General | Breast Cancer | HIV/AIDS | Menopause | Reproductive Health
General Health Resources:
healthfinder®
Department of Health & Human Services
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Offering a broad array of basic health information, healthfinder® links to selected non-profit organizations including educational institutions and volunteer organizations, in addition to other government websites. As part of their selection policy, each resource "must be able to respond to information requests," making this a valuable resource if you're unable to find answers to specific questions.
4woman.gov: National Women's Health Information Center
Department of Health & Human Services
Office on Women's Health
A well-organized, comprehensive gateway to over 5,000 organizations and resources. Quick information is available through over 150 FAQs on topics ranging from acne to pap tests to lesbian health. Some FAQs are available in Spanish or have an "easy-reader" version. The news section is updated almost daily and there is a monthly newsletter available. Selected articles in Spanish and Chinese.
MedlinePlus: Women's Health Issues
National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health
Not as comprehensive as 4woman.gov, but provides additional information on current issues in women's health with information for healthcare providers in addition to the layperson. Like all MedlinePlus Health Topics, it immediately offers links to latest news, often from syndicated news agencies. More research oriented than 4woman.gov with links to statistics, law, and organizations.
FDA Office of Women's Health
Food and Drug Administration
A list of articles and links selected from the FDA website. Topics include birth control, breast implants, cosmetics, arthritis, breast cancer, medical tests and more. There is information for both the layperson and professionals. There is even a link to a National Institute of Health "History of the Pregnancy Test."
Breast Cancer:
Breast Cancer
National Cancer Institute
A research-centered website with many topics given separate links for patients and health professionals. Information on treatments, prevention, statistics, and research funding. A special section on clinical trials with a step-by-step guide on finding clinical trials and what to expect.
Learning About Breast Cancer
National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
A clearly stated explanation of the causes of heredity in breast cancer. The NHGRI is no longer conducting research on breast cancer, but provides links to other government agencies conducting research and to other resources.
MedlinePlus Health Topics: Breast Cancer
General and specific information about breast cancer that includes current treatment information, prevention and screening, a multimedia tutorial, mental health issues associated with cancer, and links to photos and diagrams to help you better understand the disease.
HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS Among Women
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
A fact sheet based on statistics from 2003. AIDS diagnoses among women have increased by 15 percent since 1999 compared with a 1 percent increase among men. Also includes information on risk factors and prevention.
MMWRs on HIV/AIDS and Women
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWRs) are produced by the CDC based on information from state agencies. This website contains all MMWRs from 1981 to the present concerning HIV/AIDS and women. They concentrate on varied topics such as an analysis for the spread of the virus among African-American women in North Carolina and a paper on a process of appropriately assigning risk categories to female HIV cases when no information is available.
Women and HIV/AIDS
Office on Women's Health
From 4woman.gov, this website provides good basic information on testing, transmission and legal rights. It also addresses emotional issues such as depression, revealing your HIV status, and parenting.
Menopause:
Women's Health Initiative
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
The Women's Health Initiative is a longitudinal study of over 93,000 post-menopausal women begun in 1991 to study cardiovascular disease, cancer, and osteoperosis. Several parallel clinical trials are ongoing. Initially conceived as a 15-year study, some of the trials have been extended to 2010. Ongoing results from the trials are available as are FAQs and general information about post-menopausal health.
Menopause: One Woman's Story, Every Woman's Story(pdf)
National Institute on Aging
Published in 2001, this booklet describes the development and common symptoms of menopause,the pros-and-cons of hormone replacement therapy, and provides available resources for assistance and further information. In 2003, a supplement(pdf) was published which describes updates in hormone replacement therapy.
Menopausal Hormone Use: Questions and Answers
National Cancer Institute
A Q&A style format weighs the risks and benefits of hormone therapy. It discusses the effects of hormones on the uterus, the connection with different forms of cancer and heart disease, and its effects on cognitive abilities.
Reproductive Health:
Birth Control Guide
Federal Drug Administration
Descriptions of all federally approved forms of birth control including failure rates, risks, and convenience. Also available as a chart in pdf format.
Healthy Pregnancy
Office on Women's Health
Information to guide you through your pregnancy. For each trimester, information is given on what is happening in your body, both to you and the fetus, as well as checklists of tests, doctor visits and other resources. Hints on how to prepare for the baby and a large section about breastfeeding. A set of tools include a due date calculator and several checklists. Most of the content was created specifically for 4woman.gov.
MedlinePlus Health Topics: Pregnancy
National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health
Where the 4woman.gov pregnancy section is about being pregnant, this MedlinePlus website is about pregnancy. Links to outside organizations explain, for example, "New Treatment Guidelines for Pregnant Women with Asthma" and "Fetal Immunity."
