
medicines can block the effect of androgens or lower
insulin and androgen levels. If you are trying to get
pregnant, your doctor may prescribe medicine to
help you ovulate, such as clomiphene (Clomid).

• In vitro fertilization (IVF). In IVF, your egg is fertil-
ized with your partner’s sperm in a laboratory and
then placed in your uterus to implant and develop.
Compared with medicine alone, IVF results in higher

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

2

pregnancy rates and lowers your risk for twins and 
triplets (by allowing your doctor to transfer a single 
fertilized egg into your uterus).
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

2

pregnancy rates and lowers your risk for twins and 
triplets (by allowing your doctor to transfer a single 
fertilized egg into your uterus).  

• Surgery. The outer shell (called the cortex) of ova-
ries is thickened in women with PCOS and thought
to play a role in preventing spontaneous ovulation.
Ovarian drilling is a surgery in which the doctor
makes a few holes in the surface of your ovary
using lasers or a fine needle heated with electricity.
Surgery usually restores ovulation, but only for six
to eight months.

For more information…
For more information on PCOS, call the OWH Helpline at 800-994-9662 or contact 
the following organizations: 

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute 
of Child Health and Human Development 
(NICHD), NIH, HHS 
800-370-2943 • www.nichd.nih.gov

American Association of Clinical 
Endocrinologists 
904-353-7878 • www.aace.com

American College of Obstetricians 
and Gynecologists 
800-673-8444 • www.acog.org
American Association of Clinical 
Endocrinologists 
904-353-7878 • www.aace.com

American College of Obstetricians 
and Gynecologists 
800-673-8444 • www.acog.org

American Society for Reproductive Medicine 
205-978-5000 • www.asrm.org

InterNational Council on Infertility Information 
Dissemination, Inc. 
703-379-9178 • www.inciid.org

PCOS Foundation 
713-487-7267 • www.pcosfoundation.org

This fact sheet was reviewed by:

Violanda Grigorescu, M.D., M.S.P.H., Chief, Partnerships and Evaluation Branch, Division of Health Informatics and Surveillance,  
Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Torie Comeaux Plowden, M.D., M.P.H., Fellow, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute  
of Child Health and Human Development
Torie Comeaux Plowden, M.D., M.P.H., Fellow, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute  
of Child Health and Human Development 

Lubna Pal, M.B.B.S., M.R.C.O.G., M.S., F.A.C.O.G., Director of the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Program, Associate Professor, 
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine

All material contained on this page is free of copyright restrictions and may be copied, reproduced, or duplicated without permission  
of the Office on Women’s Health in the Department of Health and Human Services. Citation of the source is appreciated.

Content last updated: May 27, 2016.

Content last reviewed: January 5, 2016.

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Thyroid Disease 

Your thyroid is a small gland found at the base of 
your neck. Your thyroid makes thyroid hormone. 
Thyroid hormone controls many activities in your 
body, including how fast you burn calories and how 
fast your heart beats. Diseases of the thyroid cause  
it to make either too much or too little of the 
hormone. Women are more likely than men to have 
thyroid diseases, especially right after pregnancy and 
after menopause. 

Q:  How do thyroid problems 

affect women?
Q:  How do thyroid problems 

affect women? 

A: In women, thyroid diseases can cause: 
  • Problems with your menstrual period. Your 
thyroid helps control your menstrual cycle.  
Too much or too little thyroid hormone can  
make your periods very light, heavy, or  
irregular. Thyroid disease also can cause  
your periods to stop for several months or  
longer, a condition called amenorrhea. If your 
body’s immune system causes thyroid disease, 
other glands, including your ovaries, may be 
involved. This can lead to early menopause 
(before age 40). 

  • Problems getting pregnant. When thyroid 
disease affects the menstrual cycle, it also  
affects ovulation. This can make it harder for  
you to get pregnant.
• Problems getting pregnant. When thyroid 
disease affects the menstrual cycle, it also  
affects ovulation. This can make it harder for  
you to get pregnant.

 •  Problems during pregnancy. Thyroid disease  
not treated with medicine can cause health 
problems for the mother, including premature 
delivery (before 39 weeks of pregnancy), 
preeclampsia, or miscarriage. Untreated thyroid 
disease can also cause health problems for the 
baby, including heart failure or problems with 
growth and brain development.  

www.womenshealth.gov | 800-994-9662

Q:  What kinds of thyroid disease  

affect women? 

A:  Thyroid diseases that affect women more than 

men include:

 •  Hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism, or underactive
Q:  What kinds of thyroid disease  

affect women? 

A:  Thyroid diseases that affect women more than 

men include:

 •  Hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism, or underactive 

thyroid, is when your thyroid does not make 
enough thyroid hormones. Symptoms can include 
feeling cold more easily, constipation, muscle 
weakness, weight gain, joint or muscle pain, 
feeling sad or depressed, feeling very tired, dry 
skin, thinning hair, sweating less than usual, a 
puffy face, hoarse voice, and more menstrual 
bleeding than usual. Hypothyroidism is treated 
with medicine that gives your body the thyroid 
hormone it needs to work normally.

 •  Hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism, or
•  Hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism, or 

overactive thyroid, causes your thyroid to make 
more thyroid hormone than your body needs. 
Symptoms can include weight loss, eating more 
than usual, rapid heartbeat, feeling nervous or 
anxious, irritability, trouble sleeping, trembling 
hands, increased sweating, feeling hot more 
easily, muscle weakness, diarrhea or more bowel 
movements than normal, and fewer and lighter 
menstrual periods than usual. Hyperthyroidism 
is treated with medicine, radioiodine therapy, or 
surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid. 

 •  Thyroiditis. Thyroiditis is inflammation of 
the thyroid. It happens when your immune 
system attacks your thyroid. A common type of 
thyroiditis is postpartum thyroiditis. Postpartum 
thyroiditis may be treated with medicine. 
Thyroiditis can cause symptoms of either 
hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.

 •  Goiter. A goiter is an unusually enlarged thyroid 
gland. Usually, the only symptom of a goiter is a
•  Goiter. A goiter is an unusually enlarged thyroid 
gland. Usually, the only symptom of a goiter is a 

A FACT SHEET FROM THE OFFICE ON WOMEN’S HEALTH
swelling in your neck. But a very large goiter can 
cause a tight feeling in your throat, coughing, or 
problems swallowing or breathing. Medicine may 
help the goiter shrink back to near normal size. 

   • Thyroid nodules. A thyroid nodule is a swelling 
in one section of the thyroid gland. Most thyroid 
nodules do not cause symptoms and are not 
cancerous. But some thyroid nodules make too 
much thyroid hormone, causing hyperthyroidism. 
Sometimes, nodules grow so big that they 
cause problems with swallowing or breathing. 

Thyroid Disease

2

Treatment includes watchful waiting, surgery, or 
radioiodine therapy.
Thyroid Disease

2

Treatment includes watchful waiting, surgery, or 
radioiodine therapy. 

  •   Thyroid cancer. Most people with thyroid cancer 
have a thyroid nodule that does not cause any 
symptoms. If you do have symptoms, you may 
have swelling or a lump in the neck, problems 
swallowing, or a hoarse voice. Thyroid cancer 
is most often treated with surgery to remove the 
whole thyroid gland. 

For more information…
For more information on thyroid disease, call the OWH Helpline at 800-994-9662  
or contact the following organizations:

National Cancer Institute, NIH, HHS 
800-422-6237 • www.cancer.gov

National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service, NIDDK, NIH, HHS 
888-828-0904 •  www.niddk.nih.gov/

American Thyroid Association 
www.thyroid.org

The Hormone Health Network
800-467-6663 • www.hormone.org

This fact sheet was reviewed by:
American Thyroid Association 
www.thyroid.org

The Hormone Health Network
800-467-6663 • www.hormone.org

This fact sheet was reviewed by:

Monica C. Skarulis, M.D., Chief, Clinical Endocrine Section, Director, Inter-Institute Endocrine Training Program, National Institute of Diabetes and 
Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) 

Brendan C. Stack, Jr., M.D., FACS, FACE, Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery, Professor, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of 
Arkansas for Medical Sciences

All material contained in this fact sheet is free of copyright restrictions and may be copied, reproduced, or duplicated without permission of the 
Office on Women’s Health in the Department of Health and Human Services. Citation of the source is appreciated.

Content last updated: January 2, 2015. 

Content last reviewed: November 6, 2014.

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Top Questions About Fitness and Women

Being physically active is one of the most important 
steps you can take to get and stay healthy. Women 
of all ages, shapes, and abilities benefit from getting 
active. Regular physical activity (exercise) can help 
lower your risk for many diseases that affect women, 
including heart disease and stroke. Exercise can also 
help relieve symptoms of some conditions, such as 
depression, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. 
Women need to do different types of physical activities 
to reach or stay at a healthy weight and build strength 
and endurance.

Q: How can physical activity help my health?
A: Getting regular physical activity is one of the best 
things you can do for your health. Regular physical 
activity can help:

•  Lower blood pressure and cholesterol 

•  Improve depression

•  Improve sleep 

•  Lower your risk of diseases such as breast  
cancer, colon cancer, type 2 diabetes, heart 
disease, and stroke
•  Lower blood pressure and cholesterol 

•  Improve depression

•  Improve sleep 

•  Lower your risk of diseases such as breast  
cancer, colon cancer, type 2 diabetes, heart 
disease, and stroke

•  Lower your risk of dying early

Q: How much physical activity should I do?
A: Each week, women should get at least:
•  2 hours and 30 minutes (150 minutes) of 

moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity. You 
know you are doing a moderate-intensity activity 
when your heart is beating faster but you can still 
carry on a conversation. Try a brisk, 30-minute 
walk five times a week.

OR

•  1 hour and 15 minutes (75 minutes) of vigorous-

intensity aerobic activity. You know you are 
doing a vigorous-intensity physical activity when 
you are breathing hard and it is difficult to have a 
conversation. This could be a 40-minute jog or step 
class twice a week.

AND

•  Muscle-strengthening activities on two or  

more days.
AND

•  Muscle-strengthening activities on two or  

more days.

Q: Can I exercise if I have underweight, 
overweight, or obesity? 
A: Maybe. People who are underweight due to an 
eating disorder should not exercise unless their doctor 
tells them to. Women who have overweight or obesity 
should talk to their doctor or nurse about any concerns 
they have about beginning an exercise program. 

For most people, any amount or type of physical 
activity will help your overall health. Physical  
activity can also improve muscle strength, balance,  
and flexibility.
For most people, any amount or type of physical 
activity will help your overall health. Physical  
activity can also improve muscle strength, balance,  
and flexibility.

Start slowly if you haven’t been physically active before 
or if it has been a while. Talk to your doctor or nurse 
about exercise if you have a health condition. Your 
doctor or nurse can help you develop an exercise plan 
that is healthy and safe for a person of your current 
weight and fitness level.
Q: Can exercise help menstrual cramps? 
A: Maybe. Researchers have found that some women 
have fewer painful cramps during menstruation if they 

www.womenshealth.gov | 1-800-994-9662A FACT SHEET FROM THE OFFICE ON WOMEN’S HEALTH
exercise regularly. There are almost no risks to regular 
physical activity, like walking, which may also help 
you feel better during your period.

Q: How can physical activity help older women?
A: As you get older, regular physical activity helps:

Top Questions About Fitness and Women
Q: How can physical activity help older women?
A: As you get older, regular physical activity helps:

Top Questions About Fitness and Women

2

Q: Is it safe to exercise during pregnancy? 
A: Physical activity during pregnancy is usually safe 
and healthy for you and your baby. And the more 
active you are during pregnancy, the easier it will be  
to start getting active after your baby is born. Talk to  
your doctor about your activity level throughout  
your pregnancy.

 Q: How can I avoid weight gain 
after menopause? 
A: As you age, and especially in the years after 
menopause, you may find it harder to maintain your 
weight. You may need to increase the amount of 
physical activity you get and lower how many calories 
you eat to stay the same weight.

•  Keep bones strong 

•  Prevent hip fractures (breaking your hip) 

•  Decrease pain from arthritis

•  Prevent dementia

•  Maintain your independence
•  Keep bones strong 

•  Prevent hip fractures (breaking your hip) 

•  Decrease pain from arthritis

•  Prevent dementia

•  Maintain your independence

Balance exercises are important for all women, but 
especially older women who are at a higher risk of 
falls. Examples of these exercises include tai chi and 
standing from a sitting position.

For more information…
For more information about fitness, call the OWH Helpline at 1-800-994-9662 or contact the  
following organizations:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC), HHS 
1-800-232-4636 • www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/ 
index.html

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), 
NIH, HHS 
301-592-8573 • www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/
health-topics/topics/phys

ChooseMyPlate.gov 
www.choosemyplate.gov/physical-activity.html

National Institute on Aging (NIA), NIH, HHS 
1-800-222-2225 • go4life.nia.nih.gov

President’s Council on Fitness, Sports &  
Nutrition, HHS 
240-276-9567 • www.hhs.gov/fitness/index.html
National Institute on Aging (NIA), NIH, HHS 
1-800-222-2225 • go4life.nia.nih.gov

President’s Council on Fitness, Sports &  
Nutrition, HHS 
240-276-9567 • www.hhs.gov/fitness/index.html

All materials contained on these pages are free of copyright restrictions and may be copied, reproduced, or duplicated without permission of the 
Office on Women’s Health in the Department of Health and Human Services. Citation of the source is appreciated. 

Content last updated: January 29, 2018.

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 |
A FACT SHEET FROM THE OFFICE ON WOMEN’S HEALTH

Folic acid

Folic acid is a form of folate (a B vitamin) that everyone 
needs. If you can get pregnant or are pregnant, folic 
acid is especially important. Folic acid protects unborn 
babies against serious birth defects. You can get folic 
acid from vitamins and fortified foods, such as breads, 
pastas, and cereals. Folate is found naturally in foods 
such as leafy green vegetables, oranges, and beans.

breads, pastas, and cereals. Look for the term 
“enriched” on the ingredients list to find out 
whether the food has added folic acid.

2. As a vitamin. Most multivitamins sold in the  
United States contain 400 micrograms, or 100 
percent of the daily value, of folic acid. Check the 
label to make sure.  

Q: Why do women need folic acid?
A: Everyone needs folic acid to be healthy. But it is 
especially important for women:

Q: How much folic acid do women need? 
A: Talk with your doctor about how much folic acid 
you need if: