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For more than two years, the pain in Bruce Pulley’s left hip slowed him down and kept him from doing the things he loved, especially fishing. His BJC Medical Group orthopedic surgeon, Jesse Beard, DO, recommended a hip replacement as treatment to help relieve his pain, but the thought of surgery made Bruce nervous, so he put off scheduling it.

An epidemic of chronic diseases continues to grow in the United States; half the population — an estimated 129 million Americans — have lifelong health conditions that need continuous medical attention and limit certain daily activities.

It’s no secret that when women are healthy, families and communities thrive. But from menstruation to menopause, women face many distinct — and sometimes complex — health events that require care, understanding and partnership from a health care provider.

Think of the word “infertility,” and you might picture a couple without children struggling to get pregnant or stay pregnant. But there is another set of people — those who have successfully conceived and given birth to one or more children — who struggle with infertility, too. Called secondary infertility, the condition often carries an extra burden: Those affected by it might feel guilty over wanting another child; those close to them may be unsympathetic because they are already a parent; or frustrated because getting pregnant the first (or second) time was relatively easy.