I’m a College Graduate – Class Of 2013

Monday, May 20th, 2013

Graduation cap and diplomaGraduation is right around the corner and I couldn’t be more excited. I feel such a great sense of accomplishment because I’m the first person to graduate from college in my family. From now on my younger cousins will be expected to do the same. I love being their role model because it makes me want to do better. Keep reading…

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Learning to Speak Up

Thursday, May 16th, 2013

Girl Raising HandDo you ever get a queasy, squishy feeling in the pit of your stomach when you know something isn’t right but you don’t know what it is? Have you ever wanted to tell someone that you’re worried, sad or mad, but didn’t know what to say? Have you ever seen something happen that you disagree with but don’t know what to do about it?

We all get these feelings at times – even doctors! Learning how to speak up for yourself is an important part of growing up. Letting others know your thoughts and feelings, will help you feel stronger and more confident. Keep reading…

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Getting Into Game of Thrones

Tuesday, May 7th, 2013

HBO Game of Thrones House StarkOne of my guilty pleasures is reading Fantasy/Sci-Fi novels. My older brothers got me into them when I was just starting to read, and some of the first books I ever read were 600+ page epic fantasies because I was trying to be like them. I didn’t join the Game of Thrones craze when the series first came to HBO because I never read the books, but once the second season of the show came out I caught my dad watching an episode and started watching it with him. I figured out the characters and their plots and was hooked instantly! Within days I watched all the available episodes. Keep reading…

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Coping with Tragedy In Boston: Dr. Diana’s View

Monday, May 6th, 2013

Boston Strong - photo courtesy of Amanda KohnThe events of April 15th (the bombing at the Boston Marathon and violence in towns around Boston) have shocked the entire country and the world. Whether or not you were there in person or even live nearby, you may be deeply affected by what happened. You may feel upset, angry, frustrated, sad, fearful, anxious or helpless. All of these common feelings are normal after an event like the marathon bombing. Keep reading…

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New Ruling about Emergency Contraception (EC)

Thursday, May 2nd, 2013

Teen and Birth Control PillsOn April 30, 2013, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) made a decision to allow girls who are 15 and older the privilege of buying emergency contraception without a prescription. Up until now girls had to be 17 or older, so this change is significant. But there’s more information you should know. Keep reading…

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Marriage Equality and DOMA

Wednesday, May 1st, 2013

Gay Marriage by Flickr user honeycut07I think marriage is the ultimate way to say “I love you” to a significant other. Marriage is more than what it’s often portrayed in the media to be (white dresses, lavish parties, and flowers, anyone?); it’s an everlasting bond between two people. Sounds mushy right? Well, I believe everyone has a soul mate out there for them. Keep reading…

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Got a New Name for PCOS?

Thursday, April 25th, 2013

PCOS BlogA while back I wrote a blog titled “Pretty Common Ovary Situation”. I was trying to be humorous, but at the same time drive home the message that the name for this collection of symptoms is confusing yet approximately 5 million American women share the diagnosis. Today I stumbled upon an article that reported that just three months ago on January 23, 2013, the National Institute of Health invited experts to come together and discuss whether PCOS should be renamed. Panelists agreed that the current name is confusing (you think?) because women don’t need to have cysts to have PCOS nor is the presence of cysts without any other symptoms enough to make a diagnosis. Keep reading…

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Genetic Testing

Monday, April 22nd, 2013

Genetic SequencingI’m in a genomics (genetics) class and it’s really changed how I think about certain things. For instance, a couple of days ago we watched a film which was basically about a girl finding out she has a genetic mutation that increases her risk for breast and ovarian cancer. She found out at an early age, so throughout the film you can tell that she’s stressed about what she should do. If she decides to have her breasts and ovaries removed, her risk will significantly decrease, but she wants kids and doesn’t have any yet – so she has a dilemma. Keep reading…

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CYWH Endometriosis Conference 2013

Monday, April 22nd, 2013

Endometriosis Ribbon GirlsHello again! For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Brittany. As some of you may know, the 7th Annual Endometriosis Conference for Teens and their Families was held at Boston Children’s Hospital on Saturday, April 6th, 2013. I got to co-facilitate a teen support group at this year’s conference with Phaedra Thomas RN, BSN, the nurse educator for the Center for Young Women’s Health. Our group was titled: Managing Your Endo (for 14-17 year old girls). Keep reading…

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Coping with Tragedy In Boston: Elan’s View

Tuesday, April 16th, 2013

117th Boston Marathon Finishers Medal 2013An act of violence and terror disrupted what should have been a day full of pride and glorious celebration. The 117th Boston Marathon was held yesterday, on Patriots day; a New England holiday recognizing the battles of Lexington and Concord. Tragedy shook this normally joyous holiday when two explosives blew up, injuring more than a hundred and killing three. Keep reading…

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