Why are my breasts sore before a period?

The menstrual cycle can cause many symptoms, including sore breasts. Hormone fluctuations before a period can lead to breast tenderness or pain. Doctors do not fully understand what causes these breast symptoms, but they know that specific hormones are involved. People can take some measures to reduce breast discomfort. However, if their breast pain becomes…

What to know about rectovaginal endometriosis

Rectovaginal endometriosis occurs when endometrial tissue grows outside of the uterus and into the rectum, vagina, and many structures between them. Some suggest that rectovaginal endometriosis is one of the most severe forms of endometriosis. It can cause chronic pelvic pain and gastrointestinal problems, and it sometimes contributes to infertility. The condition is a form…

Mapping the Brain’s Genetic Landscape

For the past two decades, scientists have been exploring the genetics of schizophrenia, autism and other brain disorders, looking for a path toward causation. If the biological roots of such ailments could be identified, treatments might follow, or at least tests that could reveal a person’s risk level. In the 1990s, researchers focused on genes…