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Women's Health

The Independent •

This petition calls for statutory menstrual leave in the UK

Have you ever been so physically and emotionally overwhelmed by pain, exhaustion and nausea that you can barely lift yourself off the sofa? Never mind managing to be fully present for a full day’s work on top of the commute there and back. I have, and it’s a monthly occurrence, thanks to the triple whammy of endometriosis (where tissue grows outside of the uterus), adenomyosis (where the uterine lining grows into the muscular wall of the uterus) and polycystic ovarian syndrome (a hormonal and en...
Popsugar UK •

How a Four-Day Retreat Helped Me Make Peace with My Endometriosis

Two years ago, I lay in an NHS hospital bed following a diagnostic surgery. I struggled to process what the gynaecologist was telling me while hooked up to a cocktail of painkillers and fluids. My suspicions were correct; I was diagnosed with endometriosis, where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows elsewhere in the body. It had infiltrated my pelvic sidewall on both sides and left scarring on my ureters and even my colon.
Since the age of 14, dealing with heavy and prolonged periods and...
Glamour UK •

I had an abortion as a teen. I hope this historic law change makes that decision feel lighter for women

I had opted for a medical termination, and my first appointment entailed an ultrasound to work out how far along I was. I was six weeks gestation, which meant I was within the 10-week limit to have the medication abortion.Two doctors signed off on my decision, and I took the first dose of medication, mifepristone, which blocks the main pregnancy hormone, as per NHS, on the same day. This dose didn’t cause me to have any cramping or bleeding, but I did feel overwhelmed knowing I could no longer c...
PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news •

Endometriosis advocate angers bigots with facts about trans men with the condition

An endometriosis advocate has angered bigots after sharing a factual post about trans men with the condition. 


Endometriosis can cause severe period pain, pain during sex, pelvic pain outside of the menstrual cycle, pain when passing a bowel motion or urine, bloating, fatigue, and difficulty conceiving. 


In an effort to raise awareness about the condition, fellow endo-warrior Zahra McDonald took to her endometriosis account on Instagram to share a trans-inclusive post on 5 May. “Endometrio...
POPSUGAR Fitness UK •

"I Got Pregnant During the Cost of Living Crisis…Having a Baby Was Not an Option for Me"

As the cost of living crisis continues, bringing with it rising food, heating, electricity, and petrol prices, there is a lesser known impact the crisis is having. Statistics from the UK government show the number of abortions in England and Wales increased by 17 percent between January and June 2022, compared to the same period in 2021, and experts believe this is a direct result of the cost of living crisis. The annual abortion statistics for 2023 have been delayed until January 2024 due to a
POPSUGAR UK Parenting •

Iceland Has Cut Its Price of Formula, but Breastfeeding Still Isn’t Free

In August, supermarket giant Iceland did the unthinkable, and promoted that the chain would have a "permanent" price reduction on baby formula. While it might seem like an obvious move for supermarkets, given the current cost of living crisis, to provide support for parents of formula or combi-fed babies via discounts on such an essential item, it's actually illegal for them to shout about it. Yes, really.

Back in 2007, regulations were passed to ensure that marketing in supermarket adverts as
POPSUGAR Fitness UK •

TikTokers Are Calling Out the Harmful Body-Shaming Language of 2000s Diet Books

If you ever want to see how far we've come with our societal views, you only have to look back at the media we consumed just 20 years ago. Diet books, weight-focused reality shows, and magazines which pitted women against each other in the form of "who wore it best?" columns really were the epitome of anti-feminist rhetoric. While evenings were spent watching the latest episode of "You Are What You Eat", "Snog, Marry, Avoid", and "The Biggest Loser", as well as saving up for the latest fashion f
POPSUGAR Fitness UK •

Influencer Sophie Butler Shares the Impact Paralysis had on How she Views her Body

It's Sophie Butler's world, and we're just living in it. The fitness influencer has cemented herself as an activist, tearing barriers down when it comes to disability representation, and is unapologetically living her best life in London since she moved to the city a year ago. The self-professed "Disabled & Queer Queen" was named Cosmopolitan's influencer of the year in 2021, has amassed over 120k Instagram followers where she raises awareness for the disabled community all while showcasing an i
POPSUGAR Love UK •

The World's First Skin-Tone Condoms Have Launched — Why Haven't They Been Made Before?

It's 2023, and while we're all aware that sex is for everybody, it seems the sexual wellness space has taken a little longer to get up to speed. Despite the availability of beginner-friendly sex toys, inclusive lingerie, and even ethical porn sites, when it comes to contraception, most specifically condoms, diversity has been seriously lacking. Until now.

Sexual wellness brand Roam has finally launched a more inclusive safe sex option via its brand new skin tone condoms, available in Dark Brown
POPSUGAR Fitness UK •

As Stacey Solomon's Bikini Photo Is Praised, Why Are we Obsessed With Postpartum Bodies?

History always seems to repeat itself, doesn't it? Stacey Solomon gave birth two months ago to a healthy baby girl, Belle, and is on her first holiday with all five of her children in Abu Dhabi. But instead of fans revelling in the beautiful memories that the "Loose Women" star has chosen to share online, almost all of the comments have been centred around one aspect: her body.

"Gorgeous pics Stacey and thank you for normalising Mum bods," one comment read beneath the post, which saw the 33-yea
POPSUGAR Fitness UK •

England Lionesses Ditch White Shorts in New Period-Inclusive Kit

The Lionesses are ditching their white shorts in place of new period-inclusive kits. Off the back of their landmark Euros win, England's national women's football team are swapping out their white shorts for a more practical navy pair in a huge win for women's issues in sport.

The England players had voiced their concerns about wearing white on the pitch during that time of the month and, let's face it, who would want to wear tiny white shorts when Aunt Flo is around? After long-standing discus
Insider •

My baby was born at 27 weeks and spent 73 days in the hospital. He's now a curious toddler.


• Megan Beake gave birth to her baby, Riley, at 27 weeks gestation.
• Riley is now 18 months old and thriving since spending 73 days in the hospital after his birth.
• This is Beake's story, as told to Gabriella Ferlita.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Megan Beake. It has been edited for length and clarity.

We were preparing for Riley's arrival just as the leaves would begin changing color in September. But the universe had other plans, and our miracle boy was born at 27
Tyla •

Woman shares 'real' body photos during miscarriage in bid to end pregnancy loss stigma

“Everything that you think about for the next eight months is different, the way that you plan your days is different, the way that you think about what you're going to buy for the house.”

“I decided to record my gym sessions and talk about how my body is changed because my body did change during pregnancy, and I was loving this body change because it was another part of my life and I was accepting it because it's okay.

“I really wanted to put my experience out there even if it helps one perso
Tyla •

Woman Who Suffered 'Incomplete Miscarriage' Denied Treatment Under Anti-Abortion Law And Left To Bleed

The unidentified woman bled for 10 days after staff refused to remove the pregnancy tissue from her uterus for fear that they would be infringing on Wisconsin’s 1849 ban on abortions, which is back into effect now that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v Wade.

The law states that performing an abortion is a criminal offence, with notable exception. Abortions are only permitted in Wisconsin when deemed ‘necessary, or is advised by two other physicians as necessary, to save the life of the mot
Glamour UK •

I had an abortion when I was 19, and this is what actually happened

Last week, the world grieved while 36 million women in the US had their abortion rights stripped from them when Roe v Wade, the landmark law which decided that legal access to abortion is a constitutional right, was overturned.

Fifty years on, and American women will no longer have the right to decide what happens to their own bodies and their own futures. That right has been taken away.

One woman who was able to have authority over her bodily autonomy is Evelyn*, who had a medical termination

‘I Self-Induced My Abortion And I Wouldn’t Have Had It Any Other Way’

She did know, however, “that I could reach out to specific individuals about this if I ever needed the help. It was not the most pleasant experience, of course, but it was definitely something that I preferred and I probably wouldn’t have had it any other way.”

“We are devastated to see that the US, previously a global leader in women’s health and rights, might soon strip away the reproductive rights of tens of millions of American women. Abortion is essential healthcare and if this decision st

New 'On Demand' Contraceptive Pill Discovered

A new ‘on-demand’ contraceptive pill, which would be taken just before sex, has been discovered by researchers.

The scientists from Stanford University, California have uncovered what they call a ‘promising’ birth control alternative to the Pill, which must be taken every day and at the same time.

The study saw patients using a combination of the morning-after pill and a drug typically used to treat arthritis in order to ‘disrupt ovulation at peak fertility.’

During the study, nine women aged

'Like Cristiano And Georgina, I Know The Indescribable Pain Of Losing One Twin'

“Say their name, if you know it. If you say the name of their baby, you’re not reminding the parent that they’ve died - they’ll never forget that. You’re actually helping them remember that they lived, or that they were born, and that they existed, even for a while.”

Pauline Woods MBE, founder of Born Too Soon, who also lost two sons of her own, Jack and Tom, says: “If you don’t know what to say to someone [whose baby has died], say, ‘I’m sorry, I don’t know what to say to you’ or ‘how can I he
mirror •

'Nightmare birth left me with postnatal depression, but Dr Alex helped me talk'

Five months ago, I was prescribed antidepressants. Those same five months ago, I gave birth to my son, Arlo.

I’d been suffering from anxiety and obsessive thoughts for a long time, but the traumatic birth and post-birth of my son was what made me realise that I needed help.

On June 10 2021, I was induced at 39 weeks and five days due to having high blood pressure. An allergic reaction to the medicine that was supposed to induce my labour meant that I was contracting as if I was ready to push,

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