health
From the ovaries, outward, all about female-focused health and medicine.
Child Victim of a Sexual Predator
Cue immediate shame with self-identification: I was a victim of a child molester. I was also a witness to my sister's molestation. Our experience is a shining example of how child predators often manifest as "wolves in sheep's clothing." Though we warn our kids to avoid the creepy guy in the park, or the man driving a van who's trying to show them his puppy or offering free candy, perpetrators are more likely to be trusted friends than oddball strangers.
By Amanda Karenina8 years ago in Viva
From Hell to Happiness
I have two children with the man who raped and sexually abused me for the span of our relationship. Three long years. It started off great. Better than great. He was my best friend. But things moved too fast. He moved in and a month later I found out I was pregnant with our first child. He was thrilled. I was scared. I wondered why a man who was already expecting a child was so excited to have another one. I brushed those fears aside.
By Amanda Hale8 years ago in Viva
The Events Following My Rape
The numbness was snatched away when the doctor inserted this plastic instrument inside of me. I tried not to yell, attempted not to complain at the first sign of pain but all of a sudden I felt like a monster was inside of me and it just kept getting deeper and deeper inside of me. All of a sudden all I felt was pain all I saw was red. All of a sudden I felt like he was inside of me again. I felt like I was being raped all over again. All around me, a bunch of strangers keep telling me to hush that it’ll be okay. But thats a lie, I know it will not be ok. In this exact moment I wanted my birth giver, the only person who could help soothe my soul but somewhere after the red wore off I remembered she’s dead. I called my aunt hoping she can provide some kind of solace for my already crippled psyche, along with my body. None is provided, kinda hard to reach out when my hands seem to be permanently glued to my sides. I don’t know how I cope. I just do, I push everything down until I am alone. Until it all comes vomiting back up, I wanna scream. I wish I didn’t tell the people I care about the most because I feel like they don’t look at me the same anymore b/c they don’t. I don’t want to silently suffer but I know no other way. Every time before this, my feelings were disregarded not by the people who care about me the most but by the people who were supposed to care about me the most but didn’t. Or couldn’t or whatever excuse we’re making for them today. I cried in the shower today because I tried to talk to God, and he didn’t talk back. Or maybe I couldn’t hear him over all the sobbing, I turned the lights off for my shower today b/c it seemed easier. Today I saw red and swallowed shattered brokenness. Today I took 8 different pills to prevent pain, pregnancy, and infection. Today loving the world was as hard as loving myself. And I don’t feel strong enough for either.
By Ann Jackson8 years ago in Viva
Learning to Love Your Body
Between media messages and social pressures, it can often be hard to love your body. Sometimes self-love and confidence can even be shamed as vanity and narcissism. But none of that should stop you from rocking who you are and loving every second of it! You are an attractive and lovable being. These five tips will get you on the path to loving your body and learning to respect yourself as you are.
By Alina Gallupe8 years ago in Viva
Types of Birth Control
Birth control is now more readily available than ever before, and the truth is that there are new options coming up every single year. If you want to make sure that you've gotten the right birth control for yourself, you really can't rely on others to help educate you about your options.
By Ossiana Tepfenhart8 years ago in Viva
Teal is For Real. Top Story - September 2017.
So, this one is going to be shorter than my other articles, but since it is September I wanted to dedicate this article to the women in my family who have been affected by ovarian cancer, including my great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother.
By Tatiana Parker8 years ago in Viva
Side Effects of the Morning After Pill
It can happen to even the most responsible woman; for one reason or another, you had unprotected sex. You don't want kids, or aren't ready for them yet—but what can you do? Well, thanks to modern medicine, you can take the morning after pill.
By Mackenzie Z. Kennedy8 years ago in Viva
Weathering PMDD
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a monthly storm that affects an estimated 3–10% of all menstruating women. It's an intense inner upheaval that can leave a path of functional, relational, and emotional damage in its wake. In fact, many women with PMDD feel like the 10-14 days of symptoms every month requires the remaining days just to catch up or make up. It can feel like life's ship never quite leaves port before it all starts over again. The pain and discomfort are real, but there's no need to suffer more than necessary. If you are one of the unfortunates who experiences this unique monthly curse, here are some important things to remember to help you weather the storm:
By Cheeky Minx8 years ago in Viva
Living with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Have you recently heard about or been diagnosed with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder and are wondering what exactly that might mean? PMDD is a hormonal sensitivity that wrecks havoc in the lives of an estimated 3 to 8% of menstruating women.
By Cheeky Minx8 years ago in Viva
