Resources for Women’s Health
Sign up: Women's Health Email updates
AHRQ offers information to help enhance our understanding of women’s unique health needs and empower women to be more engaged in health care decisions. In addition to cancer and heart disease, health concerns unique to women, such as pregnancy and gynecologic care, are included.
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Genitourinary Conditions
- Gynecology
- Heart and Blood Vessel Conditions
- Mental Health
- Muscle, Bone, and Joint Conditions
- Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Smoking Cessation
- Wellness
Cancer
Cancer is a term for a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. Cancers are described based on the origin of the tumor, including—
- Carcinoma—cancers derived from epithelial cells, such as the breast
- Sarcoma—cancers arising from connective tissue
- Lymphoma and leukemia—cancers arising from hematopoietic cells that leave the marrow and tend to mature in the lymph nodes and blood, respectively
- Germ cell tumor—cancers derived from pluripotent cells, most often presenting in the ovary
- Blastoma—cancers derived from immature precursor cells or embryonic tissue
Resources for Clinicians
Comparative Effectiveness Reviews
- Noninvasive Diagnostic Tests for Breast Abnormalities–An Update of a 2006 Review
- Oral Contraceptive Use for the Primary Prevention of Ovarian Cancer
Other Research Reports
- Prognostic factor testing among older women with ductal carcinoma in situ and early invasive breast cancer
- Use of endocrine therapy following diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ or early invasive breast cancer
- Use of preoperative MRI among older women with ductal carcinoma in situ and locally invasive breast cancer
For other resources related to this topic, please visit http://www.ahrq.gov/health-care-information/topics/topic-cancer.html
Diabetes
Diabetes Mellitus, often referred to simply as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which there are high levels of sugar in the blood, either because the body does not produce enough insulin or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced. There are three main types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Resources for Clinicians
Comparative Effectiveness Reviews
- Methods for Insulin Delivery and Glucose Monitoring: Comparative Effectiveness
- Screening and Diagnosing Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Other Research Reports
Clinician Research Summaries
Slide Presentations
Resources for Patients
Patient Treatment Summaries
- Methods for Delivering Insulin and Monitoring Blood Sugar: A Review of the Research for Children, Teens, and Adults With Diabetes
- Métodos para administrar insulina y medir el azúcar en la sangre: Revisión de las investigaciones para niños, adolescentes y adultos con diabetes (En Español)
Podcasts
For other resources related to this topic, please visit http://www.ahrq.gov/health-care-information/topics/topic-diabetes.html
Genitourinary Conditions
Genitourinary conditions affect the parts of the body that play a role in reproduction, as well as those that produce and eliminate waste products in the form of urine.
Resources for Clinicians
Comparative Effectiveness Reviews
Resources for Patients
Patient Treatment Summaries
- Non-surgical Treatments for Urinary Incontinence: A Review of the Research for Women
- Tratamientos no quirúrgicos para controlar la fuga de orina: Revisión de las investigaciones para mujeres (En Español)
Patient Decision Aids
Podcasts
- Comparing Nonsurgical Treatments for Urinary Incontinence in Women
- Opciones para tratar la fuga de orina en las mujeres (En Español)
For other resources related to this topic, please visit http://www.ahrq.gov/health-care-information/topics/topic-gynecologic-care.html
Gynecology
Gynecological disorders affect the female reproductive system (uterus, vagina and ovaries). Some problems can affect the proper functioning of the reproductive system and may affect a woman’s ability to get pregnant.
Resources for Clinicians
Comparative Effectiveness Reviews
- Noncyclic Chronic Pelvic Pain Therapies for Women: Comparative Effectiveness
- Menopausal Symptoms: Comparative Effectiveness of Therapies
Clinician Research Summaries
Resources for Patients
Patient Treatment Summaries
- Treating Chronic Pelvic Pain: A Review of the Research for Women
- Tratamiento del dolor pélvico crónico: Revisión de las investigaciones para mujeres (En Español)
Podcasts
- Treatment Options for Chronic Pelvic Pain in Women
- Opciones de tratamiento para el dolor pélvico crónico (En Español)
Heart and Blood Vessel Conditions
A variety of diseases can affect the heart and vasculature, including:
- Coronary heart disease
- Cardiomyopathy
- Cardiovascular disease
- Ischemic heart disease
- Heart failure
- Hypertensive heart disease
- Inflammatory heart disease
Resources for Clinicians
Comparative Effectiveness Reviews
- Dietary Supplements in Adults Taking Cardiovascular Drugs
- Noninvasive Technologies for the Diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease in Women
- Treatment Strategies for Women With Coronary Artery Disease
Clinician Research Summaries
- Noninvasive Technologies for Diagnosing Coronary Artery Disease in Women: Comparative Effectiveness
- Use Versus Nonuse of Dietary Supplements in Adults Taking Cardiovascular Drugs
Resources for Patients
Patient Treatment Summaries
For other resources related to this topic, please visit http://www.ahrq.gov/health-care-information/topics/topic-heart-health.html
Mental Health
Chronic mental health issues, such as depression and schizophrenia, can be debilitating for those who experience them and distressing for family members and caregivers. While the exact cause of these diseases remains unclear, it is thought that a combination of neurotransmitter imbalances plus genetic predisposition may contribute.
To suggest topics for consideration, please visit AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program to Submit a Suggestion for Research.
Muscle, Bone, and Joint Conditions
Rheumatic or musculoskeletal conditions comprise more than 150 diseases and syndromes. Those conditions with the greatest impact on society include rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and osteoporosis.
Resources for Clinicians
Comparative Effectiveness Reviews
Resources for Patients
Patient Decision Aids
For other resources related to this topic, please visit http://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/evidence-based-reports/clinical/musculoskeletal/index.html
Pregnancy and Childbirth
Throughout pregnancy and childbirth, a woman faces many health care decisions that impact both her health and the health of her baby. Additionally, some women have health problems before they become pregnant that could lead to complications. Other problems arise during pregnancy.
Resources for Clinicians
Comparative Effectiveness Reviews
- Nitrous Oxide for the Management of Labor Pain
- Progestogens for Prevention of Preterm Birth
- Therapeutic Management, Delivery, and Postpartum Risk Assessment and Screening in Gestational Diabetes
Other Research Reports
Clinician Research Summaries
Resources for Patients
Patient Treatment Summaries
- Progestogens To Prevent Preterm Birth: A Review of the Research About Progestogens for Women at Risk
- Progestágenos para prevenir el parto prematuro: Revisión de la investigación sobre el uso de progestágenos en las mujeres con riesgo (En Español)
Podcasts
- Preventing Preterm Birth
- Prevención del parto prematuro (En Español)
Advice Columns
For other resources related to this topic, please visit http://www.ahrq.gov/health-care-information/topics/topic-pregnancy.html and http://www.ahrq.gov/health-care-information/topics/topic-childbirth.html
Smoking Cessation
Smoking is a known cause of multiple cancers, heart disease, stroke, complications of pregnancy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and many other diseases. Smoking in pregnancy can be harmful to both the woman and the fetus, sometimes resulting in stillbirths, spontaneous abortions, decreased fetal growth, premature births, low birth-weight, placental abruption, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). It has also been linked to cognitive, emotional, and behavioral problems in children.
Resources for Clinicians
Resources for Patients
- Quitting Helps You Heal Faster Quitting Helps You Heal Faster (PDF) [ - 39.85 KB]
- Dejar de fumar le ayuda a sanar más rápido (En Español)
- You Can Quit Smoking Primary Care Tear Sheet PDF Version [ - 61.17 KB]
- Apoyo y consejos de su profesional de salud (En Español)
- You Can Quit Smoking Prenatal Care Tear Sheet PDF Version [ - 586.72 KB]
- Usted puede dejar de fumar (En Español)
- Forever Free: For Baby and Me, A Guide to Remaining Smoke Free (PDF file)
For other resources related to this topic, please visit http://www.ahrq.gov/health-care-information/topics/topic-tobacco-use.html
Wellness
Staying healthy is key to securing a woman’s overall well-being. Knowing which screening tests are needed and when to get them, which medicines may prevent diseases, and daily steps to take for good health can help women achieve their wellness goals.
Resources for Patients
- Women: Stay Healthy at Any Age PDF version - 988.18 KB
- Mujer: Conserve su salud a cualquier edad (En Español) PDF version - 1.47 MB
- Women: Stay Healthy at 50+ PDF version - 851.24 KB
- Mujer: Conserve su salud después de los 50 (En Español) PDF version - 2.28 MB
For other resources related to this topic, please visit http://www.ahrq.gov/health-care-information/topics/topic-staying-healthy.html
Information About Ordering
Many of these resources on women’s health were developed by AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program, a resource for evidence-based, comparative effectiveness research. The Program’s resources for health professionals and patients can help them compare and discuss treatment options to make more informed decisions and improve the quality of their health care.
All of the resources on women’s health can be downloaded or ordered by contacting the AHRQ Publications Clearinghouse at AHRQPubs@ahrq.hhs.gov or at 1-800-358-9295.
Page originally created May 2015