With women’s health topics trending on the internet more than ever before, have you ever wondered if your vaginal discharge is healthy and whether you should be concerned when it changes?  The good news is that you can expect the color and consistency of your vaginal discharge to change during each phase of your menstrual cycle. However, there are ways to know what type of vaginal discharge is “normal” depending on the time of the month, and where to turn if things don’t seem right.  What is vaginal discharge? Vaginal discharge, also known as leukorrhea, is...

Taneia Surles • Feb 11, 2023

It's so satisfying to have one of those questions about fertility that includes very little guesswork. Finally, we actually have definite answers! And we promise there's only a little bit of the typical “it depends on the person/situation…” wishy-washy uncertainty. So, how often should you be having sex when trying to get pregnant? Let's get into it.  How often should you have intercourse when trying to conceive? Here’s the deal: Years of studies of thousands of people have given us scientific information: If you are trying to conceive, you should have sex *drumroll please* at...

Jennifer Palumbo • Feb 10, 2023
Health & Wellness

How Do Abortion Pills Work?

In the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, we’re very much living in a state of uncertainty where reproductive health is concerned. Waiting to see how abortion care will look in a post-Roe world can feel wildly disorienting at best, terrifying at worst — and at this point, even experts are left theorizing about what may happen down the line. When news broke that the FDA had decided to allow retail pharmacies to dispense abortion pills, many celebrated this path to access.  “I definitely think it will be extremely helpful, mostly because we’re...

Zara Hanawalt • Feb 9, 2023

  It may not have crossed your mind since college, but did you know that the three most common sexually transmitted infections — chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis — can cause fertility problems if left untreated? Overall, nearly 27 million new STIs are estimated to be transmitted annually If you have been diagnosed with an STI, you are certainly not alone.  While there’s historically been a lot of shame and stigma associated with sexually transmitted infections, the good news is not only are STIs preventable, but they are treatable as well. Still, knowledge is power when it...

Brighid Flynn • Feb 8, 2023

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Do you hear that? It’s that pesky biological clock ticking in your head. I’ve been there and have heard it many times. I didn’t get married until my mid-30s, and by then, the clock ticking in my head sounded like Big Ben. But imagine if you could hit snooze on your biological clock. Thanks to Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), you can accomplish that! The question is, which path is right for you? Egg freezing is nothing new — people have been freezing their eggs for decades. However, the biggest game-changer in...

Jennifer Palumbo • Feb 6, 2023

In societal conversations about pregnancy loss and failed fertility treatments, we often talk about what people with uteruses endure. But a recent podcast conversation between Lance Bass and New Kids on the Block member Jonathan Knight is bringing an underrepresented perspective to light. Knight and his husband, Harley Rodriguez, pursued parenthood for five heartbreaking years. Ultimately, the process didn’t work for them. "We tried it. We went through the journey for about five years, and it just didn't happen for us," Knight said during an appearance on the Lance Bass Presents: Frosted Tips podcast. "Going...

Zara Hanawalt • Feb 5, 2023

Recently, there’s been a lot of criticism of terms like “advanced maternal age” (and its far more offensive, outdated cousin “geriatric pregnancy”). The term feels almost shame-y — and in today’s world, where more and more people are delaying family-building well into their thirties, it also feels incongruous. But at the same time, the relationship between age and fertility — and age and pregnancy outcomes — is real. So how do we reconcile our need for language that better serves prospective parents alongside our need to inform people of reproductive realities? It’s a complicated issue,...

Zara Hanawalt • Feb 3, 2023

I remember the first time I felt what I would later discover was endometriosis. I was fifteen, and I had recurrent stabbing pain in the lower left side of my abdomen. It was the worst pain I had ever felt. I was sweating. My mom took me to my pediatrician, an older man who had been my doctor since I was born.  “It’s just cramps,” he told us. “The only other thing I can think of is if her appendix were on the wrong side, but we would have known that by now.” There was never...

Kristin Diversi • Feb 2, 2023

Cortisol — also known as “The Stress Hormone” — is important to be aware of, even if you’re not dealing with fertility issues. It mediates the stress response, regulates metabolism and inflammatory processes, and stabilizes immune function. Too much or too little cortisol can impact the body, and when it comes to fertility, can negatively affect ovulation and menstruation.  Some of the things that contribute to imbalanced cortisol levels are depression, anxiety, and stress-inducing factors, making it no surprise that fertility challenges could cause a spike. So, how does cortisol work in the body? How...

Kristin Diversi • Feb 1, 2023

If you’re struggling to conceive and are unable to carry a pregnancy for medical reasons, or if you’re an LGBTQ+ couple hoping to grow your family, surrogacy can be a unique and beautiful path to parenthood. However, whether you’re just starting out on your journey or contemplating your next steps, the cost of surrogacy on top of the price of IVF can be overwhelming to think about.  The truth is, the cost of surrogacy can actually vary greatly depending on a variety of factors, from the agency you choose to the location of the surrogate....

Kristyn Hodgdon • Jan 31, 2023