How to Give Your Vulva a Little TLC
In addition to Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October is also World Menopause Month. Oddly fitting, really, since — in North America at least — October is the quintessential representation of change.
What to Expect at Your First Mammogram
Yearly mammograms are a necessity for women beginning at age 45, and sometimes sooner for those with risk factors like a family history of breast cancer. Mammography has helped reduce the breast cancer mortality rate by 40 percent since 1990. But if you’ve never had a mammogram, you probably have a lot of questions.
How to Love Your Labia and Vulva
Sit down and grab a mirror. We’re going to reintroduce you to your vagina. When you look at yourself in the mirror, the first thing you will notice is your vulva and labia. Let’s understand what the vulva is The vulva includes the labia as well as the clitoris and urethral opening. The vulva is structured to
Menopause on Trial: Pap Smears & Pelvic Exams
The history of recommendations for Pap smears and pelvic examinations involves a lot of advisory groups and reflects both facts and factoids. The prevention of problems associated with human papilloma virus (HPV) and the early recognition of cervical, uterine, and ovarian cancers gets lumped into one series of recommendations.
Common Questions About Menopause
Thanks for all your comments and questions about menopause. We have taken the most common ones about hot flashes, hormone replacement therapy, weight gain, and vaginal dryness and provided short answers based on scientific literature. Please reach out to your doctor about all your health concerns. What is menopause? Menopause is a single day —
Living Beyond Breast Cancer CEO Jean Sachs Shares a Few Thoughts
A strong community can make a world of difference for anyone living with breast cancer. Living Beyond Breast Cancer aims to help make those connections by providing information, community, and support that is reliable and trustworthy for anyone who is affected by breast cancer. For our Women We Admire series, we spoke with Living Beyond
How to Beat Hot Flashes and Save Your Sex Life
If you didn’t know the harsh reality of what a hot flash is and what it does, the term can almost sound sexual. Of course, that couldn’t be further from the truth. For the 75 percent of menopausal women who experience hot flashes, sex is often the last thing on their minds. Hot flashes involve
How to Get Better Sleep — and Have Sweeter Dreams
Sleeplessness is among the most frustrating parts of menopause. It makes you feel sluggish and less productive, and can lead to consuming too much caffeine and increase hunger. Worse, a lack of sleep can lead to long-term health issues. Sleeplessness is common for menopausal women, with 61 percent of menopausal women reporting insomnia, according the
6 Benefits of Sex After Menopause
Aside from a bottle of fine wine, there aren’t many things in life that get better with age — though for some women sex is one of them. You don’t need us to tell you that sex can have myriad benefits throughout your life, and menopausal women can reap even more health benefits, from the obvious
5 Ways to Relieve Joint Pain Naturally
Persistent joint pain isn’t a minor annoyance — it can seriously slow you down. And joint pain is more frequent and more persistent later in life. Though there are plenty of over-the-counter solutions, NSAIDS — or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs — aren’t for everyone. Side effects, which range from stomach pain to liver and kidney problems,
5 Common Vaginal Health Problems and How to Prevent Them
When your vagina isn’t feeling quite right, it’s easy to assume the worst. Googling your symptoms can lead to increased anxiety, and a Google image search may cause you to cringe. But a lot of common vaginal health problems are easily prevented or treated. 1. Yeast Infections There’s a good chance that if you have a vagina, you’ll
A Quick Guide to Choosing a Moisturizer
No matter your skin type or age, one thing is certain: You need a moisturizer. But choosing the right moisturizer is easier said than done. Your skin may be sensitive, oily, dry, or a combination of these. There are specific ingredients to look out for, depending on your skin type. But there is more to consider: