Healthcare Spotlight
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‘Bleeding in Silence: Exploring Period Stigma in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal’ Paper Abstract
Menstruation affects over 800 million individuals daily, yet it remains widely misunderstood and stigmatized. Period stigma, rooted in cultural, religious, and social norms, perpetuates harmful narratives that portray menstruation as shameful or impure, limiting open conversation and contributing to health inequities. This stigma hinders menstrual equity by restricting access to menstrual products, accurate health education,…
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Endometriosis Isn’t a Mystery: So Why Are Providers Still Missing It?
Why has this condition that affects 1 in 10 women gone severely under-diagnosed for so long? The average time it takes to diagnose endometriosis is 7-9 years globally. That’s 7 to 9 years of dealing with period pain that isn’t relieved by painkillers, irregular or heavy periods, painful sex, having blood in the stool, constant…
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Beyond 20/20: What Working in Vision Therapy Taught Me About Misdiagnosis
I spent a year working in the office of Dr. Bryce Appelbaum, a Neuro-Optometrist and the founder and CEO of MyVisionFirst. My role as a Vision Therapy Medical Assistant involved guiding adult and child patients in performing exercises to strengthen the visual system as directed by Dr. Appelbaum’s methods. We led and supported patients through…
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Your Period as the 5th Vital Sign: The Importance of Menstrual Education in Ending Stigma
From our first periods, menstruators have been told that debilitating cramps and intense mood swings are all just a part of living in our bodies. I had grown up being taught that my period would be a bother; a natural process that I should hide. This left me with pits in my stomach as I…