The mere mention of HIV/AIDS can elicit a strong reaction. Since its discovery in the early 1980s, this sexually transmitted infection (STI) continues to face greater stigmatization due to the populations most at-risk and headline-induced fear. And though effective treatments exist, sometimes people do not seek out treatment or fully understand the virus’s impact. Our […]
Not to be confused with VHS (remember those?), VSM stands for vulvovaginal symptoms of menopause. VSM might explain your vaginal and urinary tract concerns you might not have been associating menopause with. The term GSM or Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause is the technical term for this condition and has replaced VSM. VSM can persist and
Diagnoses of type 2 diabetes are on the rise in the U.S. And, like many other conditions, diabetes can impact a woman’s health in disproportionate ways. Insufficient insulin or an inability to use the insulin your pancreas produces affects your whole body, from your energy levels and digestive system to your reproductive health. This American
November is National Family Caregivers Month! Caregiving provides much needed services to older adults and people with disabilities. In the United States, over 53 million people provide such services. Though a rewarding experience, caregiving has its challenges. The number of men in the field is growing, but the caregiving task still falls disproportionately to women,
Fad diets come and go like the seasons. Many offer unrealistic or unsustainable claims of rapid fat loss, increased lean muscle mass, youthful skin, and more. However, some popular diets are actually based on sound science and informed by the latest advances in the field of nutrition. Here we describe a few of the better
Our bodies undergo considerable changes during pregnancy. As our hormones rise and fall, however, it can be a challenge to identify what’s a normal experience and what might warrant a call to your OB-GYN. Vaginal dryness is one such uncomfortable experience that can develop during pregnancy and postpartum. Why does it happen and what are
Sex toys are an empowering tool to help us discover and understand our bodies. You might be pleasantly surprised to know that they are common among women and men! Over 80% of women own a sex toy, and over 70% of men own one.1 Sex toys are designed for pleasure, but they also provide an
When it comes to menopause symptoms, hot flashes tend to get the most attention, but what about the often crushing fatigue that can accompany menopause? Close to 70% of women battle fatigue as one of their primary symptoms during the menopausal transition, yet only a quarter of these women seek help from a doctor or
Night sweats are always uncomfortable, often unpredictable, and an invariably frustrating symptom of menopause that 50 to 75% of women suffer with. Currently, medical science doesn’t know the precise cause of these vexing vasomotor episodes. However, new theories connecting night sweats (and hot flushes) with certain chronic health conditions may hold clues as to why
Feeling soreness in your breasts every now and then isn’t cause for concern. Most women experience breast soreness, or pain, from time to time. But the association between a sore breast and breast cancer, or other more serious conditions, can bring up feelings of fear and worry. This is why it’s essential to know what
Vaginal discharge is something every woman experiences over the course of her life. But depending on our age, where we’re at in our menstrual cycle, and whether we’re pre or post-menopausal, the vaginal discharge we produce can change. Sometimes these changes go beyond the bounds of what’s considered normal discharge and can be cause for
Many women who struggle conceiving take a “wait and see” approach, turning to lab testing for common fertility problems – such as PCOS or low sperm count. From there, they may be encouraged to begin IVF treatments. But what if there was a better way – an option where women not only get to complete