Teen Health – Madison Ayers Writes

Anti-inflammatory diet can help teens with PCOS, study finds

“Did you know that almost one out of every ten teenage girls has Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)? Though PCOS might not appear that common, the vast majority of sufferers go undiagnosed for years [1]. This is especially problematic for teenage girls who are still getting used to their cycle, and then have to deal with PCOS symptoms like irregular cycles, weight gain, and acne. Given that irregular cycles are normal and expected in the first year or two of cycling, it can be difficult for teens to know which symptoms are “just part of puberty” versus those that need to be discussed with their doctor.

No matter their body type, most women with PCOS are well aware that their condition negatively affects their metabolism and overall health. One recent study by Polish and Italian researchers sought to address these very issues with the simplest of medicines: food. The study, known hereafter as “Mizgier, M. et al.,” put a group of teenage girls of varying body types with PCOS on an anti-inflammatory Mediterranean diet to see whether it would improve their overall nutrition and metabolic health [2].

While the researchers found promising results with a Mediterranean diet, there were some points of contrast with other studies on diet and PCOS. In this article, we’ll explore Mizgier, M. et al.’s results, and we’ll take a look at how their prescribed diet was similar to (or different from) other studies on diet and PCOS.”

Read more at Natural Womanhood.

Is it true that puberty blockers “pause” puberty?

“When Chloe Cole was 12, she began to question whether or not she was a girl. By her thirteenth birthday, she was put on “puberty blockers“—the catchall name for the drugs that suppress the hormones that regulate the reproductive system in adolescent girls and boys. Soon after, Chloe began taking testosterone, also known as T, to masculinize her features. Just two years later, at the age of 15, she underwent a double mastectomy to amputate both of her (healthy) breasts; a procedure typically reserved for breast cancer patients. This irreversible surgery–usually preceded by breast binding in the cascade of transgender interventions–is euphemistically called “top surgery.”

Chloe recently described her story in great detail in an interview with psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson. She explained how she had no idea how chest binding would affect her developing breasts, nor, as a 15-year-old, had she considered the loss of her future ability to breastfeed. “I also wasn’t really thinking at all about being a parent at all because I was… I was a kid,” she said.”

Read more at Natural Womanhood.

#KidsatSephora: The tween and teen obsession with elaborate skincare

“Walk into a Sephora or an Ulta today and you might notice an influx of a new demographic of shoppers: young teens or preteens. I don’t mean high school girls shopping for new mascara and concealer (been there!), but instead a much younger girl on the lookout for expensive skincare products. From cleansers and scrubs to retinol creams and vitamin C serums, increasingly younger girls are buying it all. But where did these #kidsatsephora come from and why are they here?

Adult women are now beginning to complain about the rise of these “Sephora Babies” — the preteens rummaging through beauty store shelves and destroying tester products and displays, all in the name of creating the perfect skincare routine. Teens with nary a wrinkle are also turning to products marketed as “anti-aging,” with harsh ingredients not meant for young skin. Meanwhile, those of us in our 20s or 30s are starting to obsess over how old we look. It’s no wonder teens believe they might do good to pick up a bottle of retinol cream before they start showing smile lines, too.”

Read more at Natural Womanhood.

How common are PMS and PMDD in teens?

“Have you ever had that moment—perhaps right after losing your temper on an innocent friend or while crying during a rom com—when suddenly the light bulb goes off? Ah, I’m about to start my period. Why is it that our emotions can shift so much in those days right before menstruation, often coupled with physical symptoms like bloating or headaches? For many women, the challenging symptoms right before their next period starts are caused by Premenstrual Syndrome, or PMS. And for teen girls in their first few years of experiencing periods, there can be unique challenges in dealing with these issues. “

Read more at Natural Womanhood.

Gen Z’s Search for Fulfillment: Less Sex and More Porn—and a Deep Desire for Friendship

“Contrary to the oversexualized depictions of teenagers in shows like Euphoria and Riverdale, Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) is tired of seeing sex on screen. According to “Teens and Screens 2023,” a recent report from UCLA, nearly half of Gen Z respondents say that showing sex is not necessary to the plot of a movie or TV show. Many of them also believe romance is “overused” in media. What do these young people want to see on screen instead?

Friendship.”

Teens and sex: Why the risks and side effects of birth control can be especially bad for teens

“According to a 2017-2019 survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around a quarter of girls aged 15-19 are on some form of hormonal birth control, and the vast majority are on the Pill. This number has increased over time, despite the fact that fewer teens are having sex (or getting pregnant) now than ever before. Many girls choose to take birth control for reasons other than preventing pregnancy, such as for painful and irregular periods or in order to take acne medication like Accutane. But what these young women don’t know could hurt them—teens may be at higher risk than adult women of experiencing birth control side effects.”

Read more at Natural Womanhood.

Teens and sex: Rescuing a generation—how abstinence and the Success Sequence can help Gen Z experience long-term success and fulfillment

“In part I of our teens and sex series, I explained why teens have less sex now than in decades past. Now that we grasp the extent of the problem, what can we do? With destructive technologies taking the place of destructive casual sex, how exactly can Gen-Z improve their mental health and achieve success as they move into adulthood? The answer lies in the culture: we must discourage both teen sex and technology overuse, and instead urge teens to spend their middle and high school years focused on creating deep and meaningful friendships with their peers.”

Read part two of my article on teen sex and mental health at Natural Womanhood.

Teens and sex: The kids aren’t alright—the connection between decreased teen sex and mental health

“Fewer American High Schoolers Having Sex Than Ever Before” reads the headline of an article from the Institute for Family Studies. Charles Fain Lehman, the author, calls this a “cause for celebration.”. . . Is this indeed a cause for celebration? In many ways, yes. Teenagers who partake in sexual activities from a younger age will experience more negative mental health outcomes than those who wait, and the idea of a more responsible teenage generation is certainly a heartening one [1]. . . However, by the metrics of mental health and outlooks on the world around them, it does not appear that all is well in Generation Z. Though the decrease in sexual activity is largely a boon for teens and their long-term success, it doesn’t tell the full story.”

Read part one of my article on the connection between decreased teen sex and mental health at Natural Womanhood.

Why do I crave sugar before my period?

“It’s a few days before your period is supposed to start, and all you can think about is a giant slice of chocolate cake. Or maybe a donut, or milkshake, or the classic pint of ice cream. Or maybe all of the above?

If you’re like me, the time right before restarting your cycle is the most difficult time to resist all sorts of sugary treats, especially when you start thinking to yourself “well, I deserve this.” While it’s okay to indulge a craving from time to time, eating endless amounts of sugar (or other simple carbs) at any point in your cycle is not the best option in terms of your hormonal or physical health. So, why is it that we crave sugar so strongly before our periods, and (more importantly) what can we do about it?”

Read the rest of the article at Natural Womanhood.

Coming to appreciate my fertility: from middle school days to now

“While the realities of female biology can still be quite burdensome (and my period pain had nothing on my first trimester morning sickness!), opportunities for beauty and benefit also abound and I’ve truly come to appreciate my fertility as a gift.”

Read the rest of the article at Natural Womanhood.