Your Health Questions
Answered by Professionals

Egg white discharge is clear, stretchy cervical mucus that typically appears 1–2 days before ovulation, signaling your peak fertile window and helping sperm survive and reach the egg. If trying to conceive, have sex every 1–2 days when you notice it and consider tracking mucus and basal body temperature; see a clinician if it’s foul-smelling, colored, itchy, or if you don’t see fertile mucus after months of trying. There are several factors to consider—see below for timing tips, what’s normal vs. concerning, and when to seek care.

Left upper quadrant abdominal pain is discomfort under the left ribs that can come from the stomach/colon (gas, gastritis/ulcer), spleen, pancreas, kidney, ribs/muscles, or even lungs/heart—ranging from minor issues to emergencies like pancreatitis, splenic infarct, pneumonia, or a heart problem. Seek urgent care for sudden severe pain, fever, persistent vomiting, blood in vomit/stool, shortness of breath, fainting, or after trauma; otherwise, evaluation typically includes an exam, labs, and imaging, with treatment tailored to the cause. There are several factors to consider—see the complete guidance below for red flags, workup steps, and targeted self-care and treatments that could affect your next decision.

Most often it’s a harmless eyelid spasm (myokymia) triggered by fatigue, stress, caffeine, screen strain, or dry eyes; in women, hormonal shifts and cosmetic irritation can also play a role, and simple steps like rest, reducing stimulants, lubricating drops, and screen breaks usually help. Seek care if it lasts more than two weeks, spreads to the face or forces the eyelid closed, or comes with vision changes, pain, redness/discharge, light sensitivity, or facial weakness—there are several factors to consider; see below for important details and guidance on next steps.

White, creamy discharge right before your period is usually normal leukorrhea driven by progesterone in the luteal phase, and it’s typically mild in odor and white to off-white. There are several factors to consider—itching or burning, strong fishy odor, green/gray/yellow color, cottage-cheese texture, pelvic pain, or bleeding can signal yeast, BV, STIs, or other issues that need care; see below for full details, a quick symptom check, practical self-care tips, and when to contact a clinician.

The baking soda trick for men with ED involves mixing 1/2–1 teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate into 8 ounces of water and drinking it daily for up to a week, aiming to slightly raise blood pH so penile smooth muscle relaxes and blood flow improves. There’s no clinical proof it helps ED, and it can pose risks (high sodium load, metabolic alkalosis, blood-pressure increases, drug interactions), so talk with a clinician—especially if you have heart, kidney, or BP issues. There are several factors to consider, including safe use, red flags, and proven options like PDE5 medications and lifestyle changes; see the complete details below.

Apple cider vinegar is not a proven way to lower blood pressure: human evidence is limited and mixed, with at most small, indirect effects via better blood sugar control and modest weight loss, and major guidelines don’t recommend it. There are several factors to consider—including dilution, tooth enamel and GI irritation, possible low potassium, and interactions with blood pressure or diabetes medications—so don’t replace prescribed treatment; if you try it, use small, well diluted amounts and consult your clinician. For important details that could influence your next steps, see below.

There’s no scientifically proven link between specific pregnancy cravings and having a boy—cravings for salty snacks, meats, spicy foods, or umami dishes are popular myths, not predictors. To learn your baby’s sex, rely on evidence-based options like NIPT (from ~10 weeks) or ultrasound (18–22 weeks) and focus on balanced nutrition; there are several factors to consider, including safe ways to handle cravings and when to seek care—see below for the complete answer.

There are several factors to consider: shared triggers like stress/anxiety, migraines with gastrointestinal symptoms, infections or food poisoning/intolerance, dehydration, medication irritation, or IBS can cause both at once via the gut–brain axis and inflammatory signals. Simple self-care (fluids, bland foods, acetaminophen, rest and stress management) often helps, but urgent signs—sudden “worst-ever” headache, high fever with persistent vomiting, blood in stool/vomit, severe or worsening abdominal pain, dehydration, or confusion—need immediate care; see the complete details below to understand more and choose the right next steps.

There are several factors to consider—hormonal shifts in the luteal phase can disrupt restorative sleep and energy, heavy periods can cause iron deficiency, and mood changes (including PMDD), stress, diet, and activity levels can all compound fatigue. See below for practical ways to boost sleep and energy, plus key red flags (heavy bleeding, anemia symptoms, severe fatigue, or significant mood changes) that may require medical care and guide your next steps.

There are several factors to consider—foamy or bubbly urine is often harmless (fast stream, dehydration, cleaning products), but persistent foam can signal protein in the urine from kidney disease, or be caused by a UTI, diabetes, liver disease, or pregnancy-related issues. Red flags like swelling, high blood pressure, dark or bloody urine, fever, flank pain, or shortness of breath mean you should seek medical care. See the complete guidance below for details on causes, testing, and the right next steps.

Placebo pills maintain your daily pill-taking routine and create a hormone-free week that triggers a scheduled withdrawal bleed, a design from the original 21/7 combined pill regimens that many find reassuring. They aren’t medically required for everyone, and extended or continuous regimens can reduce or skip bleeding. There are several factors to consider, including what to do if bleeding is missed and health issues like clotting risks or liver disease—see the complete details below to guide your next steps.

There are several factors to consider: sudden facial heat is often from stress/emotions, heat or temperature changes, spicy foods/alcohol, or exercise, but recurrent flushing can also come from menopause/hormonal shifts, medications, rosacea/skin issues, liver disease, or rare tumors. Cool down with a cool compress, water, slow breathing, and trigger avoidance; seek urgent care for chest pain, breathing trouble, high fever/confusion, stroke-like symptoms, or flushing with weight loss/diarrhea. For important details on treatments (from lifestyle to topical, non-hormonal or hormonal meds) and exactly when to see a doctor, see below.

Chest pain that worsens when lying down is often from acid reflux but can also signal pericarditis, angina/heart attack, pleurisy or pneumonia, costochondritis, or anxiety. There are several factors to consider—timing, triggers, and accompanying symptoms—because red flags like spreading pressure, shortness of breath, sweating, fever, or fainting need urgent care. See below for how to tell the difference, what you can try at home, and when to call a clinician or 911.

Pus in urine (pyuria) means there’s inflammation or infection in the urinary tract—most often a UTI, but it can also be a kidney infection, STI (chlamydia/gonorrhea), kidney stones, catheter-related infection, prostatitis, or noninfectious bladder inflammation. Diagnosis usually needs a urinalysis and urine culture (sometimes imaging), and treatment depends on the cause. There are several factors to consider and important red flags (high fever, severe flank/back pain, signs of sepsis) that require urgent care—see below for full details on causes, tests, treatments, prevention, and next steps.

Tingling in your back is usually from temporary nerve irritation due to muscle strain or posture, but it can also be caused by a herniated disc or stenosis, shingles, diabetes or B12 deficiency, anxiety, or (less commonly) spinal cord conditions. Most cases aren’t dangerous, but seek urgent care for worsening or persistent tingling, new weakness, loss of bladder/bowel control, severe unrelenting pain, fever/weight loss, or a history of cancer or immune suppression. There are several factors to consider—see below for key details on causes, red flags, diagnosis, and treatment options that could change your next steps.

Yes—many people with alopecia find support groups helpful: they reduce isolation, offer practical tips (wigs/camouflage), and keep you updated on treatments; evidence from similar conditions shows improved quality of life, lower stress, and better coping. Groups vary and can carry pitfalls like misinformation or emotional triggers, and they should complement—not replace—care from a dermatologist or mental-health professional. There are several factors to consider; see below for how to choose a reputable group, other resources that may help, and the red flags (rapid or widespread loss, infection signs, significant depression) that mean you should contact a clinician.

Yes—alopecia areata can be misdiagnosed; overlapping symptoms with other hair-loss causes and its waxing/waning course can lead to delays or inappropriate treatment. There are several factors to consider: key look-alikes and the tests that distinguish them (dermoscopy, labs, biopsy) are explained below to guide your next steps and when to see a specialist.

Alopecia can improve, stay stable, or get worse over time—the course depends on the type (alopecia areata is unpredictable; pattern hair loss usually progresses) and factors like age at onset, extent of hair loss, autoimmune conditions, and stress. There are several factors to consider and treatments that may slow or reverse loss if started early; see the details below for signs of progression, when to contact a doctor, and options to monitor and treat.

Yes—alopecia, especially alopecia areata, is linked to higher rates of depression and anxiety; studies show about a 1.5–2x increased risk, with up to 39% experiencing significant depressive symptoms. There are several factors to consider; key triggers, warning signs, and next steps—including when to seek urgent help and which treatments and supports can help—are outlined below.

Yes—counseling can meaningfully help people with alopecia by reducing anxiety and depression, improving self-esteem, and building coping skills through approaches like CBT, ACT, and supportive or group therapy. Pairing counseling with medical care offers a more holistic plan and can strengthen social support and treatment adherence. There are important options, how to find the right therapist/support group, cost/insurance tips, and urgent mental health red flags to consider—see the complete details below.

Yes—lifestyle changes can support healthier follicles and sometimes promote regrowth, especially with balanced nutrition (protein, iron, vitamin D, zinc), omega‑3/6 and antioxidants, stress reduction, scalp care/massage, regular exercise, quality sleep, hydration, and limiting smoking/alcohol. Not every cause is reversible, so watch for rapid or patchy loss, scalp symptoms, or thinning with other symptoms and seek professional evaluation—see details below for specific diet, supplement, and scalp-care guidance and when treatments like minoxidil may be appropriate.

Yes—menopause can worsen hair thinning and shedding because falling estrogen and progesterone make androgens relatively stronger, accelerating follicle miniaturization and unmasking genetic female pattern hair loss; stress-related telogen effluvium or autoimmune patches may also appear. Treatments can include topical/oral minoxidil, anti-androgens, HRT, nutrition, and gentle hair care, with rapid or patchy loss or systemic symptoms needing medical evaluation. There are several factors to consider; see the details below to understand patterns, rule out other causes (thyroid, iron, medications), and choose the right next steps.

Yes—blood tests rarely give a simple yes/no diagnosis, but they’re very helpful for uncovering treatable causes of hair loss and guiding care (commonly ferritin/iron, vitamin D, thyroid function, and select autoimmune markers, with other nutritional or hormonal labs as indicated). There are several factors to consider—what to test, thresholds that matter, monitoring timelines, and when rapid or patchy loss needs prompt evaluation—see the complete details below, which can influence your next steps with a clinician.

Alopecia can appear in both patterns: patchy bald spots (most often alopecia areata) and diffuse thinning or shedding across the scalp (commonly telogen effluvium, but also pattern hair loss or anagen effluvium). Which pattern you have—and any recent triggers, timing, and treatment options—matters for next steps; see the details below to understand how to tell them apart and when to seek care.

Yes—starting treatment early generally improves outcomes by rescuing vulnerable follicles before permanent damage; clinical trials show earlier use of finasteride or minoxidil leads to better hair retention and regrowth. The cause matters: pattern loss often responds to these meds, alopecia areata and scarring alopecias need prompt medical therapy to prevent irreversible loss, and telogen effluvium improves when triggers are addressed. There are several factors to consider—see below for key details on diagnosis, treatment options, timelines, and red flags that can change your next steps.

Yes—stress can trigger diffuse hair shedding called telogen effluvium, typically starting 2–3 months after a major stressor and usually reversing over 3–6 months once the trigger resolves. There are several factors to consider, including chronic stress, nutrition, medical conditions, and autoimmune alopecia areata (patchy bald spots), so the best next steps—labs, stress reduction, gentle hair care, or treatments—depend on your situation; see the complete guidance below. Seek care promptly for patchy loss, scalp symptoms, or shedding that continues beyond 6 months; details below.

Alopecia areata is relatively common: about 2% of people (≈1 in 50) will develop it at some point, with 0.1–0.2% affected at any given time and ~20 new cases per 100,000 each year; rates are similar worldwide. In the U.S., that translates to roughly 6–7 million people over a lifetime. There are several factors to consider—age of onset, family history, related autoimmune conditions, and when to seek care—see the details below to understand what could impact your next steps.

Alopecia can significantly affect mental health—commonly lowering self-esteem and body image, driving social withdrawal, and raising the risk of anxiety (up to ~39%) and depression (~30%), with women and younger people often more affected. There are several factors to consider—identity, unpredictability, and stigma—and there are effective supports (medical care, therapy, support groups, cosmetic options, mind–body tools); see the complete guidance below, including red flags for urgent help and next steps to take.

Hair loss can significantly undermine self-esteem—research links it to anxiety, depression, social withdrawal, and a loss of identity or femininity/masculinity, with heightened impact in women, younger people, and those with alopecia areata. There are several factors to consider, including cause and unpredictability, but medical, cosmetic, and psychological treatments can help restore confidence; see below for specific options, coping strategies, and when to seek professional help.

Pregnancy’s higher estrogen and a Th2 immune shift often thicken hair and can improve alopecia areata, but after delivery the hormone drop and immune rebound commonly cause diffuse shedding 2–4 months postpartum (telogen effluvium, usually resolving within 6–12 months) and can trigger AA flares; female pattern hair loss is less affected and may be unmasked after birth. There are several factors to consider—your alopecia type, timing, and which treatments are safe in pregnancy or breastfeeding—see the complete guidance below to understand key risks, timelines, and the best next steps to discuss with your clinician.