PCOS — or polycystic ovary syndrome — is an endocrine (hormonal) condition that comes with a plethora of unwelcome symptoms. Specifically, PCOS occurs when the body’s ovaries create a higher-than-normal level of hormones called androgens. From fertility problems to irregular periods, to headaches and pelvic pain, to excess body hair, anyone living with PCOS knows that the condition is certainly not a walk in the park. One of the side effects you may have heard of is “PCOS belly." But what exactly is PCOS belly, and what differentiates it from other types of weight gain? PCOS and weight gain:...

Lindsey Williams • Jan 22, 2024

As soon as you decide you’re trying for a baby, the first step (after stopping any birth control you’re using) is to take prenatal vitamins. But with so many supplement types and brands out there, how do you know which vitamins are the right ones for you? There’s a lot of information to wade through.  First, you should know that a key ingredient you need to support a healthy pregnancy is folate, or vitamin B9. It can be found in whole foods like leafy, green vegetables, fresh fruits, peanuts, beans, sunflower seeds, and eggs. However, during...

Mara Santilli • Jan 20, 2024

As someone who struggles with hormonal acne, I’m no stranger to treatments and products that promise to clear my skin and fix my life, and believe me when I say I have tried them all: harsh, burning peels that left my face angry and red, facials, extractions, topical antibiotics, and just about every spot treatment and medicated cleanser on the shelf at CVS.  But the one thing that has helped my skin the most? Talking to my dermatologist about PCOS. She told me to drop the acids and instead prescribed spironolactone, a pill to treat the...

Erin Pettis • Jan 20, 2024

If you’re doing dry January this month, you may be reaching the point where you feel like breaking down — but stay strong. Observing dry January has some serious benefits, from improving your sleep to even reducing liver inflammation associated with frequent drinking. One month may not seem like much, but experts say it can really make a difference both physiologically and psychologically. It may even help you rethink your relationship with alcohol down the line. And if you’re not doing dry January? That’s okay. If you want to reap those benefits, you can always do...

Zara Hanawalt • Jan 17, 2024

Decision fatigue is real, and when you are trying to conceive or pregnant you are faced with seemingly endless choices — from what supplements to take to what to name your baby. One decision that doesn’t have to be hard? Your choice of prenatal multivitamin! Meet Ritual Prenatals, our pick for one of the best prenatal vitamins currently available.  Rescripted members get 20% off their first month of Ritual with code RESCRIPTED20, but first, let’s discuss why we are obsessed with Ritual. Why do I need prenatal vitamins?  Your body and your life change during pregnancy, as do...

Erin Pettis • Jan 15, 2024

Anyone with PCOS symptoms knows that living with the menstrual condition is a juggling act. One day, you’re worried about your insulin resistance issues, while another day, you may be thinking about the long-term impacts the condition may have on your life.  For instance, according to the CDC, PCOS puts over 5 million women at risk for longer-term conditions, like infertility, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, or high levels of “bad” (LDL) cholesterol. These are all important facts to know, but often, for those who struggle with PCOS, the fear of what can happen in the...

Vivian Nunez • Jan 15, 2024

Pickles and peanut butter. Midnight milkshakes and fries. Up to 90 percent of women have intense (and sometimes bizarre) food cravings during pregnancy, which can lead them to drop everything to snack on that “gotta have it” food (or place an emergency Postmates order at 2 a.m.). But did you know that for some women, pregnancy actually makes them lose their appetite?  While less common than other symptoms, loss of appetite is something that women can deal with at the beginning of their pregnancy journeys. And it often happens alongside other early pregnancy symptoms. If the...

Jessie Van Amburg • Jan 15, 2024

Upon immediately reading this, you might think these conditions are completely unrelated: One has to do with your brain, and the other has to do with your ovaries. They may seem like they affect completely separate systems in the body, but Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) are more intertwined than you think. If you already have both conditions, you know exactly what we’re talking about.  Just ask Kristyn Hodgdon, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Rescripted, who has both PCOS and ADHD and discovered these diagnoses as an adult (a common experience for...

Mara Santilli • Jan 15, 2024

The world of assisted reproductive technology has seen remarkable advancements over the past few decades. From the inception of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in the late 1970s to the beginning of preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) of embryos, the ability to detect genetic abnormalities before an embryo transfer has redefined the possibilities of human reproduction in more ways than one.  Now let’s dive into the science behind preimplantation genetic testing and how it became what it is today! The history of IVF In 1978, Louise Brown, the world's first "test-tube baby," was born in the United Kingdom....

Kristyn Hodgdon • Jan 14, 2024

CLOMID® is the brand name of the generic oral medication clomiPHENE citrate, a commonly prescribed fertility drug taken to stimulate the release of hormones vital for egg and follicle development and support. In layman’s terms, Clomid helps you ovulate, thus increasing the possibility of becoming pregnant.  According to myclomid.com, Clomid works by tricking your brain, in a way. The medication hinders the brain’s ability to sense your estrogen levels. The brain then responds by sending more follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH) for egg growth. When that happens, it triggers the follicles in the ovaries to produce mature eggs...

Sarene Leeds • Jan 11, 2024