Living with endometriosis means navigating complex symptoms and searching for solutions that actually work. While there's no magic cure (sorry), emerging research suggests that magnesium — a mineral many of us are deficient in — may play a key role in managing this challenging condition (and a few others, like PMS, dysmenorrhea, PCOS, and menopause). Let's explore how this essential nutrient could help support your endometriosis journey. Does magnesium deficiency cause endometriosis? While magnesium deficiency doesn't directly cause endometriosis, research suggests it may contribute to its development and severity. Magnesium plays a crucial role in numerous...

You’re pregnant, you waddle to the bathroom for the millionth time today, and when you finally pee, you notice something weird — your urine looks cloudy. Great, another fun pregnancy symptom no one warned you about. It's enough to make any expectant mom wonder what's brewing in her body. Let's dive into the world of cloudy urine during pregnancy and unravel this common yet often misunderstood phenomenon. Is cloudy pee normal in pregnancy? The short answer? Sometimes. Pregnancy is a time of significant bodily changes, and your urine can certainly reflect that. As your body works...

Your period shows up, does its thing, and then disappears — only to make an unexpected comeback two weeks later. Cue the panic. If you've ever found yourself wondering, Can you get your period twice in one month? — you're not alone. It's a question many people with periods have asked, especially when their cycle suddenly decides to go rogue. The short answer? Yes, it’s possible. But whether it’s normal or a sign of something off depends on a few factors. Let’s break it down: what’s happening, why it might be happening to you, and when...

Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt personally victimized by the “biological clock” narrative. You know, the one that tells you if you don’t find your person, get married, and have all the children you want by age 30(ish), you’ve essentially “missed the boat” to building the family of your dreams. The reality? It’s 2025, and both societal timelines and reproductive possibilities have come a long way. And in light of all that, it’s time to rescript the conversation around advanced maternal age (not geriatric pregnancies — because you know how we feel about that term). ...

If you’ve ever dealt with bacterial vaginosis (BV), you know how uncomfortable it can be. That weird foul-smelling discharge, the not-so-fresh feeling, and the way it keeps coming back, no matter how many times you’ve taken the prescribed antibiotics — it’s enough to make you want to scream. BV is incredibly common, affecting one-third of reproductive-aged women, and for many, it feels like a never-ending cycle. But what if we’ve been missing a crucial piece of the puzzle? A recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine suggests that the secret to stopping BV from...

STIs — sexually transmitted infections — come with a lot of misconceptions. One of the biggest? That you can only get one through penetrative sex. The truth is, while sex is the most common way these infections spread, it’s not the only way. So, if you’re wondering, can you get an STI without having sex? It's a valid question, especially if you're not sexually active or in a committed relationship. The truth is, while sex is the primary way STIs spread, it's not the only way. So, let's dive into this topic and clear up some...

One of the many things nobody told me about the postpartum period was how I would need a ton of those super-thick, hospital-grade maxi pads after bringing home my baby daughter. (I should’ve grabbed as many as my arms could carry more before being discharged!) Turns out I was clueless about something called “lochia” — which I simply referred to at the time as my six-week-long abnormal period. This was a three-stage bleeding cycle that required way more than my usual moderate-flow maxi pads. While I certainly wasn’t familiar with lochia, it turns out this kind of...

Kristen Dalhgren was living her dream as an NBC correspondent when she felt a dent in her breast ahead of her 47th birthday.  “A few years earlier I [had done] a story about how 1 in 6 women don’t have a lump when they get breast cancer and I knew this was something I needed to get checked out,” Dahlgren tells Rescripted. “The day after finding the dent I went on an assignment for NBC to cover a hurricane. I called an imaging center and asked if there were mammogram cancellations from people evacuating. I went...

Imagine enduring years of unexplained pain, uncertainty, and frustration while searching for answers about your health. This is the reality for many women living with endometriosis, a condition affecting millions worldwide but often taking years to diagnose.  Traditionally, confirming endometriosis has required laparoscopic surgery — an invasive and daunting prospect. But what if getting answers didn’t have to mean going under the knife? Thanks to advancements in medical science, new non-surgical methods are offering hope and transforming the diagnostic journey for endometriosis. But first, what is endometriosis? Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar (but not identical) to...

Living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) can feel like riding a hormonal rollercoaster. From unpredictable periods to stubborn weight gain, PCOS throws a lot of curveballs. Many women find themselves navigating a maze of treatment options, with medications like metformin and Ozempic often coming up in conversations with healthcare providers. Let's dive into the world of PCOS treatments and explore these two contenders, helping you make sense of the options available. (Not sure if you have PCOS or waiting on a diagnosis? Good news: there’s an at-home testing kit that can provide insight into hormone levels...