women's health

Do you Google every change in your body for fear it's a symptom of something bigger? Have you convinced yourself you're suffering from an illness you've read about online, to the point of worry or distress? Are you constantly at the doctor's, often…

Anyone who's succumbed to a late-night Netflix marathon, only to stumble into work at 8 a.m. the next day, will vouch for the effect a lack of sleep can have on your brain function. But it turns out the impact of sleeplessness goes deeper than a…

Earlier this May, in a truly historic moment, the Republic of Ireland’s eighth amendment, which made abortion illegal, was overturned after a landmark referendum. Many people came together to show support for the repeal, and arguably, none harder…

"The next Labour government will protect all women," promised Dawn Butler, shadow home secretary for women and equalities, at the Labour Party Women's Conference last week. How does the party plan to do so? In part, by requiring employers to provide…

The existence of stigma surrounding the morning-after pill will come as little surprise — after all, slut-shaming is as real as it is reprehensible. But the scale of that stigma might shock you. According to a study conducted by emergency pill brand…

Two years after the Brexit referendum, Britain's departure from the EU continues to dominate the news cycle. While issues including the Irish border and access to the European single market remain at the forefront of debate, one topic remains…

Representation propels acceptance, and when it comes to network television, there is no better platform at the moment than one of the most-watched shows on NBC, This Is Us. The series’ Season 3 premiere aired on Sept. 25 to an audience of 10.3…

Activist, campaigner, and Free Periods founder Amika George walks a tightrope between being a completely ordinary teenager and an entirely exceptional one. On one hand, the 18-year-old North Londoner is currently ploughing her way through Martin…

How much do you really know about the contraception you use, or how you should be using it? Despite the prevalance of contraception use — and the range of choices available on the NHS — too many people remain underinformed, unduly influenced by…

The morning-after pill is accessible without prescription in the UK, and often available for free. But myths and misunderstandings continue to surround it, which can prevent people from using the emergency contraception they need. One of the most…

Who amongst us hasn't experienced a headache after a whole day in front of the computer, or a night dancing to music that's just a little too loud? It's fairly easy to identify the probable cause of a one-off headache, but if they're chronic, there…

For many expectant parents, the prospect of childbirth can be a daunting one. But some experience the fear more acutely, so much so that it becomes a phobia. Tocophobia — "a severe fear or dread of childbirth", according to the Guardian — is…

Even if you don't have it yourself, you're likely to have heard of one person with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A common factor linking many patients is their gender, with women making up two-thirds of IBS cases, according to experts. While…

We all know how important sleep is, so it would feel correct to assume that the more sleep you get, the better. However, it is possible to have too much of a good thing, and this includes sleep. There are a number of surprising things that can…

As winter approaches and the days become shorter, more people begin to experience symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Mental health charity Mind describes SAD as "a form of depression that people experience at a particular time of year or…

It's well-documented that women receive poorer healthcare than men: studies have indiciated that women wait longer for diagnoses, are less likely to be prescribed the most effective painkillers, and often see their concerns dismissed by doctors.…

I have suffered with migraines since my teenage years. At the time, I assumed that they were simply headaches caused by a bad diet and a lack of general hydration. But as I got older, left school, and entered the adult world, I realised that these…

A bleak finding in the wake of the 2018 World Cup: England and Wales saw a "significant rise" in domestic abuse reports during this year's tournament, according to the BBC. The figures per game, released by the National Police Chiefs' Council, far…

Detox ingredients have become big business recently — and one that's really risen in popularity over the past year or so is activated charcoal. But there have been concerns raised about its potential side effects. So, does activated charcoal affect…

Here's the frustrating reality about seeking medical treatment as a woman: conditions are often underdiagnosed, and patients' concerns are often dismissed. That's the case with endometriosis — though not all those who experience it are women. The…