Cycle Signs: When to Listen It's not unusual for a woman to occasionally have trouble with her menstrual cycle: – a missed period, spotting at unusual times, uncomfortable cramping. Frequently, a woman's cycle will return to normal on its own. However, if you experience irregular cycles for three to four months and/or prolonged menstrual pain, contact your doctor. Depending on the specific symptoms, he or she may order a biopsy, ultrasound or other diagnostic tests to determine the underlying cause. There are effective ways to treat menstrual cycle pain and excessive bleeding, so listen to your body and if appropriate, seek help. Learn more

Physician: Wendy Draper, MD, obstetrics/gynecology, The Vancouver Clinic

When Fibroids Cause Concern Uterine fibroids are a problem so widespread among women that if you don't have them yourself, you probably have a friend or relative who does. Often fibroids pose no trouble — many women don't even know that they have them because they have no symptoms. Other times these growths can be more troublesome. At Southwest, interventional radiologists perform fibroid shrinking surgery also called uterine fibroid embolization -- a minimally invasive procedure that cuts off the fibroid's blood supply, causing it to shrink or go away completely. Learn more

Physician: Robert Bloch, MD, interventional radiology, Columbia Imaging Group

Stop Leaks in their Tracks If you ever worried about having an accident while out in public, been embarrassed about possible odors, or had concerns about underlying health problems, you are not alone. Stress urinary incontinence is when small amounts of urine leak involuntarily from movements such as coughing, laughing or sneezing. This condition is often brought on when there's a breakdown in the complex system of muscles and nerves involved in urination. Don't give up or accept your bladder problems. Incontinence is treatable. Learn more

Physician: Laura McGuire, MD, obstetrics/gynecology, The Women's Clinic of Vancouver