Few words in gynecology carry as much weight as hysterectomy. Whether it’s said casually (“they just took everything out”) or whispered in fear, it tends to make people pause. But a hysterectomy isn’t one single procedure—it’s a spectrum of options that look a little different for everyone. Here’s what it really means, what’s actually removed, and what to expect along the way.

You’re minding your business one day and notice a lump near your vaginal opening. Cue instant panic. Before your brain jumps to the worst-case scenario, take a breath. You might have what’s called a Bartholin’s cyst—a common and completely treatable reason for a lump “down there.”

The uterus is a remarkable organ. It’s built to go from the size of a tennis ball to the size of a basketball in just nine months, growing and housing an entirely new human being along the way. That’s miraculous. No other organ in the body can expand, contract, and regenerate quite like it.

But with that much power comes a lot of responsibility, and a few design flaws. Complex systems are prone to glitches, and fibroids are one of them. Think of them as a glitch in the uterine code: a spot where the muscle tissue gets a little too enthusiastic and starts multiplying in one area, forming a firm, rubbery ball inside or on the uterus. They’re extremely common, usually benign (non-cancerous), and vary widely in size and effect. Let’s break down what they are, why they show up, and what to do about them.

Let’s talk dryness down there. Vaginal atrophy, or genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), happens when declining estrogen levels lead to changes in the vaginal and urinary tissues. Think of estrogen like nutrients for those tissues—when levels drop, it’s like a garden not getting watered. The skin might even become thinner, less elastic, and less able to produce natural moisture. This can make the skin itchy, irritated, and dry, making things like sex, pelvic exams, or even sitting too long uncomfortable. The pH level shifts too, allowing fewer “good” bacteria (like lactobacilli) and more irritation-causing microbes to move in, sometimes leading to infections or recurrent BV-like symptoms.

If you’ve just been told you have herpes, take a breath. You’re not broken or gross, and you’re definitely not alone. Herpes is one of the most common infections on the planet, and most people who have it don’t even realize it. It’s a virus, not a verdict, and the more we talk about it, the less scary it gets.

Yeast infections are incredibly common. And while the name might sound like something you'd expect to be gross or shameful, the truth is they’re just a very normal overgrowth of a fungus that lives in and on your body. They're manageable, treatable, and most importantly — not your fault.

Ever feel like your uterus is trying to kill you every month?

Like the cramps are intense, the bloating is relentless, and the bleeding looks like a crime scene?

This could be adenomyosis - the angry uterus. It’s surprisingly common, but way less talked about than conditions like endometriosis or fibroids. If you're dealing with pain and bleeding and no one has given you a name for it, this might be it.

This guide covers what a UTI actually is, how to treat one, what not to do, and how to (hopefully) prevent it from happening again.

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world — and somehow still the one we talk about the least. It’s not dramatic like herpes, curable like chlamydia, or rare enough to feel exotic. It’s just… there. Quietly passed from partner to partner, often without anyone realizing.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or PCOS, sounds like one of those conditions you’re supposed to know about — but if you’re secretly fuzzy on the details, you’re not alone.

The aux cord gets snatched. The playlist changes from soft indie to full chaos. The snack table is wrecked. Someone’s yelling. Someone’s crying. Someone’s doing the worm on the kitchen floor. That’s BV.