Women's eNews (https://womensenews.org/tag/health/)
Sex isn’t suppose to hurt, but for some teens that is the painful reality. Lubrication and clear communication can remedy the situation, but experts say ignorance and shame can prevent this from happening.
Even with new rules by social media platforms to prevent pro-eating disorder sites, these “pro-ana” blogs keep popping up. “We just make new blogs, new posts and new tags,” one teen said.
Experts are hoping elephantiasis doesn’t spread in Haiti post-Hurricane Matthew. Women are the hardest hit by this disease, which is a leading cause of disability worldwide.
Puberty can make “exercise awkward,” says teen Kiera Wright. This is one of the reasons teen girls fail to meet their physical activity recommendations.
People with MS, which afflicts women disproportionately, can live in fear of letting colleagues down. Some think talking about it could be seen as “whining.” Two women who have the disease offer tips on being good, supportive coworkers.
In my case, I just went along with what my providers recommended. But many times doctors are pressured into prescribing antibiotics by patients or parents who are looking for a quick fix for a sore throat or cold.
“Most of us in the U.S. are lucky to be in the periphery,” says Kacey Ernst, an epidemiologist. “But of course with sexual transmission it doesn’t matter where you live.”
Lawmakers have introduced bills calling for greater safety regulation and researchers and activists are focused on the particular threats to girls. But only some girls are aware of the risks they might be handling in the care products they use regularly.
“My entire sixth grade experience was people not believing that I was sick,” says one girl. “People thought I used a wheelchair for fun.” Part of Teen Voices’ Girl Fuse series, highlighting stories by and about girls with disabilities.
A scarcity of physicians with special training in the needs of one trans man left him giving his doctor guidance on his own testosterone dosage. “There’s a huge online community,” he says, “and luckily I knew from YouTube and Facebook what was typical.”