Topic: womens health

Ladies: Smoking Is Even Worse For You Than We Thought

Several new studies, out this week in the New England Journal of Medicine, show that the risks of smoking for women have been underestimated for decades. More »

Worst Quotes About Women’s Health in 2012

Worst Quotes About Womenâ��s Health in 2012

For me, a good chunk of this year was spent simultaneously marveling at and feeling incredibly terrified by the rampant ignorance about women’s health and women’s bodies that continues to permeate our country. From the sheer number of ignorant Republican rape comments to the slut-shaming of Kristen Stewart, 2012 was a terrible year for women’s health in the United States. Let’s all read these quotes, get angry, and plot ways we can change the world with our hairy-legged, menstrual-cup wearing, vagina-having, feminist rage. More »

Are Mammogram Parties A Good Idea?

There is a new surprising trend in women’s health that is gaining momentum in America, and it involves wine, cheese and chests. More »

Female Executives Are Breaking Ceilings, But Their Health Is Not A Priority

It is hard to go to Pilates when you are trying to be super woman. According to new data collected by Macleans, women at the top of their fields are putting their health at risk. They are more prone to the high level of stress-related illnesses of executives and CEOs but unlike their male colleagues, women, for the most part, have more stress at home. More »

I Have To Go Get A Hysterectomy, BRB

When you are reading this, I will be in an operating room having my lady box removed by a robot. For the last year or so, I have been dealing with the inevitable reality of having a hysterectomy. Severe menorrhagia that has left me so anemic I have needed blood transfusions, an ovary that has a very large cyst which causes searing pain in my side, and the fact that I’m done having children, has led me and my doctor to this operation. Other less invasive procedures haven’t worked for me, D&Cs, ablations, all gave me a few days of no bleeding before I resumed my role as an unwilling star of my very own menses horror movie, unable to leave my house because of the severity of my bleeding. More »

Winterize Your Vagina: How To Keep Your Lady Bits Healthy This Fall And Winter

As we start to really get into sweater weather, everyone knows the usual health concerns. Dry skin! Weight gain! Depression! But fall and winter can also be hard on your ‘nether regions. Wrapped up in tight, synthetic clothing (I’m looking at you, tights) and subjected to unhealthy foods (which matter–and we’ll get to why in a minute), your vagina and vulva kind of hate the most wonderful time of the year. Don’t worry, though. There are ways to ward off winter yeast infections and other uncomfortable situations. More »

How To Get Health Care, Even If You’re Broke And A Woman

How To Get Health Care, Even If Youâ��re Broke And A Woman

Being uninsured in America is a pretty awful feeling. Saddled with a perpetual fear that something will go wrong, it makes every day feel like it could end in catastrophe. Regardless of the reason you’re without health care–maybe you’re young, or you’re underemployed, or you’re a freelancer (like this gal), or or your work just doesn’t offer options (many don’t)–it’s downright terrifying. But until our health care system gets itself sorted out, there are ways to get care that is pretty affordable, accessible, and, while not perfect, gets the job done. More »

Afternoon Links: Vaginal Whitening? No Thanks

• Ummm….we’ll probably pass on this vaginal whitening kit (HuffPost Women)

• Is one running style better than another? Let’s debate (FitSugar)

• If you love hot peppers, you NEED this tool for seeding them (The Frisky)

• Why keeping a food journal rocks…and how to do it (Organic Authority)

• Demi Lovato talks about when her eating disorder started–you’ll be shocked by how young she was (The Stir)

iTunes Weirdly Censors ‘The Vagina Monologues,’ But Not Actual Porn

We know that the word “vagina” makes male lawmakers exceedingly uncomfortable–but apparently, it also squicks out the overlords at iTunes. Because in spite of the fact that there’s all kinds of graphically-titled music (and actual porn) available on the service, Eve Ensler‘s The Vagina Monologues is blanked out. More »

What We're Reading:

Top 6 Promises Made At The DNC About Your Reproductive Health

Last night, President Obama asked for four more years to solve the “challenges that have built up over decades.” And while we are all familiar with the challenges of the economy, the job market and the budget deficit, another major challenge–that has gotten twisted and confused in some respects–is women’s reproductive health. It was impressive to hear from so many women and men this week about this issue, so in case you missed it all, here is a round-up of the most notable promises made at the DNC about women’s repro health. Do you believe them? More »

So…I’m Finally Getting An IUD; Let’s Talk About It

So...Iâ��m Finally Getting An IUD; Let's Talk About It

It’s no secret that I’m pretty passionate about women’s health–and my own desire to not have children. Which is why so many of my friends (and readers) are surprised to hear that I don’t have what so many of them have: An IUD. And really, there’s no good reason why I don’t have one, except that I am a big, whiny, afraid-of-the-doctor baby who has previously been too scared to take the plunge. But I’m finally doing it. More »

Why Is No One Talking About Women’s Reproductive Health At The Republican National Convention?

Last night at the Republican National Convention, we heard Rep. Paul Ryan bash President Obama and his economic failures, and we listened as former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice debated foreign policy. The night before, Ann Romney delivered her “power to the women’s purse strings” speech and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie pretty much talked about how great he was. But what no one has talked about yet is women’s health and our reproductive rights. For something that’s been such a big deal lately with seemingly every male politician having something to say about our bodies, why is no one addressing this at the RNC? More »

Where Obama and Romney Really Stand On Reproductive Rights

Right or wrong, women’s reproductive rights are a major issue in this year’s presidential race. Now, more than ever before, it’s important that every woman takes the time to fully understand what Mitt Romney and President Obama really stand for–not just what media rhetoric or public smear campaigns want you to believe. A lot has certainly been written about women’s reproductive rights, including specifically, abortion, so we’ve tried to clear through the clutter to give you an accurate overview of what Obama and Romney really say about this–because you can’t always believe what you hear elsewhere. More »

Report: Sex Workers Still Penalized For Carrying Condoms, Which Still Sucks

Despite a push by lawmakers in New York last May to end the dumb, dangerous practice, a report by Human Rights Watch last week showed that sex workers are still being penalized for carrying condoms. This practice makes sex work far more risky and potentially harmful than it already is, and contributes to the spread of diseases like HIV. It’s also hugely wasteful of resources, and a pretty big violation of basic human rights, to boot. It has to stop. More »

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