Through research on topics related to the health of children, adults, families, and populations, the NICHD strives to understand health processes to protect and maintain the health of all people.

Women have some unique health needs. They are affected by a wide variety of conditions and diseases that do not affect men. For conditions that strike both men and women, the effects in women may be very different from the effects in men. In addition, the issue of fertility, and of protecting and maintaining that fertility in light of various conditions adds another facet to understanding women's health.

The NICHD's research efforts in women's health focus on understanding these conditions and their affects on women. The Institute also develops and evaluates different treatments for these conditions, with a woman's unique health needs in mind.

Some of the Institute's efforts and accomplishments in this research area are listed below.

• Gynecological Disorders: These disorders affect the organs in a woman's abdominal and pelvic areas, such as the vulva, vagina, uterus, ovaries, cervix, fallopian tubes, bladder, rectum, and lower intestines. These disorders usually don't directly affect a woman's chances of getting pregnant.
• Disorders Associated with Infertility: These disorders make it difficult for a woman to get pregnant naturally.
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Infections: These diseases are spread through intimate sexual contact.
• HIV/AIDS in Female Populations: This section describes the NICHD's research to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS from mother to infant, and on the aspects of HIV/AIDS that are specific to women.
  
• Other Conditions: The conditions described in this section primarily or only affect women.
  
• Descriptions of Selected Treatments: This section provides short descriptions of common treatments for some of the diseases and disorders discussed on this Web site.