BLOGS: Women’s Care

Comprehensive women’s health services in Columbus, Ohio, spanning gynecology, hormone therapy, and family planning, delivered by providers who take women’s health seriously.

What Causes Infertility in Women? PCOS, Cysts, Genetics, and More

Fertility chart with an unused at-home pregnancy test placed on top

Infertility is far more common than most people realize, and it’s rarely the result of anything a person did wrong. It affects roughly 1 in 5 women who have not had a prior birth, and the causes are usually medical and often treatable. The internet is also full of viral claims about it, from energy […]

Common Condom Questions, Answered Clearly

Yellow condom wrappers against a blue background

Condoms are one of the most common forms of protection, and yet the practical questions about them, like whether they expire or whether anyone can buy them, are the ones people are often too awkward to ask out loud. There’s nothing embarrassing about wanting straight answers, and getting them right actually matters for how well […]

Breast Rash or Something More? When to Get It Checked for Breast Cancer

Female doctor going over breast scan on screen with patient

Most breast rashes are not cancer. They’re far more often caused by eczema, an allergic reaction to a new detergent or fabric, heat, or a common infection like mastitis. So if you’ve found a patch of red, itchy, or irritated skin on your breast, the odds are genuinely in your favor. That said, a small […]

What Is a Gynecologist? What They Do and When to See One

Female doctor going over some scans with female patient

A gynecologist is often thought of as the doctor you see for a Pap smear and not much else. That picture is far too narrow. Gynecologists handle everything from period problems and birth control to infections, pelvic pain, menopause, fertility questions, and reproductive cancers. If it involves the female reproductive system, at any age from […]

IUD Insertion and Removal: What the Procedure Is Really Like

IUD surrounded by colorful pills against a pink background

For years, the standard advice before an IUD insertion was to take some ibuprofen and expect a pinch. If that undersold your experience or a friend’s, you weren’t imagining it. In 2024, the CDC updated its guidance specifically because patients spoke up about pain that wasn’t being taken seriously, and the recommendations now push providers […]

What Is an IUD and How Does It Work?

Doctor explaining IUD placement via illustration of the uterus with an IUD to patient

An IUD is one of the most effective forms of birth control available, right alongside sterilization, and yet a lot of people aren’t quite sure how the little T-shaped device actually prevents pregnancy. The short version: there are two very different kinds that work in two different ways, and the right one for you depends […]

Menstrual Disc vs. Cup: Differences, How to Insert, and Which Is Right for You

Smiling woman with short, curlt black hair wearing a white tank top being handed a menstrual cup and menstrual discs by two hands offscreen

Both menstrual cups and discs do the same basic job: they collect period blood instead of absorbing it, they’re reusable, and they can be worn for up to 12 hours. The difference comes down to where they sit and how they stay put, and that single distinction shapes almost everything else, including comfort, leak protection, […]

Can You Run While Pregnant? A Guide to Safe Pregnancy Workouts

exercise during pregnancy

If you were a runner before pregnancy, you can most likely keep running through it. That surprises a lot of people, because the old advice treated pregnancy as a reason to slow down and rest. The current guidance from major obstetric authorities points the other way: for most people with an uncomplicated pregnancy, staying active […]

The 4 Phases of Your Menstrual Cycle and How You Might Feel in Each

paper female figure with different stickers referencing the menstrual cycle against a pale pink bavkground, laid flat

Your period is only one part of a cycle that runs all month long, and the hormonal shifts behind it affect far more than the days you bleed. Energy, mood, sleep, appetite, and even how social you feel can all rise and fall across the cycle. Understanding the four phases, and the hormone changes driving […]

What Is an Irregular Period and What Causes It?

Woman sitting and holding a heating pad against her uterus while using a period tracker app

Most people assume a “normal” period arrives every 28 days like clockwork, so anything off that schedule feels like a problem. The reality is more forgiving. A normal menstrual cycle can run anywhere from 21 to 35 days, and some month-to-month variation is completely expected. An irregular period is something more specific than just being […]