Mayo Clinic specialists answer health questions from readers like you.

• Pain and depression: Are they linked?
• Painful urination (dysuria): What causes it?
• Palindromic rheumatism: Why is treatment so challenging?
• Pancreatic cancer treatment: Why is it so challenging?
• Pancreatic insufficiency: What causes it?
• Pap smear: Can it detect ovarian cancer?
• Pap smear: Do I need one if I'm a virgin?
• Pap smear: Still necessary after hysterectomy?
• Parkinsonism: What causes it?
• Parotid gland tumor
• Passive-aggressive behavior: How can I recognize it?
• Peanut allergy: Can a child outgrow it?
• Peanut allergy: Is Nutella a safe substitute for peanut butter?
• Peanut allergy: Is school peanut ban necessary?
• Peeling skin: Should I be concerned?
• Penis fracture: Is this possible?
• Percent Daily Value (%DV): What does it mean?
• Pericardial effusion: What are the symptoms?
• Petechiae (bleeding into the skin)
• Petroleum jelly: Safe for a dry nose?
• Peyronie's disease: Is shock wave therapy an effective treatment?
• Phantosmia: What causes olfactory hallucinations?
• Phentermine: Can it help me lose weight?
• Phenylalanine in diet soda: Is it harmful?
• Phenylephrine: Why is it replacing pseudoephedrine?
• Phosphatidylserine supplements: Can they improve memory?
• Phthalates in cosmetics: Hazardous to your health?
• Pilates: Is it safe for older adults?
• Pillar procedure: A new sleep apnea treatment?
• Pink eye treatment: What if I wear contact lenses?
• Pink eye: How long is it contagious?
• Plastic containers in the microwave: A cause of cancer?
• PLEVA, or Mucha-Habermann disease
• Plugged ears: What is the remedy?
• Pneumonitis: What are the causes?
• Pneumothorax
• POEMS syndrome: How is it treated?
• Poinsettia plants: Are they poisonous if eaten?
• Polycythemia vera
• Polyglandular autoimmune syndromes
• Polymyositis: Can a gluten-free diet reduce symptoms?
• Polypodium leucotomos: Sunscreen in a pill?
• Pomegranate juice: A cure for prostate cancer?
• Pomegranate juice: Can it lower cholesterol?
• Poor sperm morphology: A cause of male infertility?
• Poppy seeds: Can they affect drug tests?
• Porphyria
• Positive rheumatoid factor blood test: What does it mean?
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Can it be associated with psychosis?
• Postpartum depression: How does it affect my baby?
• Postpartum preeclampsia: What causes it?
• Postpartum thyroiditis
• Pre-ejaculation fluid: Can it cause pregnancy?
• Prednisone withdrawal: What are the symptoms?
• Pregnancy after gastric bypass: Is it safe?
• Prehypertension: What can I do about it?
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD): A severe form of PMS
• Prenatal vitamins: OK for women who aren't pregnant?
• Presbyopia symptom: A cause of blurred distance vision?
• Prescription drugs: What does 'off-label use' mean?
• Primary alveolar hypoventilation
• Primary lateral sclerosis
• Prinzmetal's angina (variant angina)
• Probiotics: Do they offer health benefits?
• Proctalgia fugax: A cause of episodic rectal pain?
• Progesterone for hot flashes: Safe after breast cancer?
• Prolotherapy: An effective treatment for chronic pain?
• Prostate cancer brachytherapy: Can I pass radiation to others?
• Prostate cancer treatment: Is prostatectomy possible if brachytherapy fails?
• Prostate cancer: Can I transmit cancer to my partner during sex?
• Prostate cancer: Does PSA level affect prognosis?
• Prostatis: Can sexual activity make it worse?
• Protein in urine: A concern after kidney transplant?
• Protein in urine: What does it mean?
• Protein shakes: Do they increase weight loss?
• Proton pump inhibitors: Do they impair calcium absorption?
• PSA levels: Can they rise after prostate removal?
• PSA test: Is it necessary after age 75?
• Pseudoclaudication vs. claudication: What's the difference?
• Puffy eyes: How can I reduce puffiness?
• Pulmonary eosinophilia
• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Pulsatile tinnitus: What causes it?
• Pulse pressure: An indicator of heart health?
• Pulsed radiofrequency neurotomy: A cure for back pain?
• Pyeloplasty: A procedure to remove blockage in the ureter