Do these things today to save you from stress tomorrow

When it comes to reducing stress, sometimes implementing some practical strategies beats self-care practices. With a few small actions, you can create a future for yourself that is guaranteed to be a little less stressful. Here are 6 things you can do that might save you from stress tomorrow.

Buy a spare: There’s never a good time for items to break, run out, or get lost. What’s an item you only have one of that, if you lost it, or it reached the end of its life, it would be inconvenient without a spare? Perhaps it’s a battery? Perhaps it’s a key? Whatever it may be, having a spare can give you some peace of mind.

Learn how to do something you usually nag someone else to help you with: Instead of turning to the person you always ask when you need some help, try learning a specific task. Learning how to do it yourself will save you the stress of having to rely on someone else’s availability, and potentially the relationship stress of nagging them to do it.

Boost your retirement fund by any small amount: The saying might be that money doesn’t buy happiness, but lack of money is certainly a huge stressor, as are guilt and regret over behaviors you know you should be doing but aren’t. Many folks feel completely overwhelmed by retirement investing, but the more you do it, the easier it gets to do. Start small, and work your way toward a higher number. And don’t forget to see it as a little investment into a less stressful future.

Systematize a process: For example, checklists are one easy type of simple system that can help you to not forget items and minimize mistakes, especially in situations in which you’re likely to be stressed or fatigued.

Invest in making someone else more self-sufficient: When you invest in making someone else more self-sufficient, it reduces the future burden on you, and this benefit compounds over time. For example, if you spend time working on skills with your child, including emotion skills, then that has a payoff for both you and your child.

Brainstorm ideas for a future-likely situation: It often doesn’t make sense to over-prepare for situations that might not occur, but some situations are likely to occur from time to time, and when they do, you might not have the mental space to think up ideas on the spot. It could be ideas for what to do on a rainy day. It could be meal ideas for vegetarian dinner guests. Whatever it is, there’s nothing bad about being prepared.

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Written by Emily Deaton & Medically reviewed by Dr. Susan Milstein

Published here with permission from Women’s Health Interactive. Fearless Conversations About Sex & Sexuality

If you’re one of the many women who deal with vaginal dryness, you probably know that vaginal discomfort can have a major impact on your daily life.

Despite how common vaginal dryness is, remarkably few women talk about the issue. The lack of conversations that people have about the topic, however, only furthers the stigma that surrounds it.

That’s why we’re going to dispel myths and share the truth about vaginal dryness — and give you some tips on how to ease the discomfort that comes with it.

In this article, we’ll talk about:

• The Causes Of Vaginal Dryness
• How Common Vaginal Dryness Really Is
• How A Lack Of Vaginal Lubrication Can Affect Your Life
• Ways To Lessen The Uncomfortable Feeling Of Vaginal Dryness

What Causes Vaginal Dryness?

Unlike some things in life, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the question, “What causes vaginal dryness?”

However, the origins aren’t random — in fact, they’re pretty easily explained.

There are a variety of reasons why a woman may experience vaginal dryness, including:

• Menopause or perimenopause
• Medication changes
• Lifestyle factors

Menopause is one of the most common causes of vaginal dryness.

This is a completely natural process women’s bodies undergo when their menstrual cycle stops; typically, you’re considered to be menopausal after you’ve gone a year or so without a period.

Generally, menopause starts in a woman’s 40s or 50s — but it can be triggered earlier due to genetics, certain medications, health conditions, or surgical procedures such as hysterectomy.

Menopause looks different for everyone, but there are a number of common symptoms associated with this process — including vaginal dryness.

The primary reason women experience symptoms during menopause has to do with decreased levels of the hormone estrogen. Since hormones play such a major role in your day-to-day life, any change in their balance will likely cause changes in your body, too.

You might be thinking, “Wait, I haven’t hit menopause and I’m having vaginal dryness — what’s the deal?!”

While menopause is a common cause of dryness or general irritation in your vaginal area, it’s not the only cause.

Some people also experience a decrease in natural vaginal lubrication when they enter perimenopause, which is the period of time before your menstrual cycle completely stops. The associated symptoms may or may not follow you throughout menopause.

Of course, there are other potential causes of vaginal dryness, too.

Lifestyle changes, medications, your environment, products you use, and more can all contribute to vaginal dryness.

Regardless of the root of the problem, vaginal dryness is a frustrating symptom to deal with and you are far from alone if you’re dealing with it yourself.

How Common Is Vaginal Dryness?

Based on how few people you hear talk about vaginal dryness, you might think that it’s a pretty uncommon thing to deal with.

However, even if you don’t hear anyone you know talking about it, I guarantee that you know people who have experienced vaginal dryness.

A 2018 study estimated that over 30% of women who aren’t in menopause deal with vaginal dryness — that’s almost one out of every three women!

Women who are menopausal are more likely to experience dryness and discomfort, with at least 50% of menopausal women saying they dealt with vaginal dryness, according to the same 2018 study.

Beyond that study, another found that between 62 and 67% of women experienced vaginal dryness within a year after starting menopause; 85% of them had dealt with it years later.

What does this mean?

Well, it means that you’re not alone. With so many women worldwide living with the effects of vaginal dryness daily, surely there are some solutions — right?

What Are The Effects Of Vaginal Dryness?

Everyone has their unique experience with vaginal dryness, but a lack of natural vaginal lubrication can affect your day in some pretty unexpected ways.

If you still have your period, for instance, you might feel like a teenager using a tampon for the first time, facing the same annoyance and frustration that came with trying to insert it into a vagina that didn’t have enough lubrication.

Additionally, you might find that wearing underwear or pants may intensify itchiness and irritation of your vulva’s skin, even if their material never bothered you previously.

One of the biggest — and potentially most impactful — ways vaginal dryness can negatively affect your life, however, has to do with sex and masturbation.

Sensations that used to make your toes curl with pleasure may suddenly feel drastically different — and not in a good way.

Instead of enjoying sex or masturbation, a lack of vaginal lubrication can make these activities miserable.

Additionally, when a woman is unable to make her own natural vaginal lubrication, she may feel as though she is somehow “less” of a woman because of it.

Not only is it a difficult topic to broach with a doctor, but it can be hard to discuss with a partner. For this reason, many women may suffer from vaginal dryness in silence.

What Can I Do To Lessen My Vaginal Dryness?

Though you can’t turn back the clock to stop vaginal dryness from occurring, there are several ways to mitigate the issue.

While medications and hormone replacement therapy can help your vagina to secrete natural lubrication, these treatments can take time to work and may also have some unpleasant side effects.

One method that offers instant relief is using a vaginal moisturizer and lubricant.

If you want a vaginal moisturizer that works as a lubricant, too, you’ll probably want to use a water-based lube.

Water-based lubes are hydrating, compatible with latex condoms and dental dams, and don’t stain fabrics like silicone or oil-based lubes.

Of course, not all water-based lubes or vaginal moisturizers are made the same!

Since you’re using a vaginal moisturizer and lubricant on an already sensitive area, it’s ideal to use a product made primarily from natural and organic ingredients to avoid making your sensitive skin feel even more parched or raw.

Made of 95% organic aloe vera, a hydrating, soothing ingredient that eases symptoms of intense dryness, Aloe Cadabra® vaginal moisturizer doubles as a lubricant — making it perfect for daily use during sex, masturbation, and, of course, for alleviating vaginal dryness.

This multi-tasking product helps to keep your vagina feeling hydrated and happy and makes sex and masturbation a slick, slippery joy.

In Conclusion

Even if you feel like you’re stuck having to deal with vaginal dryness alone, you don’t have to struggle by yourself!

There are a multitude of resources and ways to help ease aggravating feelings of dryness, itchiness, and discomfort.

Using a vaginal moisturizer and lubricant is a great way to obtain the relief you deserve.

“I’ve got a confession to make: I’m a lube virgin. Correction…I was a lube virgin.” says Vanessa Russell in a fun and very informative product review (both written and video). Yes that’s right – click here to watch a fun review. Thank you Women’s Health Interactive for the review.

What are the Signs & Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer?

Re-Published with permission from Ovarian.org.

Ovarian cancer is difficult to detect, especially in the early stages. This is partly due to the fact that the ovaries – two small, almond-shaped organs on either side of the uterus – are deep within the abdominal cavity. The following are often identified by women as some of the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer:

• Bloating
• Pelvic or abdominal pain
• Trouble eating or feeling full quickly
• Feeling the need to urinate urgently or often

Other symptoms of ovarian cancer can include:

• Fatigue
• Upset stomach or heartburn
• Back pain
• Pain during sex
• Constipation or menstrual changes

If symptoms are new and persist for more than two weeks, it is recommended that a woman see her doctor, and a gynecologic oncologist before surgery if cancer is suspected. Image below from Ovarian.org

Persistence of Symptoms

When the symptoms are persistent, when they do not resolve with normal interventions (like diet change, exercise, laxatives, rest) it is imperative for a woman to see her doctor. Persistence of symptoms is key. Because these signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer have been described as vague or silent, only approximately 15 percent of ovarian cancer is diagnosed in the early stages. Symptoms typically occur in advanced stages when tumor growth creates pressure on the bladder and rectum, and fluid begins to form. For more information please go to: https://www.ovarian.org