J.B.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of those misnamed conditions. 

You would think from the name of the condition that someone with PCOS would have multiple cysts on their ovaries, but that’s not necessarily so.  PCOS is a syndrome, a group of signs and symptoms associated with a particular disease or disorder. 

Cysts are not necessarily formed in PCOS.  And, according to USC Fertility, a group of doctors who research fertility treatments, the “cysts” that do form aren’t really cysts. 

Confused yet?   Here’s what the experts say:

Renee Yang

Did you know that journaling can help our bodies mentally and physically? Here is why journaling is the ultimate self-care tool for nourishing your body and soul.

Self-care is currently having a moment, and journaling seems to be making a comeback along with it! But aside from giving us an outlet for our emotions, does journaling have actual health benefits?

Well, as we’ve become more educated about mental health, scientists are finding that the benefits of journaling extend much further than what meets the eye. In addition to boosting our creativity and productivity, journaling can help regulate our mood and improve our long-term health!

How? Here’s the science behind it.

Samantha. M

Image source

As a dad with a daughter, you may feel a bit anxious as she nears puberty. It can be especially difficult for dads who have no personal experience with things like menstruation. From a dad’s point of view, periods and the hormonal changes that women experience during puberty can be downright mystifying. Naturally, talking about these things may be something that you are not looking forward to.

You probably don’t even want to think about your little girl growing up, but it’s happening. And her first period will happen, too. This event is challenging for both dads and daughters, but it is one that you will both survive. Periods can be awkward, painful, and even frightening. Your daughter’s first period also signals the beginning of a very important time in her life, and while the topic may be uncomfortable, periods aren’t inherently a bad thing.  

If you have a daughter who is between the ages of 9 and 15 or so, the big day could come at any time. Take some time to prepare yourself so that you’ll know exactly what to do the first time Aunt Flo stops by for a visit. Keep reading for some helpful advice regarding your daughter’s first period from a dad’s point of view.

More and more women are choosing NannoPad.

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 9, 2019 --- Nannocare, the Los Angeles-based creator of NannoPad®, is excited to announce that NannoPad is now available nationally through several distributors in Canada.

NannoPad® is the sanitary napkin that is revolutionizing how menstrual discomfort can be relieved with fewer or no medications, heating pads or other items used to help alleviate PMS symptoms. NannoPad is embedded with Nannogenic™ technology which utilizes the far infrared wavelength, the same electromagnetic wavelength that is naturally emitted by human bodies. Multiple studies and user testing have confirmed the effectiveness of far infrared energy in "alleviating different symptoms associated with chronic pain or other related medical concerns."

J.B.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines toxicity as:

1. The quality, state, or relative degree of being poisonous
2. An extremely harsh, malicious, or harmful quality

Hmmm.  We’ve all known people like that.  (I can think of one or two myself.)  But what about environmental toxicity.  What is it?  Where does it come from?  What does it do?

Samantha Mittelmeier

Getty / Lalocracio

There are a lot of different forms of birth control to choose from. For many women, an intrauterine device (IUD) is a popular and effective choice. Once inserted, these tiny devices protect you against pregnancy for up to 10 years, and for many women, they make their periods lighter or eliminate them altogether.

If you have decided that this form of birth control is right for you, you likely have some questions regarding what to expect. IUD insertion can seem a bit scary, but it is a very quick and easy process. While you may feel a degree of discomfort during the procedure, there is no need to be afraid. Keep reading to learn what to expect.

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Nannocare, the manufacturer of Nannopad®, will be at the Natural Products Expo East in Baltimore Sept. 11-14.

Nannopads are the revolutionary menstrual pads taking the market by storm, offering long-sought non-pharmaceutical relief from menstrual discomfort.

Nannopads are all-natural hypoallergenic sanitary pads made of USDA, OCS-certified organic cotton and as thin as a nickel with the same absorbency of other pads. They are free from chlorine, pesticides, dyes and fragrances and are infused with a proprietary blend of Nannogenic™ Technology that helps to bring relief from menstrual discomfort. 

Erika.L

Feeling our best is an important aspect of living a happy, healthy lifestyle. When our self-confidence is high, we are often more willing to take the chances that can lead us toward achieving our goals whether that’s buying a new dress or starting a new business. From time to time, our confidence can take a hit due to hormones or stress from work or relationships, thus it’s important to know what to do to regain it when lost. Here are 5 fun activities that help to increase self-confidence, and get us back to feeling our best. 

J.B.

MSG (monosodium glutamate) is the salt of glutamic acid, an amino acid that is naturally present in our bodies and in some foods.  Manufactured MSG, used as a food additive to enhance flavor, is made by the fermentation of starch, sugar beets, sugar can or molasses.

Is MSG bad for you?  The answer depends on who you ask.

MSG is a hot topic of controversy these days, with “experts” unable to agree on much of anything.

Kaitlyn Luckow

I remember being in middle school and always so excited to read the next issue of Seventeen Magazine. And the first page I would turn to? Embarrassing period stories.  

I would sit there and giggle, but most importantly, it helped me realize that I wasn’t alone. If these awesome people could make it out of these embarrassing stories still being the badasses that they were, maybe I would be okay.

However, as I’ve gotten older, it has become even more than that. I have realized that these “embarrassing” period stories weren’t embarrassing.

I did a little research into the word “embarrass” and it’s the feeling of discomfort..... 

The Creator of the NannoPad® Continues Its Takeover of the Feminine Hygiene Space

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Nannocare, is thrilled to announce that it will be growing its retail distribution at a number of new stores nationwide this coming fall. The innovative brand that pioneered menstrual hygiene pads infused with Nannogenic™ technology, will now be available at popular college bookstores, supermarkets and drugstores.

Nannocare creates NannoPad®, made with 100% OCS Certified Organic Cotton, biodegradable plastic wrapping and natural Nannogenic technology that utilizes Far Infrared Energy, known to help stimulate circulation in the tiny blood vessels up to 1.5 inches under the skin around the pelvic region. By stimulating these blood vessels, NannoPad can help reduce menstrual discomfort and decrease the need for women to use harmful painkillers during their periods.

Samantha Mittelmeier

Since more than 90 percent of women experience at least one PMS symptom prior to the beginning of their period, it’s no surprise that those symptoms are pretty well known. Nearly every woman is familiar with the moodiness, bloating, cramps, headaches, and general discomfort that tend to pop up every 28 days or so.

For most women, these symptoms are relatively minor and are not a significant cause for concern. Others, however, face much more severe complications when their periods roll around each month. Between three and five percent of the menstruating population suffer from a debilitating condition known as premenstrual dysmorphic disorder, or PMDD. This condition is an extension of PMS that includes a range of troubling emotional and behavioral symptoms.

Heather Silvers

Have you ever caught yourself fretting about why your period is late? Before you head to the local pharmacy to pick up a home pregnancy test, it’s best to consider other reasons why your monthly cycle could be off. Not every late period means you’re pregnant. Irregular cycles are more common than you think. University of California Professor of Obstetrics-Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences Dr. Amy Autry discussed how at least 30% of women have irregular periods during their childbearing years. Another report published by the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism cites that many women experience occasional period irregularities throughout their reproductive years. While many women may experience late periods, the factors causing it can greatly vary. Below, we’ll take a look at the reasons why your period could be late.

Victoria. M

As Pride month closes, it is a time of reflection where the nation came together to celebrate one thing: inclusivity. The LGBTQ community is active in many areas and works to bring light to a community that represents love, inclusion, harmony and of course a strong and genuine pride for all of it. 

In Los Angeles, we have one of the privileges to have founded “The Advocate," (originally "The Los Angeles Advocate”)in 1967.  It is considered the oldest continuing LGBT publication that began as a newsletter published by the activist group Personal Rights in Defense and Education (PRIDE).

J.B.

If you thought your skin was acting up just before or around the time of your period, you’re not imagining it.  According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, “a significant number of adult women have perimenstrual acne symptoms”.   There are also some women suffering eczema or psoriasis that seems to get worse around the time of their period.

J.B.

Nanotechnology is, according to one government site, “science, engineering, and technology conducted at the nanoscale, which is about 1 to 100 nanometers”. (A nanometer is really, really small – it takes more than 25 million of them to make an inch.)

Richard Feynman, an American physicist, is credited with having introduced the concept of nanotechnology in 1959, although the term “nanotechnology” wasn’t coined until 1981.  Feynman’s idea was that things could be made much smaller.  For instance, in 1959 computers were massive; some of them weighed literally tons and took up entire rooms.  Feynman theorized that they could be made much smaller using nanotechnology.   He was bang on about that.  Computers keep getting smaller, faster, and better with nanotechnology.

Apart from not having to build an extra wing to your house for your home computer, there are many other applications of nanotechnology in use and in development. 

Kaitlyn Luckow

Every day, 830 women die from maternal mortality throughout the world. That’s approximately 290,500 women a year who die from complications of giving birth.

According to the World Health Organization, maternal mortality occurs when a woman dies while pregnant or within 42 days of the termination of the pregnancy. The majority of maternal deaths occur due to severe bleeding, infection, high blood pressure, complications from delivery, and unsafe abortions. 

You Are More Than Beautiful

Rupi Kaur

I want to apologize to all the women

I have called pretty.

Before I’ve called them intelligent or brace.

I am sorry I made it sound as though

Something as simple as what you’re born with

Is the most you have to be proud of

When your spirit has crushed mountains

From now on I will say things like,

You are resilient

Or, you are extraordinary.

Not because I don’t think you’re pretty.

But because you are so much more than that.