Columbus: Women have claimed for years that their bodies react differently whether they’re pregnant with a male or female baby. Some studies suggest that a baby’s sex could play a role in why some women report differences with morning sickness, cravings and other symptoms based on the sex of their baby.

New York: When it comes to heart disease, women experience unique causes, symptoms and outcomes when compared to men. In addition, certain conditions appear to increase heart disease risk in women including pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, gestational diabetes, migraine headaches with aura, early onset menopause and autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Dry patches of red, itchy skin are unpleasant symptoms of the effects of harsh winter weather. Just like you need a jacket, hat, and scarf to protect yourself from the conditions, your skin needs to be shielded from the elements, too.

If your monthly breast self-exam happens in the shower — sporadically — and involves a quick once-over of your breasts, you may be missing some important elements of an effective exam. In truth, the best and most thorough breast self-exam you can perform is a multistep process, involving more than just the breasts themselves.

Washington: Concerns about weight gain may be driving contraception choices, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers. Women who are overweight or obese are less likely than normal-weight women to use the birth control pill and other hormonal contraceptive methods.

  Adelaide: Research led by the University of Adelaide has found that women whose babies are conceived in winter are more likely to develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy, increasing a range of risk factors for both child and mother.