Today's Woman: Sharan Abdul-Rahman, MD, MBA, NCMP

Here's What You Need to Know About Possible Bleeding After Sex (http://ow.ly/45YE50ijINT) Bleeding after sex isn't normal, unless it's your period coming to say hello. Sometimes vaginal dryness or a partner that is too big can cause bleeding, for which you can use additional lubricant. Sometimes, though, bleeding can be caused by growths on the cervix, which could be polyps, infections, fibroids, or cancer. #womenshealth #abnormalbleeding #vaginalhealth #Philadelphia

3 Reasons You Could Be Experiencing Irregular Periods (http://ow.ly/vapC50ijIMh) Irregular periods might mean more than the beginning of menopause. If you're really stressed out, it's possible you may not see your period for months at a time. The hormones that are released during times of stress and anxiety can mess with your system so much that your body can no longer regulate a menstrual cycle. Excessively working out can also make your period disappear, again because of mixed signals from hormones to your brain. #womenshealth #irregularperiod #menopause #Philadelphia

Do You Know Why We Celebrate Labor Day? (http://ow.ly/wY1o30l8yU5) Labor Day is not only about BBQing with friends and family, and wearing white for the last time. There's more to the holiday and why it was created. Learn more about why Labor Day was founded and why we celebrate it.... #LaborDay #BriefHistoryofLaborDay #USA #Philadelphia

9 Ways to Make Sex Less Painful (http://ow.ly/JJc230l8yU2) Nearly 75% of women endure painful sex at some point. Pain can show up as muscle aches, irritation, burning, vaginal spasms, and vaginal pain. There are a few things you can do to make sex less painful, including taking things slow to make sure you're ready for intercourse. You should also be mindful have lubrication, and add lube to your routine if necessary. Explore different positions and consider using pillows to ...prop up your pelvis. #womenshealth #painfulsex #vaginalhealth #Philadelphia

Tips When Meeting With a New Doc (http://ow.ly/40KP30l8yTv) Coming prepared to your first appointment always helps to make meeting a new doctor a positive experience. Noting things like any allergies or medications you're taking will be valuable information. And don't forget to write down any questions or concerns you may have. We look forward to meeting you at Today's Woman.... #TipTuesday #NewDoctor #PatientAwareness #PatientFirst

Yoga May Be Right Move Versus Urinary Incontinence (http://ow.ly/PJPj30l8yU0) Urinary incontinence, or the inability to control your bladder, affects women of all ages, but it can worsen as we get older. New research, however, is shedding some light on a potentially effective solution. Interestingly, women who did yoga had fewer issues with incontinence, and women who started performing yoga had a 75% decrease in the occurrences of incontinence. This could be a result of bett...er posture, breath control, and strengthened pelvic floor muscles. #womenshealth #urinaryincontinence #bladdercontrol #Philadelphia

After I Get Monalisa Touch, How Quickly Can I Return to My Normal Activities? (http://ow.ly/wlxS30l8yTs) As soon as your treatment is over, you can leave, head back to work, take a shower, or go shopping. The procedure is fast (approximately 5 minutes) and virtually painless. The only thing we recommend against is having sex right away. You should wait 3 to 4 days before getting back into bed with your partner. ... #womenshealth #MonaLisaTouch #vaginalrejuvenation #Philadelphia

4 Examples of Incontinence as a Symptom of Something Serious (http://ow.ly/q8n330l8yTq) Can a more severe issue cause incontinence? Definitely. While urinary incontinence can be a result of weakened pelvic muscles from pregnancy or menopause, it can also be a symptom of an infection, like a UTI. Sexually transmitted diseases can also cause incontinence. But scarier than this, a lack of bladder control may be a sign of cancers, like ovarian, bladder, cervical, and even spinal cord. #womenshealth #urinaryincontinence #UTI #Philadelphia

4 Places You Can Get an STIBesides Your Vagina (http://ow.ly/X3HS30l8yTo) Sexually transmitted diseases can take root and cause problems in more areas than your vagina. Unfortunately, STDs and STIs can wreak havoc in places like your face, tongue, butt, eyes, and throat. If you see sores on your partner, don't put them anywhere near you, especially near orifices. Herpes can spread to your genitals, mouth, tongue, and even your nose. You're not protected if you stick to anal sex, either. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are all transmittable through anal tissue too. #womenshealth #STD #vaginalhealth #Philadelphia

Women Should Not Just 'Put up' with Heavy Periods (http://ow.ly/7dTO30l8yTl) How heavy is your period? If you have to change your pad or tampon every 2 hours because you're bleeding through it, you're considered to have a significant flow. If you're bleeding so much that it's waking you up in the middle of the night, you're feeling lightheaded from the blood loss, or your period recently got heavier, there could be a problem. Make sure you come in to see us so we can identify the cause and treat the issue effectively. A few options for treatment include birth control, ablation, or if it's extremely severe, a hysterectomy. #womenshealth #heavyperiod #birthcontrol #Philadelphia

Are Fibroids Cancerous? (http://ow.ly/ENmX30krZbL) No, fibroids are nearly always benign. Though some symptoms can be similar to those of uterine cancer, there's usually nothing to worry about from that standpoint. Plus, fibroids are incredibly common. Up to 80% of women will have fibroids at some time in their life, usually with no symptoms. If your fibroids are causing issues for you, though, be sure to come in for an appointment. ... #womenshealth #fibroids #pelvicpain #Philadelphia

Why Does My Period Make Me Feel Like a Water Balloon? (http://ow.ly/Wwz630krZbK) Bloating happens. Even though you might feel like nothing fits anymore, you'll return to your normal shape soon enough. Month after month, we have to deal with extreme discomfort. But why does bloating happen at all? Hormonal fluctuations are to blame. But you can try to combat this symptom of PMS and ovulation with better foods, like fruits and vegetables, sweet potatoes, bananas, ginger, and lots of water. Try to stay away from salt, because it can make you retain even more water. #womenshealth #periodhealth #bloating #Philadelphia

6 Exercises You Shouldn't Do if You Have Osteoporosis (http://ow.ly/hByh30krZbH) Do you have osteoporosis? Or are you a candidate for developing it? Weak bones can strike anyone, but it's especially prevalent in petite women. Brittle bones can be dangerous since you can fall or suffer from microfractures, affecting your mobility, and thus safety. And while exercise, especially weight-bearing, is critical, there are some exercises you might want to avoid altogether. Skip out on sit-ups and jumping as well as intensive sports like golf and skiing. #womenshealth #menopause #osteoporosis #Philadelphia