NGL, back when I was pregnant with my daughter, I was afraid to have sex with my husband. Questions like, “Will sexual intercourse harm my baby?” or worse, “Can sex cause miscarriage?” ran through my mind day in and day out. We had spent years trying to conceive, so the last thing I wanted was to jeopardize this precious pregnancy. But since delivering my healthy baby girl, I learned I wasn’t alone in my fears. It’s quite common to experience sex hesitancy while expecting.  The good news is that most of my anxieties were completely unfounded....

 When someone talks about “high-functioning depression,” they are probably referring to a condition called Dysthymia. The mental health condition is known for having more mild symptoms of depression that you have been managing for a very long time.  According to Mount Sinai, some of the condition's most common symptoms include fatigue, low self-esteem, and poor concentration. Whereas seasonal affective disorder (seasonal depression) pops up during the winter for many people, high-functioning depression is the opposite. Its symptoms are year-round and often present for long stretches of time.  What makes one kind of depression more “high functioning”...

You know the drill — you're sleeping peacefully when suddenly you wake up feeling like you've just run a marathon in a sauna. Your pajamas are damp, your sheets are soaked, and you're wondering what on earth is going on with your body. Well, you're not alone, and there's actually a pretty good explanation for this monthly sweat fest. Many women experience night sweats before their period, and understanding the reasons behind them can help you manage this common issue effectively. What do hormonal night sweats feel like? Hormonal night sweats can feel like your body's...

It’s time to talk perimenopause — that transitional time leading up to menopause that can bring a whirlwind of body changes, all without warning. How rude! From hot flashes and mood swings to irregular periods and sleep disturbances, it's like your hormones are throwing a party without sending you an invite. But don't worry, it's not all doom and gloom. A few tweaks to what you eat can make a world of difference in how you feel. What’s up with perimenopause? While perimenopause often shows up in your 40s, it can start earlier for some (and...

Who says dining out with diabetes has to be boring? While managing blood sugar levels is important, it doesn’t mean you have to miss out on delicious meals or fun nights out with friends. With a bit of planning and some savvy choices, you can still savor your favorite foods while keeping your health on track. And to make keeping track even easier, a program like Noom, helps you along the way with coaching, behavior change, and even GLP-1 options geared towards sustainable results.   Plan ahead Most restaurants post their menus online, giving you a chance...

This article is sponsored by Slynd® (drospirenone) There’s no denying that birth control access can be essential, and we’re fortunate to have a variety of options at our fingertips. But with reproductive choice comes the responsibility of making an informed decision, and what works for one person may not work for another.  Two types of hormonal birth control are progestin-only and combination methods. Both types of birth control are designed to work differently.  Whether you’re considering starting birth control for the first time or thinking about switching methods, understanding the various options can help you make...

This article is sponsored by Slynd® (drospirenone) For those of us who grew up in the 90s with 100-calorie packs and Victoria’s Secret runway shows, body positivity can be a tough concept to grasp. Sure, we want to love ourselves – imperfections and all – but it can be hard to unlearn diet culture when you’ve been told your whole life that “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.”  Thankfully, in recent years, there has been a strong movement towards body positivity online with hashtags like #allbodiesaregoodbodies and #dietculturedropout trending on social media, and we have...

You’ve taken the test (and taken a few more just to be really sure) and seen those telltale two lines. Now what? Well, first things first, you’ll want to call your doctor. Whether you conceived the old-fashioned way or after a round (or a few rounds) of fertility treatments, that test that confirms your pregnancy answers one question, yet invites a whole slew of others.  A prenatal appointment can give you so many answers about the health of your pregnancy and baby…and chart the course of the next 40-ish weeks. So what can you expect at...

Although endometriosis is a condition that begins in the reproductive organs, there are cases where these painful tissue growths appear in the bowels, also known as our digestive system, causing a whole slew of additional health problems.  Here's the quick and dirty definition of endometriosis: This condition occurs when the tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside the uterus, with this abnormal tissue often affecting the ovaries and fallopian tubes as well. Symptoms include painful periods, pain during sex, excessive bleeding, and infertility.  But what happens when endometriosis spreads to the digestive system? In addition...

While women may have a different doctor for gynecological health, the reality is that no part of a person’s health exists in a vacuum. It’s not uncommon for one menstrual condition to trigger a heart condition or a mental health condition.  Those who live with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) know this plight too well. PCOS comorbidities (or adjacent conditions) stretch across various parts of a person’s physical and mental health.  PCOS, plus its comorbidities, can make it feel like you’re constantly underwater trying to manage the ups and downs of your physical and mental health. Those...