Have you heard about Implanon? It's an implantable hormonal contraceptive (a flexible plastic rod about the size of a matchstick) that contains a hormone called etonogestrel (it's estrogen-free), and was approved in July 2006 by the U.S. FDA. It's 99% effective at protecting you against pregnancy when inserted correctly, and it lasts for up to 3 years. This type of birth control is definitely Read more

When I was growing up, I remember being in a bad mood and some stupid boy saying, "Oh, you must be on the rag!" That really pissed me off -- just because I'm not happy does not necessarily mean I have or am getting my period!! With that said, right before I do get my period, I do feel crappy and not myself. It's not just a dumb joke between guys - it's completely REAL, but why does it Read more

Are condoms not your favorite choice of birth control? Use condoms - video powered by Metacafe If not, check out the NuvaRing. Once a month, you insert a little flexible contraceptive ring inside you. It releases a low dose of hormones for 3 weeks to prevent you from getting pregnant. After 3 weeks, you remove the ring, which brings on your period. After 7 days, you insert a new ring for Read more

I have come across the word "leptin" a lot recently and instead of just skimming over it and knowing it is vaguely related to weight, I thought I'd do a bit more research. Leptin (from the Greek word leptos meaning thin) is a hormone that helps control appetite and metabolism. In a normal weight person, when body fat increases, leptin levels rise which signal the brain that it needs to speed Read more

When I was growing up, I remember being in a bad mood and some stupid boy saying, "Oh, you must be on the rag!" That really pissed me off. Just because I'm not happy does not necessarily mean I have or am getting my period!! Although the truth is, right before my period, I really do feel crappy and not myself. It's not just a dumb joke between guys - it's completely REAL, but why does it Read more

There is so much in the news about Diabetes these days, especially since Type 2 Diabetes is on the rise and the number of new cases seems to be sky rocketing. Since yesterday was American Diabetes Alert Day , I wanted to learn a bit more about the disease. I thought I should start at the beginning, go to the source as they say, and figure out what insulin is and what it does. First off, insulin Read more

Are you getting a restful night of sleep? Do you wake up and feel energized? If the answer is "No," it could be causing other problems besides making you tired. Scientists found that people getting 4 or less hours of sleep have a rise in the hormone ghrelin, that is related to stimulating the appetite, which in turn causes them to eat. At the same time, they have lower levels of the hormone Read more

Ever had a migraine? If you answered "no" - well then you are lucky. If you answered "yes" you don't need me to tell you that migraine headaches are both unbearable and disabling. You feel severe pain on one or both sides of your head, or behind your eyes. You develop an extreme sensitivity to light and sound, and may even become nauseous from the pain. All you want to do is crawl into a Read more