Ask the Nurse

Answers for your specific questions.

Wondering about your health? Confused by what you’ve read? Browse our Ask the Nurse answer archive to find answers to many women's health questions and concerns. All answers are from a Cleveland Clinic women's health nurse.

Ask the Nurse Archive

What can I do about a retroverted uterus?

December 14, 2018 at 10:29am

I have an introverted uterus. I was having sexual intercourse 3-4 weeks ago and I experienced an un-painful locking or sticking pressure on my rectum like something got caught between my uterus and rectum. Can you offer any suggestions?

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What are the chances that I'm pregnant?

December 12, 2018 at 9:41am

I have a question concerning my chances of pregnancy. I was taking regular birth control, but stopped taking them when I was on antibiotics for a throat infection. After a day from my last antibiotic, I restarted my birth control, and I understand I need to wait seven days for it to kick it.

However, the fourth day I had intercourse with my partner and used condoms. We made sure nothing slipped and no condom broke to my knowledge. But he accidentally touched the outside of my private with possible seminal fluid. I had emergency contraception from a previous experience and decided to take it after 28 hours of the incident. The next day, I woke up with an increased amount of white discharge, breast tenderness, clumpy pale yellow cervical mucus (sticky and somewhat stretchy) and I became highly concerned if I ovulated.

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Am I in menopause if I'm still getting a period?

December 11, 2018 at 11:22am

When menopause starts, isn’t the period supposed to lessen? I turned 47 and I’m getting my period every 2 weeks like clockwork. (It has been 14 weeks now.) Could something be wrong with me?

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Why do I have no energy, appetite or memory after surgery?

December 11, 2018 at 11:17am

I've had three surgeries this year: knee replacement in late April, in late June I had emergency surgery to remove part of my colon, and one month ago I had reverse ostomy surgery. This last surgery has kicked my butt! I feel like it's taken me so long to recover. I have no energy, no appetite and no memory. I go back for follow up with my surgeon on December 20. Is it just that my body has been through so much and it's going to take time to recover?

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What are treatment options for Trichorrhexis Nodosa?

December 11, 2018 at 11:05am

My 5 year old daughter was diagnosed with Trichorrhexis Nodosa. Is there a special clinic for this type of diagnosis?

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Why do I have a burning sensation in my vulva area?

December 6, 2018 at 9:12am

For more than one and half years, I have had a vaginal burning as the result of wearing sanitary pads. I have used 13 different topical creams with no results. I am now on estradiol cream two times a week for dryness, but my doctor has also recommended pelvic floor therapy. Will this help? My doctor is a vaginal specialist physician group, but has yet to come up with an answer to this literally "burning" problem.

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Where Can I Get Treatment For Lymphedema?

December 4, 2018 at 10:08am

Can I get treatment for Lymphedema at the Cleveland Clinic? What department offers that treatment?

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Can I Switch My Osteoporosis Medication?

November 26, 2018 at 9:30pm

I have severe osteoporosis and my doctor wants me to have a Prolia (denosumaub) injection. I have a very bad spinal vertebral compression fracture in my spine. l have an 8 compression fracture in my back. My DXA scan shows very bad results of my left hip T-score -6.1. My parathyroid hormones level is high, so my doctor doesn't want me to have Tymlos (abaloparatide) or Forteo (teriparatide) now. My question is can I shift to Forteo after taking one shot of Prolia?

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I Thought I Was In Menopause, Why Am I Bleeding?

November 18, 2018 at 10:00pm

I am age 50. I had experienced all the symptoms of menopause and was finally diagnosed as being in active menopause. After coming to grips with the reality that I can no longer have children and not having a period for nearly a year, I suddenly started having periods again. They were extreme with heavy bleeding and pain. Why would this happen?

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Is Discharge Normal?

November 18, 2018 at 9:38pm

I am experiencing a white, quarter-size, jelly-texture discharge from my vagina. Is this normal?

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