meetara-lab/vectorstore-women_health huggingface dataset:
What raises a woman’s chance 
of getting ovarian cancer?

There is no way to know for sure if 
you will get ovarian cancer. Most 
women who get it don’t have a family 
history of ovarian cancer. However, 
the following factors may increase 
a woman’s risk for ovarian cancer:

•   Being middle-aged or older.

•   Having close family members 

(such as your mother, sister, aunt, 

Fallopian Tube
Ovary 
Uterus
Cervix
Vagina
Vulva

 or grandmother) on either your 
mother’s or your father’s side 
who have had ovarian cancer.

•   Having had breast, uterine, or 

colorectal cancer.

•   Having an Eastern European 

(Ashkenazi) Jewish background.

•   Having never given birth or having 
had trouble getting pregnant.

•   Having endometriosis (a 

condition where tissue from 
the lining of the uterus grows 
elsewhere in the body).
•   Having never given birth or having 
had trouble getting pregnant.

•   Having endometriosis (a 

condition where tissue from 
the lining of the uterus grows 
elsewhere in the body).

If you have one or more of these 
factors, it does not mean you will 
get ovarian cancer. But you should 
speak with your doctor or other 
health professional about your risk.

cdc.gov/cancer/knowledge

  800-CDC-INFO
What are the signs and 
symptoms of ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer may cause one 
or more of these signs and 
symptoms:  

•   Vaginal bleeding (particularly 
if you are past menopause) or 
discharge from your vagina that 
is not normal for you. 

•   Pain or pressure in the pelvic or 
abdominal area (the area below 
your stomach and in between 
your hip bones).

•  Back pain. 

•   Bloating, which is when the 

area below your stomach swells 
or feels full.

•   Feeling full too quickly or 

difficulty eating.

•   A change in your bathroom
•  Back pain. 

•   Bloating, which is when the 

area below your stomach swells 
or feels full.

•   Feeling full too quickly or 

difficulty eating.

•   A change in your bathroom 

habits, such as more frequent 
or urgent need to urinate and/
or constipation.

Pay attention to your body, and 
know what is normal for you.  
If you have vaginal bleeding 
that is not normal for you, see 
a doctor right away. If you have 
any of the other signs for two 
weeks or longer, see a doctor. 
These symptoms may be caused 
by something other than cancer, 
but the only way to know is to see 
your doctor. Treatment is most 
effective when ovarian cancer is 
found and treated early.

How can I prevent ovarian 
cancer?

There is no known way to prevent 
ovarian cancer. But these things 
may lower your chance of getting 
ovarian cancer:

•   Having used birth control pills 

for more than five years. 

•  Having given birth.
•   Having used birth control pills 

for more than five years. 

•  Having given birth.

•   Having had a tubal ligation 
(getting your tubes tied), 
both ovaries removed, or 
hysterectomy (an operation 
in which the uterus, and 
sometimes the cervix, is 
removed).

•   Breastfeeding. Some studies 
suggest that women who 
breastfeed for a year or more 
may have a modestly reduced 
risk of ovarian cancer.

However, here are steps you can take:

•   Pay attention to your body, and 
know what is normal for you.

•   If you notice any changes in 

your body that are not normal 
for you and could be a sign 
of ovarian cancer, talk to your 
doctor and ask about possible 
causes, such as ovarian cancer.

•   Ask your doctor if you 

should have a test, such as a 
rectovaginal pelvic exam, a 
transvaginal ultrasound, or a 
CA-125 blood test if:

  —   You have any unexplained signs 
or symptoms of ovarian cancer. 
These tests sometimes help find 
or rule out ovarian cancer.
—   You have any unexplained signs 
or symptoms of ovarian cancer. 
These tests sometimes help find 
or rule out ovarian cancer. 

  —   You have had breast, uterine, 

or colorectal cancer; or a close 
relative has had ovarian cancer. 

   Are there tests that can  
find ovarian cancer early?

What should I do if my doctor 
says I have ovarian cancer?

 There is no simple and reliable 
way to test for ovarian cancer in 
women who do not have any signs 
or symptoms. The Pap test does 
not screen for ovarian cancer. 
The only cancer the Pap test 
screens for is cervical cancer. 

If your doctor says that you have 
ovarian cancer, ask to be referred  
to a gynecologic oncologist—a 
doctor who has been trained to 
treat cancers like this. This doctor 
will work with you to create a 
treatment plan.

Where can I find more 
information about ovarian 
and other gynecologic 
cancers?  

Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention: 800-CDC-INFO 
or www.cdc.gov/cancer/
gynecologic
Where can I find more 
information about ovarian 
and other gynecologic 
cancers?  

Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention: 800-CDC-INFO 
or www.cdc.gov/cancer/
gynecologic

National Cancer Institute:  
800-4-CANCER or  
www.cancer.gov

CDC Publication #99-9124, Revised January 2019

cdc.gov/cancer/knowledge      
800-CDC-INFO

About Gynecologic Cancer
Protect Against 
Syphilis and  
Congenital Syphilis

Syphilis infections  
are on the rise. 

Anyone who is sexually 
active can get syphilis, 
a treatable sexually 
transmitted infection (STI), 
and pregnant women with 
syphilis can pass it to their 
fetuses, which is known 
as congenital syphilis.

61.2%

Rates of syphilis increased  
by 61.2% from 2019 to 2023.

2.1x

Babies born in 2023 were  
2.1 times more likely to be 
diagnosed with congenital  
syphilis than babies born in 2019  

(based on a change from 50.3/100,000  
live births to 105.8/100,000 live births).

90%

Overall, nearly 90% of congenital 
syphilis cases could have been 
prevented with timely testing  
and treatment during pregnancy.

Syphilis can be 
prevented by engaging 
in safe sex, and it can 
be treated and cured 
with antibiotics.

Symptoms of syphilis—which 
include painless sores on the 
genitals, rectum, or mouth— 
can be hard to spot and easy  
to overlook. Some people may  
not have any symptoms.
Symptoms of syphilis—which 
include painless sores on the 
genitals, rectum, or mouth— 
can be hard to spot and easy  
to overlook. Some people may  
not have any symptoms. 

Without treatment, syphilis 
can harm organs, including the 
brain, leading to severe lifelong 
issues or death. In pregnant 
women, syphilis can cause 
miscarriage, preterm birth, low 
birth weight, or stillbirth. Babies 
born with congenital syphilis 
face serious health problems, 
such as physical disabilities, 
vision loss, hearing loss, other 
permanent health conditions, 
and even death.
Notify partners. Anyone who tests positive 
for syphilis should inform sexual partners from 
the past 12 months so they can get tested.
Get treated. To stop the spread of infection, 
anyone who tests positive for syphilis should 
get treated as soon as possible, and if you 
have syphilis, you should not have sexual 
contact with new partners until your syphilis 
sores completely heal. Taking antibiotics 
as directed cures syphilis. Treatment works 
98% of the time. Get reevaluated and retested 
at both 6 and 12 months post-treatment to 
ensure effectiveness.

Treatment during pregnancy. 
Congenital syphilis can be prevented if  
a pregnant woman with syphilis receives 
antibiotic treatment at least 30 days 
before delivery. All partners should also 
be treated. Pregnant women with syphilis, 
as well as their partners, should not have 
sex with anyone for 7 days after finishing 
treatment to allow the antibiotics time to 
clear their infections and prevent syphilis 
from infecting or reinfecting their fetuses.
Follow guidance. Use these tips to  
prevent syphilis and congenital syphilis.  
Have an honest and open talk with your  
health care provider; they can help guide  
you on prevention and treatment options.

Use condoms correctly every time 
you have sex, whether it’s vaginal, 
anal, or oral. The Centers for Disease  
Control and Prevention (CDC) has guidance  
on condom usage available here. 

Be aware. Sores can develop in areas you 
cannot see easily, such as the vagina, anus, 
and rectum. You can get syphilis by touching  
a sore, and you can also spread it to others 
this way. You can give people syphilis  
when they come into contact with these sores. 

Speak up. If you think you may have been 
exposed or reexposed to syphilis, tell your 
health care provider right away to ensure  
quick treatment.
Speak up. If you think you may have been 
exposed or reexposed to syphilis, tell your 
health care provider right away to ensure  
quick treatment.

Get tested. See a health care provider and 
get tested annually for STIs, including syphilis. 
Test again for STIs before you have sex with 
any new partners and if you develop symptoms.

Get tested during pregnancy.  
All pregnant women should get tested 
for syphilis at their first prenatal visit. 
If you’re not getting prenatal care, get 
tested as soon as you can. Get tested 
again around 28 weeks and once more 
before your baby is born.

Syphilis is a serious infection, but it can be prevented and treated.

Visit the CDC webpage on syphilis to  
learn more about prevention, infection,  
and treatment, including during pregnancy. 

www.womenshealth.gov
A  FACT  SHEET  FROM  THE  OFFICE  ON  WOMEN’S  HEALTH

Bacterial Vaginosis 

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is an infection in the vagina. 
BV is caused by changes in the amount of certain types 
of bacteria in your vagina. BV is the most common 
vaginal infection in women ages 15 to 44. BV is easily 
treatable with medicine from your doctor or nurse.  
If left untreated, it can raise your risk for sexually 
transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, genital 
herpes, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Women with HIV 
who get BV are also more likely to pass HIV to a male 
sexual partner.

Q: How do you get BV?
A:  Researchers are still studying how women
get BV. You can get BV without having sex, 
but BV can also be caused by vaginal, oral, 
or anal sex. You can get BV from male or  
female partners. 

You may be more at risk for BV if you:

 Have a new sex partner

 Have multiple sex partners

 Douche

 Do not use condoms
You may be more at risk for BV if you:

 Have a new sex partner

 Have multiple sex partners

 Douche

 Do not use condoms 

 Are pregnant. The Centers for Disease  
Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates  
that 1 million pregnant women get BV  
each year. The risk for BV is higher for  
pregnant women because of the hormonal 
changes that happen during pregnancy.

 Are African-American. BV is twice as  
common in African-American women 
as in white women.

 Have an intrauterine device (IUD),  
especially if you also have irregular bleeding.

Q: What are the signs and symptoms of BV?
A: Many women have no signs or symptoms.

If you do have symptoms, they may include:

www.womenshealth.gov | 800-994-9662

• Unusual vaginal discharge. The discharge
can be white (milky) or gray. It may also
be foamy or watery. Some women report
a strong fish-like odor, especially after sex.

• Burning when urinating

• Itching around the outside of the vagina

• Vaginal irritation
• Burning when urinating

• Itching around the outside of the vagina

• Vaginal irritation

These symptoms may be similar to vaginal yeast infec-
tions and other health problems. Only your doctor or 
nurse can tell you for sure whether you have BV.

Q: What should I do if I have BV?
A: BV is easy to treat. If you think you have BV:

 See a doctor or nurse. Antibiotics will treat BV. 

 Take all of your medicine. Even if  
symptoms go away, you need to finish 
all of the antibiotic.

 Tell any female sex partners so they can  
be treated. Male sex partners won’t need 
to be treated.

 Avoid sexual contact until you finish 
your treatment.

 See your doctor or nurse again if you have 
symptoms that don’t go away within a few 
days after finishing the antibiotic.

Q: How can I lower my risk of BV?
A: Steps you can take to lower your risk

of BV include:
Q: How can I lower my risk of BV?
A: Steps you can take to lower your risk

of BV include:

 Help keep your vaginal bacteria balanced. 
Use only warm water to clean the outside of 
your vagina. You do not need to use soap.
Bacterial Vaginosis

2

Even mild soap can cause infection or irritate  
your vagina. Always wipe front to back from  
your vagina to your anus. 

 Do not douche. Douching removes some  
of the normal bacteria in your vagina that  
protect you from infection. Doctors do not 
recommend douching.

 Practice safe sex. The best way to prevent the 
spread of BV through sex is by not having sex.  
If you do have sex, you can lower your risk of 
getting BV, or any STI, with the following steps:

 Use condoms. Condoms are the best way to 
prevent BV or STIs when you have sex. Make sure 
to put on the condom before the penis touches 
your vagina, mouth, or anus. Other methods 
of birth control, like birth control pills, shots,
implants, or diaphragms, will not protect you 
from STIs.

 Get tested. Be sure you and your partner are 
tested for STIs. Talk to each other about your  
test results before you have sex.

 Be monogamous. Having sex with just one 
partner can lower your risk. Be faithful to each 
other. That means that you only have sex with 
each other and no one else.

Limit your number of sex partners. Your risk  
of getting BV and STIs goes up with the number 
of partners you have. 

 Don’t abuse alcohol or drugs, which are 
linked to sexual risk taking. Drinking too much 
alcohol or using drugs also puts you at risk of 
sexual assault and possible exposure to STIs.

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

National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP), CDC, HHS 
800-232-4636   www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP), CDC, HHS 
800-232-4636   www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists  
202-638-5577   www.acog.org/

American Sexual Health Association 
919-361-8400   www.ashastd.org/

Lesbian Health and Resource Center
415-502-5209

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: February 3, 2015.

Content last reviewed: November 19, 2014.

www.facebook.com/HHSOWH

www.twitter.com/WomensHealth

www.youtube.com/WomensHealthgov

www.womenshealth.gov | 800-994-9662
Bladder Pain

Bladder pain syndrome (also called interstitial cystitis or 
painful bladder syndrome) is a chronic (long-term) pain  
condition that affects the bladder. Your bladder is the organ 
that holds urine from the kidneys until the urine travels 
down the urethra and out of the body. Bladder pain syn-
drome affects more women than men. There is no cure, but 
there is treatment to help relieve your symptoms, including 
pain. Sometimes symptoms get better without treatment.

Q: What are the symptoms of bladder
pain syndrome?
A:  Symptoms of bladder pain syndrome can include:
• Pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen. Pain may
get worse as the bladder fills up. Your pain may go
away for a short time when you urinate and empty
the bladder.

• Feeling like you need to urinate right away (urgency),
• Feeling like you need to urinate right away (urgency),

often (frequency), or both. Most people urinate
between four and seven times a day. People with
severe bladder pain syndrome may urinate as often as
40 times a day, including during the night.

• Pain, pressure, or tenderness in the bladder, urethra,

vulva, vagina, or rectum

• Pain in the muscles of the pelvic floor, lower abdomen,

and lower back

• Pain that may get worse during your menstrual period

• Pain during sexual intercourse

• Ulcers, sores, and/or bleeding in the bladder

Q: How does bladder pain syndrome affect
a woman’s health?
A:  Some women with bladder pain syndrome may feel
only mild discomfort from symptoms. Others have severe 
pain and symptoms. Symptoms can also change over time.

Some ways that severe symptoms of bladder pain syndrome 
may affect a woman’s health include:
Some ways that severe symptoms of bladder pain syndrome 
may affect a woman’s health include:

•  Lack of high-quality sleep. Women with severe
symptoms might get up throughout the night to
urinate. Interrupted sleep can lead to extreme fatigue
and sometimes depression.

• Depression. Living with a chronic pain condition

raises your risk of depression.

• Pain during sex. Many women with bladder pain

syndrome report pain during sex. Studies show that
women with bladder pain syndrome may also have
problems with becoming sexually aroused, vaginal
dryness, and reaching orgasm.

Q: How is bladder pain syndrome treated?
A:  There is no cure for bladder pain syndrome. But your
doctor will try different treatments to figure out how to 
improve your symptoms.
Q: How is bladder pain syndrome treated?
A:  There is no cure for bladder pain syndrome. But your
doctor will try different treatments to figure out how to 
improve your symptoms. 

The first treatment many people try includes steps you can 
take at home, such as quitting smoking and bladder training 
(training your bladder to go longer between bathroom 
visits). Sometimes, changing what you eat, such as avoiding 
alcohol, caffeine, or spicy foods, can help make your 
symptoms go away. But even when symptoms do go away, 
they may return days or years later. 

If your symptoms do not get better, other treatments your 
doctor may suggest include:

• Physical therapy. You can work with a physical thera-
pist to learn strengthening and relaxation techniques.

• Over-the-counter pain relievers. Aspirin or ibuprofen

may help with mild bladder pain.

• Prescription medicines. Your doctor can prescribe

medicines that may relieve pain and lessen the need
to urinate.
may help with mild bladder pain.

• Prescription medicines. Your doctor can prescribe

medicines that may relieve pain and lessen the need
to urinate.

www.womenshealth.gov | 800-994-9662A FACT SHEET FROM THE OFFICE ON WOMEN’S HEALTH
2

• Bladder instillation, also called a bladder bath.

Your doctor uses a catheter to fill your bladder with
a liquid or solution. The liquid washes the inside of
your bladder for about 15 minutes before it is emptied.
The bladder bath may help prevent muscle spasms
that cause bladder pain and the need to urinate.

• Nerve stimulation. Your doctor uses wires to send
mild electric pulses to nerves in the bladder. The
pulses may increase blood flow to the bladder and
strengthen the muscles that help control the bladder.
This may relieve pain and lessen the need to urinate
as often.
• Botox injections. Your doctor injects botulinum toxin
(Botox) into the muscle in the bladder lining to help
the bladder relax and store more urine, or into the
pelvic floor muscles if they are in spasm.

• Surgery. If other treatments have not worked, your

doctor may suggest surgery to remove the bladder or
parts of the bladder. You may still have pain after
surgery. An ulcer in the bladder can be treated with
a simple surgery that may relieve symptoms for many
months. If you have your bladder taken out, you will
have to use a bag outside of your body to collect and
dispose of urine.

For more information…

For more information about bladder pain syndrome, call the OWH Helpline at 800-994-9662 or contact the 
following organizations:

•  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and

Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), NIH, HHS
Phone Number: 301-496-3583
www.niddk.nih.gov

•  American Chronic Pain Association

Phone Number: 800-533-3231
www.theacpa.org

•  Urology Care Foundation
Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), NIH, HHS
Phone Number: 301-496-3583
www.niddk.nih.gov

•  American Chronic Pain Association

Phone Number: 800-533-3231
www.theacpa.org

•  Urology Care Foundation

Phone Number: 866-746-4282
www.urologyhealth.org

•  Interstitial Cystitis Association
Phone Number: 800-435-7422
www.ichelp.org

•  Interstitial Cystitis Network

Phone Number: 800-928-7496
www.ic-network.com

The Office on Women’s Health is grateful for the additional reviews by:

•  Tamara G. Bavendam, M.D., M.S., Senior Scientific Officer and Program Director, Division of Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases,

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

•  Philip Hanno, M.D., M.P.H., Professor of Urology, University of Pennsylvania
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

•  Philip Hanno, M.D., M.P.H., Professor of Urology, University of Pennsylvania

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.

Page last updated: February 27, 2017. 

Content last reviewed: February 24, 2017. 

www.facebook.com/HHSOWH

www.twitter.com/WomensHealth

www.youtube.com/WomensHealthgov

www.womenshealth.gov | 800-994-9662

Bladder Pain
Douching

Douching is washing or cleaning out the vagina with 
water or other mixtures of fluids. Most douches are 
sold in stores as prepackaged mixes of water and 
vinegar, baking soda, or iodine. The mixtures usually 
come in a bottle or bag. You squirt the douche upward 
through a tube or nozzle into your vagina. In the 
United States, about one in four women 15 to 44 years 
old douche.

Q:  Should I douche to get rid of vaginal 

odor or other problems?

A: No. You should not douche to try to get rid of vagi-
nal odor or other vaginal problems like discharge, pain, 
itching, or burning. Douching will only cover up odor 
for a short time and will make other problems worse. 
Call your doctor or nurse if you have:

Q: Why should women not douche?
A: Most doctors recommend that women don’t 
douche. Douching can change the necessary balance of 
vaginal flora (bacteria that live in the vagina) and natu-
ral acidity in a healthy vagina.
A healthy vagina has good and harmful bacteria. The 
balance of bacteria helps maintain an acidic environ-
ment. The acidic environment protects the vagina from 
infections or irritation. 

Q: What health problems are linked to douching?
A: Health problems linked to douching include:

  •   Bacterial vaginosis, which is an infection in the 

vagina. Women who douche often (once a week) 
are five times more likely to develop bacterial 
vaginosis than women who do not douche.

  •   Pelvic inflammatory disease, an infection in the 

reproductive organs that is often caused by a sex-
ually transmitted infection (STI)

  •   Problems during pregnancy, including preterm 

birth and ectopic pregnancy 

  •   STIs, including HIV 

  •   Vaginal irritation or dryness

www.womenshealth.gov | 800-994-9662

  •  Vaginal discharge that smells bad

  •   Vaginal itching and thick, white or yellowish-green 

discharge with or without an odor

  •   Burning, redness, and swelling in or around the
•  Vaginal discharge that smells bad

  •   Vaginal itching and thick, white or yellowish-green 

discharge with or without an odor

  •   Burning, redness, and swelling in or around the 

vagina

  •  Pain when urinating

  •  Pain or discomfort during sex 

These may be signs of a vaginal infection or an STI. Do 
not douche before seeing your doctor or nurse. This 
can make it hard for the doctor or nurse to find out 
what may be wrong.

Q: What is the best way to clean my vagina?
A: It is best to let your vagina clean itself. The vagina 
cleans itself naturally by making mucus. The mucus 
washes away blood, semen, and vaginal discharge. 

If you are worried about vaginal odor, talk to your doc-
tor or nurse. But you should know that even healthy, 
clean vaginas have a mild odor that changes through-
out the day. Physical activity also can give your vagina 
a stronger, muskier scent, but this is still normal.