Health (Page 12)

perinatal mental health

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In: Health, Mental Health

Perinatal mental health problems occur during pregnancy or in the first year following the birth of a child. It affects up to 20% of new and expectant mothers and covers a wide range of conditions. Here is everything you need to know about perinatal mental health… The perinatal period refers to the time when a woman is pregnant and the first year following the birth of the baby. The personal journey a woman takes during pregnancy, childbirth and early motherhood is unique to her. This period can be the most challenging or rewarding experience in a woman’s life and during this time it is commonRead More…

internet porn use

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In: Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health

In the 80’s and 90’s the closest we came to porn were productions similar to ‘Colpo grosso’ on Italian or Sicilian television or if you knew the right people you could get copies of the Playboy magazine or look out for page 3 girls on The Sun. In fact, in Malta pornography and obscene material was illegal until 2016 even if directed to an adult audience. As late as 2011, the Maltese Court of Criminal Appeal upheld the conviction against soft and hardcore pornographic films being aired at City Lights Theatre in Valletta. However, in 2015, the then Minister of Social Justice Owen Bonnici startedRead More…

vulnerable carer

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In: Health, Physical Health

I was recently contacted by Rebecca, a 37 year old woman with invisible disabilities who, despite her own life hurdles, is doing an excellent job taking care of her own mother. As a vulnerable carer, Rebecca has been desperately pleading to authorities to be vaccinated against COVID-19, but her pleas have gone unnoticed. This is her story… I’m 37 yrs of age, and most of my life has gone wasted. Half of my life has been taken away from me due to my invisible disabilities. I never got to do what normal adults do: travel, work full time, buy a house or simply go outRead More…

miscarriage

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In: Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health

In a Facebook post back in 2015, Mark Zuckerberg shared that miscarriage was a ‘lonely experience’ and that ‘you struggle on your own’. He and his wife were expecting a baby girl after having three miscarriages. At the time, the post received 1.7 million likes and the couple received widespread praise for their openness to discuss such a difficult subject. Research indicates, that miscarriages are the most common complication of pregnancy occurring in up to one in four pregnancies. This loss can have devastating effects in both men and women facing this experience. Unfortunately, in most cultures, miscarriage still is a taboo subject and couplesRead More…

Anogenital Human Papilloma Virus

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In: Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Women

What is Anogenital Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)? •Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a group of viruses consisting of more than 100 different types.  •Most people who have genital HPV do not know they have it.  •There are often no symptoms.  •You can pass HPV to others without knowing it.  •There are many different types of HPV. Some types can cause health problems including genital warts and cancers.  •There are vaccines that can stop these health problems from health problems from happening. How does someone get Anogenital Human Papilloma Virus? HPV is transmitted by skin to skin contact. Skin to skin contact in the genital regionRead More…

cystic fibrosis malta mandy vella

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In: Health, News, Physical Health, Women

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition that causes mucus build-up within the lungs and the digestive system, causing lung infections and food digestion problems. Typically, CF symptoms start to show up in early childhood and worsen over time due to an increase in lung and digestive system damage, leading to an unfortunate shortened life expectancy. Adequate treatments can help reduce CF effects, promoting better living. Scientific evidence has shown that Trikafta (a.k.a. Kaftrio in Europe) has a positive impact on CF patients, improving their lung function by 14% (Cystic Fibrosis Trust). The downside to this is that it is a very expensive drug which makesRead More…

contraception education

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In: Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health

Contraceptive education and accessibility are pillars of sexual health… Contraception, or lack thereof, marks the beginning of so many issues and controversies. Such a simple, yet effective, concept often neglected by systems and institutions out of embarrassment and self-righteousness, only to then reprimand (and in Malta’s case, criminalise) the only solutions to one of the biggest issues that arise out of the insufficient knowledge of contraception. By systems and institutions I’m primarily referring to those of education and financial support – not only is there a problem with education but there’s also a lack when it comes to accessibility. According to the introduction of theRead More…

sex intimacy and relationships

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In: Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health

Menopause is associated with various changes which may affect a woman’s sex life. Lower hormonal levels, for example can lower your sex drive or make vaginal tissue drier and thinner, resulting in uncomfortable sex. Increased irritability or feelings of stress are common around this time, and sleep may be impaired by night sweats and hot flushes. However, sex and intimacy during and after menopause are not only about loss. Research studies focusing on this particular time in a woman’s life indicate that menopause can also be an opportunity for growth, healing and increased sexual pleasure and satisfaction. A woman can feel more empowered during herRead More…

gender sexual and relationship diversity

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In: Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health

A few weeks ago I got this message from a colleague and friend that revolves around the subject of gender, sexual and relationship diversity: “I see young women nowadays struggle to understand their sexuality, whether they are hetero, homosexual, bisexual, asexual, pansexual or demisexual…so many terms I did not hear or know about growing up. It seems to me that through the sexual education teens are getting at school, there seems to be an increasing stress due to the need to conform to a particular sexuality. My daughter knows that I would accept her and support her in anything she chooses to be, so thatRead More…

nina lessi maltese erotica

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In: Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health

Nina Lessi is both an erotica platform and a movement. It revolves around the empowerment of women and sexual liberation, all the while educating women on their own bodies. Women’s sexual pleasure has historically been ignored, and consequences of this can still be seen today. With a deep gender-oriented orgasm gap for straight couples (lesbian couples appear to be doing a lot better, at least!), things aren’t looking up in the area of straight women’s climaxing. We sat down with Nina Lessi to learn all about them: how they’re different from regular sex sites, how they plan to shrink the orgasm-gap, how they empower women,Read More…