The topic of female sexuality has progressively become more accepted in modern society, but there are many regions throughout the world where it remains heavily stigmatized. The sexual revolution of the Western world has primarily focused on female reproductive health and rights, but the topics of female sexual desire and pleasure have also steadily gained…
Tag: Health
If You Think You Have an Eating Disorder
An eating disorder is a mental illness that is characterized by irregular eating behaviors and patterns coupled with concern and distress over body shape and weight.1 People struggling with an eating disorder may use starvation, purging, or other behaviors to control their physical appearance. Although eating disorders typically develop during adolescence, anyone can develop one…
Gender Binary
The gender binary is a system that pairs together sex (which is based on an individual’s reproductive anatomy) and gender (which refers to the socially constructed ideas and expectations that a culture has for certain sex). More specifically, it classifies two distinguishable, distinct, and oftentimes contrasting genders: males who identify as men and females who…
Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS)
What is EDNOS? The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-5) defines EDNOS as atypical eating behaviors that cause significant distress and fit most, but not all of the criteria for the DSM-5 recognized eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder). Approximately 40-60% of patients who are treated for an eating disorder…
Epididymitis
Overview Epididymitis is the bacterial infection and inflammation of the epididymis.1 There is one epididymis for each testicle. The epididymis is a single, narrow, tightly-coiled tube that collects sperm from a testicle and moves it to the vas deferens. After spermatogenesis occurs, sperm are moved to the epididymides and stored there for several weeks to…
If Someone You Know Has an Eating Disorder
Eating disorders affect up to 30 million people of all ages and genders in the U.S.1 Eating disorders should be taken very seriously and can have very negative affects on people, including psychological damage as well as hospitalization. It can be difficult and uncomfortable to approach someone about their eating disorder, regardless of if you…
Diabulimia
Diabulimia is an eating disorder in which patients with Type 1 diabetes deliberately skip and/or restrict their intake of insulin in order to cause extreme weight loss, and many patients often supplement this activity with bulimic behaviors. Bulimia is an eating disorder that involves binge eating followed by a compensatory behavior, such as vomiting or…
Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS)
What is Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS)? Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), also referred to as acne inversa, is a chronic skin condition that affects the sweat glands and typically features the formation of small, circular lumps around hair follicles under the skin.1 HS most commonly occurs in areas with many sweat glands, such the armpits, groin, and anal…
Binge Eating Disorder (BED)
Binge Eating Disorder (BED), also referred to as extreme overeating is an eating disorder that can be characterized as an addiction to food. The inability to fight the urge to eat is one of the defining aspects of BED. In addition, those who suffer from BED often seek emotional comfort in food for a variety…