Women’s health and hormones do not exist in a vacuum, and conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can impact normal life transitions and events like perimenopause and pregnancy. Hormonal imbalances lie at the root of these conditions and, regarding PCOS and perimenopause, symptoms often overlap. Whether you’re hoping for a pregnancy or curious about the […]
Do you dread going to the gynecologist because of difficult pap smears? Does painful sex prevent you from achieving healthy intimacy with your partner? Do you find it impossible to insert a tampon? Or maybe you’ve been told you have an “overactive” or “tight” pelvic floor. If any of this resonates, you may suffer from
Passing the menopause milestone means no more vaginal infections or similar symptoms, right? Not so fast. Entering the postmenopausal period does change your reproductive system but does not negate common conditions like vaginal infections. In fact, women in perimenopause and postmenopause may find themselves at greater risk for the most common of vaginal infections: bacterial
Losing a partner is an incredibly difficult experience, and the healing path / moving forward process can be unclear, and at times seem impossible. The feelings of grief and loss can be all-consuming, and the pathway to lessening the pain of grief often seems so out of reach. I experienced a partner’s death in my
We often don’t think about how important caring for our vaginal and vulva health really is until something doesn’t quite feel right ‘down there’. To have a happy, healthy vagina and vulva at all ages, simply follow basic hygiene practices and live a safe and healthy lifestyle! Continue reading to learn the best ways to
It’s almost impossible to avoid the often-cited statistics: 40% to 50% of first marriages end in divorce and almost 75% of second marriages end in divorce. Upon hearing these statistics, most people have a reaction to the seemingly impossible odds for a “successful” marriage. As a couples and family therapist, I see relationships at many
Your vaginal environment changes throughout your life. For women with Sjögren’s, vaginal and vulvar dryness can occur well before menopause. This can leave women wondering: does Sjögren’s exacerbate menopause symptoms? Vaginal dryness, whether from Sjögren’s or menopause, can significantly impact your day-to-day life. The good news? You can find relief. Read on to learn what
Throughout a woman’s life, her body will undergo a series of remarkable and dramatic stages of growth and development. Among the most dramatic changes are those of the vagina and vulva, which prepare women to conceive, sustain pregnancy, and deliver babies. Read on as we journey through the secret—and not so secret—life of the vagina
Misuse of prescription painkillers, antidepressants, and other prescription drugs is a growing problem, and women are being disproportionately impacted. Medications affect men and women differently, but this is just part of the problem. Following are some of the reasons women may be more prone to addiction, the problems women face as a result, and how
Skin is the largest organ of the human body and that’s why a skincare routine is so important. Remember being able to sleep in makeup and not suffer a breakout? Now, all we must do is stare at our skin a little too long and we get a blemish. As we age, our skin requires
Alcohol use is on the rise among US women, and the statistics are, shall we say, sobering. Alcohol use disorder, or AUD, has increased by an astonishing 84% over the past decade, and women are also drinking at earlier ages than men, with 32% of female high school students consuming alcohol compared to 26% of
“Gimme a head with hair. Long, beautiful hair. Shining, gleaming. Streaming, flaxen, waxen.” This song lyric from the ‘60s musical Hair sums it up quite nicely. For women, our hair is our crowning glory. But as we age, we may notice changes to our hair – it may begin to thin where we want it (our