Food safety guidance during pregnancy exists for two reasons: certain infections cross the placenta, and certain contaminants affect fetal brain development. Pregnancy changes your immune system in ways that make you more vulnerable to foodborne illness. The CDC estimates pregnant women are about 10 times more likely than the general population to get listeriosis, an…
DetailsHeadaches that occur right before your period are a real and well-documented pattern, not just a coincidence. Many women notice a headache or full-blown migraine in the days leading up to their period, often accompanied by cramps, mood changes, and fatigue. These are known as menstrual or hormonal headaches, and they are tied closely to…
DetailsPregnancy cravings are strong, sometimes sudden, urges to eat certain foods. Just as common are aversions, when foods you once loved suddenly turn your stomach. These shifts in appetite are one of the most well-known parts of pregnancy, and for most women, they are a normal response to a body that is changing quickly. Cravings…
DetailsPregnancy brings a long list of changes to your body, and some of them show up in unexpected places. Your mouth is one of them. Hormonal shifts during pregnancy can make your gums more sensitive, swollen, and prone to bleeding. This condition is so common that it has its own name: pregnancy gingivitis. It affects…
DetailsA urinary tract infection, or UTI, happens when bacteria enter the urinary system and cause infection, most commonly in the bladder. While a single UTI is frustrating enough, some women deal with them over and over again. Recurrent UTIs are generally defined as having two or more infections in six months or three or more…
DetailsThe vagina has a natural scent, and that scent is not supposed to be completely absent. A mild odor is normal and can change depending on hormones, sweat, diet, sexual activity, and where you are in your menstrual cycle. What matters is whether the odor is new, persistent, stronger than your usual baseline, or paired…
DetailsVaginal infections are among the most common reasons women seek care from an OB/GYN. Yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis (BV), and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can all cause itching, burning, discharge changes, and irritation. The challenge is that their symptoms overlap significantly, which makes self-diagnosis unreliable and self-treatment risky. Getting the right diagnosis matters because each…
DetailsAn irregular period is any change from what’s typical for your cycle. That could mean periods that come too frequently, too far apart, or that are unpredictable. It can also refer to bleeding that’s heavier than usual, lighter than expected, or accompanied by spotting between cycles. While many people think of a “normal” cycle as…
DetailsHormones do much more than regulate your menstrual cycle. They influence your mood, energy, sleep, appetite, skin, weight, fertility, and how your body responds to stress. When hormones are working well, most women feel steady. When they shift or fall out of balance, symptoms can show up in subtle ways that are easy to blame…
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