"No woman is born, but becomes one".
Simone de Beauvoir

Go ask my editor made me: what makes us women? My first impulse was to review the emerging theories of science, philosophy, feminism and all the accumulated judgments and prejudices to try to explain this mode of being, from this body, but gave up. Too many.

Women are so many and so different, like grains of sand on a beach, which I think is not possible to define a unique form of "womanhood" as the generalizations such as political polls are terrible for inaccurate, untrue and unhelpful. As inaccurate, dishonest and terrible is the male fantasy, the idea that men have established what "should be" women.

There are plenty of men who say 'I made you woman "by having sex with a woman who has not practiced coitus. Macho, fantasy and erroneous assumption, which I will not deal here.

Reflecting on his own life, I see that I made woman from the presence and influence in my life for hundreds of other women. In this genealogy, real and symbolic, I find my essence.

As a girl in the process of domestication, everything went against my wishes. Do not upload, do not do, do not tell, do not move, do not touch, do not ask, do not reveal, do not yell, act, girls do not say that. And the desire to be inquisitive, active, curious, were delayed by the physical and psychological violence. What he wanted most at that stage was being a teenager. Maybe that was the secret.

As a teenager, with all the hormones at a trot, was worse prior to the prohibitions were added. Do not leave, do not you dress well, do not see that, do not you hang out with her or him, do not ask, do not question, that's not for you. What I offered was more obedience and more responsibilities, without any right to return. By turning my body, questions and desires are accumulated, but not answers. There was more violence. The physical and psychological sex was added. I wanted to be an adult to see if there was the key to the door.

I reached adulthood and, without knowing much about the case, I found myself being proposed mother without letting me know. Sharing a bed and making love sometimes unwittingly, for soon had my wish, because even I myself was able to express it. Pleasure, when it appeared, was more than unexpected enjoyment. The horror of abortion, is this woman?

A physical, psychological and sexual violence was added to the discrimination and harassment at work, to see how better remuneration is preferred and a man even though both have the same capacity, and finally my age that does not fall in the range set by the companies. While my duties and all are beautifully express, printed, bound and dusty in a Constitution and a treaty that are dead letters.

This is not counting the victimization or a complaint. It is a reality that all in, one way or another we have lived, and many others, increasingly seek to change. Break with this situation has not been easy, but it is possible. It is a process in which we must go together. That is the key.

I'm one and the sum of many more: I gave birth, which I raised and spoiled me, which taught me to read, which protected me, which took over caring for my children while I worked, which cleaned my house, the older woman that I spoke of desire as he played the violin, he taught me how to tip of anger had to do things that made me love my body as it is, that was always there to listen and monitor, which taught me to say NO. Those who continue to teach me to say YES.

Might find it too ginofilia. All these women I spoke to them I live. Each has produced in me a change, I recognize and appreciate. Each of them has been an example of what I do not want to be. I am a woman in terms of myself, not the men with whom I lived as a family companion, partner.

Gradually recognize as a woman with rights, make my own decisions about my body, my pleasure, my economy, my life has made me more open and in many ways, happier.

I want the same thing for all. Read more...

HPV and You

At least half of sexually active people who have acquired a disease that is potentially dangerous and most of them do not know they are infected. It is the human papilloma virus or HPV that cause genital warts but can also cause cervical cancer. This is what you need to know to protect themselves.

Many suffer without knowing

Monica Munoz, a specialist sexual diseases program of the Department of Health County of Los Angeles talks about this disease SaberHacer.com. "HPV is the most common sexually transmitted virus in the United States and each year there are an estimated 6 million cases diagnosed. In the family of more than 40 HPV types, some cause cervical cancer, others cause genital warts. 50% of the population have HPV but do not know who has it and is usually acquired when a person begins to engage in sexual activity.

HPV silent disease in Hispanics

The virus can be contracted by having sex with someone who has the virus. Studies indicate that the most common way of contracting HPV is:

• Having sex at an early age.

• Having sex with multiple partners.

• Having a partner who has had sex with multiple partners.

Men and women of all ages should take precautions about certain types of HPV as this virus is the most common cause of cervical cancer. HPV infections are commonly associated with various genital cancers in men. Except for genital warts, there are no symptoms and even these do not always appear in all cases.

Symptoms of HPV

Symptoms of HPV can be genital warts that look like cauliflowers are sometimes flat and do not look because they are in the cervical area of women or anal area of men. For women it is very important to make the Pap test every year.

The specialist Munoz explained how they present: "Genital warts can show up weeks or months after having had a sexual relationship with a person infected with HPV. In normal are not painful. Sometimes, if you grow too much, may start bleeding and that the person is exposed to acquiring other sexually transmitted diseases. "

Munoz also talks about the risk: "Not all types of HPV cause cervical changes in women there are some who are high risk and there are some who are low risk, but there are some women that it may be infected with type that you can cause cervical cancer. "

How can you protect one of the HPV virus? The only way is to abstain from sex completely. Experts recommend limiting the number of partners with whom one has sex and couples choose to have the same or lesser number of previous sexual relationships. Using condoms and spermicides reduces the risk but even the safest sex is safe when it comes to HPV.


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by Swewezen

A lot of us have heard a lot about breast cancer, but what exactly is it? Breast cancer is a lump of cells that rapidly grow and divide in various parts of the breast and breast tissue. 80% of breast cancer is formed in the hollow areas of the mammary ducts, the other 20% occurs in the lobules. Cancerous tumors usually grow very slowly and can actually be present for 10 years before being detectable by a self examination. However, a lump does not necessarily mean you have evasive cancer. It is very important to understand the difference between carcinoma in situ and invasive breast cancer.

When abnormal cells are growing in either the mammary ducts or the lobules, but have not spread outside of that area it is called carcinoma in situ. The term "in situ" means "in place" which describes the nature of the disease. The sub-categories of these diseases are ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS).

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) occurs in the mammary ducts where abnormal cell growth is found. The excess cells in the mammary ducts are very similar to invasive cancer cells and have the potential to develop into invasive cancer eventually. It is due to this fact that early detection is so vital. Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) occurs when there is abnormal cell growth in the open space of the lobules. LCIS differs from DCIS because of the type of cells that are growing ? they do not have the potential to develop into cancer. However, women with LCIS have a significantly higher risk for developing invasive cancer.

When the abnormal cell growth occurs in the open spaces of the lobules it is called lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). This is different from DCIS because it is in a different area and the cells do not have the potential to grow into invasive cancer. However, it has been proven that women who have LCIS are at higher risk of having invasive cancer.

If these abnormal cells in the mammary ducts or the lobules spread outside of that area, the disease is reclassified as invasive cancer. Invasive cancer has the ability to spread outside the origin area and affect the surrounding breast tissue, lungs, liver, and bones. Early detection is imperative to ensure a more successful treatment probability. Success rates dramatically decline as cases progress without treatment.

If a woman finds a lump, it is extremely important to get it checked out, the odds of it being invasive cancer is about 20%. She can do this by either getting a mammogram or a biopsy. The mammogram will provide additional information about the size and severity of the tumor. And if necessary, a biopsy will be taken, which can give a physician definitive answers on what type of cancer and its severity. Read more...

Having a period or menstruating is said to be puberty's biggest event. It is a normal and healthy part of being a woman that young girls should be prepared for rather than be terrified. Women began their menstruation cycle during puberty, normally at age 12 or 13 but can start anytime between 8 and 16.

The menstrual period, also known as menstruation or menses, is just one part of the menstrual cycle. This is a 28-day long process that happens in all healthy women who are not yet on their menopause. The menstrual cycle involves all the aspects of the woman's reproductive system such as the uterus, cervix, ovaries, fallopian tubes and vagina. The menstrual cycle is the body's way of preparing women for pregnancy. A cycle is generally more or less 28 days long and starts on the first day of a period. Though, a cycle may range anywhere from 23 to 35 days.

Each month, the reproductive system prepares for the fertilization of a woman's eggs and the development of a fetus. The process is conducted by hormones, mainly by estrogen, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).

Basically, the menstrual cycle have four phases. Menstruation or having your period is the first phase. Each month the uterus prepares for an embryo by thickening its lining with tissue and blood. When an egg is released without being fertilized, then the uterus will shed this lining through the small opening of the cervix and passes out of the body through the vagina. The menstrual flow is a mixture made up of blood, mucus, and body cells. The flow might be red or quite dark, and may include some clumps or clots. Periods normally last about three to five days.

The second phase is called pre-ovulation phase. This happens after a period ends. At this time the ovaries start to prepare another egg, or ovum, for release in the fallopian tubes.

Ovulation is the third phase, where the egg is released from the ovary into the fallopian tubes. If the egg becomes fertilized by a sperm cell, it attaches to the uterine wall and a fetus will begin to develop. The ovulation phase typically occurs 14 days before the start of the next period.

The fourth and final phase is the premenstrual phase. If the egg is not fertilized, the thickened lining of the uterus is shed and a new menstrual cycle starts all over again.

A period may vary every month and differs from one woman to another. It can either be light, moderate, or heavy. Although most menstrual periods last from three to five days, anywhere from two to seven days is still considered normal. However during the first few years after having menstruation, periods may be very irregular.

Women stop having their periods when they reached menopause, usually around the age of 50. Menopause refers to the stage when a woman is no longer ovulating or producing eggs. As a result she can no longer become pregnant. Like menstruation, menopause also varies from woman to woman and may even take some years to occur.
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Each month like clockwork, most of women come down with a strange collection of symptoms. Crying spells, mood swings, bloating, headache, fatigue, cramps, and the list goes on. One minute you like to take a bite of chocolate, pizza the next. They snap at their family or bite their friends' head off at the slightest provocation, and then break down to tears because they feel bloated and simply hate the way they look.

Most people, especially the male population, are quick to dismiss it as "that time of the month." Women's mood swings had become stereotyped as PMS, an excuse use to justify giving in on their food cravings and acting like a shrew.

However, doctors nowadays recognize PMS as a real medical condition with physical and psychological symptoms. PMS or premenstrual syndrome is a set of hormonal changes that generate a variety of both physical and emotional symptoms in women. It usually occurs between 7 to 14 days before actual "period" and then disappears once the menstruation begins. Women may experience PMS during her childbearing years or sometimes even after menopause.

Bloating, cramps, fatigue, breast tenderness, and irritability, does this sound familiar? Well you are not alone for studies shows that about 95% of women experience some of over 150 symptoms associated to PMS. The degree of severity varies, some women felt only minor discomfort while for others the symptoms are unbearable enough to interfere with their lives. The symptoms may differ from one person to another and may change from cycle to cycle.

Normally, the psychological symptoms of PMS include mood changes like crying spells, depression, anxiety, anger, sadness or irritability. Psychological symptoms may also include some changes in mental functioning such as difficulty in concentrating or remembering as well as changes in sex drive.

On the other hand, a wide range of physical symptoms are associated with PMS. Some of the most commonly observed physical symptoms would include fatigue, insomnia, headache, acne, cramps, breast tenderness, bloating, joint or muscle pain. Occasionally, some women experience upset stomach, diarrhea, or constipation. Women with PMS also tend to give in to their food cravings especially for carbohydrates, chocolate or other sweets.

Although real test to diagnose PMS has not yet been created, doctors may conduct tests to rule out other conditions that cause similar symptoms. When the symptoms assent with the monthly cycle and the woman's tests are negative for other conditions, then PMS is generally determined to be the cause of her symptoms.

There are several conditions to rule out when considering PMS. That includes anemia, diabetes, hypothyroidism, perimenopause, endometriosis, dysmenorrhea and autoimmune disorders.

On the other hand, some of the psychological conditions that should be ruled out include eating disorders, alcohol abuse, personality disorders and chronic fatigue syndrome. Oral contraceptive side effects should also be ruled out when considering PMS. To further confirm doctor's diagnosis, keeping a monthly diary of symptoms would also be helpful.

PMS is still considered as a largely mysterious phenomenon by the medical community and had been a subject for research and some ongoing studies. Since there has been no single cause of PMS identified or accepted by the medical community, it is likely that PMS is due to a variety of factors, as well as because of genetics, environment and lifestyle factors like nutrition and stress.

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