Resources for Women’s Health
Research updates and information to help women manage diseases and conditions.
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
- Core-Needle Biopsy for Breast Abnormalities
- Oral Contraceptive Use for the Primary Prevention of Ovarian Cancer
Resources for Patients
Patient Treatment Summaries
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
Resources for Patients
Patient Treatment Summaries
- Behavioral Programs To Help Manage Type 1 Diabetes
- Behavioral Programs To Help Manage Type 2 Diabetes
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
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
- Management of Uterine Fibroids
- Menopausal Symptoms: Comparative Effectiveness of Therapies
- Noncyclic Chronic Pelvic Pain Therapies for Women: Comparative Effectiveness
- Oral Contraceptive Use for the Primary Prevention of Ovarian Cancer
- Primary Care Management of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
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
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Disease: An Updated Systematic Review
- 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 the Diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease in Women: Future Research Needs
- Treatment Strategies for Women With Coronary Artery Disease: Future Research Needs
Resources for Patients
Patient Treatment Summaries
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.
Resources for Clinicians
Comparative Effectiveness Reviews
- Antidepressant Treatment of Depression During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period
- Management and Outcomes of Binge-Eating Disorder in Adults: Current State of the Evidence
- Nonpharmacological Versus Pharmacological Treatment for Patients With Major Depressive Disorder: Current State of the Evidence
Resources for Patients
Patient Treatment Summaries
- Comparing Talk Therapy and Other Depression Treatments With Antidepressant Medicines
- Managing Insomnia Disorder
- Medicines To Treat Alcohol Use Disorder
- Treating Binge-Eating Disorder
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
- Pain Management Interventions for Elderly Patients With Hip Fracture
- Treatment To Prevent Fractures in Men and Women With Low Bone Density or Osteoporosis: Update of a 2007 Report
Resources for Patients
Patient Treatment Summaries
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
- Antidepressant Treatment of Depression During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period
- Management of Postpartum Hemorrhage
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Maternal and Child Health: An Updated Systematic Review
- Progestogens for Prevention of Preterm Birth
- Screening and Diagnosing Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
- Strategies To Reduce Cesarean Birth in Low-Risk Women
Other Research Reports
- Future Research Needs for Strategies To Reduce Cesarean Birth in Low-Risk Women
- Management of Postpartum Hemorrhage: Current State of the Evidence
- Vaginal Birth After Cesarean: Developing and Prioritizing a Future Research Agenda
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
- Helping Smokers Quit (PDF, 186 KB)
Resources for Patients
- Quitting Helps You Heal Faster, Hospital Card [PDF Version (40 KB)]
- Dejar de fumar le ayuda a sanar más rápido (En Español)
- You Can Quit Smoking Primary Care Tear Sheet [PDF Version (62 KB)]
- Apoyo y consejos de su profesional de salud (En Español)
- You Can Quit Smoking Prenatal Care Tear Sheet [PDF Version (587 KB)]
- Usted puede dejar de fumar (En Español)
- Forever Free: For Baby and Me, A Guide to Remaining Smoke Free
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. Go to AHRQ's Patients and Consumers page for more information.
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.
