Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about my colonoscopy (but never dared to ask)

When I had rectal bleeding, I went for a colonoscopy. The doctor prescribed more fiber – but could anxiety be the source of the pain in my backside?

Don’t listen to Gwyneth Paltrow: keep your coffee well away from your rectum

The colonic irrigation and coffee enemas promoted on Paltrow’s website Goop are not merely unnecessary, they are potentially dangerous, writes obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Jen Gunter

An insurance policy underwritten by God? No thanks

In a quest for US health cover, I found a policy funded by love offerings. The search goes on, writes Guardian columnist Emma Brockes

My American awakening – suddenly I need healthcare. Help!

After a decade in America, I have been forced to find decent medical insurance. It’s not a pleasant experience, writes Guardian columnist Emma Brockes

Only one in 10 Americans eat enough fruits and vegetables, CDC study finds

Only 12% meet the daily fruit recommendation and 9% the vegetable recommendation, and people living in poverty have especially low rates

The truth about the US ‘opioid crisis’ – prescriptions aren’t the problem

The overdose crisis is driven by illicit use of drugs – not those given on prescription for patients in need, says neuroscientist and author Marc Lewis

Women’s rights are on the retreat yet again. Why?

Donald Trump’s ruling making it easier for companies to opt out of providing free birth control highlights the need for vigilance

This reclusive life: what I learned about solitude from my time with hermits

When the chaos of the big city began to drag, Paul Willis wondered if solitude might be the answer. Would his encounters with hermits yield what he wanted?

‘A third of people get major surgery to be born’: why are C-sections routine in the US?

Caesareans have transformed from life-saving intervention into risky procedure performed for one in three births – and often geography is the deciding factor

Teenage pregnancy in the US is at an all-time low. Trump could soon change that

Trump administration’s decision to cut nationwide sex ed programs is putting many young lives at risk