May 1st, 2008
One of my Twitter pals pointed me toward a great STD forum in response to my posts for STD Awareness Month. Check it out for topic-specific areas where you can ask and answer questions you may not want to ask out loud for one reason or another. Thanks, Divapalooza!
Tags: womens health blog, womens health, women, woman, health, STD, STI, sexually transmitted disease, sexually transmitted infection, forum, questions about STDs, STD resources, STD awareness month, lively women, kristen king
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By Kristen King -- 1 comment
May 1st, 2008
One of my fellow Health & Wellness Channel bloggers, Grace, who hosts Kids Health Notes, had the great idea to round up our seven favorite posts from April. Here are mine! Did I miss one of your top picks from last month? Leave the link as a comment!
Other bloggers’ round-ups:
Tags: womens health blog, womens health, women, woman, health, best blog posts about womens health, top blog posts about womens health, recommended reading, lively women, kristen king
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By Kristen King -- 0 comments
May 1st, 2008
April was STD Awareness Month, sponsored by the American Social Health Association (ASHA) and the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD), and your favorite women’s health blog covered pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), chlamydia, gonnorhea, and genital herpes. Today, Marijke Vroomen-Durning, RN, takes us through must-know facts about human papillomavirus (HPV), which is a major contributing factor to the development of cervical cancer.
What Is HPV?
Until a few years ago, few people had heard of HPV or human papillomavirus. HPV is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and, despite its relative obscurity until recently, it is one of the most common types of STIs that you can get.
HPV, unlike the more well-known diseases like syphilis and gonnorhea, is not just one virus – there are several types of HPV infection. Many cause genital warts. This type of HVP virus is considered to be low-risk. However, there are four types of HPV that are considered the major cause of cervical cancer and those are the high-risk infections.
Although genital warts aren’t pleasant, the biggest concern about HPV is its contribution to the development of cervical cancer. [Editor’s note: Recently, HPV has also been linked to bladder cancer.]
How Can I Get HPV?
You get HPV through sexual contact – not just sexual intercourse. Therefore, heavy petting, oral sex, any type of skin-to-skin sexual contact exposes you to being infected. It’s important to understand that you can have HPV and not know it. In other words, your partner could have HPV at the bottom of his penis shaft or around the scrotum or inner thighs and if you have sexual contact, even with a condom, you can become infected. Women who are technically virgins and never had contact with semen can still become infected.
How Do I Know if I Have HPV?
You don’t. Unless the type of HPV you have causes genital warts, you have no way of knowing if you are infected. The only way to find out would be through a Pap smear, where a gynecologist takes a sample of the cells from your cervix. This text can tell if there are any abnormalities or cell dysplasia, meaning that something is happening and the cells are changing. At this point, the could be just minor changes or they could be pre-cancerous.
How Do I Treat HPV?
You can’t. There is no cure for HPV, just a new vaccine that can help reduce the chances of you developing it.
Genital warts can be removed, but the virus remains behind.
Is HPV Contagious?
HPV is highly contagious.
How Can I Prevent HPV?
Of course, the best way to prevent HPV infection, as with any type of sexually transmitted disease (STD) or STI is by abstaining from sexual activity. The next best step is to be in a monogamous relationship where your partner is faithful and does not seek sexual activity elsewhere. Condoms do cut down on the chances of developing the infection, but because the virus doesn’t have to be on the penis, you aren’t protected all that much.
There is a new vaccine called Gardasil that is targeting younger women who have not yet had sex. [Editor’s note: Gardasil has been mandated for school-age childrenin numerous states, amid much controversy.] This group is important because if you are already sexually active, there’s a good chance you have already been exposed to the vaccine.
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Marijke Vroomen-Durning, RN, is the former author of the HPV channel at www.medbroadcast.com, aimed at both teens and young women, and their mothers. Marijke currently hosts Help My Hurt in the b5media Health and Wellness Channel.
Tags: womens health blog, womens health, women, woman, health, human papillomavirus, hpv, gardasil, vaccine, vaccination, cervical cancer, std, sti, sexually transmitted disease, sexually transmitted infection, bladder cancer, genital warts, mandatory vaccination, sexually active, virus, std awareness month, signs, symptoms, how do I know if i have, could i have, i think i have, how do i get, how do i treat, how do you prevent, gonorrhea, chlamydia, genital herpes, pelvic inflammatory disease, PID, marijke vroomen-durning, help my hurt, lively women, kristen king
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By Kristen King -- 3 comments
April 30th, 2008
Just a reminder, I’m still accepting entries for the random drawing for 3 free Nalgene bottles and Brita Faucet Filter sets. Visit the video announcement of the giveaway for more details and to enter for a chance to win. The deadline to enter is May 9. Only one entry per person, please!
Tags: womens health blog, womens health, women, woman, health, free, giveaway, nalgene, brita, water, bottled water, contest, random drawing, video, filter for good, water bottle, water filter, faucet filter, lively women, kristen king
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By Kristen King -- 1 comment
April 29th, 2008
In honor of STD Awareness Month, sponsored by the American Social Health Association (ASHA) and the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD), your favorite women’s health blog is going to talk about some of the most common sexually transmitted diseases and infections over the last few days of April.
What Is Genital Herpes?
Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the herpes simplex virus (types 1 and 2). There are also other types of herpes, including ocular herpes. The herpes family of viruses is also responsible for cold sores, chicken pox, and shingles. Genital herpes is characterized by outbreaks that take the form of one or more blisters around the genital region or rectum. The blisters burst and take several weeks to heal. After the first outbreak, subsequent outbreaks are generally shorter and less severe. Herpes does not affect the immune system, but having sex with open sores during a herpes outbreak makes you more susceptible to contracting HIV.
How Can I Get Genital Herpes?
Sexual contact is the most commmon way to get herpes, and you can get it through genital-genital or oral-genital contact. So if you perform oral sex on someone who’s having a herpes outbreak, you could get it. If you have anal sex with someone during an outbreak, you could get it. If you have vaginal sex with someone during an outbreak, you could get it. If you have any kind of sex with someone who has herpes not during an outbreak, you could still get it, but it’s most likely during and in the days leading up to an outbreak.
How Do I Know if I Have Genital Herpes?
The most obvious symptom of genital herpes is an outbreak, but some people have such mild symptoms that they may not even know they have herpes. You may also have pain or buring during urination, or a mild fever, which are symptoms that mimic a bladder infection, so without a severe outbreak or knowledge that you had sex with an infected partner, you may miss it entirely at first.
How Do I Treat Genital Herpes?
There is no cure for genital herpes, but there are some options for suppressive therapy to reduce the number and severity of outbreaks. External creams can also lessen the pain of herpes blisters and sores during outbreaks.
Is Genital Herpes Contagious?
Genital herpes is very contagious. It’s most contagious during and immediately preceding outbreaks, but there are also asymptomatic periods called "shedding periods" or "shedding stages" when the herpes virus multiplies in the nerves and can enter saliva, semen, and other bodily fluids and be transmitted in other ways. It can also be passed from mother to baby during childbirth.
How Can I Prevent Genital Herpes?
The best way to prevent any sexually transmitted disease or infection is abstinence. The next best way is monogamy with a monogamous partner (who, presumably, has a clean bill of health). And the next best way is to use a condom every single time. Never have sex with an infected partner during an outbreak. And of course, if you’re in a relationship with a partner who has herpes, you need to figure out a strategy you’re both comfortable with since it’s not going away. Suppressive therapy is one great tool, but there is no guarantee.
Sources:
Tags: womens health blog, womens health, women, woman, health, std, sti, sexually transmitted disease, sexually transmitted infection, std awareness month, signs, symptoms, how do I know if i have, could i have, i think i have, how do i get, how do i treat, how do you prevent, herpes, genital herpes, lively women, kristen king
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By Kristen King -- 3 comments
April 29th, 2008
Over the last few months here at women’s health blog Lively Women, we’re talking about the history of abortion in the US and around the world. Discussion is encouraged, and additional information and resources are welcomed. Please leave a comment!
Last week, New Mexico middle school student Jannelle Bushnell was disciplined by school officials for passing out fliers promoting a silent protest against abortion. The 14-year-old eighth-grader at James Monroe Middle School in Albuquerque is adopted, and she believes that she and other students should protest to "save other from the same fate that [she] was almost put into" because her biological mother (who was pregnant at 14) was pressured by adults to have an abortion instead of giving her baby up for adoption.
Jannelle and other students were planning to wear duct tape over their mouths in a silent protest against abortion, and to wear armbands to show support for teen pregnancy awareness and the prolife cause. The school said the protest interfered with the educational process because a silent protest meant that students wouldn’t be able to participate in class. Also, the armbands that Jannelle was encouraging students to wear were against the school dress code.
Janelle served lunch detentions for passing out the fliers, but said that she would be silent today and would support other students who chose to do the same thing even without the duct tape and armbands.
Read the whole story and watch a news clip with an interview with Jannelle Bushnell from KOAT 7 from Albuquerque.
Tags: womens health blog, womens helath, women, woman, health, history of abortion, abortion protest, silent protest, abortion, prolife, teen pregnancy, awareness, pro life, jannelle bushnell, albuquerque, new mexico, james monroe high school, student punished for abortion protest, abortion protest stopped, lively women, kristen king
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By Kristen King -- 2 comments
April 28th, 2008
In honor of STD Awareness Month, sponsored by the American Social Health Association (ASHA) and the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD), your favorite women’s health blog is going to talk about some of the most common sexually transmitted diseases and infections over the last few days of April.
What Is Gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection that can affect the reproductive tract, anus, mouth, throat, or eyes. Untreated, it can have serious and permanent effects, including life-threatening complications. Gonorrhea can spread to the blood and joints, and can make people more susceptible to contracting and transmitting HIV and AIDS. Gonorrhea can also lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
How Can I Get Gonorrhea?
Sexual contact is the most commmon way to get gonorrhea, and you can contract it during vaginal and anal sex and while performing or receiving oral sex. Using a condom or dental dam helps, but is not a guarantee of prevention. Babies can also get gonorrhea during childbirth if the mother is infected. This can cause eye infections leading to blindness.
How Do I Know if I Have Gonorrhea?
Most women who have gonorrhea are asymptomatic, meaning that they don’t have any symptoms. If you do have symptoms, they’ll usually appear within the first 1-2 weeks after you’re exposed to gonorrhea. Common symptoms include frequent or painful urination, pain during sex, or heavy, cloudy, or bloody vaginal discharge. If you develop gonorrhea from performing oral sex on someone who’s infected, you may develop a sore throat or cough. The best way to know if you have gonorrhea is to get tested regularly.
How Do I Treat Gonorrhea?
You don’t. Go to the doctor immediately if you notice any of the symptoms. Treatment consists of antibiotics.
Is Gonorrhea Contagious?
Gonorrhea is highly contagious.
How Can I Prevent Gonorrhea?
The best way to prevent any sexually transmitted disease or infection is abstinence. The next best way is monogamy with a monogamous partner (who, presumably, has a clean bill of health). And the next best way is to use a condom every single time. No matter what. Period. And if there’s no condom, there’s no contact. End of discussion.
Sources:
Tags: womens health blog, womens health, women, woman, health, std, sti, sexually transmitted disease, sexually transmitted infection, std awareness month, signs, symptoms, how do I know if i have, could i have, i think i have, how do i get, how do i treat, how do you prevent, gonorrhea, the clap, pelvic inflammatory disease, PID, lively women, kristen king
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By Kristen King -- 1 comment
April 28th, 2008
In honor of STD Awareness Month, sponsored by the American Social Health Association (ASHA) and the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD), your favorite women’s health blog is going to talk about some of the most common sexually transmitted diseases and infections over the last few days of April.
What Is Chlamydia?
Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that, if left untreated, can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and ultimately cause major reproductive damage. It’s the most frequently reported infectious disease in the US, with upwards of 3 million cases a year.
How Can I Get Chlamydia?
Chlamydia is primarily transmitted through sexual intercourse. It can also be passed from mothers to babies during childbirth, leading to serious eye and lung problems. Although unprotected sex is particularly risky for chlamydia, using a condom is not a guarantee that you won’t get chlamydia from an infected partner.
How Do I Know if I Have Chlamydia?
Unfortunately, chlamydia is largely a silent illness in its early stages. Symptons don’t usually show up for several weeks after exposure, and they’re often very mild, which is why regular screening is critical for good sexual health. Symptoms in women, when present, can include abdomina pain, vaginal discharge, pain during sex, and painful urination. You’re most likely to notice a problem if you develop PID or if chlamydia shows up in your annual exam.
How Do I Treat Chlamydia?
You don’t. Go to the doctor immediately if you notice any of the symptoms, and have a regular STD screening at your annual gynecologic exam if you’re sexually active. This is critical to staying healthy. Once chlamydia is detected, treatment generally consists of oral or intravenous antibiotics and is usually fairly simple, quick, and inexpensive.
Is Chlamydia Contagious?
Chlamydia is highly contagious, which is why having unprotected sex is a huge risk factor. Having any sex, protected or otherwise, with someone who’s infected is just plain dumb. And it’s important to note that women adolescent women are at particularly high risk for contracting chlamydia. More than half of all new cases each year occur in women under the age of 25.
How Can I Prevent Chlamydia?
The best way to prevent any sexually transmitted disease or infection is abstinence. The next best way is monogamy with a monogamous partner (who, presumably, has a clean bill of health). And the next best way is to use a condom every single time. No matter what. Period. And if there’s no condom, there’s no contact. End of discussion.
Sources:
Tags: womens health blog, womens health, women, woman, health, std, sti, sexually transmitted disease, sexually transmitted infection, std awareness month, signs, symptoms, how do I know if i have, could i have, i think i have, how do i get, how do i treat, how do you prevent, chlamydia, pelvic inflammatory disease, PID, lively women, kristen king
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By Kristen King -- 2 comments
April 27th, 2008
In honor of STD Awareness Month, sponsored by the American Social Health Association (ASHA) and the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD), your favorite women’s health blog is going to talk about some of the most common sexually transmitted diseases and infections over the last few days of April.
What Is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)?
PID is an infection of the female reproductive organs. It can be extremely painful and can cause lasting damage to the reproductive tract, possibly leading to future fertility problems.
How Can I Get PID?
PID frequently results from untreated STDs such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. It can also occur when bacteria travels up a contraceptive device (like a diaphragm) or when introduced by instruments during a gynecologic exam, giving birth, or having an abortion, though these are considerably less common sources.
How Do I Know if I Have PID?
Although it’s possible to have PID without knowing it, most women have symptoms primarily including abdominal pain, pain during sex, vaginal discharge, fever, and nausea/vomiting. Other symptoms may include difficulty becoming pregnant or pregnancy complications.
How Do I Treat PID?
You don’t. Go to the doctor immediately if you notice any of the symptoms. The sooner you begin treatment, the lower your likelihood of having long-term negative effects from PID. If your case of PID is mild, oral antibiotics are a very common treatment. If you’re really sick, you may be hospitalized to receive intravenous antibiotics and for observation to make sure you don’t get sicker. You may also be hospitalized if you’re young (ie, under 18), pregnant, or have other concurrent illnesses like an immune system deficiency.
Is PID Contagious?
Welllllll… The bacteria that cause PID are usually the same bacteria that cause chlamydia or gonorrhea. So chances are, if you have PID, your partner’s got one of those. So your partner should be treated, or you’ll keep getting it. Only women get PID, so if you’re sexually active with men, it’s not like you’re going to give it to your guy. If you’re sexually active with women, you should both be tested to figure out who’s got what and knock everything out with appropriate treatment.
How Can I Prevent PID?
The best way to prevent any sexually transmitted disease or infection is abstinence. The next best way is monogamy with a monogamous partner (who, presumably, has a clean bill of health). And the next best way is to use a condom every single time. No matter what. Period. And if there’s no condom, there’s no contact. End of discussion.
Sources:
Tags: womens health blog, womens health, women, woman, health, std, sti, sexually transmitted disease, sexually transmitted infection, std awareness month, signs, symptoms, how do I know if i have, could i have, i think i have, how do i get, how do i treat, how do you prevent, pelvic inflammatory disease, PID, lively women, kristen king
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By Kristen King -- 5 comments
April 26th, 2008
In honor of STD Awareness Month, sponsored by the American Social Health Association (ASHA) and the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD), your favorite women’s health blog is going to talk about some of the most common sexually transmitted diseases and infections over the last few days of April. But first, here’s a little background on this particular health observance from the ASHA:
There are nearly 19 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the U.S. each year, but obvious symptoms often don’t develop and many people who contract an STD are unaware they and there partners are at risk. With this in mind the American Social Health Association (ASHA) and National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD) recognize April as National STD Awareness Month, and emphasize testing as a key component for sexual health.
…While STDs are common across all groups, young people are hit especially hard: Approximately half of all new STDs occur in youth ages 15-24 and a recent study presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that 1 in 4 girls and young women between the ages of14 and 19 have at least one of the more common STDs. “It’s fine to talk about abstinence, but we need to face the reality that most individuals are sexually active prior to marriage, and our current approach of abstinence only education for young people clearly isn’t working. Teens need accurate information, and research clearly shows comprehensive approaches to sex education that include both abstinence and safer sex messages work in promoting responsible, healthy behaviors.” (source)
What would you like to know about STDs? Leave a comment.
Round-up of STD Awareness Month Posts at Lively Women:
Tags: womens health blog, womens health, women, woman, health, std, sti, sexually transmitted disease, sexually transmitted infection, std awareness month, lively women, kristen king
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By Kristen King -- 7 comments
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