With gestational diabetes, pregnant women have high blood sugar levels that can seriously harm their baby’s health. Hormone testing before pregnancy may help catch those who are at high risk for this condition.

Women who have beaten breast cancer, thankfully, are living longer these days. So what sorts of challenges do ladies who are years past breast cancer face? Are they different from the challenges other women in the same age group face? The news is good.

Breast cancer survivors can have ongoing health challenges after they’ve beaten "The Big C." Many are on medications that block estrogen, the hormone that drives most breast cancers. These medicines also increase the risk of osteoporosis (brittle bones) and increase the risk of fractures.

It is certainly not uncommon for women to try alcohol during their teen years. And partying during college is almost the norm. But alcohol use during these years could be dangerous for some young women.

There are many benefits to being physically active. For older women, one of those benefits may run as deep as the bones.

For some prostate cancers, taking a wait-and-see approach is the best option. That’s because many of these cancers won’t ever become life-threatening. This same approach may be appropriate for and preferred by women with a specific type of breast tumor.

There’s a lot of talk these days about screening for, diagnosing and treating cancer. One argument is that Americans are being over-screened, over-diagnosed and over-treated for the disease. A new study adds evidence to this argument.

It’s now thought that a large proportion of cancers are associated with carrying too much weight. Nearly half of all cases of one type of female cancer are linked to obesity. Researchers have drilled down on weight and uterine cancer risks.

Even though the cause of rheumatoid arthritis remains unknown, researchers continue to find ways that could help people reduce their risk of this painful disease. A recent study found that a simple diet change might protect against the development of rheumatoid arthritis in women.

About one in eight American women will develop breast cancer at some point in her lifetime. That’s what the American Cancer Society estimates. A woman’s actual personal risk is based on many individual factors, though.