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Ovarian Aging: Signs + Impact on Pelvic Health

Here’s a stat that might surprise you: For the first time in U.S. history, more people over 40 are giving birth than teenagers, according to a recent report from the CDC. It’s a cultural shift that shows big changes in how and when we think about starting a family. But while society is evolving, our biology still plays by its own rules. In particular, the ovaries follow a timeline that’s often out of sync with the rest of your body.That’s where ovarian aging comes in. You might not notice it hap...

What is Bladder Training?

Urinary retention: Urinary retention is when you cannot empty your bladder properly. Although acute urinary retention (when you can’t pee all of a sudden) may be a medical emergency that needs to be addressed ASAP, chronic urinary retention is longer-lasting. Depending on the cause, bladder training can help (although it won’t necessarily address the underlying cause).Many people can benefit from bladder training, including those with the following struggles:Ultimately, bladder training is like...

Here's What Happened at My First Pelvic Floor Therapy Visit | Origin

I’m no stranger to physical therapy. I’ve been to the PT gym and done workouts….for my ankle injuries, at least. But never did I think a physical therapist would be checking out my private area.In fact, I didn’t even know pelvic floor physical therapy was a thing. The extent of my knowledge of vagina-related workouts was kegels.I was dealing with a couple of annoying ailments and struggling to find doctors who could give me answers about what was going on or what I could do to feel better. First...

Female Orgasmic Disorder: Solutions for No-Show O's | Origin

Few things are more frustrating than being in the heat of the moment, getting closer and closer and closer to an orgasm, and then…nothing. You get in your head, feeling defeated, wondering, “Why can’t I orgasm!?” as the elusive climax slips further and further away from you.Enter: female orgasmic disorder, aka anorgasmia or inorgasmia — all fancy words for having difficulty with orgasm. Sure, sex (or masturbation) can feel great even if there is no big O — but let’s be real, it’s a whole lot mor...

Can't Pee? What Causes Urinary Retention for Women & How to Fix It

You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone –– including the ability to pee. One day, I found myself on the toilet, feeling like I had to pee, but nothing would come out. Panic ensued. What is wrong with me? Why can't I pee?! This was a problem I never had before. Nothing had changed with my health except for one thing: I’d recently started a new medication. I Googled the drug’s side effects, and there it was: urinary retention. As the days went by, the problem continued. Peeing took way more...
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11 reasons why your period may be early, including stress and birth control

Most people get worried if their period is late or they miss a period, but an early period can be just as concerning. There are multiple causes of an early period, ranging from stress to medical conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).Here are 11 reasons why your period might be early.Stress may disrupt the timing of ovulation, which may cause a period to come early or late, says Aileen Gariepy, MD, MPH, an OB/GYN with Yale Medicine and associate professor at the Yale School of Medicine...
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How to have a safe at-home abortion: What to expect, aftercare, and effectiveness

While many people think of abortions as procedures performed in a clinic, medical abortions, aka "at-home" abortions, are less invasive and completed in the comfort of your own home. All it takes is two medications, which are FDA approved for pregnancies up to 10 weeks along. It's estimated that medical abortions are now more common than in-office procedures, accounting for 54% of abortions in the United States. Here's what you need to know about how at-home abortions work, steps for taking the...
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Why people with PCOS tend to gain more weight around their belly than anywhere else

Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is a common hormonal disorder that affects 10% of women of childbearing age.The disorder is characterized by a hormonal imbalance and an increase in male hormones.This results in a variety of symptoms including irregular periods, infertility, excess body or facial hair, and something called "PCOS belly."Though PCOS belly is not a formal medical term, it is colloquially used to refer to the characteristic pattern of central fat accumulation around the abdomen i...
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6 reasons why your vagina gets itchy after sex, according to gynecologists

Is an itchy vagina spoiling your post-sex bliss? The vagina and vulva are very sensitive, so many things can irritate the delicate area. Causes can range from dryness to external irritants to infections. Here are six causes of an itchy vagina after sex and how to treat each of them.The vagina is meant to be moist, and during sexual arousal, vaginas can produce their own lubrication. However, some people may not produce enough natural lubrication, or menopause may affect your ability to stay lubr...
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A vaginal discharge color guide: What's normal and what's not

Having vaginal discharge is completely normal. In fact, discharge serves an important purpose. It helps keep the tissue of your vagina healthy, aiding in preventing irritation and various infections.There isn't necessarily a definition of "normal" discharge across the board for everyone who has a vagina. Rather, what's normal ranges from person to person. For example, some people might have more discharge than others.However, certain types of discharge can be a sign that something is going on wi...
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A chart showing the days you are the least likely to get pregnant — including right before your period

Whether you're hoping to conceive or trying to avoid unwanted pregnancy, it's helpful to know when you're most fertile versus when you're least likely to get pregnant. For example, you may wonder if you have a high chance of getting pregnant the day before your period. Although everyone's menstrual cycle is unique, the phases of the cycle are the same, and there are specific times when you're most likely to conceive. Here's what you need to know about whether or not you can get pregnant the day...
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Can you take Plan b on birth control? How to use these hormonal medications for max protection

Although birth control is very effective at preventing unwanted pregnancies, small mistakes like not taking your pill at the same time each day can increase your risk. In this situation, you may need emergency contraception, like Plan B.You can safely take Plan B while taking birth control, says Dr. Nicole Mitchell, an OB-GYN with Keck Medicine of USC. But there are careful steps you should take to make sure you are fully protected from pregnancy.  If you've been taking your birth control as dir...
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Vaginal prolapse happens when your pelvic organs slip down, sometimes protruding out of the vagina

Vaginal prolapse, sometimes referred to as pelvic organ prolapse, is a common condition that affects over one-third of US women in their lifetime, especially later in life. A prolapse is when an organ shifts out of its usual position, so a pelvic organ prolapse is when any of your pelvic organs are affected.Here's what you need to know about vaginal prolapse, different types of prolapse, causes, and treatment. "Vaginal prolapse is a condition where pelvic organs — such as the bladder, rectum, ce...
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6 reasons why you have more discharge than usual, from BV to STIs

Everyone with a vagina experiences discharge to some extent. Vaginal discharge plays a big role in keeping your genitals healthy and your vagina lubricated.As for how much discharge is "normal" to have, it depends on the individual. "The normal amount of vaginal discharge can vary greatly. This can make it hard for women to differentiate normal from abnormal," says Dr. Heather Figueroa, an OB-GYN at Loma Linda University Health.Clear or whitish discharge is normal. But if you're experiencing mor...
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Why does my vagina smell fishy? Gynecologists explain the most likely causes

It's completely normal for your vagina and discharge to have some sort of mild scent. But if you start to notice that your vagina has an unpleasant, fishy smell this is a sign that something's off down there –– especially if you're experiencing other symptoms like unusual discharge alongside the odor. A fishy-smelling vagina could be caused by bacterial vaginosis, perspiration, or trichomoniasis. But there are other conditions that cause odor ranging from sour to foul.  Here are three reasons fo...
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Subtle signs that your vaginal pain could indicate a serious medical condition

Experiencing discomfort down there? Vaginal pain can range from mild irritation to an intense throbbing sensation around your vagina or pelvis. Regardless of how it feels, vaginal pain is, well, a pain. It can ruin your quality of life, causing you daily distress, and sometimes worsening when you go to the bathroom or have sex.Vaginal pain is common since there are so many causes for it that frequently affect women. The root cause of vaginal pain can range from something as simple and fleeting a...
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You don't have to deal with a period if you don't want to — how to safely stop your period with birth control

Do you feel like your period is getting in the way of you living your best life? Maybe you have extremely painful periods, debilitating PMS, or a disability that makes it hard for you to deal with menstruating. Or, maybe you're simply just annoyed by the inconvenience of monthly bleeding. =Regardless, you don't have to let your period hold you back. It's possible to live a period-free life using birth control to stop your periods. Not to mention, doctors say that this method is safe. Here are fi...
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6 things can cause yeast infections, including birth control and antibiotics

If you're experiencing vaginal itching and cottage cheese-like discharge, you may have a yeast infection. This type of fungal infection is extremely common, affecting a whopping one million women in the United States annually. Furthermore, 75% of women are estimated to have a yeast infection at least one time in their life.Yeast infections can range from mild to severe. You may have very minimal symptoms and not realize you have an infection at all, or your symptoms can cause major discomfort.He...
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6 subtle signs of an early miscarriage and how to care for yourself at home

A miscarriage is when a pregnancy ends before the 20th week of pregnancy, which is in the middle of the second trimester. An early miscarriage, sometimes called an early pregnancy loss, occurs before the 13 week mark, but most will occur before 10 weeks. Miscarriages are common, with 10% to 20% of pregnancies ending in miscarriage. The vast majority of all miscarriages are early ones, with 80% occuring within the first three months of pregnancy. Here's what you need to know about the signs of an...
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How to safely treat acne during pregnancy

That coveted "pregnancy glow" may just be oily skin or a sign of an impending breakout. There's no one culprit to blame for what causes acne during pregnancy, but dermatologists think that part of it has a lot to do with the same reason teenagers breakout: hormones. In particular, a type of hormone called androgens."Androgen hormones produced during adolescence drive oil productions, which creates a hospitable environment for the acne-causing bacteria to overgrow," Caren Campbell, a dermatologis...
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6 causes of cryptic pregnancy — a rare occurrence that happens when you don't realize you're pregnant

"I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant" isn't just a reality tv show –  it's a real phenomenon. While rare, it's completely possible for someone to be unaware that they're pregnant until late into term or even until they go into labor.This is called a cryptic pregnancy. Here's what you need to know about how often they occur and what causes them. For the most part, women with cryptic pregnancies discover they're pregnant after week 20. This happens in about 1 in every 475 pregnancies."I have seen it for...
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Bleeding between periods can be a sign of ovulation or something more serious — here's how to tell

Bleeding between periods, aka spotting, can be due to a number of reasons, one being something called ovulation bleeding. If you are spotting, it's important to be cognizant of any other symptoms you're experiencing that may indicate that mid-cycle bleeding is caused by something more serious.Ovulation bleeding is very light bleeding or spotting that occurs before, after, or during the time of ovulation, says Jane L. Frederick, MD, FACOG, an OB-GYN and reproductive endocrinologist at HRC Fertili...