Sexually transmitted infections can spread more easily than you think. You can even catch an STD from kissing! Before you engage in any sexual activity, especially if you're doing so with someone for the first time, it helps to know how you can best look after your own sexual health and that of your partner(s).

The World Health Organization says that fertility problems impact one in six people. There are many potential variables and causes of infertility. Are genes one of them? In this blog, we consider if and how genetic factors and family history affect fertility.

With 2024 quickly coming to a close, many of us are considering our resolutions for 2025. Frequently at the top of the list are health goals like losing weight, quitting smoking, and cutting back on drinking alcohol. Those are all excellent ways to improve both your mental and physical health, but we're going to suggest a few additional health goals that might be overlooked but are still equally important for your overall well-being.

There are all sorts of misconceptions and myths about STDs. A lot of people don't know that yes, you can get a sexually transmitted infection from kissing. There's also confusion about what type of protection, exactly, condoms provide. In this blog, we're answering one common question: Can you pick up an STD from a toilet seat?

According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, about one of every 100 people in the world has celiac disease. This includes about three million Americans, and many more remain undiagnosed — 60% to 70% who indeed have celiac disease.

We've talked before about the role of the thyroid and how great of an impact it can have on your health and well-being. All sorts of symptoms can arise if your thyroid hormones are thrown off. Your energy levels can change, your body temperature can fluctuate, and you might even experience hair loss. As another example, many people with a malfunctioning thyroid gland, whether it's an overactive or underactive thyroid, notice a change in their body weight.

You might know that the thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck, produces several important hormones. But that's not all it does. It's a small gland with a big job, and it can impact everything from your metabolism and body weight to your temperature. In this blog, let's focus on the relationship between the thyroid gland and blood sugar.

There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding sexually transmitted infections, one of which is that you need to have genital sex to spread STDs. However, skin-to-skin contact of various kinds can lead to the transfer of bacterial and viral infections. What about kissing? Is this type of sexual contact enough to infect an individual?

If you have diabetes mellitus or pre-diabetes, or your healthcare provider believes you're at a higher risk, you might have been instructed to get your hemoglobin A1c checked.

You might know that allergies have something to do with your immune system. Does this automatically mean that allergies are autoimmune diseases?

The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2024 in the United States, there will be around 106,590 new cases of colon cancer (54,210 for men and 52,380 for women) and approximately 46,220 new cases of rectal cancer (27,330 for men and 18,890 for women). Colorectal cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, leading many of us to ask: Does a family history put you at an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer?

When used properly and under the guidance of a healthcare provider, birth control can be a powerful ally to prevent pregnancy and get menstruation under control. However, over the years, we've questioned its safety and side effects — as we should with any medication. Of note, many women have wondered if birth control can increase the odds of infertility.

Roughly 68% of the world's population cannot digest lactose properly. If you're one of them, you might be wondering what lactose intolerance even is. What does it mean to have a lactose intolerance issue? What symptoms of lactose intolerance should you look out for? If you can't comfortably consume dairy foods, is there anything you can do about it?

If you're dealing with a food allergy, you're not alone. Approximately 20 million people in the United States are navigating food allergies. Allergic reactions can range from aggravating to fatal, if not treated promptly.

Are you and your thyroid gland on good terms? It plays a huge role when it comes to producing hormones that are vital to your overall health. In this blog, learn more about various types of thyroid disorders, what some of the more obvious symptoms look like, how to get your thyroid levels checked, and simple tips for keeping the gland happy.

People sometimes think it's relatively easy to get pregnant, but in reality, it can take many attempts. Additionally, it's not uncommon to experience fertility problems that make it more challenging to conceive.

If you're trying to get pregnant, you might be wondering, "How long is this going to take?!" In this blog, we'll talk about the factors that can influence the length of time it takes to conceive, how long getting pregnant takes for most couples, and what you can do to improve your fertility and (hopefully) get pregnant quickly, if that is your goal!

You likely know someone with cardiovascular disease (CVD), and there's a reason why: It's the leading cause of death globally among men, women, and most races and ethnicities, and it has been for 100 years. In this blog, we're more closely examining the numbers behind cardiovascular diseases — deaths, associated costs, and more.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) can start in either the colon or the rectum. This is why it might also be called colon cancer or rectal cancer. Commonly, healthcare workers combine the two because they share many characteristics.

You've probably heard of type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes — characterized by problems with blood sugar — but did you know that there are others? Yes, diabetes mellitus can come in many forms. In this blog, we talk about the various types of diabetes, what they look like, who might be at an increased risk of developing diabetes, and more.

Celiac disease (also known as celiac sprue) is an autoimmune disorder. It happens when an individual ingests gluten — a protein found in certain grains — and experiences damage to the small intestine. In this blog, we're exploring how many individuals in the United States have celiac disease, some of the more prominent celiac disease symptoms, the risk factors, and more.