We brush our teeth for the dentist, mentally prepare for conversations with our therapists, and tidy up (down there) before we go to the OBGYN. No one wants unpleasant-smelling armpits for the person whose job it is to give us our mammograms, right? Whether or not you’ve experienced a mammogram, you’re probably wondering how best to prepare for it. But there’s one question many women forget to ask: Can you wear deodorant for a mammogram? If this seems like a minor detail, the answer may surprise you! Understanding how mammograms work, being aware of potential concerns,...

If you’ve been scrolling TikTok, chances are you’ve seen at least a few creators making the viral “sleepy girl mocktail." The recipe goes a little something like this: Creators fill up a wine glass with tart cherry juice, magnesium powder, and some sort of sparkling water. The viral drink earned its name because some creators claim it can help you get a great night’s sleep. Creators and commenters alike seem to have great success with implementing this concoction to help them sleep — but is there any truth to this, or is the sleepy girl mocktail...

Yeast infections. They’re so common, yet they’re such a (literal) pain.  While most healthy vaginas have yeast, an infection can occur when too much of a particular type of yeast — known as Candida — grows in the vaginal area. About 75% of all women are likely to have at least one yeast infection in their lifetime, with up to 45% experiencing two or more. Yeast infections are also the second-most common type of vaginal infections (after bacterial vaginal infections). Symptoms can include vaginal itching or soreness, pain during sexual intercourse, pain or discomfort while urinating, and thick, white vaginal...

On a recent episode of her podcast, Let’s Be Clear With Shannen Doherty, the actress spoke about her experience undergoing IVF. Doherty, who has breast cancer, admitted that she once believed her IVF experience may have caused her cancer. “I believed that the reason why I got cancer was because I did IVF,” she said. “We needed IVF and I did a bunch of rounds of it.” Doherty added that other women she knew also were diagnosed with breast cancer after undergoing IVF. “Through a lot of other women that I knew that did IVF that...

When you consider taking a new supplement or medication, it's important to weigh the benefits with the potential side effects. Iron pills are infamous for causing unpleasant side effects such as constipation and general stomach upset. And, when a nutrient is intended to affect your blood health, you may also wonder how it could impact your menstrual cycle.  Often, people with heavy menstrual cycles will be directed towards iron pills, and this can bring up some important questions: Why do I need to take iron? Can it reduce the heavy bleeding? Is it possible to get...

Let's face it: While air fresheners are a popular choice to combat unpleasant odors in our homes, the conventional options often come with a downside — the release of potentially harmful chemicals into the air that we breathe.  Thankfully, there is a growing awareness and demand for non-toxic alternatives that not only eliminate unwanted smells but also promote a safer and healthier indoor environment.   We've pulled together a list of 8 of our favorite non-toxic air fresheners that you can pick up on your next essentials run without compromising your and your family's well-being.  1. Pura...

I am in the shower, and I'm letting the tears fall. Because in the shower, my son won't see my sadness. Because in the shower, I can sob without seeing the heartbreak on my husband's face. Because in the shower, I can collect my thoughts.  The stats were on our side. The embryo was normal. I had carried one healthy, beautiful baby to term not even two years ago. There was no reason to think that another embryo transfer wouldn't work. There was no reason to believe that it would fail.  And yet, here we are,...

This article is sponsored by BetterHelp, the world’s largest professional therapy platform, done online.  You think you may be struggling with anxiety, but you’re not completely sure. This is where most people start getting curious about everything from their symptoms to the different types of treatment that could help them manage them.  Especially since there are so many types of anxiety — from generalized anxiety to postpartum anxiety — wanting to lean on an expert makes sense.  Melissa Hummelt, LPCC, is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with a clinical focus on CBT, and the Senior Clinical Operations...

Orgasm. The word alone can cause some women anxiety. For others, it’s an immediate excitement. More often than not, in media — films, television shows, etc — women orgasm easily, euphorically, and intensely.  The truth is, however, that orgasms come in all different forms. They vary in intensity and length depending on the type of stimulation and the stimulated spot in the body.  Let’s talk about all things vaginal orgasms: how common they are, how they occur, what they are, and what they look like for most women. We’ll also share some other ways women can...

If you’re old enough to get an annual gynecological exam, then you’re probably already familiar with Pap smears. The Pap test (this term can be used interchangeably with “Pap smear”) is commonly conducted at a gynecological checkup, and is “primarily a screening test for abnormal cells of the cervix, and also HPV (human papillomavirus),” says Dorothy Bestoyong, DO, an OB/GYN based in Orlando, Florida.  During a Pap smear, the doctor will use a metal or plastic instrument called a speculum to look inside your vagina and to reach the cervix. The doctor then collects a few...