What Women need to know from A to Z
From ageless eyes to the benefits of catching your zzz’s, learn the ABCs of women’s health.
Ageless Eyes
The skin beneath the eyes is thin and delicate, and simple lifestyle factors can cause the skin to trap fluid that normally drains from the eyes to the nose, creating dark circles or bags. These factors include lack of sleep, poor diet, dehydration, age, smoking and drinking.
To decrease dark circles, OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson suggests applying arnica gel, a low-cost, non-surgical solution generally used for treating bruises that may be found at your local pharmacy. Arnica is one of the best-known herbs for dispersing trapped fluids due to its anti-inflammatory properties, and it works by stimulating the activity of white blood cells to relieve congestion, reducing the fluid that creates under-eye circles.
Biological Clock
Tick tock – is your biological clock ticking? The biological clock is a metaphor for the timeframe of a woman’s fertility. OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson says that with careers and egg-freezing technology, many women are hitting the snooze button! However, females are born with a finite supply of eggs, averaging between 1 and 2 million, which are shed as part of the monthly cycle. Once the eggs run out, menopause begins and the clock stops ticking.
While we usually can’t foresee when our body will become infertile, researchers in the United Kingdom have found a way to chart the levels of vital fertility hormones in women of varying ages. This new technology may revolutionize family planning by predicting when a woman is likely to begin menopause, which can help her plan on when to start trying to conceive.
Though modern medicine is making family planning more convenient, it’s important to remember that a woman’s ability to conceive declines substantially after her mid-30s, increasing the risk of miscarriage.
Cuddling
“After you’ve had amorous time with your man, doesn’t it feel so good to cuddle?” asks doctor of psychology Dr. Wendy Walsh Ph.D. “Well guess what: You’re not being needy!”
She explains that, psychologically, the female orgasm can leave a woman feeling vulnerable, with a yearning for connection and security while her body attempts to come down from its pleasure high.
Cuddling is after-play, which is just as important as foreplay, and essential for completing the orgasm circle.
“Foreplay is about sex,” Dr. Lisa says. “After-play is about love.”
Double Chin Disappear
Rebecca, who just turned 50, says she is unhappy with her unflattering double chin. “It seems that all the imperfections have been exacerbated by that magic number [of 50],” she says.
Plastic surgeon Dr. Sharon Giese performs the Double Chin Disappear procedure to restore Rebecca’s jaw line. First, Dr. Giese applies numbing creme to the skin, then injects Radiesse, a form of calcium hydroxyapatite, into either side of the chin to fill the jowls and camouflage the extra tissue beneath the chin. The effects are immediate and results can last up to two years.
See Rebecca’s new, younger-looking neck!
"I'm loving it. It's fantastic!" Rebecca says.
Empowerment
Body image is something every woman struggles with -- even supermodels. But all women have the power to take control of their health.
“One of the best things women can do is take care of their health,” supermodel-turned-super-mogul Kathy Ireland says.
Kathy says she struggled with weight gain after giving birth and recommends keeping a daily food journal to help control your diet. She also advises everyone to find an exercise routine that you love doing -- hers is surfing.
"Getting the weight off with each kid empowered me to feel strong and healthy," Kathy says.
Foreplay
“Medically speaking, you need foreplay to get your body ready for intercourse,” Dr. Lisa says. “If the man goes charging in there, he can cause lacerations and little tears, and that’s totally not sexy.”
• The importance of foreplay• Forty ways to better sex tonight
GynoDr. Lisa shares simple tips to make your next gynecologist visit stress free.
• For a more comfortable breast exam, schedule your visit after your period, as your breasts will be less lumpy and tender.
• For a painless pap test, urinate before the exam.
• Refrain from intercourse the day before the exam because sex can affect the results.
• Be completely honest with your OB/GYN so she can provide the best possible treatment.
“Women should start seeing the [gynecologist] at 21 years old, or when they start being sexually active,” Dr. Lisa says. “But now we want moms to take their daughters in at 12 or 13. Not for an exam, but to start getting to know their gynecologist and to possibly get the HPV vaccine.”
Kathy Ireland’s Beauty Tips
Supermodel-turned-super-mogul Kathy Ireland shares her top beauty secrets:
Kegels
The pubococcygeus (PC), or kegel muscles, are located on the pelvic floor, and help control urine flow and muscle contractions during climax.
Exercising these muscles involves rhythmic clenching and unclenching of the PC muscles. Dr. Lisa demonstrates how to properly perform kegel exercises.
Large Labia
Dr. Lisa says that women often ask her what’s considered normal when it comes to labia size, but no labia are the same.
Some women are born with larger or noticeably asymmetric labia. But while there are surgical options to correct labial discomfort, Dr. Lisa advises speaking to your OB/GYN before considering surgery to determine if such an alteration is necessary.
Mommy Breasts, Nipple Size
Surgical breast specialist Dr. Kristi Funk explains how your breasts can change after having a baby.
Odor, Pubic Hair“A lot of women struggle with odor ’down there,' and there are actually foods that can make it worse,” Dr. Lisa says.
Foods, such as garlic, onion and asparagus, can cause vaginal odor, while sweet-smelling fruits, such as pineapple, have been known to freshen things down below.
But when it comes to pubic hair, Dr. Lisa says that less is more because, similarly to under-arm hair, pubic hair can trap odor.
Quick Relationship TipsDr. Wendy shares three quick tips for relationship bliss:
1. “Let him be king of the castle, especially when his friends are around,” Dr. Wendy says. If your man has friends over, leave them be.
2. Never go to bed mad. Even if you lose an hour of sleep, talking it out and reaffirming your love for each other is essential. But, Dr. Wendy says, there is one exception: “If you’re drunk, go to sleep and deal with it in the morning.”
3. Believe him when he says you're beautiful. Putting yourself down and constantly fishing for compliments displays low self esteem.
Rough Feet
As we age, our skin loses moisture and its ability to stretch, leading to extreme dryness. Tight stilettos can also cause thick, discolored calluses to form on the feet.
Dr. Wendy shares a home remedy for removing dead skin from your soles.
Sagging, ToningSay goodbye to jiggle! Jillian shares her top tips for shaping up saggy arms.
In addition to exercising, Jillian also recommends staying hydrated. “The more water your drink, the less water you’re going retain,” she says. “Water flushes out that excess bloat, and you’re going to look more defined.”
Underwear
Edible underwear can be fun for your sex life, but beware: it can cause yeast infections. If edible underwear is your idea of fun, be sure to wash down below immediately after wearing them to avoid infection.
Varicose Veins
Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Alexander Rivkin demonstrates the latest laser procedure for saying vamoose to unsightly spider veins.
• Varicose Veins• Tips for masking spider veins and stretch marks
W, X, YTry some quick tips for spicing up your sex life.
Zzz’s
Sleep and rest reduces stress, rejuvenates our bodies and is a natural age corrector. “Think about yourself and get more sleep,” Dr. Lisa says. ”Those are doctors orders.”
• Simple sleep tips
• The dangers of sleep deprivation
Ageless Eyes
The skin beneath the eyes is thin and delicate, and simple lifestyle factors can cause the skin to trap fluid that normally drains from the eyes to the nose, creating dark circles or bags. These factors include lack of sleep, poor diet, dehydration, age, smoking and drinking.
To decrease dark circles, OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson suggests applying arnica gel, a low-cost, non-surgical solution generally used for treating bruises that may be found at your local pharmacy. Arnica is one of the best-known herbs for dispersing trapped fluids due to its anti-inflammatory properties, and it works by stimulating the activity of white blood cells to relieve congestion, reducing the fluid that creates under-eye circles.
Biological Clock
Tick tock – is your biological clock ticking? The biological clock is a metaphor for the timeframe of a woman’s fertility. OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson says that with careers and egg-freezing technology, many women are hitting the snooze button! However, females are born with a finite supply of eggs, averaging between 1 and 2 million, which are shed as part of the monthly cycle. Once the eggs run out, menopause begins and the clock stops ticking.
While we usually can’t foresee when our body will become infertile, researchers in the United Kingdom have found a way to chart the levels of vital fertility hormones in women of varying ages. This new technology may revolutionize family planning by predicting when a woman is likely to begin menopause, which can help her plan on when to start trying to conceive.
Though modern medicine is making family planning more convenient, it’s important to remember that a woman’s ability to conceive declines substantially after her mid-30s, increasing the risk of miscarriage.
Cuddling
“After you’ve had amorous time with your man, doesn’t it feel so good to cuddle?” asks doctor of psychology Dr. Wendy Walsh Ph.D. “Well guess what: You’re not being needy!”
She explains that, psychologically, the female orgasm can leave a woman feeling vulnerable, with a yearning for connection and security while her body attempts to come down from its pleasure high.
Cuddling is after-play, which is just as important as foreplay, and essential for completing the orgasm circle.
“Foreplay is about sex,” Dr. Lisa says. “After-play is about love.”
Double Chin Disappear
Rebecca, who just turned 50, says she is unhappy with her unflattering double chin. “It seems that all the imperfections have been exacerbated by that magic number [of 50],” she says.
Plastic surgeon Dr. Sharon Giese performs the Double Chin Disappear procedure to restore Rebecca’s jaw line. First, Dr. Giese applies numbing creme to the skin, then injects Radiesse, a form of calcium hydroxyapatite, into either side of the chin to fill the jowls and camouflage the extra tissue beneath the chin. The effects are immediate and results can last up to two years.
See Rebecca’s new, younger-looking neck!
"I'm loving it. It's fantastic!" Rebecca says.
Empowerment
Body image is something every woman struggles with -- even supermodels. But all women have the power to take control of their health.
“One of the best things women can do is take care of their health,” supermodel-turned-super-mogul Kathy Ireland says.
Kathy says she struggled with weight gain after giving birth and recommends keeping a daily food journal to help control your diet. She also advises everyone to find an exercise routine that you love doing -- hers is surfing.
"Getting the weight off with each kid empowered me to feel strong and healthy," Kathy says.
Foreplay
“Medically speaking, you need foreplay to get your body ready for intercourse,” Dr. Lisa says. “If the man goes charging in there, he can cause lacerations and little tears, and that’s totally not sexy.”
• The importance of foreplay• Forty ways to better sex tonight
GynoDr. Lisa shares simple tips to make your next gynecologist visit stress free.
• For a more comfortable breast exam, schedule your visit after your period, as your breasts will be less lumpy and tender.
• For a painless pap test, urinate before the exam.
• Refrain from intercourse the day before the exam because sex can affect the results.
• Be completely honest with your OB/GYN so she can provide the best possible treatment.
“Women should start seeing the [gynecologist] at 21 years old, or when they start being sexually active,” Dr. Lisa says. “But now we want moms to take their daughters in at 12 or 13. Not for an exam, but to start getting to know their gynecologist and to possibly get the HPV vaccine.”
Kathy Ireland’s Beauty Tips
Supermodel-turned-super-mogul Kathy Ireland shares her top beauty secrets:
Kegels
The pubococcygeus (PC), or kegel muscles, are located on the pelvic floor, and help control urine flow and muscle contractions during climax.
Exercising these muscles involves rhythmic clenching and unclenching of the PC muscles. Dr. Lisa demonstrates how to properly perform kegel exercises.
Large Labia
Dr. Lisa says that women often ask her what’s considered normal when it comes to labia size, but no labia are the same.
Some women are born with larger or noticeably asymmetric labia. But while there are surgical options to correct labial discomfort, Dr. Lisa advises speaking to your OB/GYN before considering surgery to determine if such an alteration is necessary.
Mommy Breasts, Nipple Size
Surgical breast specialist Dr. Kristi Funk explains how your breasts can change after having a baby.
Odor, Pubic Hair“A lot of women struggle with odor ’down there,' and there are actually foods that can make it worse,” Dr. Lisa says.
Foods, such as garlic, onion and asparagus, can cause vaginal odor, while sweet-smelling fruits, such as pineapple, have been known to freshen things down below.
But when it comes to pubic hair, Dr. Lisa says that less is more because, similarly to under-arm hair, pubic hair can trap odor.
Quick Relationship TipsDr. Wendy shares three quick tips for relationship bliss:
1. “Let him be king of the castle, especially when his friends are around,” Dr. Wendy says. If your man has friends over, leave them be.
2. Never go to bed mad. Even if you lose an hour of sleep, talking it out and reaffirming your love for each other is essential. But, Dr. Wendy says, there is one exception: “If you’re drunk, go to sleep and deal with it in the morning.”
3. Believe him when he says you're beautiful. Putting yourself down and constantly fishing for compliments displays low self esteem.
Rough FeetAs we age, our skin loses moisture and its ability to stretch, leading to extreme dryness. Tight stilettos can also cause thick, discolored calluses to form on the feet.
Dr. Wendy shares a home remedy for removing dead skin from your soles.
Sagging, ToningSay goodbye to jiggle! Jillian shares her top tips for shaping up saggy arms.
In addition to exercising, Jillian also recommends staying hydrated. “The more water your drink, the less water you’re going retain,” she says. “Water flushes out that excess bloat, and you’re going to look more defined.”
Underwear
Edible underwear can be fun for your sex life, but beware: it can cause yeast infections. If edible underwear is your idea of fun, be sure to wash down below immediately after wearing them to avoid infection.
Varicose Veins
Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Alexander Rivkin demonstrates the latest laser procedure for saying vamoose to unsightly spider veins.
• Varicose Veins• Tips for masking spider veins and stretch marks
W, X, YTry some quick tips for spicing up your sex life.
Zzz’s
Sleep and rest reduces stress, rejuvenates our bodies and is a natural age corrector. “Think about yourself and get more sleep,” Dr. Lisa says. ”Those are doctors orders.”
• Simple sleep tips
• The dangers of sleep deprivation
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