Vulva

Setting New Year's Health Resolutions? OB-GYN Offers Guidance on Prioritizing Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Well-Being in 2024

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 16, 2024

, OB-GYN, Clinical Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the Yale University School of Medicine, offers insights into the common questions women might have as they set health goals for 2024.

Key Points: 
  • , OB-GYN, Clinical Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the Yale University School of Medicine, offers insights into the common questions women might have as they set health goals for 2024.
  • A balanced diet is crucial for overall health, including female sexual health.
  • Regular checkups with your health care provider can help address any concerns related to sexual health.
  • “As we settle into 2024, it’s important to remember that individual health needs vary," adds Dr. Minkin.

They're serving what?! How the c-word went from camp to internet mainstream

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, December 30, 2023

Despite the inclusion of the c-word, this phrase isn’t meant as an insult or a misogynistic slur.

Key Points: 
  • Despite the inclusion of the c-word, this phrase isn’t meant as an insult or a misogynistic slur.
  • In fact, it is quite the opposite – at least, among those in queer communities who have long used it.
  • Frequently used as a misogynistic slur, it is often labelled as one of the most offensive words in the English language.
  • Arguably, the mainstreaming of this queer phrase represents could be seen as a turning point in the status of the c-word.

Ball culture

  • The diffusion – or appropriation – of these phrases is symptomatic of a more widespread trend, whereby the language typically associated with drag culture has become mainstream and is now considered part of what people often label the internet vernacular.
  • To understand this development, it’s important to recognise where much of the language associated with drag culture originates.
  • For the unacquainted, the 2018 drama Pose documented the ball culture in New York City in the 1980s.
  • As ball culture became more mainstream, so too did the language associated with this community – until it was associated with the LGBTQ+ community more generally.

Language and appropriation

  • The diffusion of this language has led to intense debates about appropriation and authenticity.
  • By stylistically using features of AAVE, the men evoked these tropes to perform a gay identity which I called the “sassy queen”.
  • Many users of the phrase “serving cunt” and other AAVE features also appear unaware of their history.
  • For instance, in 2020, Brittany Broski (aka the internet-famous Kombucha Girl) incorrectly described AAVE terms as “stan culture” – referring to the behaviour of an extreme group of fans.


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Christian Ilbury does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Alpha Tau Announces Highly Promising Interim Results from Safety and Feasibility Trial of Alpha DaRT Treatment of Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 28, 2023

JERUSALEM, Nov. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alpha Tau Medical Ltd. ("Alpha Tau", or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: DRTS, DRTSW), the developer of the innovative alpha-radiation cancer therapy Alpha DaRT™, announced today the release of interim results from treatment of the first five patients in the Company’s safety and feasibility trial examining the use of Alpha DaRT to treat advanced pancreatic cancer, currently underway at two university hospitals in Montreal, Canada.

Key Points: 
  • Tumor stages of the treated patients ranged from stage II to stage IV, and treated tumors were located in the pancreatic head or neck.
  • With respect to primary outcome measures, the Alpha DaRT procedure was deemed technically successful in all five cases, with Alpha DaRT sources successfully inserted into the target tumor.
  • The first two patients, who had received the fewest number of Alpha DaRT sources, both died approximately three months after treatment, and the deaths were not related to Alpha DaRT treatment.
  • The study primarily examines the safety and feasibility of placing the Alpha DaRT sources in the tumor utilizing endoscopic ultrasound, and the overall safety of the procedure by measuring adverse events.

Playground - The Next Evolution in Sexual Wellness - Redefines Pleasure with New Mood Maker Intimacy Oil

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 24, 2023

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Playground, the pioneering sexual wellness brand co-founded by Christina Aguilera, is thrilled to unveil its latest innovation, Mood Maker, a clean, pH-balanced intimacy oil that revolutionizes the way we experience pleasure. Crafted with a vagina-safe formula, Mood Maker uses botanical aphrodisiacs to promote arousal and support a healthy libido. The product marks Playground's first release following its inaugural line of clinically tested,vagina-healthy personal lubricants. Within this new product category, Playground will continue to create good-for-you pleasure essentials intentionally designed for women.

Key Points: 
  • SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Playground , the pioneering sexual wellness brand co-founded by Christina Aguilera, is thrilled to unveil its latest innovation, Mood Maker, a clean, pH-balanced intimacy oil that revolutionizes the way we experience pleasure.
  • Crafted with a vagina-safe formula, Mood Maker uses botanical aphrodisiacs to promote arousal and support a healthy libido.
  • Within this new product category, Playground will continue to create good-for-you pleasure essentials intentionally designed for women.
  • Prioritizing vaginal health over topical irritants, Mood Maker is a botanical masterpiece designed to enhance pleasure, kindle desire, and support a healthy libido.

Foria Introduces Vibrance Line - a New Collection of Products to Support Women in Midlife

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 12, 2023

BOULDER, Colo., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Foria, the all natural, botanical-forward intimate wellness brand committed to addressing unmet needs across the female lifespan, today announces their expansion into the underserved and often overlooked spaces of midlife and menopause with their innovative new product lineup, Vibrance.

Key Points: 
  • Women can participate in the trend across social media by posting their own bathroom dance video selfies and using the hashtag #HotFlashDance.
  • "We are so excited to offer new products to provide daily support and further encourage conversations around the often underrepresented topic of menopause.
  • Foria continues to innovate in the wellness space with products formulated to address common experiences and unmet needs across the female life span.
  • With a product lineup featuring organic botanicals, Foria continues their mission to make comfort and pleasure accessible to all.

The silence around vulval cancer means people are missing the signs that they have it

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Most people have heard of cervical, ovarian, and perhaps womb cancer, but there is one gynaecological cancer that is seldom mentioned: vulval cancer.

Key Points: 
  • Most people have heard of cervical, ovarian, and perhaps womb cancer, but there is one gynaecological cancer that is seldom mentioned: vulval cancer.
  • According to Cancer Research UK, 69% of vulval cancers are considered preventable.
  • In late-stage cancer, the treatment may be devastating and in extreme cases can involve removing the entire vulva, so increasing awareness is vital.
  • The other main condition linked to vulval cancer is LS, a chronic skin condition which typically causes intense itching and white or ashy patches.

Delayed diagnosis

    • In one Danish study comparing the diagnosis time of all gynaecological cancers, vulval cancer was found to have the longest delay.
    • If you are concerned you have symptoms of vulval cancer or LS, you may need to insist on being examined.
    • To this end, the University of Manchester has produced a resource to teach women how to do a vulval self-examination.
    • Resources such as the Great Wall of Vulva can help women understand that vulvas come in all shapes and sizes.

Treatment for vulval cancer

    • However, treatment for later stage vulval cancer can be brutal.
    • In England, vulval cancer incidence rates are 74% higher in the most deprived groups.
    • Increased awareness could save some women from being diagnosed with later stage vulval cancer and improve survival rates.
    • We should be taking vulval itching and pain seriously, talking about vulval cancer and emphasising the importance of the HPV vaccine.

STARPAX BIOPHARMA ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF $24 MILLION REGULATION A+ CAPITAL RAISE

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, September 27, 2023

MONTREAL, Sept. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Starpax Biopharma Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing a groundbreaking cancer treatment platform technology, is pleased to announce the launch of its Regulation A+ capital raise.

Key Points: 
  • MONTREAL, Sept. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Starpax Biopharma Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing a groundbreaking cancer treatment platform technology, is pleased to announce the launch of its Regulation A+ capital raise.
  • This raise will provide an opportunity for US accredited and non-accredited investors to participate in the company's mission to revolutionize cancer treatment.
  • Michael Gareau, founding president of Starpax Biopharma, stated, "We are excited to launch our Regulation A+ capital raise, providing an opportunity for a broader range of investors to join us in our mission to change the way cancer is treated.
  • This investment opportunity offers a unique chance to participate in a never-before-seen technology that aims to change the way cancer is treated.

Introducing our latest e-book: Women's Health Matters

Retrieved on: 
Monday, September 25, 2023

Welcome to the launch of our latest e-book, Women’s Health Matters.

Key Points: 
  • Welcome to the launch of our latest e-book, Women’s Health Matters.
  • Women’s Health Matters is a comprehensive resource designed to empower women and provide us with the information we need to make informed decisions about our health and wellbeing.
  • This e-book is a culmination of weeks of exploration into a wide range of women’s health topics, including childbirth, contraception, menstrual health, menopause, mental health, and more.
  • Women’s Health Matters is a series about the health and wellbeing of women and girls around the world.

Vulva health conditions: it's time to shatter the silence

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 5, 2023

I didn’t know I had a vulva until I was diagnosed with lichen sclerosus and stage three vulval cancer.

Key Points: 
  • I didn’t know I had a vulva until I was diagnosed with lichen sclerosus and stage three vulval cancer.
  • She spoke of her anger at how, despite numerous doctor appointments, her cancer was not spotted until it was at an advanced stage.
  • Baumhauer had had symptoms since the age of five, feeling burning pain “like razor blades” when going to the toilet.
  • Despite undergoing 58 rounds of radiotherapy in 2016- 2017, Baumhauer experienced a recurrence in 2023 and had to have further surgery.

A disturbing silence

    • There are accounts of women experiencing dyspareunia (pain during sex) in ancient Egyptian papyri.
    • Yet today there is still an oppressive silence around the vulva and vulval disease.
    • This article is part of Women’s Health Matters, a series about the health and wellbeing of women and girls around the world.
    • So young women and those who menstruate grow up thinking gynaecological pain is just something to be accepted, even expected.
    • Instead, we receive the message that we shouldn’t be surprised when we experience pain or itching, but we also shouldn’t talk about it.

Breaking the silence

    • In the 1970s and 1980s, women began to break the silence and share their breast cancer experiences with the public.
    • The disease claims tens of thousands of lives a year, but a silence surrounded it meaning many missed the early signs.
    • And recently singer Meghan Trainor shared her experience of vaginismus, a condition causing the pelvic muscles to tense up painfully during sex.
    • Visual, literary and performing arts can be powerful tools for breaking down stigma.

The Feminine Well-Being: Quanta System’s Laser Improves Intimate Health and Quality of Life for Women With Various Pathologies

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), previously known as atrophic vaginitis or vulvovaginal atrophy, affects more than half of postmenopausal women.

Key Points: 
  • Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), previously known as atrophic vaginitis or vulvovaginal atrophy, affects more than half of postmenopausal women.
  • However, most would be willing to try a product for symptom relief and would appreciate information and treatment suggestions from their healthcare professional.
  • "This means that we, gynecologists or healthcare professionals, must actively inquire about these types of problems and refer women to specialists who can help them.
  • "Laser treatments are definitely non-painful, fast, and efficient procedures, and they are real solutions to return to a normal and better life."