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<ul><li>Conceputalised by Schbang, <keyword id="9881975" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="rio-heavy-flow-pads">RIO Heavy Flow Pads</keyword>' latest advertisement is a perfect analogy of what PCOS is. </li><li>It tries to explain the hormonal ups and down that women with PCOS experience through Raagas. </li><li>It aims to break taboos around PCOS and encourage people to start talking about it. </li></ul>An estimated one in five Indian women suffer from PCOS, yet very little is spoken about this condition. The ups and downs, the hormonal changes, the struggles that these women go -- through be it unbearable pain that comes with PCOS or changing pads every half an hour or trying to switch from diet to diet in the hope of relief -- they deserve to be heard. So this <keyword id="9881976" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="pcos-awareness-month">PCOS Awareness Month</keyword>, RIO Heavy Flow Pads by <keyword id="3140524" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nobel-Hygiene">Nobel Hygiene</keyword> urges everyone to educate themselves and start talking about PCOS. It has launched a campaign #RIOTalksPCOS with a Raaga video that creates awareness about the hormonal ups and downs that a woman with PCOS goes through when she is on her heavy flow period. Due to the lack of education and awareness about PCOS in our country, there are fewer diagnosed with the condition. If not monitored in time, PCOS can have a serious impact on health. The film has been created to push the viewer to listen and empathize with the pain a woman goes through during her menstrual cycle when she suffers from PCOS. It draws a comparison between two completely unexpected themes and imitates the drastic highs and lows of energy that a woman goes through during her periods. The unusual treatment of the film delivers an impactful message. <div type="Youtube" id="ytG69WWPlUI" title="Raaga by RIO" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ytG69WWPlUI/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Commenting on the new campaign, <keyword id="5982986" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kartik-Johari">Kartik Johari</keyword>, Vice-President, Nobel Hygiene, said “RIO’s research has revealed that women with PCOS are perennially worried and are unsure of how their periods will behave. The unpredictability results in them using a multitude of methods to prepare for it with a lot of hits and misses. However, society still expects them to go about their daily routines without drawing attention to their pain or discomfort. With this film, we wanted to throw the spotlight on the very real pain and the impact it has on their energy flow with every twist and turn. This PCOS awareness month hear them. Listen. Period.” "I wonder if 1 in 5 men were suffering from a hidden, debilitating disease that spikes monthly; would there be more awareness about it? Women suffering from PCOS are silently struggling with an issue beyond simple solutions. We do not know what causes PCOS, and even less on how to effectively treat it. All throughout September, RIO will focus on awareness and educating consumers about the various facets of this seemingly impregnable complication". He further added. “Raagas have always had a certain pain and agony communicated through them. Linking that rollercoaster of emotions to what women with PCOS go through, communicated the feeling in a unique way. The video was also shot in a way that amplifies the feeling of imbalance and discomfort through the vertigo effect of the camera treatment, coupled with a tone that brings out the varying moods of the raga. Hopefully, if we say it in a way that’s creative and unique to us, people will take notice to the cause. It’s about time!” said Disha Daswani, Creative Director, Schbang X, further explaining the concept behind the video. RIO will also further amplify the message to drive it home by creating multiple layers of nuanced conversations around the topic on various digital platforms. Via select influencer engagement they will create an open and honest dialogue about PCOS struggles along with showcasing solidarity with women who are going through it.

Rio Pads try to represent hormonal ups and downs that women with PCOS experience through Raagas

<ul><li>Doctors and experts believe that an unhealthy lifestyle, triggered largely by the pandemic, is the major cause behind this spurt.</li><li><keyword id="77944" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="pcos" source="Orion">PCOS</keyword> is an endocrine condition that causes <keyword id="14189797" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hormone-imbalances" source="Orion">hormone imbalances</keyword> in the female reproductive system.</li><li>According to a study by Plum, an employee health insurance platform, one in five women in India suffers from PCOS.</li></ul>The number of women suffering from <keyword id="6645980" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="polycystic-ovary-syndrome" source="Orion">polycystic ovary syndrome</keyword> (PCOS) and polycystic ovary disorder (<keyword id="538771" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PCOD" source="Orion">PCOD</keyword>) has been increasing across the country. During the pandemic, a lack of physical activity and the resultant unhealthy lifestyle has caused a spurt in the incidence of this disease, say doctors. “If you look at the basic causes, lack of exercise and weight gain are the main causes for both. During the pandemic, physical activities had been curtailed a lot and I have seen patients who have put on 15-20 kilos during these two years,” Dr Mini Nampoothiri, consultant at Apollo Hospitals in Navi Mumbai, told Business Insider India. PCOS is an endocrine condition that causes an hormonal imbalance in the female reproductive system. As a result, ovaries swell in size and tiny cysts are created that contain immature eggs. It’s one of the most common causes of infertility in India. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="One woman in five suffers from PCOS" comment="subhead" text="One woman in five suffers from PCOS">One woman in five suffers from PCOS</cmsannotation> The month of September is marked as PCOS awareness month. According to a study by employee health insurance platform Plum, one woman in five suffers from PCOS in India. Women with PCOS also battle with issues such as hair loss, acne, facial hair, weight gain, irregular menstruation cycle and excess bleeding in certain cases. Around 80% of women have faced the problem of infertility as well due to PCOS, the report says. However, PCOS is different from PCOD even though both conditions cause irregular or scanty cycles with defective ovulation. In PCOD, only the ovaries are affected, and immature eggs are not produced. PCOS-affected women experience more changes caused by hormonal imbalance. “We call it Syndrome X, where patients have diabetes and hypertension too. The long-term consequence of PCOS is excessive thickening of the inner lining of the uterus, which can lead to endometrial cancer in the long run. To conclude, people with PCOS have PCOD anyways, but we say only PCOS,” Dr Nampoothiri further explained. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Most cases seen in teenagers" comment="subhead" text="Most cases seen in teenagers">Most cases seen in teenagers</cmsannotation> According to Dr Gayathri D Kamath, senior consultant - obstetrics and gynecology, Fortis Hospitals in Bangalore, the age profile of patients is getting younger. Majority of the cases being reported recently are in the age group of 15-35 years. However, the condition can set in at any age after puberty, at around 13-14 years. The only way to treat this condition is to reduce body weight. “Exercise, weight loss and proper diet are the primary modalities of treatment. Even a 5% weight loss does wonders in terms of treatment. Medicines are given to regularise cycles, but they are not of much use unless lifestyle alterations are made too,” Dr Nampoothiri said. Patients also have to stick to the treatment regime strictly, say doctors. “Second treatment can be through insulin sensitizers to control hormones. Sometimes to control hormones, oral contraceptive pills can be given. If someone has facial hair, then local treatment like laser treatment should be done,” Dr Ranjana Sharma, senior consultant at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/indias-homegrown-cervical-cancer-vaccine-can-be-a-game-changer-say-doctors/articleshow/94151501.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">India’s homegrown cervical cancer vaccine can be a game changer say doctors</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/7-out-of-10-smbs-in-india-prefer-hiring-employees-through-personal-references-report/articleshow/94179381.cms">7 out of 10 SMBs in India prefer hiring employees through personal references : Report</a>

Weight gain during the pandemic is increasing the incidence of PCOS in women

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A 33-year-old woman submitted an average day of eating to be reviewed for <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/insider-nutrition-clinic">Insider's Nutrition Clinic</a>.</li><li>She told Insider she has polycystic ovary syndrome, and her goal is <keyword id="11896577" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="weight-loss" source="Orion">weight loss</keyword>.</li><li>A dietitian recommends having a larger breakfast, watching carb intake, and eating mindfully.</li><li>If you'd like to have your <keyword id="11892706" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="diet" source="Orion">diet</keyword> reviewed by an expert, <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1D9Shs0MxJTxl1ISHIOVPQTLPGfk7L7DFxYQyXQfg0_E/edit">fill out this form</a>. </li></ul>Amrita, 33, submitted her eating routine for <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/insider-nutrition-clinic">Insider's Nutrition Clinic</a>, where qualified dietitians offer advice on readers' eating habits.She told Insider her goal is weight loss, and she's been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (<keyword id="11987439" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="pcos" source="Orion">PCOS</keyword>). Amrita works from home but said she goes to the gym every morning to use the elliptical, treadmill, and do some exercises with weights.She tracks her movement with her FitBit and tries to hit 10,000 steps every day. Her menstrual cycle is irregular, she said."I had PCOS in college, no cysts currently, but my periods don't occur normally," Amrita said. "I'll go months without a period."<a href="https://www.fertilitydietitian.co.uk/PCOS-weight-loss-meal-plan?r_done=1">Dietitian and PCOS weight loss specialist Ro Huntriss</a> said that you don't need to have cysts to still have <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos/">PCOS</a>, and weight loss can be harder for those with the condition "due to resistance to the hormone insulin which helps to control our blood sugar levels."When our insulin levels are higher, the body's ability to burn fat for energy is lessened. Blood sugar spikes and crashes also often lead to people craving sweet snacks.Huntriss said staying active with both cardio and weights can help restore hormone balance in women with the condition, which data from a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33467251/">2020 study</a> by Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine supports.<h2>Amrita has a soy latte for breakfast</h2>In the morning, Amrita said she usually has a soy latte from Starbucks for breakfast.But Huntriss said she could benefit from eating a more substantial meal."Skipping breakfast can lead to increased hunger later in the day," she said.<h2>Lunch is usually oatmeal</h2>For brunch or lunch, Amrita has oatmeal with bananas, maple syrup, and almond milk.Huntriss said whole foods like oats and bananas are a good choice."They have a <a href="https://www.insider.com/foods-to-lower-blood-sugar">lower glycemic index</a> (GI), meaning their energy is released slowly which is useful for PCOS management," she said.Huntriss recommends cutting down on carbs and sugar, and prioritizing <a href="https://www.insider.com/high-protein-desserts-that-can-help-reduce-blood-sugar-spikes-2022-2">low GI, complex carbs,</a> like brown rice and whole wheat bread, over their white equivalents.Amrita could try replacing the maple syrup with berries to cut down on added sugar, while also helping her hit her five-a-day, Huntriss said."Fruit and vegetables are low in calories and can help her to stay full without overconsuming calories," Huntriss said.<h2>Amrita has Indian food for dinner</h2>For dinner, Amrita often eats Indian food like chicken biryani with yogurt salad.Huntriss says Amrita should ensure her meals are balanced."If aiming to lose weight, consider filling half the plate with veg or salad, and include protein and whole grain carbohydrates," she said.Amrita drinks lots of water with her meals, which Huntriss commends: "This supports not only just general <keyword id="11894571" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health" source="Orion">health</keyword> but weight management too."<h2>Amrita snacks a lot</h2>Amrita says her biggest diet "problem" is snacking."I find myself reaching for sweets and eating unconsciously," she said. "Sometimes my calorie intake per day ends up being in the 2200-2500 calorie range."Huntriss recommends mindful eating, which means eating without distractions, slowly, focusing on how the food tastes and feels, and listening to your body's hunger signals."This could help her to become more aware of the food that she is eating, when and how it makes her feel," Huntriss said. "This may allow her to avoid mindless eating and snacking."

I have PCOS, and I want to lose weight. A dietitian said to eat more breakfast but be mindful of refined carbs.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The beauty industry is booming in 2024 as the cost of maintaining current beauty standards rises.</li><li><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-women-high-maintenance-beauty-routines-2023-4">TikTok trends</a> and high-priced products are driving consumer spending on beauty and wellness.</li></ul>The beauty industry — dominated by high-priced skincare and facial injections — is booming in 2024, and it's only getting more expensive to keep up with current hotness standards.It seems like a new beauty trend or wellness practice is born every day on TikTok. Whether it's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hot-girl-walk-delaware-florida-trademark-infringement-2023-7">"hot girl walks"</a> or snail mucin-based skincare products, people are deeply interested in maintaining their physical appearance.But $100 serums and cleansers, gym memberships, and whatever <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-trends-viral-videos-influence-over-companies-2023-6">beauty treatments TikTok swears by</a> add up over time.In fact, the industry is so saturated with new "must-have" products that <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/deinfluencing-is-the-anti-influencer-trend-rich-with-paradoxes-2023-1">de-influencing</a> (making content about products you wouldn't recommend) has taken hold to help people save money on overhyped brands.Still, Gen Z, millennials, and beyond are investing in their hotness.According to data collected by Business Insider's sister company Emarketer, cosmetics and beauty was the fastest-growing retail segment in the US in 2023, hitting over $94 billion in sales.BI spoke to two working models and one TikToker (and viewed their receipts) to get an idea of the monthly financial cost to be considered conventionally attractive in 2024.<div type="image" title="Adora Mehala" height="1258" width="1290" msid="111968446" hostid="261"></div>Adora Mehala, 23, is a New York-based writer and model who said she likes to keep it simple when it comes to her beauty routine. She doesn't wear a lot of makeup, and she's never gotten injections."For a New York City model, I would say mine is on the lower end" of expensive routines.Instead, Mehala's holy grail product is a snail mucin cleanser that you can order from Amazon for less than $20. It's by COSRX, the same brand that made the bestselling serum that helped Amazon have record-breaking holiday sales.She estimated that her full skincare routine costs around $100 to refill every two to three months.As a model, Mehala is expected to almost always appear groomed with her hair and nails done. For those sorts of beauty treatments, she touches them up herself or she uses an app called <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/model-app-connects-professional-models-with-free-stuff-2019-4">Neon Coat</a>. It connects businesses and brands with professional models for partnership opportunities.By using it, she can get a manicure and pedicure for $40 instead of $100 each visit."For me, a large part of my wellness routine is the kind of food I eat," she said.Her monthly budget is mostly dedicated to buying organic foods to help her feel and look her best as a woman living with polycystic ovarian syndrome. PCOS can cause inflammation and insulin resistance, which Mehala said is lessened by a healthy diet.As such, she spends about $500 each month on weekly trips to the grocery store.With her grocery bill, $35 gym membership, yoga classes, and beauty products, Mehala estimates that she spends about $1,000 every month on her hotness.<div type="image" title="Alyssa Lindaas" height="1544" width="1158" msid="111968445" hostid="261"></div>Millennial model Alyssa Lindaas has spent years perfecting her beauty routine.Lindaas told BI that she's gone through phases of consistent hair salon visits, tanning, and manicures, and she's been in more natural phases that have helped her appreciate her natural beauty."When I turned 30, I remember feeling really insecure about the way that I looked in photos for a while and thinking I need to make serious effort towards being the best version of myself," she said.She's tried a number of treatments to determine what works best for her, including a Botox phase that would cost thousands for one visit to New York City's top doctor. But Lindaas stepped away from facial injections in 2023 to focus on more sustainable, less invasive ways to look and feel beautiful.The technique she found that works best for her is a daily facial massage that she learned from a woman who goes by Anastasia BeautyFascia online. To learn the technique, Lindaas enrolled in a class that costs $300 initially and $50 per month afterwards."It's changed my face so much more rapidly and drastically than any cosmetic procedure I've ever tried," Lindaas said.She spends $100 a month on a gym membership (regularly priced at $250 without a model discount), about $100 on makeup and cosmetics, and she only drinks Evian water that costs about $30 per case.Her biggest splurge comes about every three months. It's a radio frequency treatment that promotes the production of new skin cells, and it costs her a discounted rate of $1,000 per session.Like Mehala, she's also careful about her nutrition and prioritizes foods that help with gut health and her skin.<div type="image" title="Shawn Owens" height="898" width="505" msid="111968448" hostid="261"></div>Shawn Owens is a 28-year-old part-time content creator in Houston, and his TikTok videos are typically dedicated to helping his over 80,000 followers feel great about themselves.His content includes outfit try-on videos, daily affirmations, and his pilates workouts, and Owens said it's consistent with his everyday life. "I feel like I'm not my best self as a person if I'm not taking care of myself," Owens said.Skincare is at the top of his priority list when it comes to wellness. It costs Owens between $200 and $300 each month to refill his products at Sephora. Every four to six weeks he sees his aesthetician for a consultation or $130 facial.When it comes to fitness, Owens said he likes to shop around for the right workout classes. He's held memberships at multiple pilates studios that came out to about $400 in monthly fees at one point, but he's currently saving money by working out at home.His hair is another expense that varies month to month. His products cost about $250 altogether, but he might also spend $400 on a protective hairstyle that lasts two months.During a month when he's consistent with all of his routine, Owens estimated that he might spend $1,200 on his looks."Life is so short. I could not be here tomorrow, and I'd hate to say I didn't enjoy certain things that make me happy," Owens said.Although Owens said he's aware that the economy is "really horrible right now," he believes his monthly maintenance is worth the price."The money will come back," he said.

From models to influencers, here's what it costs to be 'hot'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Nicole Tabak and her husband have been trying to have a baby for the past three years.</li><li>In her grief and frustration, she turned to 'infertility TikTok' for answers and support.</li></ul>In May of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was going strong and my husband and I decided it was the perfect time to start trying to have a baby. Flash forward to November 2021 and we were experiencing our first pregnancy after an unexplained infertility diagnosis — a pregnancy that ended in miscarriage at the same time hospitals were yet again restricting visitors and unessential procedures.We've spent almost three years trying to have a baby with nothing to show for it but thousands of dollars in medical bills, hundreds of pregnancy and ovulation tests, one medicated IUI (intrauterine insemination) procedure, and a whole lot of emotional trauma. Throughout our journey, we've endured three pregnancy losses — two chemical pregnancies (miscarriage within the first 5 weeks) and that aforementioned first-trimester miscarriage at 10 weeks.We've both had a multitude of tests run – all coming back clean – leading to our fertility clinic's diagnosis of "unexplained infertility." Unexplained infertility is a diagnosis given when none of the traditional infertility diagnoses (such as PCOS, endometriosis, male factor infertility, or thyroid imbalances) are present. It's the doctors' way of saying, "there's obviously something wrong but we don't know what it is," which is never something you want to hear your doctor say.Infertility and pregnancy loss are inherently isolating experiences. It should come as no surprise that our stress amidst an "unknown infertility" issue — against the backdrop of the pandemic — was through the roof.I took my stress out by scrolling for hours on social media. The algorithm was quick to connect my searches for "ovulation tests" and "best foods for fertility" to Instagram and TikTok accounts of people going through the same struggles we were. My Explore and For You pages were consumed by women comparing their <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/ChVrcBMMhnS/">IVF protocols</a>, dipping their <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@fertilityjourney/video/7139596001777765678?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7026135912526644741">early pregnancy tests</a> to find any hint of a line, and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@mrs.caitlyn_oneil/video/7129609474121256234?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7026135912526644741">dancing through questions</a> about the next steps in their fertility journey. Suddenly, I didn't feel so alone.<h2>Turning grief into content</h2>"I didn't post [our first video] to be anything or for it to reach anyone. I was almost kind of video journaling, and then all these comments flew in of people who had similar struggles or could resonate with it in some way," <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahrogersjohnson?lang=en">Sarah Johnson</a> tells me.Sarah and her husband Cody have been sharing their infertility journey (or trek, as <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahrogersjohnson/video/6955218335822925061?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7026135912526644741">she calls it</a>) since December 2020. They've endured recurrent pregnancy loss, multiple fertility treatments, and a <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/diminished-ovarian-reserve">diminished ovarian reserve diagnosis</a> while at the same time amassing an audience of nearly 200k across <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahrogersjohnson?lang=en">TikTok</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sarahrogersjohnson/">Instagram</a>. She tells me a story I know all too well, "We started trying and said, 'This will happen when it's meant to be, and we're not going to be crazy about this. We're just going to live life.' Then we looked up and all of a sudden it had been a year and nothing had happened."Fertility is an unknown waiting game. Every month brings the promise of hope that this month could be the one. It can feel like everything else during these cycles of hope and disappointment is just filling time. Sarah, like me and others enduring this frustrating diagnosis, found solace online in the in-between. "I started listening to infertility and pregnancy loss podcasts where people share their stories," she said. "I found it incredibly validating because there weren't really a lot of people in my personal life that had gone through this."<h2>When oversharing turns into a career</h2>The validation Sarah talks about is what leads many down the road of sharing their less-than-ideal paths to parenthood on the internet. One person's shared story can often fuel others to speak up as well. With over 3 billion uses of the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/search?lang=en&amp;q=infertility&amp;t=1663273130513">#infertility</a> hashtag on TikTok, it's easy to see how common an infertility diagnosis is and how deeply people are energized to share their stories. <a href="https://resolve.org/how-many-people-have-infertility/#:~:text=Drum%20roll%20please%E2%80%A6-,1%20in%208%20couples%20have%20trouble%20getting%20pregnant%20or%20sustaining,getting%20pregnant%20or%20sustaining%20pregnancy.">One in 8 couples</a> have trouble getting pregnant or sustaining a pregnancy. Most likely, someone you know has been affected by infertility or pregnancy loss.While some TikTokers like Sarah create content purely to document their personal experiences with infertility, she maintains that she "doesn't see [herself] as a creator, just someone who makes stuff and puts it out into the universe" — others are turning it into a full-fledged career.With over 600k followers across <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@mrs.caitlyn_oneil?lang=en">TikTok</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mrs.caitlyn_oneil/">Instagram</a>, Caitlyn O'Neil is a full-time content creator and mom (she refers to her 6-year-old daughter as her and her husband's "miracle," a natural pregnancy that occurred after their initial infertility diagnosis) and documents her struggles through trying to conceive her second child. Caitlyn admits, "I never in a million years expected that half a million people would care to know when I'm ovulating, but here we are and I make a living off of this."Through her <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@mrs.caitlyn_oneil/video/7125075262521412910?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7026135912526644741">bubbly personality</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@mrs.caitlyn_oneil/video/7101026899266161966?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7026135912526644741">honest sharing</a>, and, yes, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@mrs.caitlyn_oneil/video/7133200112670625070?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7026135912526644741">fun dancing</a>, Caitlyn amassed a community who have rallied around her latest IVF cycles and show up each day to watch her document her ovulation and pregnancy tests. Her success has led to hiring a manager to help secure brand deals. She elaborates, "We wouldn't be able to keep going had I not had this additional income. I'm able to pay for fertility treatments, manage those bills, and not have to stress about the financial toll infertility takes." If and when she does get pregnant again, she said she'll continue to post, as many infertility creators do. "Yes, I do plan on keeping them going if that time comes, sharing the ups and downs of pregnancy after loss/infertility, and even parenting is still a journey I plan on sharing," she said. <h2>The cycle of stress</h2> The financial toll of infertility Caitlyn references is no joke. In 2015, the American Society of Reproductive Medicine <a href="https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/infertility-inequality-and-how-lack-insurance-coverage-compromises-reproductive-autonomy/2018-12">found</a> that the average cost of one IVF cycle was $12,400. This figure doesn't account for genetic or chromosomal testing of embryos or other procedures often needed in certain unexplained infertility diagnoses like mine and Caitlyn's. Add the financial burden to the stressors plaguing infertile couples and patients.Researchers <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8142988/">have found</a> that anxiety and depression levels of women dealing with infertility are equivalent to those dealing with cancer and other chronic medical conditions. Furthermore, we're stuck in this loop of anxiety and guilt, knowing research <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6016043/">also states</a> that stress has a negative effect on the ability to conceive. The stress of this lonely experience amidst the loneliness of quarantines and social distancing is a stress like no other. It digs deep at our insecurities. It makes us question everything. It erodes our trust in our bodies, our timing, and the idea of what our lives would be — what our lives should've been before we knew what we know now.In the end, all any of us can do is keep trying.

I've been trying to have a baby for almost 3 years. Infertility TikTok has helped me realize I'm not alone.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Ovarian cysts are usually not painful and will go away on their own.</li><li>However, if a cyst is growing or you have multiple cysts you may have symptoms and need surgery.</li><li>A ruptured cyst can cause severe pain and vomiting and requires immediate medical aid.</li></ul>Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001504.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">form</a> inside or on the surface of an ovary. Some types of ovarian cysts — like those that form during a menstrual cycle — are <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-cysts/symptoms-causes/syc-20353405" target="_blank" rel="noopener">common</a> while others are less so.Most cysts are <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560541/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">benign</a> and tend to <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-cysts/symptoms-causes/syc-20353405" target="_blank" rel="noopener">go away</a> on their own. You'll probably not even know you have a cyst. However, if a cyst is large or continuously growing, it could lead to uncomfortable <a href="https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/ovarian-cysts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">symptoms</a> like pelvic pain or unusual vaginal bleeding.Here are seven things that <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-cysts/symptoms-causes/syc-20353405" target="_blank" rel="noopener">can cause an ovarian cyst</a> and when you might need surgery.<h2>1. Menstrual cycle</h2>Functional cysts are a type of ovarian cyst that <a href="https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/ovarian-cysts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">form</a> during the menstrual cycle. Each month, a follicle <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-cysts/symptoms-causes/syc-20353405" target="_blank" rel="noopener">grows</a> to release an egg. Cysts <a href="https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/ovarian-cysts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">develop</a> if the follicle doesn't break open to release the egg (follicle cyst) or it releases an egg but doesn't shrink (corpus luteum cyst).Hormonal problems or drugs that help you ovulate may also <a href="https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/ovarian-cysts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cause</a> functional cysts, but this type of cyst typically <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-cysts/symptoms-causes/syc-20353405" target="_blank" rel="noopener">goes away</a> on its own. Sometimes these are painful, but the pain will also resolve with patience and time. Note: <a href="https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/ovarian-cysts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Roughly 8%</a> of premenopausal people get cysts large enough to require medical treatment, which <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-cysts/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353411" target="_blank" rel="noopener">varies</a> depending on age, symptoms, type, and size of the cyst.<h2>2. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)</h2><a href="https://www.insider.com/what-is-pcos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PCOS</a>, a hormonal disorder, can <a href="https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/polycystic-ovary-syndrome" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lead</a> to the development of many small ovarian cysts. The cysts are generally <a href="https://www.kansashealthsystem.com/news-room/blog/2019/05/pcos-symptoms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">harmless</a> and do not need to be treated or surgically removed.<h2>3. Pregnancy</h2>A corpus luteum cyst normally <a href="https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/ovarian-cysts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">forms</a> in early pregnancy to support the baby, and it usually <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21849-corpus-luteum" target="_blank" rel="noopener">goes away</a> by the second trimester. If the cyst doesn't break down, it can cause symptoms like a pressure or dull ache in the abdomen, and it may have to be <a href="https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/ovarian-cysts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">removed</a>. However, surgery is rarely needed.<h2>4. Infections</h2>Severe pelvic infections can <a href="https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/ovarian-cysts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cause</a> ovarian cysts if the infection spreads to the ovaries. You may <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-cysts/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353411" target="_blank" rel="noopener">need</a> treatment depending on the type and size of the cyst.<h2>5. Endometriosis</h2><a href="https://www.insider.com/what-does-endometriosis-feel-like" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Endometriosis</a> is a <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000915.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">condition</a> where tissue that is similar to what lines your uterus grows outside of the uterus instead of inside it. That tissue can also <a href="https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/ovarian-cysts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">attach</a> to the ovary and form a growth, causing a cyst called endometrioma that occurs in <a href="https://ovarianresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13048-019-0582-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">17% to 44%</a> of people with endometriosis. Symptoms and the appearance of the cyst on an ultrasound will clue your provider into whether or not it is an endometrioma. <h2>6. Congenital condition</h2>If skin layers don't form as they should during a baby's development in the uterus, a dermoid cyst can <a href="https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=dermoid-cyst-90-P02032" target="_blank" rel="noopener">form</a> anywhere on their body, including in or on an ovary, when they reach reproductive age.A dermoid cyst is usually discovered during a pelvic exam or on an ultrasound. Your doctor may schedule regular ultrasound check-ups to keep an eye on it, or you may need it to be surgically removed.This type of cyst can get large enough to <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-cysts/symptoms-causes/syc-20353405" target="_blank" rel="noopener">move</a> the ovary out of position, increasing the risk of ovarian torsion — a <a href="https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/ovarian-torsion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">condition</a> where the ovary is twisted around the tissues that support it — which <a href="https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/conditions/ovarian-cyst-and-torsion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">requires</a> emergency surgery.<h2>7. Abnormal cell growth</h2>Cysts <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ovarian-cyst/causes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">caused</a> by abnormal cell growth are all called pathological cysts, which include endometriomas, dermoid cysts, and cystadenomas — cysts that <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-cysts/symptoms-causes/syc-20353405" target="_blank" rel="noopener">develop</a> on the surface of an ovary."Cysts like dermoid or endometrioma will not go away on their own," says <a href="https://www.yalemedicine.org/specialists/farinaz_seifi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Farinaz Seifi, MD, FACOG</a>, Yale Medicine gynecologic surgeon and assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine. They <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21864-dermoid-cyst#management-and-treatment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">usually</a> <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559230/">require</a> surgical removal.Cysts can also be cancerous and often have a characteristic appearance on ultrasound. Ovarian cysts in postmenopausal individuals require attention as the risk of cancer is higher. Blood tests, ultrasound, age of the patient and size of the cyst are <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-cysts/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353411" target="_blank" rel="noopener">factored</a> into management decisions.Note: If you've had an ovarian cyst before, you are at a <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-cysts/symptoms-causes/syc-20353405" target="_blank" rel="noopener">higher risk</a> of developing another one.<h2>Ovarian cyst symptoms</h2>Most ovarian cysts <a href="https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/ovarian-cysts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">don't cause</a> any symptoms because they are small. However, cysts aren't always straightforward."You might have a small and simple ovarian cyst but still feel abdominal pain or bloating. Alternatively, people may have larger cysts that are found incidentally on imaging, like an ultrasound or a CT scan," says <a href="https://www.onemedical.com/providers/natasha-bhuyan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Natasha Bhuyan, MD</a>, family physician and regional medical director of the West Coast markets at <a href="https://www.onemedical.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">One Medical Group</a>.If you do experience symptoms from an ovarian cyst it will typically manifest as one, or multiple, of the following <a href="https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/ovarian-cysts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">symptoms</a>:<ul><li>Pressure, bloating, or swelling in the lower abdomen</li><li>Sharp or dull pain in the lower abdomen</li><li>Unusual vaginal bleeding</li><li>Dull ache in the lower back and thighs</li><li>Pelvic pain</li><li>Frequent urination</li><li>Pain during intercourse</li><li>Unexplained weight gain</li></ul>If you think you have a cyst, get it checked out with your primary care provider so you can discuss potential treatment.Important: "If you experience severe pain, nausea, or vomiting, you have to seek medical care immediately," says Seifi. These symptoms, along with dizziness, heavy vaginal bleeding, and rapid breathing may <a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/when-an-ovarian-cyst-ruptures-is-it-an-emergency/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">indicate</a> a ruptured or infected cyst.<h2>Treatment and prevention</h2>Most cysts don't require treatment and will go away on their own <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-cysts/symptoms-causes/syc-20353405" target="_blank" rel="noopener">within a few months</a>. If you frequently get functional cysts, you may be recommended to take hormonal birth control. Contraceptives can stop ovulation, which <a href="https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/ovarian-cysts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reduces</a> the risk of future cysts, says Bhuyan. Although they <a href="https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Abstract/2009/09000/Oral_Contraceptives_for_Functional_Ovarian_Cysts.27.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">don't</a> necessarily treat functional cysts, they can prevent it from recurring.Surgery may be <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-cysts/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353411" target="_blank" rel="noopener">needed</a> if an ovarian cyst is large, continuously growing, painful, and continues through two or three menstrual cycles. If an infected or suspected cancerous cyst is not removed, the infection or potential disease may spread in the body.<h2>Insider's takeaway</h2>Many individuals might not be aware that they have a cyst unless it grows or causes symptoms. If you think you have a cyst, reach out to your <keyword id="11894571" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health" source="Orion">health</keyword> care provider for a diagnosis and potential treatment.Severe symptoms such as sudden abdominal pain, fever and vomiting, faintness, and heavy vaginal bleeding may be a sign of a ruptured or infected cyst, which requires immediate medical care."Treatment really depends on the type of cyst, the size, and even your medical history, which is why it's good to have an ongoing relationship with a family physician or OB-GYN," says Bhuyan.

7 things that can cause an ovarian cyst and when you may need surgery

<ul class="summary-list"><li>High-risk pregnancies are those that pose a higher-than-normal-risk to the unborn baby or parent.</li><li>They occur because of pre-existing medical conditions, maternal age, and other factors outside of human control.</li></ul>A <a href="https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/pregnancy/conditioninfo/high-risk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">high-risk pregnancy</a> is a <keyword id="6357793" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="pregnancy" source="Orion">pregnancy</keyword> that may impact the <keyword id="11894571" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="health" source="Orion">health</keyword> or even the life of the birthing parent or the fetus. But the first thing to know is that "high-risk pregnancy" is a general term, covering a wide range of pregnancy health concerns. "By definition, a high-risk pregnancy is a pregnancy with higher risk than the average healthy woman has, so this is very broad," Dr. Greg J. Marchand, a gynecological surgeon at the <a href="https://marchandinstitute.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marchand Institute</a>, told Insider. "Some pregnancies are affected by very serious medical conditions and are extremely high-risk, such as a pregnant woman who has previously received a heart transplant. Other high-risk pregnancies may not be quite as dangerous but still require additional monitoring, such as mothers affected by diabetes or high blood pressure."Some pregnancies are automatically considered high-risk if the pregnant person has certain risk factors, like pre-existing medical conditions or being younger than 17 or older than 35. However, these risk factors don't necessarily mean the pregnancy will develop complications. Likewise, some people without specific risk factors like age or pre-existing health conditions can develop complications during their pregnancy that may lead it to be considered high-risk.According to the <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22190-high-risk-pregnancy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cleveland Clinic</a>, about 50,000 people in the U.S. experience severe pregnancy complications annually, which is relatively rare given there are between 3 and 4 million births in the U.S. each year. Additionally, factors that make a pregnancy high-risk can be as common as <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">obesity</a>, which affects over 40% of the population. Ideally, any pregnant person will receive regular medical care so that their physician, or midwife, can monitor their health and that of their fetus throughout and keep an eye out for complications before they arise. But if you experience any of the following symptoms, seek medical care immediately as it could signify a serious issue:<ul><li>Vaginal bleeding</li><li>Stopped or slowed fetal movement</li><li>Dizziness</li><li>Fainting</li><li>Shortness of breath</li><li>Extreme fatigue</li><li>Fever</li><li>Persistent abdominal or chest pain</li><li>Swelling or redness of the face and/or limbs</li><li>Severe, persistent headache</li><li>Heart palpitations (heart racing)</li><li>Severe nausea or vomiting (worse than normal morning sickness)</li><li>Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby</li></ul>Ruptured membranes (more commonly called "water breaking") and contractions are <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/reproductive-health/how-long-does-labor-last" target="_blank" rel="noopener">normal parts of labor</a> and don't necessarily signify a problem. If you experience these at any point, seek medical care as you could be preparing to deliver, even if it's well before your due date. With some premature rupture of membranes, attempts to delay delivery may occur. This is to allow the baby to mature while also affording a health care team more time to maximize the situation for the birth. <h2>How do I know if my pregnancy may be high-risk?</h2>Ultimately, it's up to your OB/GYN to determine if a pregnancy should be considered routine or high-risk. But even before you get pregnant, be aware there are a number of factors that may lead to a pregnancy being considered high-risk. These include:<ul><li>Maternal age (under 17 or over 35)</li><li>Lifestyle factors like smoking (and vaping), substance use disorder, and alcohol use</li><li>Obesity</li><li>Diabetes</li><li>High blood pressure</li><li>Autoimmune diseases (i.e. lupus, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis)</li><li>Kidney disease</li><li>HIV/AIDS</li><li>Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)</li><li>Thyroid disease</li><li>Fibroids</li><li>Blood clotting disorders like hemophilia</li><li>Low body weight (a BMI under 18.5)</li><li>Mental health conditions</li></ul>Virtually any pre-existing condition can be exacerbated by or cause risk to a pregnancy. Additionally, pregnant people with or without any of the preceding factors can develop complications such as <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/conditions-symptoms/gestational-diabetes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gestational diabetes</a>, <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/reproductive-health/what-is-preeclampsia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">preeclampsia</a> or eclampsia, birth defects, poor growth, or genetic conditions in the fetus. Even multiple gestation – carrying twins, triplets, or more fetuses at once – can be considered a high-risk condition. Regarding maternal age, Dr. <a href="https://www.womenshealthaz.com/providers/monte-swarup/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Monte Swarup</a>, an OB/GYN at <a href="https://www.womenshealthaz.com/practice/new-horizons-womens-care/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Horizons Women's Care</a>, explained that "age alone is a factor, but [it] also increases risk for hypertension, diabetes, blood clots and other complications." Additionally, the risk of trisomy 21 (also know as Down syndrom) increases <a href="https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2000/0815/p825.html#:~:text=ADVANCED%20MATERNAL%20AGE&amp;text=The%20risk%20of%20having%20a%20child%20with%20Down%20syndrome%20is,estimated%20or%20actual%20delivery%20date.)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exponentially</a> after age 35. Conversely, there are specific risks related to teenage pregnancy as well, such as anemia and a lower rate of access to prenatal care.<h2>What happens if I have a high-risk pregnancy?</h2>Once your doctor determines your pregnancy as high-risk, they will decide if the care you need is within the scope of their practice or if you need additional care from a specialist in Maternal Fetal Medicine. Marchand explained that after four years of undergrad, four years of medical school, and a four-year residency in obstetrics and gynecology, MFM specialists undergo an additional three years of training in order to treat pregnancies with serious medical conditions. Your regular OB/GYN may involve a MFM specialist depending upon their own expertise and comfort level with treating your specific condition. Because high-risk pregnancies can include a diverse array of conditions, the treatment plan is going to depend heavily on the specifics of a pregnant person and their fetus' health status. Generally speaking, healthcare providers will likely want you to check in frequently so they can closely monitor your pregnancy and any health markers that may be affected by it, such as blood pressure or blood sugar. One such possibility for care is antenatal testing, which means "monitoring the pregnancy to check for fetal oxygenation," Dr. Marchand explained. Antenatal testing, he said, "usually includes testing once or twice weekly after 24 weeks, but usually starting between 28 and 32 weeks. This is common in high-risk pregnancies affected by diabetes, high blood pressure, or advanced maternal age." Swarup added that it's not uncommon for physicians to recommend inducing labor, even before the due date, if they determine it to be in the best interest of both parent and child. Pregnant people with more severe conditions like heart failure, or pregnancy diseases like preeclampsia, may need to be hospitalized for extended periods of time to closely monitor the health of both the parent and the fetus.A doctor may also recommend a particular setting for a birth in some cases. This is because not all birthing facilities are equipped to handle all high-risk situations. Any recommendation of a setting will be discussed prior a birth to assure the pregnant person, and the baby, get the best care available. <h2>How can I prevent a high-risk pregnancy?</h2>"There are very few cases when a high risk pregnancy can be prevented," Marchand said. Most high-risk pregnancy situations are due to factors beyond your control, like pre-existing or pregnancy-related medical conditions, or age. That said, there are several things you can do to maximize your chances of a healthy pregnancy, including <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/how-to-stop-drinking" target="_blank" rel="noopener">avoiding alcohol</a>, <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/treatments/how-to-stop-smoking" target="_blank" rel="noopener">smoking</a>, and other drugs, <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/reproductive-health/pregnancy-weight-gain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">maintaining a healthy weight</a>, and managing any pre-existing conditions as best as you can. Even routine medical conditions can pose additional risks during pregnancy, so if you're in need of any procedures or treatments, try to pursue those before trying to become pregnant.Having a pre-conception health visit is highly recommended. Doing so allows a doctor to advise any changes in medicine (and to begin a prenatal vitamin with folic acid) and provides the opportunity to be up to date on any vaccinations. It's also a way to learn about certain conditions that may impact the pregnancy. Thoughtful family planning is something both Swarup and Marchand encouraged. This includes regularly communicating with your physicians about your personal and family health history before conceiving; it can also include planning pregnancy between the ages of 18 and 34, especially if you have a pre-existing condition that may pose additional risk to a pregnancy.Some doctors also recommend a standard <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/reproductive-health/how-soon-after-giving-birth-can-you-get-pregnant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spacing between pregnancies</a> of no sooner than six months after a prior pregnancy, with the ideal length being 18 months or longer. Regardless of whether or not you have any factors for a high-risk pregnancy, any pregnant person can do their best to maintain their own health, and that of their fetus, by seeing a medical provider for thorough and regular prenatal care, <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/diet-nutrition/how-much-water-should-i-drink" target="_blank" rel="noopener">staying hydrated</a>, <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/reproductive-health/foods-to-avoid-during-pregnancy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">eating well</a>, <a href="https://www.insider.com/working-out-while-pregnant-2019-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">being active</a>, and taking <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/parenting/best-prenatal-vitamins" target="_blank" rel="noopener">prenatal vitamins</a>. <h2>Insider's takeaway</h2>A "high-risk" pregnancy is any pregnancy that poses a higher-than-normal risk to the health of the parent or unborn baby and can be due to pre-existing medical conditions, maternal age, and a number of other factors. Most high-risk pregnancy situations are beyond human control, and if you're diagnosed with a high-risk pregnancy, it's likely not because of anything you did or didn't do. Not all parents with risk factors develop pregnancy complications, and if complications do occur, they can often be managed with the help of a healthcare professional to result in healthy outcomes for both parent and child.If you're pregnant or trying to get pregnant, maintaining your own health is the best way to optimize your chances for a healthy pregnancy and birth. Work closely with a trusted physician to ensure you and your unborn baby are in the best shape possible throughout your pregnancy.

Red flags that you have a high-risk pregnancy and what to do next

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The risk of birth-control-linked clots is being used to demonstrate the safety of J&amp;J's <keyword id="24209" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="vaccine">vaccine</keyword>.</li><li>The comparison is true but can be dismissive of women's sometimes deadly experiences on the pill. </li><li>Insider talked to three women who had life-threatening clots on combination oral contraceptives. </li></ul>On Christmas Eve 2014, Melissa Firicano baked cookies with the little girl she nannied, had her car washed, and watched a movie with her then-boyfriend, Daryn. Then, she had a stroke. "I went to the bathroom, and I just fell over and hit my head on the side table," Firicano, now 38, told Insider. When Daryn, who is now Firicano's husband, called for her after returning from a late-night dog walk, she didn't respond."I couldn't answer him. I couldn't talk," Firicano said.At the hospital, Firicano underwent surgery to remove the clot in her brain. She was 32 years old, healthy, and didn't smoke. But she had been on a birth-control pill since about age 20 and, she learned years later, has a genetic mutation that makes clots more likely among people who use hormonal contraceptives."I was like, 'OK, no one ever told me this,'" said Firicano, who still gets physically and mentally fatigued enough to limit her job prospects and time playing with her 2-year-old son. <div type="image" title="Woman in bed after stroke" height="1224" width="1632" msid="82118371" hostid="261"></div>After the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration recommended a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cdc-pause-on-johnson-and-johnson-covid-vaccine-to-continue-2021-4">pause on Johnson &amp; Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine over six reports of brain blood clots</a> in people who received the shot, experts and laypeople alike <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jj-covid-vaccine-blood-clot-safety-doctors-reaction-2021-4">stressed how rare that was</a> by comparing it to the far greater but still rare likelihood of getting a blood clot while on birth-control pills.But that narrative, in addition to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/vaccines-dont-cause-blood-clots-younger-women-have-higher-risk-2021-3">missing important nuances</a>, sometimes takes the tone that birth-control-linked clots are no big deal and overlooks the real women who have suffered and, in some cases, died from them."It really concerns me when people brush off the risks of <keyword id="30946" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="blood-clots">blood clots</keyword> because the number of <a href="https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2019/03/49896/">deaths linked to clotting is high</a>," said Alea Hill, a 34-year-old in Charlotte, North Carolina, who was diagnosed with deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) while using a vaginal ring that contains both estrogen and progestin.<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dvt/facts.html">In many cases</a>, she said her doctor told her: "People do not experience any symptoms before it's too late." <h2>The risk of clots on the pill could be compared to a rare, serious event like injury from a car crash </h2>Estrogen, a hormone in combination <a href="https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/tw9505#tw9505-sec" rel="link">hormonal-birth-control</a> methods like the pill, increases the risk of any type of blood clot. That's because it prompts the body to produce more of the plasma that helps blood stick together.Still, pill-associated clots are quite unusual, and even more unusual than decades ago when <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/health/a-brief-history-of-the-birth-control-pill/480/#:~:text=1960%20The%20pill%20is%20approved,remains%20illegal%20in%20eight%20states">birth-control pills tended to contain higher levels of estrogen</a>.While research on their prevalence is flawed - some studies rooted in older iterations of the pill, and most able to show only a link, not causation, between contraceptives and clots - the risk can generally be compared to rare but serious events like a car crash, Dr. Melanie Davies, a gynecologist in London and professor at University College London, told Insider for an earlier story related to the blood-clotting risks of the AstraZeneca vaccine."For 10,000 women over a year, one to five will have a blood clot anyway, and on the [pill] that rises to three to nine, so it is still less than one in 1,000 chance," she said.The risk is much greater during pregnancy, and in the three months after childbirth, as many as <a href="https://twitter.com/drjengunter/status/1382048824953229316?s=21">65 out of every 10,000</a> new mothers experience a clot, Jennifer Gunter, an OB/GYN, said.Most birth-control-linked clots are found in women's legs, but they can also sometimes travel from the legs to the lungs. Overall, your chance of developing deep-vein thrombosis is <a href="https://www.stoptheclot.org/the_basics/how_common_dvt/#:~:text=The%20chances%20of%20developing%20DVT,2%20percent%20to%205%20percent.">one in 1,000 every year</a>, according to the National Blood Clot Alliance.Hill is one such case. She began using her vaginal birth-control ring in 2011, which her gynecologist said was safer for women her age, Hill said. She said she loved it at first, but less than eight months later, she developed severe swelling and discoloration in her right leg. Hill was hospitalized for two days and diagnosed with deep-vein thrombosis. When her physician linked the diagnosis to her <keyword id="48778" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="birth-control">birth control</keyword>, advising her to immediately stop, Hill said "I was surprised." She said she didn't have a family history of clotting and had used a combination oral contraceptive in college. After her discharge, she needed to take anticoagulants, or blood thinners, and undergo injections of heparin, a specific type of blood thinner - which, all told, cost her about $1,500."Since this incident, I've made a personal decision against using any forms of birth control," she said.<h2>Women who've suffered clots from the pill don't appreciate the comparison to the risk of clots in pregnancy </h2>Rebecca Ungarino was out to dinner with friends in December 2014 when a searing headache that came out of nowhere forced her to cut the night short.The next morning, it was worse, and there was no explanation. "It was an extreme, extreme pain I've never felt," Ungarino, a Business Insider reporter in New York who was 20 years old at the time, said.But when she went to the emergency room, the doctor asked if she was just hungover, she said. But scans showed she had a blood clot in her brain that could have progressed to a stroke if she had waited much longer. "That was terrifying," she said.It was startling, too, when a neurologist told her that her birth-control pills, which she'd been on for five or six years to manage the hormonal disorder polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), could be the culprit."When I first started the pill as a teenager, it was never communicated to me that a blood clot was even a risk," said Ungarino, who stopped taking the pill immediately and took blood thinners for months after her hospital discharge. "I'm a proponent of women using birth control if and when it's right, but I just wish I was aware of the risks," she added.<div type="image" title="Rebecca Ungarino" height="2260" width="2448" msid="82118372" hostid="261"></div>Even Firicano, who was aware of the blood-clot risks of her pill, didn't put warning signs together until she had her stroke. Clinicians didn't either. When she experienced headaches and blurry vision occasionally throughout her 20s, she went to the eye doctor, who gave her glasses and "that was that," she said. In interviews with 24 women who'd had negative side effects, including clots from pills containing <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/drospirenone-and-ethinyl-estradiol-oral-route/description/drg-20061917">drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol</a>, Alina Geampana, a researcher, found women didn't feel like they'd received enough information about the risks before starting the pills. Her 2019 paper that <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30957638/#affiliation-1">begins with the title "one clot is too many"</a> says the women also didn't appreciate the comparison between pregnancy-clot risk and birth-control clot risk. After all, there are risks you're willing to take to have a baby that you may not be willing to take when all you want is to maintain nonpregnant homeostasis. "It's one of these things where if this was a man's issue, this would have been solved like a hundred years ago," Ungarino said. "That's how I feel, like no one would be getting blood clots. It's just crazy to me."<h2>Vaccines have pushed us to consider the risks and benefits of contraceptives</h2>All told, combination oral contraceptives are safe and almost perfectly effective when used correctly. They also come with other benefits for some, including regulating your menstrual cycle or, like Ungarino, managing conditions like PCOS. But like any medication, they can come with risks and side effects outside clotting, like negative mood changes or decreased libido. "It's not one-size-fits-all, and we don't have any way to predict who's going to do well and who's not," <a href="https://www.drladydoctor.com/">Dr. Kelly Culwell</a>, an OB/GYN in San Diego, said. That leaves women understandably frustrated as they sort through which side effects and risks they're willing to endure, she added. But we do know that some women are at higher risk for clots, including those who smoke, especially if they're over the age of 35, as well as those who are overweight or obese. Women with a genetic mutation like Firicano has - specifically the MTHFR mutation - are also at higher risk, but those mutations aren't routinely screened for. <div type="image" title="Melissa Firicano with her son" height="2848" width="4272" msid="82118373" hostid="261"></div>For people who decide the risks outweigh the benefits, there are an increasing number of nonhormonal options, said Culwell, who helped develop a vaginal gel you can use right before sex to prevent pregnancy. Improved versions of the diaphragm, as well as condoms, tracking apps, and nonhormonal IUDs, are available too. For people who decide to stick with the pill or another hormonal method, the key is that they decide, not just continue on with something out of habit, Culwell said."Talk to your healthcare provider about your concerns," she said. "A lot of times, women just sort of take whatever they're given."Then, clinicians and clot survivors say, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/blood-clot-symptoms-how-to-spot-clot-and-get-treated-2021-4">know the signs</a>: pain and sometimes redness and swelling in your legs if you're experiencing DVT, and chest pain and shortness of breath if the clot has moved to your lung. Brain clots, meanwhile, trigger excruciating headaches that don't go away with medication and sometimes are accompanied by blurred vision or tingling or numb arms. <h2>'You can have a stroke at any age'</h2>These are, of course, the symptoms healthcare professionals are telling people who've gotten the J&amp;J vaccine to look out for in the few weeks after their shots.But women like Firicano say it's important to be aware of these signs year-round if you use combination oral contraceptives. Yes, the risk is low, but it is indeed higher than clotting from a vaccine - something Firicano chose to get, in part to avoid another clot. As she said, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-19-blood-clots-than-vaccines-astrazeneca-cvst-2021-4">the chances of blood clots are highest of all from COVID-19</a>."I want people to know you can have a stroke at a young age," Firicano said. "And I want them to know it's a real thing and to talk to the doctor about their options."

Stop brushing off blood clots linked to birth control, say 3 women who could have died from pill-linked clots

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="99650" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="ovulation">Ovulation</keyword> is when you're most fertile and typically occurs halfway through your menstrual cycle. </li><li>Ovulation symptoms include spotting, pain, and changes in cervical mucus and body temperature. </li><li>Track signs of ovulation using a calendar or app to determine when you are most fertile. </li></ul>Knowing when you're ovulating - when your ovaries release an egg - can help you determine the <a href="https://www.yourfertility.org.au/everyone/timing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best to get pregnant</a> or <a href="https://www.insider.com/fertility-awareness-method" target="_blank" rel="noopener">avoid unprotected sex</a>. Ovulation, which <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/expert-answers/ovulation-signs/faq-20058000" target="_blank" rel="noopener">typically occurs</a> four days before or after the halfway point of your menstrual cycle, <a href="https://www.yourfertility.org.au/everyone/timing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">only lasts</a> 12 to 24 hours. However, sperm can live inside the female reproductive system for five days. This is why three to five days before or on the day of ovulation is considered your fertile window. But, ovulation varies from person to person, so it's important to track your body's symptoms month by month to better understand when you are ovulating. Here are nine symptoms of ovulation, which occur due to <a href="https://www.healthywomen.org/content/article/signs-youre-ovulating-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">increased levels</a> of hormones, specifically estrogen, during this time. <h2>1. Clear, stretchy discharge</h2>Your vaginal discharge, also known as your cervical mucus, will usually be clear, stretchy, wet, and slippery <a href="https://www.healthywomen.org/content/article/signs-youre-ovulating-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">during ovulation</a>, says <a href="https://www.uclahealth.org/aparna-sridhar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aparna Sridhar, MD, MPH</a>, a gynecologist at <a href="https://www.uclahealth.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UCLA Health</a>. <h2>2. Light spotting</h2>Related Article Module: 9 reasons why you may be spotting, from stress to PCOSSome people may experience spotting while ovulating, says Sridhar, but it's important to track it month by month because intermenstrual spotting can also be a sign of underlying <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health">health</keyword> conditions, such as uterine fibroids, an infection, or stress. Spotting during ovulation <a href="https://www.yourperiod.ca/abnormal-pain-and-menstrual-bleeding/spotting-between-periods/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">usually lasts</a> one to three days.<h2>3. Increased libido</h2>Some may experience <a href="https://americanpregnancy.org/getting-pregnant/signs-of-ovulation-70953/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">increased</a> sex drive before and during ovulation. This <a href="https://www.issm.info/sexual-health-qa/do-hormones-influence-womens-sexual-behavior/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">increase</a> correlates with the surge of estrogen and the <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/luteinizing-hormone-lh-levels-test/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">luteinizing hormone</a> (LH), which controls the menstrual cycle and triggers ovulation. A <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/8492675_Women's_sexual_experience_during_the_menstrual_cycle_Identification_of_the_sexual_phase_by_noninvasive_measurement_of_luteinizing_hormonemone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2004 review</a> found women had an increase in libido for six days around the time their LH surged. Another <a href="https://academic.oup.com/humrep/article/19/7/1539/2356646" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2004 study</a> found sex was 24% more frequent during the six days leading up to ovulation than other days during the cycle. <h2>4. Breast tenderness</h2>Your breasts and nipples <a href="https://nordicalagos.org/ovulation-symptoms-breast-tenderness/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">may feel</a> tender, sore, swollen, or sensitive, says <a href="https://med.umn.edu/bio/obgyn-faculty/jessika-ralph" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jessika Ralph, MD, MSCI</a>, a gynecologist and assistant professor at the <a href="https://med.umn.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University of Minnesota Medical School</a>.<h2>5. Changes in body temperature</h2>Just before your ovary releases the egg, your basal body temperature (BBT) <a href="https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hw202058" target="_blank" rel="noopener">will drop</a> slightly. Then after ovulation, your temperature <a href="https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hw202058" target="_blank" rel="noopener">will rise</a> about half a degree. Therefore, tracking your BBT month to month will help you better predict when you are ovulating. Medical term: Basal body temperature is <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/basal-body-temperature/about/pac-20393026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">your temperature</a> while fully at rest. The <a href="https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hw202058" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best time</a> to check your basal body temperature is first thing in the morning. <a href="https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hw202058" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Average BBT</a> is 97℉ to 97.5℉ before ovulation. After ovulation, it's closer to 97.6℉ to 98.6℉.<h2>6. Mild cramping</h2>Related Article Module: Pain during ovulation is common - here's why it happensSome people may experience cramping pain during ovulation, says Sridhar. The pain varies with some feeling cramping throughout their lower abdomen and others feeling it just on one side. The one-sided pain, also known as <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ovulation-pain/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mittelschmerz</a>, reflects which ovary is releasing the egg. This <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ovulation-pain/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">kind of cramping</a> is often normal and can last just a few minutes to a couple of days. <h2>7. Changes in saliva</h2>A few days before and during ovulation, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26319654/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dried saliva</a> will change from random clumps of blobs and spots to a fern-shaped pattern under a microscope, says Ralph. This is because of the <a href="https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/home-use-tests/ovulation-saliva-test#:~:text=What%20does%20this%20test%20do,form%20a%20fern%2Dshaped%20pattern." target="_blank" rel="noopener">increase of estrogen</a> near the time of ovulation, which changes saliva consistency. However, you'd need a microscope to notice the pattern difference. <h2>8. A heightened sense of smell</h2>In some cases, people have slightly <a href="https://americanpregnancy.org/getting-pregnant/signs-of-ovulation-70953/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heightened senses</a>, such as smell or taste, during ovulation. The cause is not fully understood and studies have been conflicting, but it <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0031938413000371" target="_blank" rel="noopener">does seem</a> that senses are tied to the reproductive system in some way. One <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23321429/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2013 study</a> compared smell sensitivity during ovulation and after between women not on birth control and those taking oral contraceptives (which stop ovulation). Those not on birth control were significantly more sensitive to smells such as lemon, peppermint, and the male hormones pheromones, androstenone, and androsterone than those on contraceptives.<h2>9. Softened cervix</h2>Normally, when you are not ovulating, your cervix feels like a firm, round tip, says Ralph, kind of like the end of your nose. But when ovulating, <a href="https://americanpregnancy.org/getting-pregnant/signs-of-ovulation-70953/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">your cervix</a> will soften, rise, and feel more like the softer part of the roof of your mouth. You can check your cervix by yourself by placing your finger into your vagina and feeling for it, says Ralph. The cervix sits at an angle at the very end of the vagina, usually about <a href="https://goaskalice.columbia.edu/answered-questions/how-deep-average-vagina-and-does-it-elongate-when-somethings-it" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3 to 7 inches deep</a> depending on the person. <h2>How to track ovulation </h2><ul><li>A calendar: You can either do this manually or use <a href="https://apps.apple.com/ru/app/flo-period-tracker-period/id1038369065?l=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">apps</a> that track patterns month by month.</li><li>An ovulation predictor kit: These are <a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/using-ovulation-kits-to-predict-fertility" target="_blank" rel="noopener">urine tests</a> for purchase at pharmacies that track when your LH hormone levels surge during ovulation.</li><li>Basal body thermometer: This <a href="https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hw202058" target="_blank" rel="noopener">thermometer</a> will give you results to the tenth of a degree. </li><li>Healthcare provider: A doctor can track your <keyword id="6414006" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fertility">fertility</keyword> profile with you and better understand your schedule <a href="https://www.reproductivefacts.org/news-and-publications/patient-fact-sheets-and-booklets/documents/fact-sheets-and-info-booklets/ovulation-detection/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">through</a> an ultrasound, blood tests, or biopsy to check for progesterone levels. </li></ul><h2>Insider's takeaway</h2>Ovulation normally occurs midway in your menstrual cycle but can vary for each person.To best track your ovulation schedule, there are some symptoms to keep in mind, such as clear, stretchy discharge, body temperature, and breast soreness. The best time to try and get pregnant is before or during ovulation.You can also chart ovulation with a calendar or take a urine test to better understand your time of the month. But if you have any concerns about your schedule, connecting with a fertility specialist or an OB-GYN is a good idea. <a data-type="6082f5bb7e6e65308c6b3bf5">Pain during ovulation is common - here's why it happens</a><a data-type="5e18c0443ac0c96407152b6b">How men and women can increase fertility to get pregnant</a><a data-type="5f6badd91e1b3561b541b067">6 ways to increase sperm count and improve male fertility</a><a data-type="5fb69caa3e29a668f409942f">How to use fertility awareness methods for natural birth control - and why they can be about as effective as the pill</a>

9 symptoms of ovulation that signal when you're most fertile

<ul class="summary-list"><li>People are reporting changes in their menstrual cycles, from increased <keyword id="114345" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="PMS">PMS</keyword> pain and emotions to spotting and unpredictable cycles, since the coronavirus pandemic began. </li><li>The anecdotes aren't surprising to OB-GYNs, who point to stress and changes in routine as disruptors of the menstrual cycle. </li><li>But an irregular cycle can have negative <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health">health</keyword> consequences, especially if it persists, so it's important to find coping mechanisms for alleviating symptoms and to talk to a healthcare provider. </li></ul>My first emotional meltdown of the coronavirus pandemic left me crumpled and wailing on the TV room floor and punching pillows so furiously I woke up the next day sore. My second took its form in frustration-fueled laps around a track so speedy that the fitness tracking app Strava noted it a personal best. The third arrived as a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-cope-with-coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-psychologist-2020-2">deep pit in my stomach</a> and a dark cloud over my head as if I'd just committed a terrible crime or found out a loved one died. Each instance, I've retroactively plotted on a calendar, occurred on a Sunday. Each instance was exactly one month apart. And, each instance was followed by my period arriving — and <a href="https://www.insider.com/coronavirus-lockdown-has-taken-away-fomo-fear-of-missing-out-2020-4">myself coming back</a>. That these fits of emotion can be explained by PMS may come as a surprise to no one but me. But as someone who's been blessed not to experience the syndrome beyond the occasional dull and fleeting cramp in 16-some years of menstruating, I'm stunned by the power of the symptoms and preciseness of their arrival. The past three months have delivered more than enough to be devastated, frustrated, and gloomy about. It was OK, and normal, I told myself, to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-a-coronavirus-quarantine-affects-your-body-and-brain-2020-3">feel those feelings and let them run their course</a> — and certainly, it is. But something else is going on, OB-GYNs and fellow menstruators told me: The pandemic has changed our cycles in remarkable ways, from spotting and late periods to deeper pain and amplified emotions."None of those complaints surprise me," <a href="https://drdweck.com/">Dr. Alyssa Dweck</a>, a gynecologist in Westchester County, told me. Stress and changes in sleep, eating, and exercise patterns may all be to blame, but experts say symptoms shouldn't be ignored and that there are ways to cope. <h2>Period changes range from late starts to improved symptoms </h2>Megan Lane, a 30-year-old writer in New York State, told me that since stay-at-home orders were issued, her premenstrual discomfort has taken a turn for the worse."Besides the usual bloating and cramping, I'm also experiencing hot and cold flashes, joint pain, heightened anxiety, and insomnia," she said. It got so bad she bought a $72 eight-pack of CBD-infused vaginal suppositories, which she said minimized her pain about 60%. Another person responded to an informal inquiry I posted in a Facebook group, saying they've experienced spotting since quarantines began. Previously, they hadn't been getting a period at all on birth-control pills.Someone else, who's also been on birth control for years, said her period has been late almost every month since the pandemic hit. "I panicked that first month because I really don't want any more kids!" she commented. One woman who has <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-is-pcos">polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)</a> — a hormonal disorder that can cause irregular periods, abnormal amounts of facial and body hair, and infertility — said her normally unpredictable cycle has surprisingly regulated. "Normally stress can trigger cycle changes, so I guess mine went the other way for a change!" she wrote. <div type="image" title="mental health depression anxiety stress disorder ADD panic OCD mood trauma sad tired cox 20" height="1667" width="2500" msid="76540153" hostid="261"></div>And others still reported changes due to clearer, though still concerning, reasons: Shutdowns forced them to continue using birth control implants that otherwise would have been removed, or <a href="https://www.insider.com/lockdowns-mean-millions-of-women-cant-reach-birth-control-2020-4">drug shortages</a> resulted in their reception of a birth-control pill made with a different formula. Chelsea, a writer in Florida, is in the latter camp. After taking a round of the replacement pills, "I started to have really bad menstrual cramps and back pain the likes of which I hadn't experienced in more than a decade," she said. Like me, the experience has given her empathy for people who've been dealing with seriously disruptive PMS symptoms every month for years, if not decade. "I couldn't be at my office job like this, in pain all day long," she thought while taking a staycation. "How do people remain productive while dealing with this on a regular basis?" <h2>Experts say for some, the changes may be due to stress and changed habits </h2>Stress can affect your period because it disrupts how your brain controls the hormones that keep it regular, and the enormity of the stress caused by the pandemic and police brutality is demonstrating just how much."When we are under stress ... there is increased activity along the axis between the brain and adrenal glands to generate stress hormones such as cortisol that help us respond to a threat," Dr. Sarika Arora <a href="https://www.womenshealthnetwork.com/pms-and-menstruation/health-benefits-regular-periods.aspx">wrote for Women's Health Network</a>.That, in turn, messes with the balance between hormones including estrogen and progesterone, prompting PMS symptoms, an altered cycle, or both. Even women like me using birth-control methods like the pill or a hormonal IUD, which artificially produce some of those hormones, can find their cycles altered by stress, <a href="https://www.drjessicashepherd.com/about">Dr. Jessica Shepherd</a>, an OB-GYN in Dallas, told me."There's this kind of tug of war between your body's normal response and what the contraceptive is providing in the form of hormones," Shepherd said. "So when you go through a stressful timeframe, that can alter your normal functioning hormones and it can cause a shift in how your body responds to the contraception that you're on."The pandemic has also considerably altered many our sleeping, eating, and exercise patterns, all of which can affect your flow and the preceding or accompanying symptoms. "If you're now having salty snacks and eating at irregular times, or maybe upping caffeine and not sleeping well, this is all going to have an influence on PMS and menstrual symptoms," Dweck said. It's also possible some of us are now experiencing new or different symptoms in the absence of activities that helped mask or alleviate them in the past. I used to swim at least three times a week, for example, and going more than three months without that sanity-saving exercise may be turning up emotions I typically stroked away. <h2>Menstrual irregularities can have long-term consequences </h2>No matter why the pandemic is corresponding with period changes, menstrual abnormalities aren't just annoying — <a href="https://www.insider.com/nike-runner-mary-cain-what-its-like-female-athlete-triad-2019-11">they can come with real consequences</a>, especially if they persist. "Those emotions can trigger certain conditions or disease states of women to get considerably worse," Shepherd said. Long-term irregularities can lead to unhealthy <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-talk-about-quarantine-15-weight-gain-jokes-memes-2020-4">weight changes</a>, weak bones, fertility issues, and even an increased risk for certain cancers. It's also important to take note when your body speaks up in the form of new cramps, late periods, or raging emotions — rather than merely brushing them off as stress — since they could signal a medical condition that deserves treatment. For instance, you could have PCOS, hyper- or hypothyroidism, or <a href="https://www.insider.com/womens-health-new-treatments-for-uterine-fibroids-endometriosis-2017-10">uterine polyps or fibroids</a>. <a href="https://www.webmd.com/women/uterine-fibroids/default.htm"></a>"Even outside of COVID, many times when I see women, whatever their condition or disease state is, they think that they might be the only one who's going through that," Shepherd said. "So it's still important to convey that message that they're not alone in their journey." She recommends <a href="https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/issue-brief/telemedicine-in-sexual-and-reproductive-health/">taking advantage of telehealth options</a> if you can't or don't feel comfortable visiting a provider in person. <div type="image" title="health wellness weightless fit fitness exercise weights resistance bands gym work out yoga 12" height="1667" width="2500" msid="76540155" hostid="261"></div>Meantime, to manage symptoms, Shepherd is a big fan of mindfulness practices like meditation and yoga, which can rescue the brain from its cortisol-spewing fight-or-flight response and help regulate your hormones.Getting into the habit of using those tools now can help you in the post-pandemic world, too. While I'll admit I haven't pursued much (if any) mindfulness over the past few months, being aware that monthly breakdowns are likely hormone-related and surely temporary gives me peace of mind. It also gives me tools to prepare for the next one, due July 5: Namely, a warning to my partner that a storm's brewing, and a well-timed plan to spend the week before and after at my family's ocean-side home during which we both pray I'll swim the PMS away. <ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-pregnant-women-should-know-about-the-coronavirus-2020-3">What pregnant women should know about the coronavirus</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/should-you-stop-trying-to-get-pregnant-during-coronavirus-2020-3">There are benefits to holding off on pregnancy during the coronavirus pandemic. It's still up to you, experts say</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/lab-grown-human-breast-milk-may-soon-be-option-biomilq-2020-2">Lab-made 'human' breast milk may soon be an option for parents who can't breastfeed but don't want to use formula</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/6-months-lockdown-estimated-lead-to-7-million-unintended-pregnancies-2020-6">A UN report predicts millions of unintended pregnancies due to healthcare restrictions during lockdown</a></li></ul>

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