Even though the holiday season is supposed to be about joy, togetherness, and celebration, let’s get real about one thing: The colder months can usher in feelings of stress, sadness, and loneliness. Some of those feelings may be a mere consequence of shorter days, colder temps, fewer fun activities on the horizon, and a constant parade of cold-weather viruses. But if your symptoms of sadness feel extreme, you may be suffering from seasonal affective disorder (also known by its very appropriate acronym, SAD).  Contrary to popular belief, SAD can actually present during other times of the...

As women, many of us may have historically viewed our cycles, especially our periods, as “curses.” But it turns out, they can be our superpower if we’re willing to fully lean into each stage and give our body what it needs in those moments.  Part of what sets women apart is that we operate off of two biological rhythms instead of one.  Woman’s second biological rhythm: The menstrual cycle  Everyone has a circadian rhythm, aka your 24-hour “biological clock” that controls your sleep-wake cycle, hormone production, energy, metabolism, body temperature, and more. However, women have a...

If you’ve been on the health and wellness side of social media anytime in the past 5 years, you've likely heard of the term “adrenal fatigue." For those of us who have experienced the physical effects of burnout, it feels like a very real phenomenon, but for those who haven’t, it usually results in an eye roll.   The unpopular truth? Adrenal fatigue isn’t a real diagnosis, nor is it a legitimate medical term. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t a valid warning sign from the body and a gentle nudge to look within.  Where did the...

Women and men are not biologically the same.  At this point, it’s probably clear to many of us that women are not small men. We are biologically different, meaning we have different needs and focal points when it comes to our health.  This is not to say one sex is better than the other, just different.  Why?  Women operate off of two biological rhythms: their circadian rhythm (24-hour cycle) and infradian rhythm (~28-day menstrual cycle). Meanwhile, men operate off their circadian rhythm only.  This means women’s hormones fluctuate week after week as they enter different stages...

Today Show contributor Jill Martin announced her breast cancer diagnosis. Martin’s announcement was heartbreaking…and for many women around the world, a terrifying wake-up call.  Martin revealed that she had a normal mammogram in January and that her own mother (who has a personal history of breast cancer) had tested negative for the BRCA gene mutation (which substantially increases a person’s risk of cancer). Despite these reassurances, Martin was advised to get tested for the genetic mutation herself. Surprisingly, Martin tested positive and chose to have preventative surgery to reduce her risk of getting cancer.  But while...

Our claim to fame at Rescripted is that our Sex Ed system in America is completely broken, which is showing up in so many women’s lives as they reach their 20s and 30s and realize they know nothing about their own bodies.  “The menstrual cycle has four phases…? I thought the menstrual cycle was just your bleeding period!”  “How do I know when I’m ovulating?”  “Where’s my cervix? I mean, I know it exists but I have no clue where it is.”  “How do I know if I’m fertile? Is there a blood test for that?” ...

Let's dive right in: The pelvic floor consists of a series of muscles that sit at the base of your abdomen and connect all the way towards the bone you feel when you sit down for too long — the "sits" bone for short. The pelvic floor helps to support, stabilize, and secure your pelvic organs and has a strong connection to your "core" as well as to maintaining sexual function. Now, the core is a huge buzzword, especially in the fitness world. But do we even truly understand what the core is? Don't worry, I'm...

They say the best workout is the one you’ll actually do, which we couldn't agree more with. Our society has convinced us that exercise is meant to be painful and miserable, which is far from the truth.  Exercise is meant to feel like self-care. And if you’re hating your current routine or it’s draining you of energy, you may be doing the wrong type of exercise for your body, mind, and active needs.  If you’re dealing with hormonal imbalances or infertility in particular, there’s a strategic way to blend in movement types that serve your current...

Many of us grew up with the ethos that exercise was always a good thing no matter how much of it we did. In fact, we were taught that most people don’t get enough physical activity, both directly and indirectly.  According to the CDC, only 28% of adult Americans meet their weekly exercise needs (150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity and 2 days of strength training) and 25% of adult Americans don’t exercise at all — so it makes sense as to where that message comes from. But too much of a good thing can be...

A diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (or PCOS) can feel scary and overwhelming, particularly if you’re concerned about how PCOS will affect your reproductive future. There’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding the diagnosis, as there are still a lot of unknowns when it comes to conditions like PCOS. While there’s a consensus that the condition can lead to infertility, there’s no singular course of treatment or plan of action for those affected by PCOS. That’s because even though PCOS is very common — according to the Cleveland Clinic, it affects up to 15 percent of women...