Gabrielle Kassel

Several states explicitly allow people under age 18 to receive prescription birth control without parental involvement. Some states reserve the right to notify a parent or legal guardian with few exceptions, while others have unclear legal status.
“Depending on the state you live in, you may or may not need parental consent to access birth control,” said Laura Purdy, MD, OB-GYN, chief medical officer at Wisp, a telehealth platform focused on sexual and reproductive health.
“If you need to acc...

Although it’s possible for PID to clear up without treatment, it’s extremely rare. It’s best to consult with a healthcare professional as soon as possible to confirm the diagnosis and begin treatment.
When detected early, PID is typically cured with a simple course of oral antibiotics. Advanced cases may require intravenous antibiotics and hospitalization,says Michelle Forcier, MD, a gender-affirming clinician with virtual healthcare service FOLX.
Proper medical treatment will cure the infect...

PID is a serious infection of reproductive organs. It can cause a number of symptoms, including foul-smelling and differently-colored vaginal discharge.
The vagina is often dubbed a self-cleaning machine. That’s because, in healthy individuals, the vagina expels discharge that helps rid the canal of potentially-disruptive bacteria, dirt, and dead skin cells.
Healthy discharge is typically described as:
clear or milky
mucus-like or slimy
odorless
Underlying infection can cause unexpected chang...

Experts believe that statistics show lower than actual figures due to the various systemic, legal, social, and emotional roadblocks to reporting.
“Domestic violence of all kinds is incredibly underreported,” says Giordano. “Therefore, it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly how widespread it is.”
“Survivors may not report for a wide variety of reasons,” she says. For instance:
fear of what the abuser might do if they report them
lack of awareness of the resources available for support
feelings of ...

Some research suggests hormonal birth control can affect mood, stress, and overall mental health. The potential impact varies by method and from person to person.
All hormonal birth control methods contain a synthetic version of progesterone called progestin and a synthetic version of estrogen, such as ethinyl estradiol.
These synthetic hormones can impact different areas of the brain, says Bassam Zeina, MD, PhD. The hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis, for example, regulates reproductive fun...

Some research suggests that hormonal contraception may make cervical cells more susceptible to HPV. More research is needed to understand the potential link, but there are steps you can take to reduce your risk.
Oftentimes — 9 times out of 10, to be exact — HPV will clear up on its own within 2 years of exposure. Exposure typically occurs from vaginal or anal sex, but oral sex and intimate skin-to-skin contact can also transmit the virus.
But if the virus lingers, it can end up on the cells i...

Keeping a contraception journal — and otherwise tracking your birth control use — can be a great way to understand your body better. But it’s important to do so in a way that doesn’t put your privacy at risk.
A “contraception journal” is a broad term used for any organizational tool that allows you to track information about your sexual, as well as overall, health and well-being, says general practitioner Adiele Hoffman, medical advisor Flo Health, United Kingdom.
While the term “journal” imp...

Some research suggests that hormonal contraception may make cervical cells more susceptible to HPV. More research is needed to understand the potential link, but there are steps you can take to reduce your risk.
Oftentimes — 9 times out of 10, to be exact — HPV will clear up on its own within 2 years of exposure. Exposure typically occurs from vaginal or anal sex, but oral sex and intimate skin-to-skin contact can also transmit the virus.
But if the virus lingers, it can end up on the cells i...

PID is an infection of the female reproductive organs. It’s often the result of an untreated sexually transmitted infection (STI). Yeast infections are not considered a contributing factor.
“Yeast infections can cause some of the same symptoms but typically do not cause pelvic inflammatory disease,” says Michelle Forcier, MD, a gender-affirming clinician with virtual healthcare service FOLX.
In the vast majority of cases, PID develops when a bacterial STI is left undetected and, therefore, un...

The type of birth control you choose, when you start taking it, and the unique chemistry of your body all play a role in when your next menstrual period will be.
With combination pills, your next period will begin in roughly 21 days. This will coincide with the inactive (placebo) pills in your pack.
Progestin-only pills — also known as minipills — deliver a continuous stream of hormones throughout the month. You may menstruate on your usual cycle or notice that your period is more or less fre...

Artificial contraception is another name for birth control. It’s intentionally using something — a barrier, device, drug, or another technique — to reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy.
“The idea is that you’re interfering with the natural process of a sperm fertilizing an egg, or conception,” says Michael Green, MD, OB-GYN, chief medical officer at Winona, a telehealth company specializing in menopause care.
When it comes to contraception, you have a wide variety of methods to choose from...

Many hormonal birth control methods have a slightly increased risk of stroke. Your risk for stroke depends on various factors, and there are steps you can take to reduce your risk.
The overall risk of stroke related to birth control use — namely oral contraceptives — is relatively low.
Birth control pills are the most commonly prescribed contraceptive in the United States. Combination pills, also known as combined oral contraceptives, are the most commonly prescribed form.
According to the Am...

Vulvitis is a catch-all term for inflammation, irritation, or itchiness affecting the external genitalia. It’s typically due to an allergic reaction, another skin condition, or an underlying autoimmune disorder. Vulvitis can clear up quickly with proper treatment.
“Vulvitis is irritation or inflammation of the vulva — not the vagina,” says Renita White, MD, OB-GYN, medical advisor for The Honey Pot Company, a plant-based brand dedicated to vulvovaginal wellness.
Although people often use the ...