What did you discuss with your healthcare provider at your last OB-Gyn appointment?

Hard truth – there’s a good chance your answer depends on your skin color.

The disturbing statistics about increased COVID risks for people of color shed much needed light on systemic injustice in our healthcare system; but you may not realize the problem extends to almost every facet of women’s health, from yearly check-ups to frightening mortality rates in pregnancy and childbirth. A recent survey of nearly 1,700 white and black, non-Hispanic women aged 18-49 pulls back the exam room curtain, indicating a double standard that often leaves women of color underserved and medically vulnerable to several risks.

Your Stress Levels Affect your Bowel Movements and Vice Versa

Psychological stress affects your bowels. Perhaps you know this through personal experience, but research in the past decade has strengthened the link between stress and bowel problems including IBS, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and constipation (Chang et al., 2014).

Chang et al. (2014) found that heightened stress levels increased inflammation and permeability in the GI system, which were tied to increased IBS symptoms.

In 2018, Chan et al. found a dynamic relationship between bowel symptoms, stress, and emotional well-being. Study participants reported stress levels affected bowel function, and that also when they had were experiencing bad bowel function (loose stools, abdominal pain) that this affected their emotional well-being.

On July 30th, the House approved to DOUBLE funding for Endometriosis.

This is a HUGE win for the 1 in 10 women across the US that suffer from this hidden disease.

Endometriosis can lead to missed days from work and school, chronic pelvic pain, infertility and many other chronic overlapping pain conditions.

The efforts were led by Rep. Abby Finkenauer of Iowa, who in March pubicly noted her own struggles with endometriosis. From her website: