BBC - Health - Womens health

Common illnesses Some diseases are more common among women or affect them in a different way from men. Others affect women only, including a number of cancers. Dr Trisha Macnair takes a look at these, as well as the specific consequences of smoking and alcohol for women.

In this section
Anaemia The causes and effects of iron deficiency Breast cancer An in-depth look at the most common cancer in women Cervical cancer Causes of cervical cancer and how to spot the symptoms Ovarian cancer It can be difficult to spot, but early detection is crucial Vulval cancer Learn to recognise the signs of this uncommon cancer Womb cancer Also known as cancer of the uterus or endometrial cancer	Endometriosis The cause of severe period pain for millions of women Pelvic inflammatory disease PID can lead to long-term complications, including infertility Fibroids The problems uterine fibroids can cause, plus treatments Heart disease It's the biggest cause of death for women in the UK Osteoporosis Advice to help you avoid developing brittle bones	PCOS Common symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome Alcohol Discover whether you're drinking too much Smoking More and more women are dying from smoking-related diseases Cervical smear test What it's looking for, how it's done and what the results mean Pelvic prolapse The symptoms and treatment of this common condition

			Also in Lifestyle Cancer guide Reproductive health STIs Terminal illness	Elsewhere on bbc.co.uk The human body Elsewhere on the web Women's Health Concern
			The BBC is not responsible for content on external websites

Common illnesses