We talk so much about hormones nowadays but, unless you studied biology or medicine, you may have only a vague notion of the role they play in your health. So, let’s take a closer look at what hormones are, what their purpose is, and how they help create balance in the body. What are hormones? [...]
The hormonal birth control pill became available in 1960 and helped create a revolution in industrialized countries by enabling women to control if and when they will have babies. Certainly, doctors, researchers and patients initially came under tremendous pressure (and some spent time in jail) for something that gave women more say over their fertility, [...]
We are getting more and more comfortable talking about our periods and reproductive health in public, and we’re looking for options that offer convenience and keep us healthy. We also want more control and more fun. Let me tell you about three options for women to make our lives easier: cups, diaphragms, and funnels. Wow! [...]
You had been looking forward to going on that bike ride, spending time at the family barbecue or watching a movie with your friend. Maybe you had just hoped to make it through your workday without distraction. But then you got your period and, along with it, pain that may range from dull & achy [...]
Contrary to what your gynecologist may have told you, having a baby is often not as easy if you were diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS for short. To begin with, a large percentage of women in our country manifest with signs and symptoms of PCOS. However, not all cases look the same or [...]
You’ve found your mate, you’ve decided it’s the right time to start trying, you’ve stopped your oral contraceptives—you’re ready! Well, not so fast. Rising numbers of couples find that conceiving and carrying pregnancy to term are not as easy as they thought. Maybe you’ve already been trying for several months or even experienced the loss [...]
Some women look forward to it, other women dread it: menopause, the cessation of menstrual cycles. Just as women begin to menstruate naturally in their early teens (menarche), unless a health issue interferes, women will eventually cease to menstruate (menopause). It is a natural process, not a disease. Some women have no problems with this [...]
Women who experience pelvic pain are often diagnosed with endometriosis. Let's get a better understanding what endometriosis is, how it can affect your health and quality of life, what treatments are offered by mainstream medicine, and what other options exist to alleviate symptoms and restore well-being naturally. The endometrium is the inner lining of a [...]
Women with unusual hair growth, irregular or absent periods, and ovaries that appear large and shiny when viewed with ultrasound often have one thing in common: They are diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, also known as PCOS. Acupuncturists frequently encounter patients with PCOS who seek our help with overweight, hirsutism, irregular menstrual cycles, infertility, and [...]
