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Spotlight on Women's Health

Interview with an adoption advocate

When Lindsey and her spouse decided to start having children, things didn’t turn out how they had originally planned. Facing infertility, they looked to adoption as the way to start a family. Now, as an adoption advocate and stay-at-home mom, Lindsey is facing one of the toughest trials of her life as she fights for her son in a contested adoption. Read her interview to learn about her positive view of adoption and her thoughts on the heartaches and joys of adoption and infertility.

Read Lindsey's story.

Are You A Caregiver?

Most Americans will be informal caregivers at some point during their lives. During any given year, 21 percent of Americans provide unpaid care to an elderly or disabled person 18 years or older — and over 60 percent of those people are women. Although many caregivers report that taking care of a loved one is rewarding, it can also lead to stress, loss of sleep, or other physical symptoms. If you are a caregiver, take some time to find out if caregiver stress is taking a toll on you and what you can do about it.

Learn more about caregiver stress in our fact sheet.

What Women Want to Know

Highlights from the womenshealth.gov call center

We received an e-mail from a woman wanting to know if a person without herpes who has sex with someone with herpes would always get herpes.

We encouraged her to discuss these concerns with her doctor. Her doctor will be able to give her the most up-to-date information on how to lower her risk of passing or getting herpes. We also provided her several online publications and resources.

Genital Herpes Fact Sheet (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Understanding Genital Herpes (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
Frequently Asked Questions About Genital Herpes (PDF, 117 KB) (American Social Health Association)

Learn more about genital herpes.

Call Us!
800-994-9662
TDD: 888-220-5446

Trained English- and Spanish-speaking information and referral specialists will find and order free health information or provide referrals to organizations to assist you with any health questions.

Learn more.

Act Now to Help Your Daughter Build Her Best Bones Forever!™

Girls ages 9 to 18 are in their key bone-building years. In girls, close to 90 percent of bone mass is built by age 18. Make sure your daughter is getting the calcium, vitamin D, and physical activity she needs to build strong bones and prevent osteoporosis later in life.

Our new campaign, Best Bones Forever!™, is focused on fun and friendship and empowers girls to "grow strong together, stay strong forever." Your daughter will love the fun and interactive Web site for girls at http://www.bestbonesforever.gov, which includes quizzes, recipes, and activities she can do with her BFF (best friend forever). There's a Web site for you as well at http://www.bestbonesforever.gov/parents. Learn about your own bone health needs, print recipes, and find tips to help your daughter build her best bones forever.

Check out the Best Bones Forever!™ Web site.

With the coming season full of festivities and parties, it’s a good idea to stick to your physical activity plan. Find the support and motivation you need through our Woman Activity Tracker.

Learn more about the Woman Activity Tracker.

Are You Having a Health Fair Soon?

Are you having a health fair, round table, workshop or other event? Our Event Kit includes talking points and materials to help make your event successful. Download the Event Kit and call our information referral center (800-994-9662) to order materials for your event.

Download our Event Kit. (PDF, 1.8 MB)

Healthy Recipes for a Healthy Life

Cranberries make a distinct appearance on dining tables across the country this time of year. In addition to their tart taste and brilliant color, half a cup of this festive fruit packs in 10 percent of your recommended vitamin C! Check out these cranberry-inspired recipes and get on track for a tasty Thanksgiving meal!

Find more recipes from the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association.

Health News Headlines

Get more news.

Health Observances

Keep track of upcoming health observances.

Quick Health Data Online Monthly Spotlight

Every month Quick Health Data Online highlights topics of interest and relevant data available on their Web site. November's spotlight is premature birth awareness.

Find statistics from your state.

Which do you think best describes womenshealth.gov?

	Healthy women. Healthy world. Healthy you.
	Helping women live healthier lives
	Empowering women to live healthy lives
	The federal government source for women’s health information

Helping Girls Make Healthy Eating Choices

Parents play a big role in shaping their children's eating habits. The resources in this section can help you teach your daughter about healthy eating. Your daughter can use the tools in our nutrition section to learn more about healthy eating on her own or you can use the resources together.

Teach your daughter healthy eating habits.

Growing Great Girls Newsletter

Get up-to-the-moment articles and links to information on the issues you're most concerned with as a parent.

Order Your 2010 Women's Health Calendar Today!
Available in English & Spanish

Reserve your copy of the 2010 women's health calendar. This FREE calendar offers information about common health problems and important symptoms to watch out for. You'll also find charts that describe the screenings and immunizations you need, tips on how to get a second opinion and how to read a drug label, and more — all in a handy, portable calendar you can keep with you year round. The calendar is now also available in Spanish!

Use our easy online form for single orders. For bulk orders (more than one copy), call us at 800-994-9662.

Order your single copy of the 2010 womenshealth.gov calendar.

National Lupus Awareness Campaign

Women are encouraged to visit http://www.couldihavelupus.gov or call 800-994-9662 (for assistance in English or Spanish) to learn more about lupus and its symptoms, and to get local resources. Women can also upload their personal stories, post comments, and help create a much-needed communal dialogue about lupus.

Learn more about the National Lupus Awareness Campaign.

The Healthy Woman: A Complete Guide for All Ages is available to order online and in bookstores nationwide. From the nation's leaders in women's health, the Guide covers a broad range of health topics affecting women of all ages.

Order your copy.