We Care About Your Privacy

We, and ourpartners use cookies and similar methods to recognize visitors and remember their preferences. We may also use these technologies to gauge the effectiveness of advertising campaigns, target advertisements, and analyze website traffic. Some of these technologies are essential for ensuring the proper functioning of the service or website and cannot be disabled, while others are optional but serve to enhance the user experience in various ways. We, in collaboration with our partners, store and/or access information on a user's device, including but not limited to IP addresses, unique identifiers, and browsing data stored in cookies, in order to process personal data. You have the option to manage your preferences by selecting the 'Manage Preferences' option located in the page's footer. To review or object to instances where our partners assert a legitimate interest in utilizing your data, please visit our vendors page.

We and our partners process data for the following purposes

  • Targeting Cookies
  • Social Media Cookies
  • Performance Cookies
  • Audience Measurement
  • Functional Cookies
  • Essential
  • Store and/or access information on a device
  • Use limited data to select advertising
  • Create profiles for personalised advertising
  • Use profiles to select personalised advertising
  • Create profiles to personalise content
  • Use profiles to select personalised content
  • Measure advertising performance
  • Measure content performance
  • Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources
  • Develop and improve services
  • Use limited data to select content
  • Use precise geolocation data
  • Actively scan device characteristics for identification
Skip to main content
SelfLaunches August 11 at 9:00 a.m. EST
02
Days
:
19
Hours
:
33
Minutes
:
46
Seconds

Sexual and Reproductive Health

Estrogen Isn’t Just a Reproductive Hormone—It’s Critical for Brain Health Too

Everything from your memory to your mood can change alongside your hormones.

Is Your Irritated Vagina a Yeast Infection or Bacterial Vaginosis? Here’s How to Tell

They’re both a huge drag, but they come with distinct symptoms, risk factors, and solutions.

The Very Real Ways Stress Can Screw With Your Menstrual Cycle

And what you can do to make it less likely to affect you.

9 Reasons Why You Have Pain After Sex and How to Find Relief

Because sex should you leave you satisfied, not sore.
Health

How to Know If Bleeding During or After Sex Is Normal—and When to Call Your Doctor

Read this before you freak out.

Are Cycle-Syncing Workouts Legit? Here's What the Science Says

There are a few things you should know before tailoring your fitness routine to your menstrual cycle.

Brooke Shields’s Nonconsensual Vaginal Rejuvenation Is More Common Than It Should Be

The “surprise” procedure, which she details in her new memoir, hit home for too many women.

How to Safely Pause or Postpone Your Period

Yep, you can actually bypass bleeding, according to ob-gyns.

Yep, Your Period Can Cause Awful Anxiety. Here’s How to Deal

It’s not just in your head—and there are ways to prepare each month to feel a lot better.

Why Does It Burn When I Pee After Sex?

Doctors explain why doing the right thing can feel so painful in the moment.

How to Stop Queefing During the Worst Possible Moments

It’s a normal bodily function—but it can still be hella awkward.

3 Major Ways Project 2025 Could Impact Your Reproductive Health

This far-right agenda could affect STI and cancer screening, as well as access to emergency contraception.

How Egg Retrieval Affects Your Body, Whether You’re Freezing, Donating, or Doing IVF

Here’s exactly what to expect before, during, and after the procedure.

How Abortion Doulas Are Helping People Get More Empathetic Care

“My job is to demystify abortion, give people good information about it, and to let people know what is fact and what is fiction.”

We Know Scented Pads and Tampons Aren’t Good for Vaginas. So Why Do Brands Still Offer Them?

SELF asked various period-care companies why these products exist in 2024.

Jennie Garth Went Through a ‘Really Hard’ IVF Journey Before Her 2018 Breakup With Dave Abrams

In a new SELF interview, the ‘90210’ star reveals how the experience put her relationship through the wringer.

Trump Claimed He’s a ‘Leader on IVF’ During the Debate. His Record Suggests Otherwise

As promising as his support seems, it sure feels like a ruse at best.
Health

Here’s How to Properly Clean Your Sex Toys

Yes, you have to do this. No, it doesn’t have to be a hassle.

Here’s What the CDC’s New IUD Pain Management Recommendations Mean in Practice

It’s a welcome, much-needed change—but you may still have to advocate for yourself.