health

From the ovaries, outward, all about female-focused health and medicine.

Lovely Lady Lumps
Hello my fellow females, Over the past eight months I’ve gone through some of the trials and tribulations of being a woman. I’ve been trying to process my feelings and have found that even thinking about the experience makes me deeply uncomfortable in every sense of the word. So, as a form of therapy, today I bring you the story of my lumpectomy.
By Lexie Lloyd7 years ago in Viva
A Single Tip to Make Your Period a Little Bit Better
When it comes to that time of the month we are often presented with extras alongside the period itself. These can vary from headaches, mood swings, cramps, feeling bloated to my least favourite, loss of appetite. As a serious foodie, not being able to or rather not wanting to eat causes me stress on top of everything else. Yes, I would really love to demolish an extra cheesy burger right now but this loss of appetite tends to have me eating next to nothing during my period and days after that at times.
By Emi S7 years ago in Viva
Endometriosis: A Story About My Ectopic Pregnancy
I was about 16 years old when I first heard the word "Endometriosis". The pain I experienced on a daily basis was odd and unexplainable. This was the early 2000s and internet access wasn't something easy to come by. Any research was mostly done using a medical journal, encyclopedias and sometimes by fighting with a sibling for the family computer.
By Crystal Nicole8 years ago in Viva
A Thorn Among the Roses
I remember the first time I came to know about endometriosis. At one time, it was just a big word I could hardly pronounce.
By Ally Silva8 years ago in Viva
Why I Got My IUD at 16
The adventure began my freshman year of high school. It was second semester, and I had been charmed by a particular boy in the grade above me. He was cute, played baseball, and captured my attention. He was everything my younger self had wished for, a perfect and popular boyfriend. He was the kind of guy I had wished for ever since middle school when I dreamed of one day becoming a “popular girl” with the hot sporty boyfriend at my side.
By Megan Finn8 years ago in Viva
Walking Away from the Hurt
As men and women, all of us have struggled with sexual violence in our lives. We have been there and/or continue to struggle with it. It never goes away and some day’s it feels like it never gets easier.
By Cheyenne Dunn8 years ago in Viva
"Oh It'll Be Okay, You're a Girl, It's Suppose to Be Like This."
I curled up in the middle of the living room floor at 16 years old and clutched my legs to my chest in pain that felt like the Evil Queen Regina grabbed my uterus and squeezed it into dust. Actually, that might have hurt less than what I really felt. I remember my eldest little brother was worried trying to find my mom while my youngest was worried trying to make sure I was okay. I passed out shortly after that and woke up to my mom trying to get me into a wheelchair at the urgent care down the road. We sat in there for two-and-a-half hours before final being taken to a waiting room for another hour. When the nurse and doctor finally arrived and took my blood, even though it took three people and six tries before someone succeeded, they found nothing wrong. The recommended that because my pain was coming from my lower abdominal area that I seek advice from my gynecologist.
By The Grammar Police8 years ago in Viva
My Periods After Stopping Birth Control
I have been on the pill for five years, the same amount of time as my current relationship. But I have been wanting to get off them for nearly two years now because I was with the same boy since college, moving in with him, and now currently engaged to him.
By Heather Wilkins8 years ago in Viva
Infertility Does Not Define Me - Go Find Someone Else
Hearing the doctors talk about you outside of the room when they think you can’t hear is the worst feeling you could ever possibly have. For me, this has been the 24th time. 24 times I have been told that there is nothing. I have seen three doctors in the last two years and nobody has come this far. Dr. Y (she shall not be directly named) has made a difference in my life. Infertility is not something that I will ever take lightly for the rest of my life.
By Elena DeCristino8 years ago in Viva
Earning My Red Badge of Courage
Believe it or not, the picture above is on the property of a hospital. It's actually really pretty, and hundreds of people could enjoy the beauty of the river from their hospital rooms. In fact, it was my father's view. Obviously, a view doesn't make a hospital visit any better, but it can provide a bit a beauty and comfort. I just wish that's how I could've remembered my first trip.
By Chelsea Ambrose8 years ago in Viva
Dealing with PCOS
PCOS... Why do I feel like this is one of the least talked about abnormalities in women's health? I would like to share my story and obstacles I have encountered, but have also come to accept (for the most part).
By Rachel Coyle8 years ago in Viva
How to Get Birth Control (When Your Doctor Refuses You)
With the laws on women's body autonomy getting worse every day, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find doctors who actually advocate on behalf of women. We live in a time when both pharmacists and doctors have the right to refuse service "on religious grounds," despite it putting women in harm's way.
By Ossiana Tepfenhart8 years ago in Viva