The Importance of Regular Gynecological Exams
By: Aaliyah Ellison-McPeters What is a Gynecological Exam? A gynecological exam is often performed by gynecologists or other trained healthcare providerssuch as nurse-midwives and primary care physicians. It involves a pap smear and a pelvicexam. During the pelvic exam, the gynecologist will examine your reproductive organs forabnormalities such as cysts or lumps present. During a […]
Fertility Awareness-Based Methods
By: Aaliyah Ellison-McPeters Introduction When it comes to family planning or pregnancy prevention, women with epilepsy need to take the proper precautions. When it comes to planning for a pregnancy, your OB/GYN as well as your neurologist need to collaborate and make sure all the necessary steps are taken to have a safe pregnancy. For […]
The Importance of Sexual Wellness
By: Aaliyah Ellison-McPeters The Importance of Sexual Wellness Sexual wellness is the part of sexuality that affects the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of a person’s life and overall well-being. It’s important, at an age, to understand the importance of maintaining a healthy sexual wellness balance and the impact it can have. Being aware of […]
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
By: Aaliyah Ellison-McPeters What is PMDD? Premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD, is a condition that typically presents as hormone levels decrease after ovulation, 1-2 weeks before the start of menstruation, accompanied by symptoms of depression, emotional instability, mood swings, and tension. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder affects up to 5-8% of menstruating women, and many women with […]
Infant Care
By: Aaliyah Ellison-McPeters Feeding Adequate and nutritional feeding of a baby’s first 12 months of life is essential to her future development. Most of a child’s growth occurs in the first year of their lives than in the latter years. When feeding newborns, they only require breastmilk or formula for the first months to provide […]
STD’s and Their Effect on Epilepsy
By: Aaliyah Ellison-McPeters What is an STD? STDs, or sexually transmitted diseases, also commonly referred to as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), are very common, and there are millions of new cases of infections occurring annually in the United States alone. STDs are viruses, bacteria, fungi, or parasites that are transmitted from one person to another […]
Menstrual Disturbances and Epilepsy
By: Aaliyah Ellison-McPeters What are Menstrual Disturbances Generally? Menstrual disturbances or disorders are any ailments that affect a woman’s typically normal menstrual cycle. Studies show that the potential causes for these abnormalities are frequent seizures and the use of anti-epileptic drugs; there is also a type of disorder called catamenial epilepsy that induces seizures around […]
Pregnancy, Postpartum Complications, and the Importance of Advocacy
By: Aaliyah Ellison-McPeters Pregnancy Complications While expecting mothers who have epilepsy have several concerns during pregnancy, most of these mothers will have healthy babies, and pregnancy will not drastically affect their epilepsy. Common pregnancy complications that women with epilepsy face include slowed fetal heart rate, decreased oxygen to the fetus, preterm labor and birth, and […]
Caring for a Newborn From a Doula’s Perspective
By: Aaliyah Ellison-McPeters Prioritizing Maternal Mental Health It’s impossible to pour from an empty cup. A new baby can often bring a wave of new emotions for a mother, even experienced mothers. Some emotions range from bliss to anxiety, and while pregnancy can be a time of only joy and excitement, many women have different […]
Birth Control and Epilepsy
By: Aaliyah Ellison-McPeters What is Birth Control? Birth control, also referred to as contraception or family planning, is devices, medicines, or surgeries that prevent pregnancy. Various methods have different techniques to avoid conception, such as preventing sperm cells from reaching egg cells, damaging sperm, preventing ovulation, and more. A few standard methods include barriers: male […]