Women’s Health
Women’s Health covers a range of topics including physical, mental, and emotional well-being, reproductive health, fitness, nutrition, and healthcare issues specific to women.
What Can Cause Large Areolas and Is This Normal?
Areolas vary widely in both size and shade, and it’s quite common for them to alter over time. While surgical procedures and topical treatments can reduce their prominence, having large areolas is not typically a medical problem. If you want to observe typical abs, just look around. If you want to see idealized abs, flip through a magazine. But when it comes to nipples and vulvas, there’s far less standardized…
What You Need to Know About the Speculum
A speculum is a duck-bill–shaped instrument physicians employ to look inside a hollow body cavity and help diagnose or treat medical issues. One frequent application is during vaginal examinations. Gynecologists use it to separate the vaginal walls and inspect the vagina and cervix. (img by ASP Global) Kinds of speculums Speculums are manufactured from stainless steel or plastic. Metal versions are reusable; plastic ones are intended for single use. Vaginal…
How Soon After an IUI Can You Take a Pregnancy Test?
After intrauterine insemination (IUI), it’s best to wait roughly two weeks before trying a pregnancy test. That interval gives you the greatest chance of getting an accurate result. “Relax. Try not to obsess — there’s nothing more you can do now,” a friend might tell you after your latest IUI. That kind of advice can feel maddeningly unhelpful. They’re right in spirit, of course, but they’re also assuming it’s easy…
6 Scenarios When You Shouldn’t Drive While Pregnant
Nausea, trouble concentrating, and limited mobility can all affect your capacity to drive during pregnancy. When you’re expecting, you put the brakes on a lot of activities to protect you and your baby: skipping roller coasters, avoiding hot tubs, passing on pub crawls… you know the drill. With so many things off-limits while pregnant, it’s understandable to wonder whether everyday tasks — like showering, strolling along the shore, or getting…
Is It Safe to Consume Soy Products While Pregnant?
You’ve likely heard mixed messages about soy over time — some favorable, some less so. Now that you’re expecting, you may be wondering whether soy-containing foods are okay for you and your developing baby. The reassuring news is that soy can be included in your meals in moderate amounts. Below we explain what that means, outline some benefits and possible downsides of soy, and highlight which soy-based foods are better…
Can You Eat Calamari During Pregnancy?
Pregnancy causes your body to undergo numerous changes, both in physical form and hormonal balance. Hormonal shifts don’t just influence emotions — they can also change your food preferences. Some expectant people develop aversions to certain foods, where even the idea of eating them feels nauseating. Others find themselves with intense cravings for particular dishes. So what if you suddenly crave a plate of fried calamari with marinara and a…
You Shouldn’t Reuse a Pregnancy Test — Here’s Why
Spend any length of time browsing TTC (trying to conceive) message boards or chatting with friends deep into their own pregnancy journeys and you’ll notice that home pregnancy tests (HPTs) can be unpredictable. (img by Cloudnine Hospitals) Among the factors that can influence an HPT’s reliability are: evaporation lines expired tests storage or exposure to moisture time of day how hydrated you are color of dye (pro tip from a…
Why Is My Vaginal Discharge Watery?
Watery discharge is a common feature of a healthy vagina. Fluctuations in hormone levels can influence how often it appears and how much is produced. Many people also wonder how this relates to menstrual changes, including Watery period blood first day, which can sometimes look lighter or more fluid due to normal hormonal shifts. Vaginal discharge is the fluid released from the vagina. Most women will notice discharge at various…
What Can Different Period Blood Colors Mean?
Menstrual blood can appear in a range of shades throughout your cycle, from bright red to pink to brown. If you drop trou on your period and notice something other than classic red, try not to stress. Period blood isn’t always the same color, and variations are common. In fact, concerns like Period blood bright red and watery with cramps are frequently searched because shifts in color and texture can…
My ALS Diagnosis
When people search for My first ALS symptoms patient stories, they’re often trying to make sense of subtle body changes that don’t yet have a name. For me, the earliest warning of what would become my ALS diagnosis appeared in my right index finger at age 31 — a tiny, almost forgettable change that would later carry enormous meaning. On a frigid January morning in 2013, I was swimming laps…
