I'm not sure where some of the GYNO myths start, but according to my colleagues, there are a lot of questions circulating about the safety of the copper IUD with respect to copper in the blood stream. "Will my copper IUD affect copper levels in my blood" is a reasonable question, especially knowing that individuals …
Continue reading "Myth busters, GYNO style: does the copper IUD affect copper levels in the blood?"
I am not a fan of awareness months. The campaigns go on too long and frankly, the pinking of October (or greening, or whatever color has captivated Madison avenue) leaves me feeling like diseases are part of a company's portfolio. I also don't appreciate being harassed every time I swipe my credit card at Safeway …
Your period is late. We've all been there. Whether you are worried you are pregnant, bloated as hell, or you figure there is enough oil in your chin to save the Alaska wilderness from drilling, there are all days when we wish the damn thing would just start already. Well, here are 5 guaranteed ways …
Some women and their partners are adverse to the idea of sex during the menstrual period (that sounds awfully formal, but everything else just sounded wrong). The reasons probably differ from person to person: The site of blood. I once dated a guy who freaked out at the very though of one red blood cell anywhere. …
There were apparently some ruffled feathers yesterday when Gov. Jerry Brown signed AB499 into law. As of January 2012, children ages 12 and older will be able to get the HPV vaccine without parental consent. The social conservatives think that the vaccine is a license for wanton pre-teen sex and the anti-vaxxers are worried our …
Continue reading "Getting the HPV shot without parental consent in California. What’s the big deal?"
When people think genital itch, they usually think yeast. But yeast typically produces an internal vaginal itch, not outside on the vulva. If you are itching where your skin touches your underwear pubic lice has to be considered in the differential diagnosis. Pubic lice are insects called Pthirus pubis, that, er, hang out around the …
Continue reading "Got a genital itch that just won’t go away? It could be pubic lice…"
Now that co-payments are (hopefully) falling by the wayside for birth control, it's time to think less about cost and more about failure rates, because not all methods of birth control are equal. There are many factors to consider when choosing a method of birth control. Some people dislike the idea of hormones while others …
Continue reading "What is the best method of birth control?"
Frieda, adopted from a shelter. About 12 yrs old now. Missing one leg. I see a lot of tweets from animal shelters about needing help with funds/food as well as about finding homes. All of this is, of course, wonderful. But I don't see many requests for funds and support from domestic violence shelters. I …
Continue reading "Twitter is a microcosm of our attitudes to domestic violence"
Dr. Jen Gunter 