Is it true that The feminist principles behind International Men's Day

Men already dominate political and corporate hierachies, but feminism, currently healthier than ever, is doing solid work to support fathers who choose to stay at home with their children.

Read more »

Posted in: Women

Do I Have BV?

The physical symptoms are painful itching and burning that doesn't get relief even with the creams, powders or douches. No matter how hard you try to keep clean and fresh, that disgusting fish odor lingers.

The emotional impact of BV is stressful - even in a committed relationship. After all, how can you feel sexy when your finest perfume is mixed with vaginal body odor?

It occurs when the normal bacteria found in the vagina is overtaken by unfriendly bacteria. You might say it's an imbalance of bacteria. This isn't even an unusual condition.

Before getting embarrassed by something that is a medical issue, keep this in mind: having BV does not imply that a woman engages in any unusual sexual practices.

Any woman of childbearing age is potentially at risk for BV. Even women who are not sexually active can get it.

What does Bacterial Vaginosis feel like? How can you recognize the symptoms? Here are the basic ways to recognize BV:

• Vaginal discharge that is thicker and lasts longer than normal

• Vaginal discharge smells sour or fishy, particularly after intercourse

• The color of the discharge is white or gray

• Painful burning sensation when urinating with no other indications of a urinary tract infection

• Itching or burning sensation in the vaginal area

One or more of these symptoms would certainly tell you that treatment is needed. But here's an oddity about BV that differs from yeast infection: Some women who have chronic BV have NONE OF THOSE SYMPTOMS.

For them, the infection has months to years to build up in the body without challenge. The long-term consequence are devastating as well as the ongoing discomfort.

A basic test used by the physician to make a diagnosis is the pH level. This is a chemical measurement that determines the level of acid or alkaline which is an important factor in knowing whether the conditions are right to sustain Bacterial Vaginosis.

As part of the pelvic examination, the doctor removes a small sample of fluid from the vagina to use for this test. The procedure is quick and painless.

Even a healthy woman has bacteria in the vaginal fluid, which cause no problems. If Bacterial Vaginosis is present, the fluid sample will show an increase in certain microorganisms such as Gardnerella, Bacteriodes, Mycoplasma and Mobiluncus. Over time these harmful bacteria destroy the useful bacteria.

A woman has no idea that this war between good bacteria and harmful bacteria is happening unless she experiences obvious symptoms. As irritating as the discharge and order can be, it's an ideal early warning system telling her to get a checkup.

The pH is a healthy vagina ranges from 3.8 to 4.5 (WebMD). When Bacterial Vaginosis is present, the pH count rises about 4.5. A fluid sample may also be viewed under a microscope with a bold dye added.

The testing for Bacterial Vaginosis involves both chemistry and a good nose for bacteria. The gram-positive (harmful) bacteria turn bright purple while the gram-negative (healthy) bacteria look pale to pink. Gardnerella, gram negative bacteria, is often found with BV.

The good nose aspect of Bacterial Vaginosis testing is that when vaginal fluid is exposed to the test fluid, the trademark strong fish odor is released. The test technician literally sniffs the test sample to identify that odor which has become all too familiar to a woman who has Bacterial Vaginosis. Granted this does not sound like a pleasant job, but fortunately some people have the training to apply this process needed in making the diagnosis.

EzineArticles.com/8115834

Read more »

Posted in: Women

Health and Fitness: Womens Issues

Living a healthy life begins with adopting a healthy lifestyle. What we do every day of our lives has a lot to do with the quality of our health. Here are a few simple and effective health tips for women who live in this modern day and age.

Learn to laugh and be a happy person

Contrary to popular belief, happiness is not dependent on external circumstances. Happiness is more an attitude of the heart. People who resolve to be happy would not be swayed by external circumstances. Their joyful outlook would in fact turn the circumstances around for them. Laughter dispels stress, lowers blood pressure and strengthens the immune system. Be happy, and you will find that your health improves considerably.Start the day right with a sumptuous breakfast

Never ever skip breakfast. If you start the day wrong, you are already putting your wrong foot forward. Even if you have to wake up 15 minutes earlier in order to accommodate breakfast into your morning schedule, do it. It is the first step towards eating right. When you eat well in the morning, it kick starts your metabolism and helps to burn fat more efficiently throughout the day. A simple mix of oatmeal, raisins, nuts and some fruits are sufficient to get you started for the day.

Get Sufficient Sleep

In order to wake up early, you need to go to bed a little early as well. Most people sit before the television set till they get sleepy. They assume that they need some entertainment after a hard day's work. But in reality, most people watch shows that get them emotionally charged or drained, which adds more stress to their mind. This often makes it difficult to have a restful sleep.

Sticking to a regular schedule trains the body to function at its optimum best. This has a profound positive effect on one's health. If at all you need to watch a show that airs beyond your bedtime, record it and watch it later when you have nothing else to do.

Eat Colorful Foods

Certain foods have bright colors for a good reason - they are good for your health. Blueberries, carrots, arugula and various fruits and vegetables that are brightly colored are very good for your health. They contain powerful compounds that reduce inflammation and improve general health.

As you might have noticed, living healthy has a lot to do with adopting a healthy lifestyle. It might be a little difficult in the beginning. But once it becomes a routine, living healthy would become second nature to you. Once you taste good health, you would never want to be sick ever again.

EzineArticles.com/8117506

Read more »

Posted in: Women

Gymspiration Techniques That WORK

Women's fitness centers are growing in popularity among women who are new to exercise or who may feel less confident in a traditional co-ed gym. These specialty gyms include exercise equipment specifically targeted to meet the fitness needs of women. They also provide a comfortable workout environment that brings together a supportive community of women with similar health and fitness goals. Many women who choose to attend a women's fitness center may be unfamiliar with how to use many of the exercise machines. A great way for gym owners and trainers to get members started is to set up a circuit training program.

Circuit training combines a series of exercises into a full exercise routine. Each exercise is preformed for a few minutes before moving to the next exercise in the routine. Most circuit training programs are set up around a series of stations alternating between cardiovascular exercise and strength training. The fitness equipment at each station can include exercise machines, free weights, cardio equipment, or simple floor mats for exercises such as push-ups and stomach crunches.

For upper body strength, a variety of exercise machines can be included as part of a circuit training program, such as a chest press, shoulder press, seated or standing row, bicep curl machine, or triceps pull down machine. The machines are used in either a seated or standing position. For lower body, exercise machines such as calf extensions, leg presses, and leg curls provide toning exercises for the legs. These exercises are typical done seated. To ensure both a challenging and safe workout, women can select the proper weight amounts on the machines for their own personal fitness levels.

In addition to strength training exercise machines, a good circuit training program will include exercises on cardiovascular equipment. Treadmills are the most popular cardio equipment typically found in a women's gym. A treadmill allows the user to walk or run at any pace desired. Most also have the ability to adjust incline. This gives the member the experience of running or walking uphill, working additional muscle groups and burning more calories. Elliptical cross trainers are also popular in gyms. An elliptical machine provides an aerobic workout similar to cross country skiing and tends to be gentler on the knees than a treadmill. Upright or recumbent exercise bikes are another option for low impact, cardiovascular exercise as part of a circuit training program.

Setting up a circuit training program at a women's fitness center is a great way to introduce the patrons to the exercise equipment and get them started on their path to fitness. A good mix of strength training and cardiovascular exercise equipment will enable a strong circuit training program that delivers the results that gym members are looking for.

 http://EzineArticles.com/6127359

Read more »

Posted in: Women