28) The Cliterati Chronicle
Tips to Sweeten the Dracula Tea Bag
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🎉Welcome to Issue #28
*Disclaimer: Our thoughts are not meant to replace the recommendations of your medical provider. This isn’t advice, just what we found interesting*
I recently had a visit with my gyno and we talked about cysts on the ovaries and their impact. She mentioned how everyone has cysts on their ovaries. One cute one here and two little cuties over there, not a big deal. They’re just here for the ride. But she’s seen ones that are the size of tennis balls, or ovaries that can have so many cysts that its hard to count. The conversation wasn’t that deep but it made me think more about PCOS: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and what it means for vaginal care. Just to clarify, the size of the cysts is not what determines PCOS but the number of cysts.
So welcome to The Unholy Trinity: PCOS, Vaginal Care, and the Epic Saga of Women's Woes.
Ah, the mysterious world of the vajeen – a rollercoaster ride with unexpected twists, turns, and the occasional loop-de-loop. One such plot twist that throws many of us for a loop is the notorious Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is truly a mystery of its own because many of the people who have it, don’t actually know that they have it!
PCOS is a complex hormonal disorder that affects approximately 6%-12% of women in the United States (that’s approximately 5 million people), where the follicles form on the ovaries. If those follicles don’t pop and continue to grow, they become cysts. The impact of PCOS extends beyond reproductive health (I’m strictly referring to the having of babies) to intimacy, weight loss/gain, and other things. Crazily enough and unfortunately, the research still doesn’t tell us how PCOS forms. Is it our food? hormones? an autoimmune response?
PCOS is the uninvited guest at the hormone party, stomping through with muddy shoes, throwing tables, and slapping drinks out of people’s hands. PCOS has a number of co-morbidities like insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and hypothyroidism. Meanwhile, the ovaries can start to resemble a disco ball of cysts spinning a top a hormonal mosh pit where insulin, testosterone, and estrogen slam dance, leaving chaos in their wake.
This happens to be the vaginal care conundrum of many – a land where we tiptoe, trying to balance pH levels, maintain a delicate ecosystem, and ward off potential invaders. PCOS, being the trickster it is, throws a spanner in the works. Hormonal imbalances can lead to dryness, irritation, and a general feeling of "What in the world is happening down there?" Vaginal care becomes a high-stakes game of Jenga, with one wrong move threatening to topple the entire tower.
This is what I picture: a woman with PCOS, armed with a microscope, magnifying glass, a pH meter, and a list of hormone balancing foods, embarking on a quest to decode the enigma that is her vaginal health. It's like a scientific expedition, but instead of discovering new species, she's navigating the intricate ecosystem that resides between her legs. And let's not forget the arsenal of products – from probiotics to pH-balanced cleansers – that she must wield like a vaginal superhero.
Reflecting on the whirlwind of hormonal mayhem and vaginal escapades that is PCOS, one thing becomes abundantly clear: we are resilient beyond measure. Sometimes, for just a moment, I can’t believe it.
Period Tips By Phase
*note: not all periods or phases are equal. You might spend a longer or shorter number of days in each of the phases than other women, girls, trans and non binary people you know that menstruate.*
🥚 Ovulation (Day 14) → Stay hydrated and nutrient dense!
✮ Focus on a nutrient-rich diet with foods like leafy greens, nuts, and dairy to support reproductive health. Stay hydrated and maintain a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and sufficient sleep for overall well-being during this menstrual cycle stage.
Are you focused on fertility, have PCOS or endometriosis, are transitioning f > m, or want specific tips? Drop us a note and let us know so we can share info for you!
Know more about your cycle’s phases → Read
Track your cycle manually → Read
Track your cycle with apps, apps, and more apps → Download
Period Aesthetics
Últimas Notices Sobre El Clítois by Ziortza Larreategi Gómez
Thought Provoking
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: What It Is, How to Manage It → Read
Thanks for reading Pink Lemonade. Make sure to share these tips with all your fellow menstruators to sweeten their time of the month. Be someone’s period fairy this month. 🪄
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😺Thank You for Reading Issue #28
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