Menopause is more than hot flashes and it starts earlier than you think
Menopause marks the point at which a woman’s menstrual periods stop permanently, ending the reproductive years. It is typically confirmed after 12 consecutive months without a period and most commonly occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. The underlying driver is a gradual decline in the production of estrogen and progesterone, two hormones that […]
All women deserve great sex and doctors are finally saying it
Sexual health has long occupied an awkward space in medicine, discussed in hushed tones if at all, treated as secondary to what gets called “real” health concerns. Nicole Cirino, M.D., is a reproductive psychiatrist, certified sex therapist, and co-director of the Menopause and Sexual Medicine Program at OHSU’s Center for Women’s Health, which is recognized […]
Sexual health and STIs — the testing gap putting millions of Americans at preventable risk
Sexual health is one of the most consequential and most consistently neglected dimensions of adult wellness in the United States. The country has seen sustained increases in sexually transmitted infection rates over the past decade, with cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis reaching record highs in recent years. The primary driver of this trend is […]
Why is getting pregnant after 35 harder? Key facts explained
Getting pregnant after 35 is a reality that an increasing number of women are navigating, and the emotional and physiological complexity of that journey deserves honest and informed attention. Getting pregnant after 35 involves a real and well-documented fertility decline, and that decline accelerates in the mid-to-late thirties in ways that are biological rather than […]
Can vaccines impact fertility?
Vaccines and fertility is a topic that generates an enormous amount of concern online, particularly among people who are planning pregnancies or navigating the emotionally charged world of fertility treatment. The volume of information circulating on social media and across health-adjacent corners of the internet has created genuine anxiety for many people who might otherwise […]
How Michelle Obama’s IVF journey changed her view on motherhood
Michelle Obama has never shied away from difficult conversations, but her latest sit down with tennis icon Serena Williams reached new levels of raw honesty. During a live taping of Obama’s podcast, the two women shared deeply personal accounts of their struggles with infertility, the weight of miscarriage, and why they believe women are too […]
PCOS gets a bold new name — and a long-overdue reckoning
A new name for PCOS could unlock better diagnoses and long-overdue care for millions of women. For decades, the name told only part of the story — and for millions of women, that incomplete picture came at a real cost. Now, researchers and medical experts are making a historic move to correct it. PCOS, long […]
Low sperm count: 6 ways to improve male fertility
For millions of couples trying to start a family, the journey to conception can shift from hopeful to heartbreaking faster than expected. Months of trying can stretch into years, bringing with them anxiety, financial strain, and tension in even the strongest relationships. While infertility is often assumed to be a women’s issue, men are equally […]
Understanding Chlamydia reveals hidden pregnancy risks
Chlamydia is one of the most widespread sexually transmitted infections, yet it often moves unnoticed. During pregnancy, that silence can carry weight. The infection may develop without clear symptoms while still affecting both the pregnant individual and the baby. Health experts continue to stress awareness, not because the infection is rare, but because it is […]
Why family planning is still a bold act of love
The world feels heavier than it did a few years ago. Grocery bills are higher. Housing costs have become a source of dread for young couples. Headlines cycle through crisis after crisis. And yet — babies are still being born. Families are still being planned. And that, quietly, is one of the most radical and […]