Doctor-Reviewed Health Guides: Conditions, Procedures & Health News

Colpocleisis is a surgery for severe pelvic organ prolapse that stitches the vaginal walls together so the bladder, uterus or rectum can no longer bulge out. It takes about an hour, often allows same-day discharge and cures or greatly improves symptoms in 98.4% of cases, but vaginal intercourse is no longer possible afterward.

A craniectomy is a major, usually emergency, brain surgery in which a surgeon removes a piece of the skull and leaves it out to relieve dangerous swelling, pressure or bleeding on the brain. It is often done after a traumatic brain injury or stroke. The bone is replaced later in a second surgery called a cranioplasty.

Corticosteroids are prescription anti-inflammatory medicines that act like cortisol, a hormone your adrenal glands make. They calm swelling, pain and an overactive immune system in conditions such as asthma, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and eczema. They come as shots, creams, drops, pills or IV doses. Side effects rise with longer use, so take them exactly as prescribed.

Condoms are sheaths worn on the penis or in the vagina that block body fluids. Used correctly, they are 98% effective against pregnancy (87% when not used correctly) and lower the risk of chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B and HIV (consistent use cut HIV risk by 70% to 80%), but protect less against herpes, genital warts and syphilis.

Cranioplasty is a major surgery that repairs a hole or defect in the skull, most often after a craniectomy, a traumatic head injury, or a growth abnormality. A surgeon replaces, repairs, or reshapes the skull using bone, titanium, or a custom implant. It usually takes up to three hours, and recovery takes one to three months.

Colostomy irrigation is a way to empty the colon by flushing warm water into it through the stoma, much like an enema, at a set time each day or every other day. It suits people with a descending or sigmoid colostomy, can take up to an hour, and may let them skip wearing a pouch.

A corpus callosotomy is a type of epilepsy surgery that cuts the band of nerve fibers linking the two halves of the brain, so seizure activity can no longer spread from one side to the other. It is mainly used for frequent atonic (drop) seizures that antiseizure medicines have not controlled, and it reduces seizures rather than curing epilepsy.

Cosmetic dentistry is the branch of dentistry focused on improving how your smile looks, bringing balance and symmetry to teeth and gums. Common treatments include teeth whitening, dental bonding, veneers, tooth contouring and gum contouring. Results last from a few months to a lifetime, and insurance usually does not cover these procedures.

Compression therapy is a treatment that uses elastic stockings, wraps or inflatable garments to gently squeeze the lower legs, helping veins return blood to the heart. It eases pain and swelling from chronic venous insufficiency, varicose veins, edema and leg ulcers, and helps prevent blood clots. Report new pain, tingling, numbness or skin changes promptly.

Colonoscopy prep is the process of emptying and cleaning your colon before a colonoscopy so your doctor can clearly see its lining and spot polyps. It usually means a low-fiber diet two to three days before, clear liquids only the day before, and a laxative drink split between the day before and four to six hours before the procedure.

A chin implant is a surgical procedure that places a shaped implant, usually flexible silicone, on the chin bone to enlarge a small or recessed chin and balance the jawline and profile. It is mostly cosmetic, most people take it easy for one to two weeks, and fever, pus or swelling lasting beyond a few days needs a surgeon's review.

A colectomy is surgery to remove part or all of the colon (large intestine). It treats conditions such as colon cancer, diverticulitis, bowel obstruction, gastrointestinal bleeding and severe inflammatory bowel disease. Surgeons use open, laparoscopic or robotic methods, then reconnect the bowel or create an ostomy. Most home recovery takes up to six weeks.

The chickenpox vaccine is a two-dose shot that protects children and adults against chickenpox, a highly contagious illness that causes an itchy rash. Children get dose one at 12 to 15 months and dose two at 4 to 6 years; teens and adults without immunity get two doses at least 28 days apart. Side effects are usually mild.

Cleft lip and cleft palate surgery is a series of operations that close a split in a baby's upper lip and the roof of the mouth. Lip repair usually happens at 3 to 6 months and palate repair around 12 months, under general anesthesia, to help with eating, breathing, hearing and speech.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a goal-focused type of talk therapy that helps you notice and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It teaches practical skills to manage stress and emotions, and it may help with anxiety, depression, PTSD, some physical conditions and life changes. Many people attend eight to 12 sessions of about 60 minutes each.

Clear aligners are clear, custom-made plastic trays that gently move crooked or crowded teeth and treat some mild to moderate bite problems. You wear them 22 to 23 hours a day, remove them to eat, drink and clean your teeth, and switch to a new tray about every two weeks. An orthodontist decides if they suit you.

Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is a short, structured talk therapy and the first-line treatment for chronic insomnia. A licensed therapist helps you change your sleep schedule, habits and unhelpful thoughts about sleep, usually over four to eight sessions. Most people notice better sleep within six to eight weeks, without medication.

A clear liquid diet is a short-term medical diet made up only of see-through fluids, such as water, clear broth and plain gelatin. It rests the digestive tract, helps prevent dehydration and prepares the body for surgery or a colonoscopy. Because it lacks protein, calories and nutrients, it usually lasts no more than three days.

Chemotherapy drugs are medicines that kill fast-growing cells, such as cancer cells, by disrupting the cell cycle so the cells cannot copy their DNA or divide. The main groups are alkylating agents, antimetabolites, topoisomerase inhibitors, mitotic inhibitors and antitumor antibiotics. Because healthy fast-growing cells are also affected, common side effects include fatigue, hair loss, nausea and infection risk.

A cochlear implant is an electronic device that helps people with moderate to profound hearing loss who no longer benefit enough from hearing aids. It bypasses damaged parts of the inner ear and sends signals straight to the hearing nerve. It does not restore natural hearing, but with hearing therapy it improves speech understanding.

A chiropractic adjustment is a hands-on treatment where a licensed chiropractor uses hands or small instruments to apply quick, controlled pressure to a joint, often in the spine. It mainly treats lower back pain, neck pain, headaches and joint stiffness. Mild soreness usually fades within 24 hours; new weakness, numbness or worsening pain needs prompt care.

Clear braces are fixed orthodontic appliances that straighten teeth using tooth-colored ceramic brackets and a frosted, tooth-colored wire instead of metal. They correct crooked, crowded or gapped teeth and bite problems as effectively as metal braces, but they are more fragile, can stain, usually cost more and may take 12 to 36 months.

Clitoroplasty is a surgical procedure that reduces, repositions, reshapes or creates the clitoris while aiming to keep its sensation. It treats conditions such as clitoromegaly, congenital adrenal hyperplasia and atypical genitalia, and some adults choose it for comfort or appearance. Surgery takes one to two hours, and full recovery usually takes six to 12 weeks.

Chin reduction surgery is an outpatient operation that shaves or cuts away part of the chin bone to make a long, wide, or protruding chin smaller and more balanced with the rest of the face. It takes one to three hours under general anesthesia, and most people return to solid food and activity within two weeks.