#21 and menopausal seriously

[mcrdvcks]

Down Bad - Chapter 22

Chapter Summary: Amina and Hunter embark on a new journey; one that is different from everything they have ever experienced.

Word Count: 14.4k+

Pairing: Hunter x fem!Jedi Original Character

Notes: hello!! sorry for not uploading in 6 days (yikes!) but i was busy with work, and this is the first day i've had off in 3 days. anyways, this is a bit of a long chapter, and a smutty one. but, the reason behind the 3 scenes is explained in the first part. the last scene is at the end, and it is the infamous ✨jealously✨ scenario. it may seem out of place, but that's also because i was once again horny and ovulating while writing this. so... don't mind me, just writing along with my feelings :)

TW: periods, slight allusion to blood, smut, smut, smut, light (very, very light) dom/sub, unprotected piv, inappropriate use of vibroblade

Series Masterlist - Chapter 21 → Chapter 23

AO3 Link For Chapter

Omega had woken up Amina frantically, saying there was blood when she went to the bathroom. Amina wasn’t quite sure how to explain what a period was, probably because it was never properly explained to her, so she took Omega to the medical center.

The two of them sat on two chairs as Amellia pointed at a hologram. “The egg moves down your fallopian tubes, where it waits for sperm. If sperm doesn’t fertilize the egg, you don’t get pregnant. Basically, menstruation is the shedding of the lining of your uterus.”

“Shedding!?” Amina and Omega exclaimed at the same time.

Amellia pointed a finger at Amina, “don’t you already know this? You’re, what, 22?”

Amina crossed her arms, a slight pout forming on her lips as she replied, "It was never explained to me."

Amellia raised an eyebrow, her expression a mix of surprise and disbelief. "Seriously?" she exclaimed, her tone incredulous. "You're 22 years old and you've never been taught about menstruation?"

Amina shrugged, feeling a little self-conscious under Amellia's scrutiny. “It wasn’t exactly something the Jedi taught.”

“How often does… it happen?” Omega asked Amellia.

“Every 28 days until you hit menopause, which on average is around age 50.”

“So… I’m going to have to deal with this for close to 40 more years?” Omega questioned, her voice tinged with disbelief as she processed Amellia's explanation of menstruation.

Amina exchanged a sympathetic glance with Omega, her heart going out to the young girl as she struggled to come to terms with the reality of her body's changes. "It's a natural part of being a woman, Omega," she reassured her gently, reaching out to squeeze Omega's hand in a comforting gesture. "And you won't have to go through it alone. We'll be here to help you every step of the way."

Omega nodded, her eyes shining with gratitude as she squeezed Amina's hand back. "Thanks, Amina," she said, her voice soft with emotion. "I'm glad you're here with me."

Amina smiled warmly at Omega's words, her heart swelling with love for the young girl. "I'm glad I'm here too," she replied, her voice filled with sincerity. "And don't worry, Amellia will make sure you have everything you need to feel comfortable."

Amellia nodded in agreement, her expression gentle as she addressed Omega. "That's right," she said, her voice calm and reassuring. "We'll make sure you have plenty of supplies and information to help you through this."

Omega's eyes widened with curiosity as she glanced between Amina and Amellia. "What kind of supplies?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Amellia smiled, reaching into a nearby drawer and pulling out a small box. "Things like absorption pads," she explained, holding up the box for Omega to see. "And pain relievers, in case you experience cramps. If you follow me, I can show you how to use one and then you can put it on for yourself.”

---

Amina was making her way over to the school where Omega attended. No details were given to her, other than Omega and a few other kids were in the head staff’s office.

When she got there, Hunter was at the front door of the school waiting for her. “Any idea why?” he asked, as he opened the door and Amina walked in.

"No clue," Amina responded to Hunter's question as they walked into the school. Their footsteps echoed in the empty hallway as they made their way to the head staff's office, where Omega and a few other kids were waiting, one of them being Shep’s daughter Lyana.

As they approached the office, Amina couldn't help but feel a sense of unease settle in the pit of her stomach. She hoped that whatever had happened wasn't too serious. Hunter placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze as they reached the door.

Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Amina pushed the door open and stepped inside. The head staff, a kindly older woman named Mrs. Voss, greeted them with a warm smile.

"Ah, Amina, Hunter, thank you for coming," Mrs. Voss said, gesturing for them to take a seat. "Please, have a seat. I'm sure you're both wondering why we called you here."

Amina and Hunter exchanged a quick glance before taking a seat across from Mrs. Voss. "Yes, we were hoping you could shed some light on the situation," Hunter replied, his tone calm but with an underlying sense of concern.

Mrs. Voss nodded, her expression serious as she explained the reason for their summons. "It seems there was an altercation between Omega and another student earlier today," she began, her voice measured as she recounted the events. "It started out as a minor disagreement but escalated rather quickly."

Omega chimed in, “it wasn’t a disagreement. Tarek was making fun of Jynna. She’s only 8 years old and he’s 14!”

Amina looked over at the young girl, who was sitting in the chair in between Omega and Lyana. Phee had found Jynna and brought her over to Pabu, where she was now living with Shep and Lyana.

“That does not mean you should’ve punched him.” Mrs. Voss said.

"Omega, can you tell us exactly what Tarek said to Jynna?" Amina asked gently, her voice calm but firm as she addressed the young girl, looking over at Tarek and his father.

Omega took a deep breath, her hands clenched tightly in her lap as she recounted the events of earlier that day. "Tarek was making fun of Jynna because she's smaller than the other kids," she explained, her voice tinged with anger. "He called her names, pushed her around, and was making jokes about her parents abandoning her.”

Amina's heart sank at Omega's words, her protective instincts kicking in as she listened to the young girl recount the bullying Jynna had endured. She glanced over at Hunter, seeing the same concern mirrored in his eyes. They both knew how important it was to address this issue and ensure that Jynna felt safe and supported.

Hunter leaned forward, his voice calm but firm as he addressed Tarek and his father. "Is this true?" he asked, his gaze steady as he waited for their response.

Tarek's father shifted uncomfortably in his seat, exchanging a quick glance with his son before replying. "Well, kids will be kids," he said dismissively, his tone lacking any remorse. "Boys will be boys, you know how it is."

Amina's jaw clenched at the man's flippant attitude, her anger simmering beneath the surface as she struggled to maintain her composure. "That's not an excuse for bullying," she retorted, her voice firm as she addressed Tarek's father. "And it's certainly not acceptable behavior."

Mrs. Voss nodded in agreement, her expression stern as she addressed Tarek directly. "Bullying is a serious offense, Tarek," she said, her tone grave as she fixed him with a pointed look. "And there will be consequences for your actions."

Tarek shifted uncomfortably under Mrs. Voss's gaze, his eyes darting around the room as he squirmed in his seat. It was clear that he realized the severity of the situation, though whether he truly understood the impact of his actions remained to be seen.

Omega glanced over at Jynna, her heart going out to the young girl as she sat silently, her eyes downcast as she listened to the adults discuss her ordeal. Omega reached out to squeeze Jynna's hand in a gesture of solidarity, offering her a small smile of encouragement.

Amina caught Omega's eye, her own expression softening as she silently conveyed her support for both Omega and Jynna. They would get through this together, as a family.

After a lengthy discussion, Mrs. Voss outlined the consequences for Tarek's behavior, including mandatory counseling sessions and a formal apology to Jynna. Amina and Hunter both nodded in agreement, even though Omega was suspended for 2 days.

As they left the office, Amina turned to Omega, her expression gentle as she spoke. "You did the right thing by standing up for Jynna," she said, her voice filled with pride. "I'm proud of you, Omega."

Hunter placed a hand on Omega's shoulder, his own pride evident in his expression as he looked down at her. "You showed real courage today, Omega," he said, his voice warm with admiration.

They made their way out of the school into the sun, Tarek and his father behind them. “Can we get an ice cone?” Omega asked.

Hunter looked over at Amina, a small smile forming on his lips. "What do you think, Amina? Think she’s earned it?" he asked.

Amina chuckled softly, nodding her head. "I think so," she replied, glancing at Omega. "You've had a tough day. An ice cone sounds like a great idea."

Omega’s face lit up with excitement. “Yes! Can we go to the stand by the market?”

“Lead the way, kid,” Hunter said, gently nudging Omega forward.

“Are you sure your bratty daughter deserves that after beating my son?” Tarek’s dad said.

Hunter chose to ignore the comment, but he had a feeling Amina didn’t feel the same way. His thoughts were confirmed as Amina turned around to face him, “excuse me?” She asked, barely hiding her anger and annoyance.

“You heard me. Your kriffing bratty daughter doesn’t- ” Amina cut him off by kneeing him in the crotch and punching his face as he fell to the ground.

Hunter’s eyes widened as he grabbed Amina by the shoulder, and they continued walking towards the market, leaving Tarek's father sprawled on the ground behind them, his son being torn between amusement and concern. Meanwhile, Omega's excitement at the prospect of an ice cone seemed to outweigh any concern for the scene they had just left behind.

"Wow, that was so cool!" Omega exclaimed, her eyes wide with admiration as she looked up at Amina.

Amina chuckled softly, exchanging a knowing glance with Hunter as they walked. "I don't think Hunter would agree," she replied, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Hunter grinned, his arm sliding around Amina's waist as they strolled along the bustling streets of Pabu. "He'll live," he remarked casually, his tone light despite the tension still lingering in the air.

Omega skipped ahead, her laughter ringing out as she caught sight of the colorful ice cone stand up ahead. "Come on, let's go!" she called back to them, her enthusiasm infectious.

Linking arms, Amina and Hunter followed Omega's lead, weaving their way through the crowd until they reached the colorful stand. The sweet aroma of shaved ice and flavored syrups filled the air, drawing them closer with each step.

Omega bounced on her toes, her eyes darting eagerly over the array of flavors displayed behind the counter. "What flavor are you getting, Amina? Hunter?" she asked, turning to them with a grin.

Amina chuckled softly, her gaze scanning the menu before settling on her choice. "I think I'll go for muja," she decided, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "What about you, Hunter?"

Hunter's eyes twinkled with amusement as he considered his options. "Hmm, tough choice," he mused, pretending to ponder the selection before grinning at Omega. "I'll have whatever you're having, kiddo."

Omega beamed at Hunter's response, her excitement bubbling over as she turned to place their order. The vendor behind the counter smiled warmly at the trio, quickly preparing their ice cones with practiced efficiency.

They got their cones, including two extras for Crosshair and Wrecker and made their way to the house. Wrecker immediately perked up, “ice cones?”

Omega nodded, “mmm-hmm.” She handed Wrecker and Crosshair their cones.

“And what are you doing home so early?” Crosshair asked.

“I punched a kid.” Omega responded.

Hunter looked over at Crosshair, “I wonder where she learned that from.”

Crosshair then looked over at Amina and her red knuckles, “yes, I wonder where.”

Crosshair's teasing remark about Amina's red knuckles drew a chuckle from Hunter, but Amina shot him a playful glare before turning her attention back to the conversation. "I have no idea what you're talking about," she replied, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes as she took a bite of her ice cone.

Hunter smirked, leaning in closer to Amina as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Sure, you don't," he said, his tone teasing as he nudged her playfully.

Omega watched the playful banter between Amina and Hunter with a smile, her own ice cone forgotten as she listened to their easy rapport. Despite the teasing, there was a warmth and affection in their interactions that made her heart swell with happiness.

Wrecker, oblivious to the playful exchange, devoured his ice cone with gusto, his eyes lighting up with delight at the sweet treat. "This is the best!" he exclaimed between bites, his enthusiasm infectious.

Crosshair rolled his eyes at Wrecker's enthusiasm, but there was a hint of amusement in his voice as he teased his fellow clone. "You say that about everything, Wrecker," he remarked, though there was a fondness in his tone that betrayed his true feelings.

---

"Very good, Sami!" Amina praised, her voice warm with encouragement as she watched the young Pantoran lift a small rock off the ground using the Force. "Now, put it back down slowly."

Sami nodded eagerly, her brow furrowed in concentration as she carefully lowered the rock back to its original position. A small smile of accomplishment spread across her face as she completed the task, her eyes shining with pride.

"You're a natural," Amina complimented, her own smile mirroring Sami's as she knelt down beside the young girl. "With practice, you'll be able to move much larger objects."

Sami's eyes widened with excitement at the prospect, her imagination already running wild with the possibilities. "Really?" she asked, her voice filled with awe.

Amina nodded, her expression encouraging. "Really," she confirmed, reaching out to ruffle Sami's hair affectionately. "You have a lot of potential, Sami. I can see great things in your future."

Sami beamed at Amina's words, her heart swelling with pride at the praise from her mentor. "Thank you, Amina," she said, her voice filled with gratitude.

Amina stood up, offering Sami a hand to help her to her feet. "You're welcome," she replied, her tone gentle. She looked around at the other kids, “alright, that’s it for today! Have a great rest of your day everyone!”

The young clone cadets and kids ran off the grassy field to their respective houses, as Sami went over to Omega and Lyana to have a conversation with them.

Amina loved teaching all the young kids after they got out of school. She loved kids in general, and whether that was because she taught a lot of younglings at the temple, or it was just something she happened to like, she wasn’t sure.

Hunter stood by the three young girls as Amina made her way over, “do you want a baby?” She asked, the words tumbling from her lips as Hunter froze, his eyes slightly widened, “I- I mean- wow, that kind of came out… wrong. Or quickly. Or…”

As Amina's question hung in the air, Hunter's mind raced, trying to process her unexpected inquiry. He blinked, his gaze shifting from Amina to the ground and back again, his thoughts tumbling over each other in a chaotic jumble.

"Do I want a... baby?" he repeated slowly, the words feeling foreign on his tongue.

Amina's cheeks flushed slightly as she realized how abruptly she had blurted out the question. "I'm sorry, that was... uh, probably not the best way to ask," she stammered, feeling a surge of embarrassment wash over her. "I just... I was just curious, that's all."

Hunter's lips twitched with amusement at Amina's flustered apology, his own embarrassment fading as he realized the innocence behind her question. "It's okay, Amina," he reassured her gently, reaching out to squeeze her hand reassuringly. "I understand what you meant."

Amina's cheeks flushed with warmth at Hunter's understanding response, grateful for his patience and reassurance. "Thanks," she murmured, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I just... I guess I’ve been experiencing a little bit of baby fever. I guess it was bound to happen since I’m around young kids all the time and Bail’s been sending me videos of Leia.”

Hunter chuckled softly, his gaze softening as he looked at Amina. "I can understand that," he replied, his voice gentle. "Leia seems like quite the handful, but she's adorable."

Amina nodded, a fond smile crossing her face at the mention of Leia. "She is," she agreed, her eyes sparkling with affection. "And seeing her grow up... it makes me realize how much I want that for us, too."

Hunter's heart skipped a beat at Amina's words, his chest swelling with emotion as he looked at her. "Yeah," he said softly, his voice thick with emotion. "I want that too, Amina. More than anything."

Amina's smile widened at Hunter's heartfelt confession, her heart fluttering with happiness at the thought of starting a family with him. "Really?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she searched his eyes for confirmation.

Hunter nodded, his gaze unwavering as he reached out to cup Amina's cheek gently. "Really," he confirmed, his touch tender as he brushed his thumb across her skin. "I love you, Amina. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Amina's heart soared at Hunter's declaration, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears of joy. "I love you too, Hunter," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion. "More than anything."

---

Amina dipped her finger into the sweetcake batter, hoping that it tasted like it was supposed to. “Hmm.” She grabbed the cake pan and poured the batter in the pan before putting it into the oven.

She dusted her hands on the towel when Hunter came behind her, wrapping his arms around her.

As Hunter wrapped his arms around Amina from behind, she leaned back into his embrace, relishing the warmth and comfort he offered.

"Hey there, beautiful," Hunter murmured, his voice low and husky as he pressed a soft kiss to Amina's neck. "What are you making?"

Amina smiled, tilting her head slightly to the side to give Hunter better access to her neck. "Sweetcakes," she replied, her voice tinged with amusement. "I thought I would try baking again.”

Hunter hummed in approval, his arms tightening around Amina's waist as he nuzzled against her neck. "Sounds delicious," he murmured, his lips brushing against her skin with each word.

She dipped her finger in the leftover batter in the bowl as Hunter turned her around, “you know, I was thinking.” Hunter began as she hummed, quickly sucking the batter off her finger. “That maybe it’s time,” he continued, his gaze unwavering as he searched Amina's face for any sign of hesitation or doubt.

Amina's brow furrowed slightly in confusion, her curiosity piqued by Hunter's cryptic words. "Time for what?" she asked, her voice gentle as she met Hunter's gaze.

Hunter took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to say. "Time for us to start a family," he replied, his voice steady despite the nervous flutter in his chest.

Amina's eyes widened in surprise at Hunter's words, her heart skipping a beat as she processed the magnitude of what he was suggesting. "Really?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she searched Hunter's face for any hint of doubt.

Hunter's gaze held hers, unwavering and full of determination. "Yes, really," he confirmed, his voice steady and sure.

She let out a small squeal as she leaned up and wrapped her arms around his neck, her head fitting underneath his chin.

As Amina wrapped her arms around Hunter's neck, a rush of warmth flooded through her veins, filling her with a sense of joy and excitement. She buried her face against his chest, her heart pounding in her chest as she savored the feeling of being held in his strong embrace.

Hunter's arms tightened around Amina's waist, pulling her closer as he pressed a tender kiss to the top of her head. He could feel her excitement bubbling over, her energy infectious as it washed over him in waves. "I take it that's a yes?" he asked, his voice laced with amusement as he looked down at her.

“Well, obviously.” She replied, her voice muffled against his chest.

He chuckled at her response, his hands at her sides as he lifted her up and set her on the counter. “Well then, why don’t we start?”

As Hunter set Amina on the counter, she grinned at him, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "I like the way you think," she teased, her voice husky with desire as she reached out to tug him closer by the hem of his shirt.

Hunter's lips curled into a wicked smirk as he leaned in, capturing her mouth in a hungry kiss. His hands slid up her thighs, the soft fabric of her dress bunching beneath his touch as he pulled her closer, pressing her body against his own.

Amina moaned softly into his mouth, her fingers tangling in his hair as she returned his kiss with equal fervor.

Hunter's hands roamed over Amina's body, tracing the curves of her hips before sliding up to cup her breasts through the thin fabric of her dress. He kneaded them gently, eliciting a low whimper from Amina's lips as she arched into his touch, craving more.

With a growl of approval, Hunter broke the kiss, trailing hot, open-mouthed kisses along Amina's jawline and down the column of her throat. He nipped at her skin, leaving a trail of fire in his wake as he worked his way lower, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he buried his face between her breasts.

Amina's breath hitched in her throat as she felt the heat of Hunter's mouth against her skin, his lips trailing lower and lower until he reached her skirt.

Hunter pushed the skirt of Amina's dress up, his movements deliberate as he slowly pulled her underwear down her legs. Amina's breath caught in her throat, anticipation coursing through her veins as she watched him with hooded eyes. She leaned back against the countertop, her fingers curling around the edge as she waited for his next move.

With a predatory gleam in his eyes, Hunter knelt before her, his hands sliding up the smooth skin of her thighs as he pressed hot, open-mouthed kisses to the inside of her legs. Amina shivered at the sensation, a low moan escaping her lips as she tangled her fingers in his hair, urging him closer.

Hunter's touch was both gentle and firm as he trailed kisses higher and higher, inching closer to the source of her heat. He could feel the tension building in Amina's body, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she arched into his touch, silently pleading for more.

As he reached the apex of her thighs, Hunter paused, his warm breath ghosting over her slick folds. Amina whimpered in frustration, her hips instinctively bucking against him as she silently begged for release.

With a wicked grin, Hunter finally gave her what she wanted, his tongue darting out to taste her. Amina cried out at the sensation, her fingers tightening in his hair as she rocked her hips against his mouth, desperate for more.

Hunter chuckled at her reaction, the vibrations sending shockwaves of pleasure through Amina's body as he continued to lap at her eagerly. He savored the taste of her, the way she writhed and moaned beneath his touch driving him wild with desire.

"You taste so good, sweetheart," he murmured, glancing up her.

“H- Hunter.” Amina gasped, “this…” Hunter’s tongue slowly trailed from the bottom of her slit to the top, “this isn’t how you make a baby.”

Hunter lifted his head, his lips glistening with her juices as he looked up at her with a wicked grin. "Who said anything about making a baby right this second?" he teased, his voice husky with desire as he leaned in to press a kiss against her inner thigh.

Amina's breath hitched in her throat as she felt the warmth of his mouth against her skin, her fingers tightening in his hair as she arched into his touch. "But..." she began, her words cut off by a low moan as Hunter's tongue darted out to taste her once more.

"But nothing," Hunter murmured against her skin, his voice sending shivers of pleasure down her spine. "We’ve got to start somewhere, right?”

Amina's mind swirled with desire, her body responding eagerly to Hunter's touch. She wasn’t able to properly respond, other than moaning as he sucked her clit into his mouth.

Hunter grinned against her, his hands gripping her thighs to hold her steady. "You like that, don't you?" he murmured, his voice sending vibrations through her core.

Amina could only moan in response, her head falling back as she gave herself over to the pleasure. "Yes, Hunter," she gasped, her voice trembling.

"Good girl," Hunter praised, his fingers digging into her thighs as he licked and sucked at her clit with renewed fervor.

Amina's body shuddered under his touch, her fingers tightening in his hair as she rode the waves of pleasure. "Hunter, please," she begged, her voice barely a whisper. At this point, she wasn’t sure what she was begging for. She wasn’t able to think straight because all she can feel is his tongue and mouth doing sinful things to her.

Hunter growled softly, the sound vibrating against her core. "Tell me what you want, sweetheart," he said, his voice rough with desire. "I want to hear you say it."

Amina moaned, her hips bucking against his mouth. "I want you," she gasped, her voice trembling. "I need you, Hunter."

He grinned against her, his tongue flicking over her clit in quick, teasing motions. "That's my girl," he murmured, his fingers digging into her thighs as he held her steady.

Amina's head fell back, her eyes closing as she surrendered to the sensations. "Hunter," she gasped, her body trembling. "I'm so close."

He growled in approval, his hands gripping her thighs tighter as he sucked her clit into his mouth. "Come for me, cyar’ika," he commanded, his voice rough. "I want to feel you come."

Amina's body tensed, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she teetered on the edge of release. "Hunter," she moaned, her voice breaking.

Hunter's tongue flicked over her clit one last time, sending her spiraling over the edge. Amina cried out, her body shaking with the force of her orgasm as waves of pleasure washed over her.

Hunter didn't stop, his tongue continuing to move against her as he drew out her pleasure. "That's it, sweetheart," he murmured, his voice filled with satisfaction. "Come for me."

Amina's fingers tightened in his hair, her body arching against him as she rode out the last waves of her orgasm. "Hunter," she gasped, her voice barely a whisper.

He finally pulled back, his lips glistening with her juices as he looked up at her with a wicked grin. "You look so beautiful when you come," he said, his voice husky with desire.

Amina's breath came in ragged gasps, her body still trembling from the intensity of her release. "Hunter," she said, her voice shaky. "That was amazing."

He chuckled softly, his hands sliding up her thighs as he stood. "We're not done yet, sweetheart," he said, his voice filled with promise. Amina's eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat as she looked up at him. Hunter's grin widened, his hands slipping under her dress to cup her breasts. "We've still got a long way to go," he continued, his thumbs brushing over her hardened nipples.

Amina's breath hitched, her body responding eagerly to his touch. "Kriff, baby," she moaned, her fingers curling around the edge of the countertop.

He leaned in, his lips capturing hers in a hungry kiss. "I want to make you feel good, sweetheart," he murmured against her lips. "I want to make you come again."

Amina's heart pounded in her chest, her body aching for more. "Yes," she whispered, her voice filled with desire.

Hunter's hands moved down to her hips, lifting her off the counter and turning her around. "Hold on tight," he said, his voice rough with need.

Amina's fingers gripped the edge of the countertop, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps as she felt him position himself behind her. "Hunter," she moaned, her body trembling with anticipation.

He slid a hand between her legs, his fingers parting her slick folds as he teased her entrance. "You're so wet for me," he said, his voice filled with satisfaction. "I can't wait to be inside you."

Amina's breath hitched, her hips pressing back against him. "Hunter, please," she begged, her voice trembling with need.

Hunter's fingers slipped inside her, stretching her gently as he prepared her for him. "You're so tight," he murmured, his voice rough. "I love the way you feel around my fingers."

Amina moaned, her body arching against him. "Hunter," she gasped, her voice filled with desperation. "I need you."

He withdrew his fingers, positioning himself at her entrance. "I'm going to take you now, sweetheart," he said, his voice filled with promise. "Are you ready?"

Amina's breath caught in her throat, her body trembling with anticipation. "Yes," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I'm ready."

Hunter's hands gripped her hips, his fingers digging into her skin as he pushed inside her. "You feel so good," he groaned, his voice filled with pleasure.

Amina cried out, her body arching against him as she felt him fill her completely. "Hunter," she moaned, her voice trembling with need.

He began to move, his thrusts slow and deliberate as he built a steady rhythm. "You're so tight," he said, his voice rough. "You feel amazing."

Amina's breath came in short, shallow gasps, her body responding eagerly to his every move. "Hunter," she moaned, her fingers gripping the countertop.

Hunter's thrusts grew faster, more insistent, as he drove into her with increasing intensity. "I want to hear you scream my name," he said, his voice rough with desire.

Amina's body tensed, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she felt another wave of pleasure build within her. "Hunter," she moaned, her voice breaking.

He growled in approval, his hands gripping her hips tighter as he pounded into her. "That's it, sweetheart," he said, his voice filled with satisfaction. "Come for me again."

Amina's body arched against him, her fingers digging into the countertop as she teetered on the edge of release.

Hunter's thrusts grew faster, more frantic, as he drove her towards the edge. "Come for me," he commanded, his voice rough with need.

Amina's body tensed, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she felt her release wash over her. She cried out, her body shaking with the force of her orgasm as waves of pleasure crashed over her.

Hunter didn't stop, his thrusts continuing to drive into her as he chased his own release. "You're so tight," he groaned, his voice filled with pleasure. "I'm so close."

Amina's body trembled, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps as she rode out the last waves of her orgasm. "Oh, come for me baby" she moaned, her voice barely a whisper.

He growled in approval, his hands gripping her hips tighter as he drove into her with one final, powerful thrust. "Amina," he groaned, his body tensing as he found his release.

Amina's breath came in ragged gasps, her body still trembling from the intensity of her orgasm. "Hunter," she whispered, her voice shaky.

He collapsed against her, his arms wrapping around her waist as he pressed a tender kiss to the back of her neck. "You were amazing, sweetheart," he murmured, his voice filled with satisfaction.

Amina's heart pounded in her chest, her body still tingling from the intensity of their lovemaking. "So were you," she whispered, her voice filled with love.

Hunter's arms tightened around her, his lips brushing against her ear. "I love you," he said, his voice soft and filled with emotion.

Amina's heart swelled with love, her fingers reaching up to tangle in his hair. "I love you too," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

---

Amellia sunk down into the couch after her shift at the medical center, exhaustion weighing heavy on her limbs. "I've never been so bored in my life," she grumbled, running a hand through her ginger hair as she glanced over at Amina, who approached with two cups of juice in hand. "Is it against your Jedi rules to cut off an arm so doctors can have something interesting to do?"

Amina chuckled at Amellia's comment, handing her a cup of juice before settling down beside her on the couch. "I'm pretty sure that goes against the Jedi Code," she replied with a smirk, taking a sip of her own juice. "But I can definitely understand the sentiment. It's been quiet around here lately."

Amellia sighed, sinking further into the cushions as she took a long sip of her juice. "Tell me about it," she muttered, her frustration evident in her tone. "I miss the excitement of the medical center back on Coruscant. Dealing with routine check-ups and minor injuries just doesn't compare."

Amina nodded sympathetically, knowing all too well the feeling of longing for the thrill of a life filled with danger and adventure. "I know it's not the same," she said, her voice soft with understanding. "But maybe things will pick up soon. You never know what might happen on Pabu."

“Speaking of,” Amellia turned towards Amina, her legs underneath her, “any gossip?”

Amina frowned, “gossip? No… Unless,” she gasped, “are you asking me about…” Amina raised an eyebrow, “Crosshair?”

Amellia shook her head vehemently, “no, no, no. Of course not.” She leaned forward, “but… you haven’t… heard anything have you?”

Amina laughed, “Ames, just talk to him. You’re like the most talkative person I know, and yet you haven’t said anything to him but a ‘hello’.”

Amellia shifted uncomfortably on the couch, her cheeks flushing slightly at Amina's teasing. "I know, I know," she admitted sheepishly, her gaze dropping to her cup of juice. "I just... I don't know what to say to him."

Amina raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile playing at the corners of her lips. "You could start with asking him about his day," she suggested, her tone gentle. "Or maybe strike up a conversation about one of his hobbies.”

“Well, what are his hobbies?”

“I, um… well,” Amina thought it over, “I… he… you know what, I don’t know. I mean, obviously he’s a sniper, but I’ve never really seen him do much other than shoot.”

“I don’t even know how to use a blaster.” Amellia said.

“Maybe Crosshair can give you a lesson.” Amina replied.

Amellia let out a squeal, setting her cup of juice down on the caf table and kissing Amina’s cheek, “that’s brilliant! You’re incredibly brilliant.” She made her way out of the house as Amina sat on the couch watching the door close.

"Huh," Amina mused to herself, watching the door close behind Amellia. She smiled softly, hoping Amellia's newfound excitement would lead to something positive with Crosshair.

Hunter walked back into the living room, still drying his hands from washing up. "What was all that about?" he asked, noticing the amused expression on Amina's face.

"Amellia finally decided to make a move on Crosshair," Amina explained, her smile widening. "I suggested she ask him for a blaster lesson."

Hunter chuckled, shaking his head. "That should be interesting. Crosshair isn't exactly the most talkative person."

Amina shrugged, still smiling. "Sometimes actions speak louder than words."

Hunter wrapped an arm around Amina's shoulders. "Let's hope it works out for them. Crosshair could use someone like Amellia in his life."

They settled on the couch, Hunter’s head on a pillow that was resting on the arm, while Amina laid on his chest. After a few moments of silence, she tilted her head up, “you know, we’re alone.”

Hunter raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Is that so?" he replied, his voice low and playful as he looked down at Amina.

Amina nodded, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Mmm-hmm," she murmured, her fingers lightly tracing patterns on Hunter's chest. "Just the two of us, with no interruptions." Amina moved from laying down on his chest to straddling his waist.

Hunter's hands instinctively moved to rest on her hips, but Amina quickly grabbed his wrists, pinning them above his head. "No touching," she whispered, her breath warm against his ear. "Not yet."

Hunter's eyes darkened with desire as he looked up at her. "You're really going to make me wait?" he asked, his voice a low rumble.

Amina smirked, leaning down to brush her lips against his. "Yes, I am," she replied softly, before sitting back up. She began to slowly roll her hips, grinding against him, feeling the heat between them intensify.

Hunter's gaze was locked on her, his breath coming a little faster. "You're driving me crazy," he muttered, but there was a hint of amusement in his tone.

"Good," Amina responded, her hands moving to the hem of her maroon shirt. She pulled it up slowly, revealing her skin inch by inch. Hunter's eyes followed the movement, his mouth going dry as she tossed the shirt aside, leaving her in her black brassiere.

"You look amazing," Hunter breathed out, his gaze locked onto her.

Amina smiled, appreciating his compliment. She leaned down, her lips brushing against his ear as she whispered, "Remember, no touching."

Hunter groaned softly, but he kept his hands where they were, his eyes never leaving her as she began to sway her hips, grinding against him. "You're torturing me," he muttered, though there was a playful glint in his eyes.

"Patience," Amina replied, her fingers trailing down his chest, tracing the contours of his muscles through his shirt. She sat back up, her hands moving to her leggings. "You trust me, don't you?"

"Always," Hunter said without hesitation, his voice filled with sincerity.

Amina smirked, slowly peeling off her leggings, inch by inch, revealing her toned legs. Hunter watched her every move, his breathing growing heavier. She kicked the leggings aside, leaving her in her black underwear as she moved closer, her hands caressing his chest through his shirt. "I know you do," she whispered, leaning down to kiss him softly.

Hunter responded eagerly to her kiss, his lips parting to deepen the connection. Amina broke the kiss just as it began to intensify, a mischievous glint in her eyes. She straightened up and placed a finger against his lips.

"Remember, no touching," she reminded him, her voice firm but playful.

Hunter nodded, though it was clear he was struggling to restrain himself. "You make it really hard, you know," he muttered, his voice filled with frustration and desire.

Amina smiled sweetly, loving the control she had over him. She let her fingers trail down his chest, stopping at the hem of his shirt. "Maybe we should get rid of this," she suggested, tugging at the fabric.

Hunter's breath quickened. "Whatever you want," he said, his voice husky.

Amina pulled his shirt over his head, exposing his toned torso. Her eyes roamed appreciatively over his muscular chest and abs, her fingers following the same path. "You're so perfect, Hunter," she murmured, her voice filled with admiration.

Hunter's eyes met hers, filled with a mix of love and lust. "You're the one who's perfect, Amina," he replied, his voice thick with emotion.

Amina felt a shiver of pleasure at his words. She leaned down to kiss his neck, her lips lingering on his skin. Hunter tilted his head back, giving her better access, and she took full advantage, kissing and nibbling her way down his throat.

Hunter's breathing grew more labored, and he clenched his fists, his knuckles white from the effort of keeping his hands to himself. Amina could feel his body tensing under her touch, and she reveled in the power she held over him.

Her kisses trailed lower, across his collarbone and down the center of his chest. She paused to flick her tongue over one of his nipples, eliciting a sharp intake of breath from him. "Amina," he groaned, his voice pleading.

She smiled against his skin, loving the sound of his need. "Do you like that?" she asked, her voice a low purr.

Hunter nodded, unable to form words. Amina continued her teasing, her hands roaming over his torso while her lips and tongue worked their magic. She could feel the heat radiating from him, and it only made her more eager to continue.

After a few moments, she sat back up, her eyes locking with his. "I think it's time for these to go," she said, tugging at his cargo pants. Hunter lifted his hips, allowing her to slide them down and off, leaving him in just his boxers.

Amina's eyes roamed over him, taking in the sight of his arousal straining against the fabric. "You look so good, Hunter," she said, her voice filled with desire.

Hunter's eyes were fixed on her, his breath coming in short, heavy bursts. "Amina, please," he whispered, his voice raw with need.

Amina smiled, loving the desperation in his voice. She hooked her fingers into the waistband of his boxers and slowly pulled them down, freeing him completely. Hunter's body tensed, his eyes never leaving hers.

She straddled him again, her hands resting on his chest. "Remember, no touching," she reminded him, her voice firm.

Hunter nodded, his eyes filled with a mixture of frustration and anticipation. "I'll do whatever you want, Amina," he said, his voice strained.

Amina's smile widened. "Good boy," she purred, leaning down to kiss him again. This time, the kiss was deeper, more intense, and she could feel Hunter's body responding eagerly to her touch. She could sense his frustration and need, the tension in his muscles, the way he was holding back.

As she broke the kiss, her breath mingling with his, she could see the raw desire in his eyes. "Hunter," she whispered, "you're doing so well. But I need you to hold on a little longer."

Hunter swallowed hard, his eyes never leaving hers. "I'll try," he managed, his voice thick with emotion.

Amina's heart swelled at his words, and she pressed another quick kiss to his lips before sitting back up. She could feel the heat of him between her thighs, his cock hard and ready. She ground her hips against him slowly, eliciting a low groan from deep within his chest.

"Do you like that?" she asked, her voice a sultry whisper as she moved against him, her hands resting lightly on his chest.

"Yes," Hunter breathed out, his eyes dark with desire. "You feel incredible."

Amina bit her lip, a shiver running through her as she continued to rock her hips. She loved the way he looked at her, the way his body responded to her every movement. She leaned forward, her hair brushing against his skin, and kissed his neck, her lips trailing down to his collarbone.

Hunter's breath hitched, his hands clenching into fists above his head. "Amina," he groaned, "please..."

Amina smiled against his skin, loving the sound of his need. "Patience, remember?" she murmured, her lips ghosting over his chest. She sat back up, her fingers trailing down his torso, feeling the tension in his muscles.

"You’re doing so well," she praised, her eyes locking with his. "Just a little longer, and then you can touch me."

Hunter's jaw tightened, but he nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. "Anything for you," he repeated, his voice rough.

Amina's heart skipped a beat at his words. She lifted herself slightly, positioning herself over him, and then slowly lowered herself onto him, taking him in inch by inch. The sensation was overwhelming, and she let out a soft moan, her eyes fluttering shut for a moment.

Hunter's hands twitched above his head, his fingers curling into fists as he fought the urge to reach out and touch her. He watched her intently, his gaze filled with adoration and desire as she moved against him.

Amina began to rock her hips, grinding against him with slow, deliberate movements. She could feel every inch of him inside her, filling her completely. Each movement sent waves of pleasure coursing through her, building the tension in her body.

"Hunter," she whispered, her voice husky with desire. "You feel so good."

Hunter's breath caught in his throat at her words. He reached out to touch her, but Amina quickly caught his wrists, pinning them back above his head. "Not yet," she murmured, her lips brushing against his ear.

Hunter groaned softly, his body straining against her touch. He could feel the heat radiating from her, the way she moved against him driving him wild with need. "Cyar’ika," he breathed out, his voice filled with longing.

One of Amina’s hands came trailed down the valley of her breasts, across her stomach, to her clit as she moved her fingers in slow circles, her hips still rocking against him.

Amina’s movements grew more urgent as she felt the familiar coil of desire tightening in her belly. She leaned forward, her lips brushing against his ear. "You like watching me, don’t you?" she whispered, her voice a seductive purr.

Hunter nodded eagerly, his eyes never leaving hers. "I can’t take my eyes off you," he admitted, his voice thick with need.

Amina smiled, her heart swelling at his words. She increased the pace of her movements, her hips rocking against him with more force. She could feel the tension building between them, the need for release becoming almost unbearable.

Hunter’s breath came in short, ragged gasps as he struggled to hold on. He could feel the pressure building inside him, his body on the verge of exploding with desire. "Amina," he moaned, his voice strained.

Amina’s lips curved into a wicked smile as she felt him nearing the edge. She leaned down, capturing his lips in a fierce kiss, her tongue dancing against his. She could taste the desperation on his lips, the raw need driving him wild.

She pulled away, her lips brushing against his as she spoke, “you can touch me now.”

As Amina's words hung in the air, Hunter's restraint shattered like glass. With a low growl, he surged upwards, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her flush against his chest. Amina gasped in surprise, her hands flying to his shoulders to steady herself as she felt his naked skin against hers.

"Hunter," she breathed out, her voice a mixture of surprise and arousal. His touch sent shivers down her spine, igniting a fire within her that burned hotter with each passing moment.

"You're so beautiful," Hunter murmured against her skin, his lips trailing kisses along her jawline as he held her close. Amina's heart swelled at his words, a rush of warmth spreading through her body.

"You're not so bad yourself," she replied, her voice laced with affection as she tilted her head back to meet his gaze. Hunter's eyes were dark with desire as he looked down at her, his hands roaming over her body as if he couldn't get enough.

Amina smiled, loving the hunger in his eyes. She leaned in to capture his lips in a passionate kiss, her tongue tangling with his as they lost themselves in each other. Hunter's hands roamed over her back, tracing the curve of her spine as he pulled her closer.

"You drive me crazy, you know that?" he muttered against her lips, his voice rough with desire. Amina chuckled softly, the sound mingling with their kisses as she felt the heat between them intensify.

"You're not exactly a picture of calm yourself," she teased, nipping at his bottom lip playfully. Hunter groaned in response, his hands tightening around her as he deepened the kiss. He hit a spot inside her, making her moan into his mouth, “oh, right there baby.”

"Maker, I love how you feel around me,” Hunter murmured against her lips, his voice husky with desire. Amina smiled, the sound of his praise sending a rush of pleasure through her. Hunter's hands roamed over her back, tracing the curve of her spine as he deepened the kiss.

"Hunter," she moaned, her voice a soft plea as she clung to him desperately. He responded with a low growl, his hands tightening around her as he increased the pace, his thrusts becoming more urgent.

The room was filled with the sounds of their ragged breaths and the wet slap of their bodies coming together, the air thick with the scent of their desire. Amina could feel the tension building inside her, the pleasure spiraling higher and higher with each passing moment.

"Kriff, baby," she gasped, her voice filled with need as she felt herself teetering on the edge. He nodded in understanding, his own breath coming in short, ragged gasps as he drove her closer to the brink.

With a final, desperate thrust, they shattered together, their bodies trembling with the force of their release. Amina cried out in pleasure, her voice mingling with Hunter's as they rode the waves of ecstasy together.

As they slowly came down from their high, Hunter wrapped his arms around Amina, holding her close as they caught their breath. Amina nuzzled against his chest, feeling safe and loved in his embrace.

"You're amazing," Hunter whispered, pressing a tender kiss to the top of her head. Amina smiled up at him, her heart swelling with love.

"So are you," she replied, her voice filled with affection as she snuggled closer to him.

---

The next day, early in the morning the entire group went out to the shore. Wrecker and Hunter had gathered wood, Amellia and Amina had got some pastries from the market, and Crosshair and Omega set up the chairs.

Everyone sat in front of the fire, other than Crosshair who stood on a rock practicing his shooting with AZI, Batcher laying by his feet.

Amina glanced over at Amellia, “have you talked to him? You left yesterday in a hurry.”

“No. Not yet.” She responded, getting on her side to get closer to Amina, “I mean, he seems lost in thought.”

Omega, who was previously running around with Wrecker, stood in between Amellia and Amina’s chairs. “Who, Crosshair?” Omega sat down in the sand, “this is his morning routine. He’s been getting better with his prosthetic hand.”

Amellia glanced over at Crosshair, who was focused intently on his target practice. She sighed, a mix of admiration and uncertainty swirling within her. “I just don’t know how to approach him,” she admitted, her voice tinged with frustration.

Amina gave Amellia a reassuring smile. “Just be yourself,” she advised. “Crosshair may seem tough on the outside, but he’s got a softer side too. Just give it a try.”

Hunter, who had been listening to the conversation while tending to the fire, chimed in. “Crosshair appreciates honesty and straightforwardness,” he said, his tone encouraging. “Just talk to him like you would anyone else. He’s not as intimidating as he looks.”

Encouraged by their words, Amellia took a deep breath and stood up, brushing the sand off her clothes. “Alright,” she said, determination in her eyes. “I’m going to do it.”

As Amellia made her way over to Crosshair, Amina and Hunter exchanged a knowing glance, silently wishing her luck. Omega watched with interest; her curiosity piqued by the unfolding situation.

Crosshair was adjusting his prosthetic hand, making minor tweaks to its settings when he noticed Amellia approaching. He paused, his gaze shifting to her with mild curiosity. “Can I help you with something?” he asked, his tone neutral.

Amellia took a deep breath, summoning her courage. “Actually, I was wondering if you could teach me how to shoot,” she said, her voice steady despite the butterflies in her stomach. “I’ve never used a blaster before, and I thought you might be the best person to learn from.”

Crosshair raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by her request. He studied her for a moment before nodding slowly. “Alright,” he agreed, his tone measured. “But it’s not going to be easy. You’ll need to be patient and focused.”

Amellia nodded eagerly. “I’m ready,” she replied, determination shining in her eyes.

Crosshair motioned for her to join him on the rock. “Let’s start with the basics,” he said, handing her a blaster and adjusting her grip. “First, you need to understand the fundamentals of shooting.”

As Crosshair began to instruct Amellia, Amina and Hunter watched from a distance, a sense of satisfaction filling them. They hoped this would be the beginning of a meaningful connection between Amellia and Crosshair.

Omega leaned back on her hands, watching the lesson with interest. “Do you think she’ll be good at it?” she asked Amina.

Amina smiled, her gaze softening as she watched Amellia and Crosshair interact. “I think she’ll do just fine,” she replied. “Amellia is determined and eager to learn. And Crosshair is a patient teacher, even if he doesn’t always show it.”

Hunter nodded in agreement. “It’s a good thing,” he said. “Crosshair could use someone like Amellia in his life.”

The morning continued with a sense of camaraderie and hope. Wrecker, who had been collecting shells along the shore, joined them by the fire, his face lighting up with excitement. “Look at this one!” he exclaimed, holding up a particularly large and colorful shell.

Omega examined the shell with interest. “That’s a great find, Wrecker,” she said, her voice filled with admiration. “You always manage to find the best ones.”

Wrecker beamed at the compliment, clearly pleased with himself. “I’ve got an eye for it,” he said proudly.

---

Pabu held a Winter Festival every year, full of food, dancing, ice skating, bake offs and more, even if Pabu didn’t get cold and stayed tropical for the entire year.

Amellia held up a red dress, “do you think he’s one to get jealous?”

Amina walked over, already dressed in a dark blue dress with a square neckline and a skirt that went to her mid-thigh. “What- who?”

Amellia hesitated for a moment, her gaze flickering away before she met Amina's eyes. "Crosshair," she admitted, her cheeks flushing slightly as she held up the red dress. "Do you think he's the type to get jealous if I wear this?"

Amina's lips twitched with amusement as she studied the dress in Amellia's hands. "Well, it's a stunning dress," she remarked, her tone thoughtful as she considered Amellia's question. "But I'm not sure if Crosshair is the jealous type. He's... reserved, to say the least."

Amellia nodded, her expression thoughtful as she weighed Amina's words. "You're right," she conceded, a hint of disappointment tingeing her voice. "He's not exactly the most expressive person."

Amina reached out to squeeze Amellia's shoulder in a gesture of comfort. "But that doesn't mean he won't appreciate how beautiful you look in that dress," she reassured her gently. "And who knows? Maybe wearing it will catch his attention in a good way."

Amellia's lips curved into a tentative smile at Amina's words, her uncertainty giving way to a glimmer of hope. "You think so?" she asked, her voice soft with uncertainty.

“Of course, you’re beautiful. And if all else fails, you could always find some other guy to dance with like in that holomovie we watched yesterday.”

Amellia rolled her eyes, a faint blush dusting her cheeks at the thought. "I suppose you're right," she conceded, her gaze flickering away. "I just... I want him to notice me, you know? I want him to see me as more than just an acquaintance."

Amina reached out to gently squeeze Amellia's hand, her expression sympathetic. "I know, Ames," she said softly, her voice filled with understanding. "And I think he will. You just have to give him a chance to see you for who you are."

Amellia nodded, her gaze meeting Amina's with a mixture of hope and uncertainty. "I hope you're right," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've never felt this way about anyone before. It's... intimidating."

Amina's smile softened, her heart going out to her friend as she struggled with her feelings for Crosshair. "I know it's scary," she said gently, her tone reassuring. "But sometimes taking a chance is the bravest thing you can do."

Amellia's lips curved into a tentative smile, a glimmer of hope shining in her eyes. "Thanks, Amina," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "I'm glad you're here. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Amina returned Amellia's smile, her heart swelling with affection for her friend. "I'm glad I'm here too," she replied, her voice warm with sincerity. "And I'll be here every step of the way, no matter what."

Amellia’s playfulness returned as she threw her dress on her bed, “what about you? There was something else that happened in the holomovie that you could try out.”

“What? That cake that the guy made? The only thing I’ve ever made successfully is a sweetcake- ”

“No, silly.” Amellia walked over and put her hands on Amina’s shoulders, “what’s the saying? Oh yeah, ‘He that is not jealous is not in love.’”

Amina furrowed her eyebrows, looking to the floor of Amina’s bedroom, “I’ve never heard that quote before.” She looked up at her friend’s green eyes, “did you just come up with that? I don’t understand how it applies to me.”

Amellia chuckled, shaking her head. "No, I didn't come up with it," she replied, her tone playful. “Jealously can bring… a certain spice to your night.”

Amina’s brows furrowed further, the crease deepening, “w- I don’t get it.”

“Okay then, I’m sure you’ll find out at some point in your life, young one.”

“Hey! I’m not a young one! I’m 22!”

“And I’m 28 and I have life experience outside of a battlefield.” Amellia went over to her bed and grabbed her dress, “now shoo! I’m going to get dressed and I’ll met you at the festival.”

---

As they made their way through the crowd, Amina couldn't help but marvel at the sense of community that permeated the atmosphere. Despite the hardships they had faced, the people of Pabu had come together to celebrate life and friendship, a testament to their resilience in the face of adversity.

Amellia's eyes sparkled with delight as they approached the main square, where a makeshift stage had been set up for the evening's entertainment. The sound of music filled the air, and couples twirled gracefully on the makeshift dance floor, their laughter mingling with the strains of the melody.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Amellia exclaimed, her voice filled with wonder as she gazed around the square. "I can't believe we get to experience this every year."

Amina smiled in agreement, her heart swelling with gratitude for the simple joys of life. "It's moments like these that make everything worth it," she said softly, her gaze drifting to the stars that twinkled overhead.

Suddenly, a familiar voice called out to them from the crowd, and Amina turned to see Hunter striding towards them, a warm smile on his face. "Hey, you two," he greeted warmly, his eyes crinkling with affection as he enveloped them in a tight hug. "You both look amazing."

Amina returned the hug with a sense of relief, grateful for the familiar presence of her husband. "You don't look too bad yourself," she teased, her lips quirking into a playful smile.

Hunter chuckled, his arm slipping around Amina's waist as he leaned in to press a kiss to her temple. "Just trying to keep up with you, General," he said with a wink, his gaze softening with love.

Amellia watched the exchange with a soft smile, her heart warming at the sight of their obvious affection for each other.

As they mingled with the crowd, Amellia couldn't help but notice the way Hunter's eyes followed Amina with a mixture of adoration and protectiveness. It was clear that he would do anything to keep her safe, to shield her from harm in a world that seemed determined to tear them apart.

Lost in her thoughts, Amellia barely registered the approach of another figure until Crosshair was standing before them, his expression unreadable as he glanced between Amina and Amellia. "Evening," he greeted curtly, his voice gruff with an undercurrent of tension.

"Evening, Crosshair," Hunter replied evenly, "enjoying the festival?"

Crosshair shrugged noncommittally, his gaze flickering to Amellia before returning to Amina. "It's... tolerable," he muttered, his tone gruff as he shifted uncomfortably under their scrutiny.

Amellia bit her lip nervously, her gaze darting between Crosshair and Amina as she struggled to find the right words. "Um, would you like to dance?" she blurted out suddenly, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she held out her hand in invitation.

Crosshair's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected offer, his expression softening slightly as he regarded Amellia with a mixture of curiosity and reluctance. "I... suppose I could manage a dance," he conceded gruffly, his hand tentatively taking hers as he led her onto the dance floor.

Amina watched them go with a sense of relief, grateful for the opportunity to speak with Hunter alone. "Well, that was unexpected," she remarked dryly, her lips quirking into a wry smile.

Hunter chuckled softly, his arm slipping around Amina's waist as he pulled her close. "You never know what to expect with Amellia," he agreed, his gaze warm as he met her eyes. "But I'm glad she finally got the courage to ask him."

Amina nodded in agreement, her heart swelling with pride for her friend. "Me too," she said softly, her voice filled with admiration. "I just hope he realizes how lucky he is to have her."

Hunter's grip tightened around her waist, his gaze softening with affection as he pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I'm sure he will," he murmured, his voice tinged with certainty. "Sometimes, all it takes is a little push in the right direction."

“Amina!” Omega ran over to them, Wrecker behind her as she held up a cup, “look at what I found.”

Amina took the cup from Omega’s hands, taking a small sip, “mmm, hot chocolate?”

Hunter smiled at the sight of Omega's eager face, her eyes bright with excitement as she held out the cup of hot chocolate. "Looks delicious," he remarked, his voice warm with affection as he ruffled Omega's hair fondly.

Omega beamed up at him, her smile lighting up her face as she glanced between Amina and Hunter. "It's really good," she said eagerly, her enthusiasm infectious as she took another sip of her own cup.

Amina chuckled softly at Omega's enthusiasm, her heart swelling with affection for the young girl who had become like family to her and Hunter. "I'm glad you found it," she said warmly. Amina handed the cup to Hunter, “how about we get some more for the group? I’m sure Amellia would like some.”

Omega grabbed Amina’s hand, “okay!” She guided the way to the stand, where a man stood wearing a red and white striped apron.

“Back for some more kid?” He asked.

"Yep!" Omega replied enthusiastically, her hand firmly clasped in Amina's as she stood on tiptoe to peer over the counter. "We're going to need 5 more cups!"

The man chuckled at Omega's eagerness, reaching for a stack of cups and a large pot of steaming hot chocolate. "Coming right up," he said starting to pour the drink into the cups. “You know, that blue dress you’re wearing is my favorite color.”

As the man behind the counter poured the steaming hot chocolate into the cups, Amina smiled politely at his comment about her blue dress. "Thank you," she replied with a small nod, her attention focused on Omega as the young girl bounced excitedly beside her.

He started to put the cups into a drink carrier, “you know, some say that I have an interesting ability to guess people’s favorite colors.”

Omega's eyes narrowed, her curiosity piqued by the man's claim about guessing people's favorite colors. "Really? How?" she asked, her voice tinged with skepticism as she leaned closer to the counter, her gaze fixed on the man's face.

The man chuckled, a mischievous twinkle in his eye as he leaned forward conspiratorially. "Ah, now that's a trade secret," he replied cryptically, his tone playful as he winked at Omega. "But let's just say I have a knack for reading people."

Omega's brow furrowed in thought, her mind racing as she tried to decipher the man's words. "So, what's my favorite color then?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her as she held her breath in anticipation.

The man grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he studied Omega for a moment. "Hmm, let me see," he said, tapping his chin thoughtfully as he pretended to consider his answer. "I'd say... blue."

Omega's eyes widened in surprise, her jaw dropping in amazement as she stared at the man in disbelief. "How did you know?" she exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over as she turned to Amina and Hunter for confirmation.

Amina chuckled at Omega's reaction, her heart warming at the sight of the young girl's wonder. "Looks like he got it right," she said with a smile, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she ruffled Omega's hair affectionately.

“And you’re favorite color is… green.” Amina tilted her head in surprise, “specifically… emerald green.”

"Yeah... that's exactly it," Amina confirmed with a small smile, her gaze softening as she looked at the man behind the counter.

The man grinned, his eyes twinkling with amusement at Amina's response. "Well, I do have a talent for these things," he said with a wink, handing over the drink carrier filled with steaming cups of hot chocolate to Omega, “my brother and I even found some fire emeralds years ago on Danjand.”

“You found fire emeralds?” Amina asked, shocked. “Those… are incredibly rare. And worth a lot of credits.” Omega grabbed the drink carrier and made her way back over to Hunter and Wrecker, who were standing by a lamppost.

"But why are you living here if you found fire emeralds?" Amina couldn't help but ask, her curiosity getting the better of her as she leaned closer to the counter, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

He shrugged, “we left them in the mine. Never actually took them. The natives on Danjand believe they hold mystic properties, so it didn’t feel right to take them.”

Omega happily handed out the drinks to Wrecker and placed the drink carrier on the bench nearby holding the other 3 drinks, for Amina, Crosshair, and Amellia.

Hunter looked behind Omega, watching for Amina. “Omega, where is Amina?”

“Oh, she’s talking to the guy at the stand.”

As Hunter scanned the crowd for Amina, Omega's response caught his attention. "Talking to the guy at the stand?" he echoed.

Crosshair and Amellia made their way over as Omega handed them their drinks, “someone’s jealous.” Crosshair smirked.

Hunter glanced over at Crosshair, “I am not jealous. Amina can talk to whoever she likes.”

Wrecker's booming laughter filled the air as he playfully patted Hunter's back, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I don't know about that, boss," he teased, his voice laced with amusement as he glanced between Hunter and the bustling crowd around them.

Hunter's brows furrowed in mild exasperation at Wrecker's teasing, though a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "There's nothing to be jealous about," he insisted, his tone firm yet laced with a hint of uncertainty.

Crosshair smirked knowingly at Hunter's response, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes as he leaned against the nearby lamppost. "Sure, Hunter," he remarked dryly, his voice tinged with amusement. "If you say so."

Omega looked up at Hunter, “maybe you should just go over there if it’s bothering you. He was only talking to her about emeralds.”

He muttered a “fine” as he handed the drink to Wrecker and made his way over to the stand. As he got closer, he noticed that she had grinned at something the man had said.

"Hey there," Hunter greeted as he reached Amina's side, his voice warm with affection as he slid an arm around her waist. "What's got you grinning like that?"

Amina turned to him with a smile, her eyes alight with happiness at the sight of her husband. "Oh, nothing much," she replied casually, her gaze flickering to the man behind the counter before returning to Hunter. "Just chatting with our friend here about emeralds."

The man grinned at Hunter's approach, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he greeted him warmly. "Ah, the man of the hour," he remarked with a playful wink. "Your lovely wife here was just telling me about the time you all went to Skara Nal."

“Yeah, fun times. Mind if I steal my wife?” Hunter said, as the man nodded. Hunter led them away from the stand and away from the festival.

“Hey, everything okay?” Amina asked. Hunter hummed as they arrived at their house, “it’s not your senses, is it? Are you feeling overwhelmed?” Amina continued, as he unlocked the door.

"Everything's fine, Amina," Hunter reassured her as they stepped into their house, his voice carrying a hint of tension beneath its calm surface. "I'm not feeling overwhelmed, don't worry about it."

Amina studied him for a moment, her brow furrowing with concern as she took in his demeanor. "Are you sure?" she pressed gently, her voice laced with worry. "You seemed a little off back there at the festival."

Hunter sighed, running a hand through his hair as he stepped inside their bedroom, Amina following closely behind.

Amina tilted her head, concern etched across her features. "Hunter, talk to me. What's really going on?"

He took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "It's just... seeing you with that guy at the stand. I know it's stupid, but it made me feel... I don't know, a little jealous."

Amina's eyes widened slightly, then softened. She stepped closer, placing a hand on his chest. "Jealous? Hunter, you have nothing to worry about. You know you're the only one for me."

Hunter's gaze softened as he looked at her, appreciating the sincerity in her eyes. "I know that, Amina. I do. It's just... seeing you smile like that with someone else. It got to me.”

“Are you mad? Frustrated?” She slyly grinned, “do you need to get out your emotions?”

"Mad? Frustrated? No," Hunter replied, his voice low and husky as he stepped closer to Amina, his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. "But I do need to let off some steam."

Amina's lips curled into a playful grin as she met his gaze head-on, her heart racing with anticipation. "Well then, by all means," she teased, her voice laced with a hint of mischief as she reached up to trace a finger along the collar of his shirt. "Don't hold back."

With a low growl, Hunter closed the distance between them in a single stride, his hands finding purchase on her hips as he pulled her flush against him. The heat of his body pressed against hers sent a surge of desire coursing through Amina's veins, her breath catching in her throat as she felt his hardness pressing against her.

"Maker, they were right," Hunter murmured, his voice rough with desire as he trailed hot kisses along her jawline, his hands roaming over the curves of her body with a possessiveness that made her head spin. "I am jealous. Part of me wondered if you were doing it on purpose.”

Amina's fingers tangled in his hair as she tilted her head back, a soft moan escaping her lips as he found the sensitive spot just below her ear. "I wasn’t. But part of me wishes I was if this was the outcome.”

Hunter's eyes darkened with desire as he captured her lips in a searing kiss, his hands exploring the curves of her body with urgency. He pulled back slightly, his breath hot against her skin. "You're playing with fire, Amina," he warned, his voice low and gravelly.

"Maybe I like the burn," Amina replied, her voice a sultry whisper as she met his gaze.

Hunter's grip tightened on her hips as he spun her around, pressing her against the bedroom wall. His hands roamed over her blue dress, feeling the fabric beneath his fingers as he slowly started to unbutton it. "This dress," he murmured, his lips brushing against her ear. "It's driving me crazy."

Amina smirked, her heart racing. "Then what are you going to do about it?" He turned her around to face him as his hands brushed her shoulders, her dress dropping to the floor.

With a growl, Hunter lifted her up, her legs wrapping around his waist instinctively. He carried her over to the bed, setting her down gently before stepping back to admire the sight of her. "Stay right there," he commanded, his voice firm as he reached up to untie his red bandana.

Amina watched, breathless, as he approached her with the bandana in hand. He climbed onto the bed, straddling her hips as he leaned in close. "Give me your wrists," he instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument.

She obeyed, lifting her arms above her head. Hunter tied her wrists to the headboard, securing the knot with practiced ease. He leaned back, admiring his handiwork before reaching for his vibroblade.

Amina's breath hitched as he slid the blade under the waistband of her white underwear, the cool metal brushing against her skin. With a quick, precise motion, he cut through the fabric, tossing it aside. "No more distractions," he growled, his eyes blazing with intensity.

Hunter leaned down, capturing her lips in a fierce kiss as his hand trailed down her body, his fingers teasing her sensitive flesh. Amina's moans filled the room as he pressed the handle of the vibroblade against her, the cool metal contrasting with the heat of her arousal.

"You like that, don't you?" Hunter's voice was a rough whisper, his lips brushing against her ear.

Amina's breath came in short gasps, her wrists straining against the makeshift bindings. "Yes," she managed to whisper, her voice trembling with anticipation.

Hunter's smirk widened as he trailed his fingers down her body, his touch feather-light but charged with electricity. "Good," he murmured, his hand pausing at her hip.

He pressed the handle of the vibroblade further inside her, moving it slowly, teasingly. Amina's back arched in response, her eyes fluttering shut as a soft moan escaped her lips.

"Look at me," Hunter demanded, his tone commanding.

Amina's eyes snapped open, meeting his intense gaze. The heat in his eyes made her shiver, and she could feel her desire pooling deep within her.

"That's better," he growled, leaning down to capture her lips in a searing kiss. His hand continued to move, the vibroblade's handle pressing against her most sensitive spot.

Amina's hips bucked involuntarily, her body responding to his touch with a mind of its own. The vibroblade's handle moved inside her with slow, deliberate precision, eliciting a deep, breathy moan from her lips. Hunter's intense gaze never left her face, watching every flicker of pleasure that crossed her features.

"That's right," Hunter growled, his voice rough and full of desire. "You like this, don't you? You like me fucking you with my blade."

"Yes," Amina gasped, her eyes half-lidded with lust. "I love it."

Hunter's smirk widened as he increased the pressure, moving the handle in and out of her with a steady rhythm. "Good girl," he murmured, his tone dripping with satisfaction. "Take it all."

Amina's back arched off the bed, her wrists straining against the bandana binding her to the headboard. The sensation was overwhelming, and she could feel herself nearing the edge. "Hunter, please," she whimpered, her voice trembling.

"Please what?" Hunter's voice was teasing, almost mocking. "Use your words, Amina."

"Please, I need more," she begged, her hips moving in sync with his motions. "I need you."

Hunter leaned in, capturing her lips in a fierce, possessive kiss. His free hand roamed over her body, caressing her breasts, pinching her nipples. "You'll get me when I decide you're ready," he whispered against her lips, his voice sending shivers down her spine.

Amina's eyes fluttered open, meeting Hunter's gaze. "Please, Hunter," she whimpered, her voice breaking with need. "I need you."

Hunter's expression softened slightly, though his intensity remained. "Not yet, Amina," he murmured, his voice firm. "You need to come for me first."

Her breath hitched, and she arched her back, pushing her hips against the vibroblade's handle. "I... I can't," she gasped, her body trembling with the effort.

Hunter's eyes narrowed, and he leaned in closer, his breath hot against her ear. "Yes, you can," he growled. "You're going to come for me, and you're going to do it now."

Amina's moans grew louder, her body writhing beneath him. The pressure was building, the pleasure overwhelming. "Hunter, please," she begged, her voice a desperate plea.

Hunter's grip tightened on the vibroblade's handle, increasing the intensity of his movements. "Come for me, sweetheart," he commanded, his voice low and insistent.

With a cry, Amina's body tensed, and she came hard, her pussy clenching around the handle. Her moans filled the room, a symphony of pleasure that echoed in Hunter's ears.

Hunter's eyes glinted with satisfaction as he watched her orgasm rip through her. He loved seeing her like this, completely undone and at his mercy. "That's it, sweetheart," he murmured, slowly easing the handle out of her. "You did so well."

Amina's breathing was ragged, her body trembling with the aftershocks of her climax. She looked up at Hunter, her eyes heavy with desire and satisfaction. "Hunter," she whispered, her voice shaky.

Hunter smirked, his eyes never leaving hers as he tossed the vibroblade aside. "We're not done yet, Amina," he said, his voice low and rough. "I need to feel you around me."

He reached down, quickly pulling off his black shirt and tossing it to the floor. His tan cargo pants followed, along with his boxers.

Hunter climbed back onto the bed, positioning himself between her legs. He leaned down, capturing her lips in a searing kiss as his hands roamed over her body. "You're so beautiful," he murmured against her lips. "And you're mine."

Amina's heart raced at his possessive words, her body aching for him. "Yes, Hunter," she whispered. "I'm yours."

"Ready for me, sweetheart?" Hunter asked, his voice a low growl.

"Yes," Amina breathed, her body arching towards him. "Please, Hunter. I need you."

Hunter positioned himself at her entrance, the tip of his cock brushing against her wet folds. He leaned down, his lips brushing against her ear. "This is what you wanted, isn't it?" he whispered. "To be fucked by me, hard and rough."

"Yes," Amina moaned, her hips lifting to meet him. "Please, Hunter. Fuck me."

With a low growl, Hunter thrust into her, filling her completely. Amina cried out, her body arching against him as he buried himself deep inside her. "Maker, you're so tight," he groaned, his hands gripping her hips.

Amina's moans filled the room as Hunter set a rough, relentless pace. His cock stretched her, filling her so completely that she could feel every inch of him. Her wrists strained against the bandana binding her to the headboard, her body writhing beneath him.

"You're so kriffing perfect," Hunter growled, his voice low and rough. "Taking me so well."

Amina's head fell back, her eyes closing as the pleasure overwhelmed her. "Hunter," she moaned, her voice breathless. "Don't stop."

"I don't plan to," Hunter replied, his grip on her hips tightening. He thrust into her harder, deeper, each movement eliciting a gasp or a moan from Amina. He loved seeing her like this, completely at his mercy, lost in the pleasure he was giving her.

Hunter's hand slid up her body, wrapping around her throat gently but firmly. "You feel so good," he whispered, his thumb brushing against her jaw. "I love fucking you."

Amina's breath hitched, her body shivering at his words. "I love it too," she whispered, her voice trembling.

"Good," Hunter growled, his grip tightening slightly. "Because I'm not stopping until I've had my fill."

He kissed her fiercely, his hand moving from her throat to her mouth. His fingers slipped between her lips, pressing against her tongue. "Suck," he commanded, his voice rough with desire.

Amina obeyed, her lips closing around his fingers. Her tongue swirled around them, and she moaned at the taste of him, her body shuddering with need. Hunter's eyes darkened with lust as he watched her, his cock twitching inside her. "Good girl," he murmured, his voice low and rough. "You're so kriffing perfect."

Hunter pulled his fingers from her mouth, a string of saliva connecting them briefly before breaking. He trailed his hand down her body, caressing her scars and leaving a path of heat in its wake. "You look so beautiful like this," he said, his voice thick with desire. "Tied up and begging for me."

Amina's breath hitched, her body arching towards him. "Baby, please," she whimpered, her voice trembling with need.

Hunter's grip on her hips tightened, his pace quickening. "I know, cyar’ika," he growled, his voice a low rumble. "And you're going to get exactly what you need."

With a low, primal growl, Hunter thrust into her harder, the sound of their bodies colliding filling the room. Amina's moans grew louder, her body trembling with the intensity of his thrusts. "Hunter," she gasped, her eyes fluttering shut. "I can't... it's too much..."

"You can take it," Hunter replied, his voice firm. "You're my good girl, remember? You can take everything I give you."

Amina's body responded to his words, her hips lifting to meet his thrusts. "Yes," she moaned, her voice breathless.

Hunter's eyes blazed with satisfaction as he continued to fuck her, his hand wrapping around her throat once more. "That's right," he growled, his grip firm but not painful. "You're mine, and I'm going to make sure you never forget it."

Amina's breath came in short gasps, her body writhing beneath him. "Hunter," she whimpered, her voice a desperate plea. "I'm close..."

Hunter's grip tightened slightly, his pace relentless. "Come for me, sweetheart," he commanded, his voice rough with desire. "I want to feel you come around my cock."

Amina's body tensed, her moans growing louder as she neared the edge. "Hunter, please," she begged, her voice trembling. "I'm so close..."

"Do it," Hunter growled, his eyes locked onto hers. "Come for me, Amina."

With a cry, Amina's body tensed, and she came hard, her pussy clenching around his cock. Her moans filled the room, a symphony of pleasure that echoed in Hunter's ears. Hunter's eyes glinted with satisfaction as he felt her orgasm rip through her, her body shuddering beneath him.

"That's it, sweetheart," Hunter murmured, his voice a low growl. "You did so well." Amina's breathing was ragged, her body trembling with the aftershocks of her climax. She looked up at Hunter, her eyes heavy with desire and satisfaction.

Hunter's expression softened slightly, though his intensity remained. "I'm not done with you yet," he said, his voice low and rough. "I need to feel you come again."

Amina's eyes widened slightly, her body shivering with anticipation. "Again?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

Hunter's eyes darkened with determination. He leaned down, capturing her lips in a fierce kiss. His hand moved to her throat, gripping it gently but firmly. "You're going to come for me again," he growled against her lips, his voice rough with desire. "And you're going to do it because I command it."

Amina's heart raced at his words, her body responding to his touch. "Yes, Hunter," she whispered, her voice breathless. "I'll come for you."

Hunter's smirk widened as he pulled back slightly, his eyes locking onto hers. "Good girl," he murmured, his voice filled with satisfaction. "Now, let's see just how many times I can make you come tonight."

With that, he thrust into her again, his movements rough and relentless. Amina's moans filled the room, her body writhing beneath him. "Hunter," she gasped, her voice a desperate plea. "I can't... it's too much..."

"You can take it," Hunter replied, his grip on her throat tightening slightly. "You're my good girl, remember? You can take everything I give you."

Amina's body responded to his words, her hips lifting to meet his thrusts. "Yes," she moaned, her voice breathless. "I'm your…” her words trailed off into a whimper, unable to finish what she was saying.

Hunter's eyes blazed with satisfaction as he continued to fuck her, his pace quickening. "That's right," he growled, his voice a low rumble. "You're mine, and I'm going to make sure you never forget it."

Amina's breath hitched, her body arching towards him. "Hunter, please," she whimpered, her voice trembling. "I'm so close..."

"Then come for me," Hunter commanded, his voice firm. "I want to feel you come around my cock again."

With a cry, Amina's body tensed, pleasure building to an unbearable peak. She felt like she was on the edge of a cliff, teetering on the brink of oblivion. And then, with a shudder, she toppled over, her orgasm crashing over her like a tidal wave.

Hunter's eyes glinted with satisfaction as he felt her clench around him, her walls pulsing with ecstasy. He could feel her warmth enveloping him, drawing him deeper into her embrace. "That's it," he murmured, his voice low and husky. "Let go for me, Amina."

Amina's breath came in short gasps as she rode out the waves of pleasure, her body writhing beneath him. Hunter watched her with a mixture of awe and desire, his own need burning hot within him. He wanted to consume her, to devour her, to lose himself in the fire of their passion.

As Amina's orgasm subsided, Hunter slowed down brushing a stray piece of hair off her face. “You remember your safe word?” She nodded, slowly opening her eyes. “Good, because you have a long night ahead of you.”

tags: @callsign-denmark

[deforest]

considering i had anorex*a-induced amenorrhea for YEARS—on account of being a skeletal 80lbs at 5’8” at my worst point—i am in all seriousness so grateful to have my period back bc i know it means im healthy and stable and that my organs are working rather than shutting down acutely and that my risk for so many fatal problems has sharply decreased since the days i was told i was menopausal at 21……so even in my most frustrated moments this week i must….remind myself……that this bloating……is a gift 🫠

[gen-x-genderqueer]

I have a pre-intake call with someone at the gender clinic tomorrow, they have care coordinators, so I guess this is about that. Anyway, I'm making a list of concerns. This is long and pretty personal, so it's going to go under a cut....

The Major Problems

My PMDD is bad. This is the biggest reason why my therapist is pushing me to at least talk to someone about hormones. I had a history of being seriously suicidal (as in actual attempts) when I was a teenager and then things settled down for a while. Now that I'm actually going through perimenopause though, it's gotten really unstable. The level of PMDD I'm having right now is close to that bad; although I have better coping tactics so I'm not actually suicidal.

My cycles are often 18-21 days long, sometimes as short as 16 or 17. Even with two LONG cycles (over 36 days), I still had 15 cycles in 2022. That means 15 rounds of severe PMDD.

I am experiencing "vaginal dryness" (more specifically vulval dryness) that periodically makes me feel like I'm about to come down with a UTI. Ick.

Hot flashes.

Based on the PMDD alone, I think it would probably be a good idea to shut down my cycles (at the ovarian level, so not uterine ablation). Probably this means some sort of oral contraception, progesterone minipill or testosterone. But the last two symptoms are usually treated with estrogen so... I don't really know this is where I need a doctor who has more knowledge & expertise.

The Big T

Part of why I'm specifically looking at going to a gender clinic for treatment is that I want to be able to talk to them about T. I had always said "Oh, if I had known that I could be nonbinary and take T when I was 25 I would have totally done that." But I'm also really resistant to medicalization, and without any other motivators, I really would rather just not see a doctor. At all. (OK, maybe if I have pneumonia or a UTI.) This was a major reason why I put off having breast reduction surgery for many years, I just didn't want to have medical care if I didn't absolutely have to.

Anyway... back to the question at hand... If I need to see someone for perimenopause reasons, then I want it to be someone I can talk to about low dose testosterone without them running away screaming. Apparently, using small amounts of T in menopausal cisgender women is useful, but controversial because everyone is so worried about "masculinization." Like... No. I'm really not worried about that. But I don't want to have to sit in a sterile little medical room and have to educate my provider.

So, here's how I feel about possible effects of T...

Menstrual cessation: Uh... see above! This would be a good thing.

Voice changes: YES PLEASE! This would be my number 1 positive!

Bottom growth: I would be into this, but it wouldn't be a major goal.

Facial/body hair: This one I'm kinda on the fence about. I mostly do not want facial hair for the sole reason that I pull it out with my fingernails. It's not a healthy fidget. 😬 Hair other places, I'm cool with it, I don't really care that much. Right now, I choose to shave my armpits, but literally only because I feel like antiperspirant works better if I do and I don't like damp pits.

Hair loss: Oh HELL NO! And this is a huge one because I'm old enough that if I was a cisgender guy, I would be having hair loss right now. Big no on having that happen.

Body changes: Look, I work out. I lift heavy. I already have a good deal of muscle and I'd be stoked to increase that. (If you didn't know I was a GenX gymrat before, the word "stoked" would be a major clue.) Changes in bodyfat distribution are more ho-hum. I'm not dysphoric about my butt or anything, but I'd be OK with subtle changes.

Facial structure/jawline changes: I'm alright with this. I might be more enthusiastic if I understood what it will look like on me.

Vaginal dryness/atrophy: Uh... I'm already on the road to this and it's one of the reasons I'm seeking perimenopause care. So this is going to need to get dealt with one way or another.

[living-with-pmd]

11 Women With PMDD Share What It's Really Like

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is the evil cousin of PMS. They share the same types of symptoms—moodiness, increased hunger, cravings, fatigue, cramps, pain, brain fog, and depression, among others—but for PMDD sufferers, those symptoms get so bad they can cripple a woman's ability to lead a normal life.  

While up to 85 percent of women get PMS, according to the US Department of Health, only about 5 percent of women experience PMDD, according to the American Journal of Psychiatry.

We asked women with PMDD what it's really like living with the disorder. Here are their stories:

"I was diagnosed with PMDD last summer. Six months prior to my diagnosis, I started taking a certain birth control and soon every month I was experiencing severe PMS issues. I am a generally happy person, but during those few days I was someone entirely different. I was extremely depressed and anxious, having much more frequent panic attacks, and was super sensitive and lonely. I was even suicidal, which was terrifying. And the worst part was I was convinced that I had always been this miserable, and that I would always be this miserable, and it was never going to change. It felt as if someone had completely burned out the light in me and all happiness and joy and hope was gone. I didn't make the connection that it was related to my period but thankfully a close friend did. I have since switched birth control, which helped a lot, and increased the dosage of my anti-anxiety and anti-depressant meds. Most importantly, I am aware of the way I feel those few days so I know to expect it, and I can logically remind myself that I will stop feeling that way soon. Looking back, I realize that I've probably always had pretty bad PMS or PMDD. The birth control worsened it but it was also causing a lot of issues I wasn't aware of previously as well." —Katherine H., 22, Edmonds, WA

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"PMDD is out of control. I cry really easily for about a week. My biggest issue is that I am convinced that I am failing at everything—being a wife, a mom, work projects, fitness, my whole life! And even though it feels so real I constantly have to question if my feelings are valid or if they are amplified by my cycle. I just set an alert in my phone to remind me to consider my hormones the next time I feel that way." —Krysten B., 32, Toronto, CA

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"A week before my period, I become a complete psycho, completely unlike myself. I'm tearful, want to eat everything that's sweet or salty, have absolutely no tolerance for anything other than perfection, and prefer to be left completely alone. I already take an antidepressant but my PMDD was a complete nightmare so my doctor gave me Prozac to take for just 10 days a month. Basically, I start it when I start to get that irrational feeling and keeping taking it until my period starts. And that's just the emotional stuff. On the physical side, I have debilitating cramps, backaches, and headaches that last for days. Yep. I'm a peach." —Kristen L., 40, Knoxville, TN

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"In the past, PMDD almost made me suicidal and totally broke my spirit. Yes it wasthat bad. Every month. Eventually I got tired of being a 'crazy PMS woman' and decided I needed to fix this. Since I don't like to take pharmaceuticals, I branched out to homeopathic remedies and I discovered St. John's Wort and essential oils, especially clary sage and Doterra Calm-Its. It's a lot better now but I still have my hard days." —Amy S., 43, Zebulon, NC

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"My PMDD got so bad I had to go to a psychiatrist and be put on Prozac along with another antidepressant I was already taking. I was a mess—anxious, crying randomly over the smallest thing, and eating everything in sight. One example is someone made a YouTube mashup of the Age of Ultron trailers with Pinocchio footage and the 'I've got no strings on me' song and that wrecked me for weeks. Every time I thought about scenes from Pinocchio I would start panicking and crying at my work desk. It's been a few years and I'm better now. I'm off birth control and weening myself off the Prozac. I notice a week before my period I will sob during any sad part in a movie or book I'm reading, and a day or two before, I notice I'm more likely to be anxious." —Kate W., 36, Alaska

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"This has impacted my ability to work effectively. My pet peeve is when people say 'it must be close to your time of the month' when they simply don't like what I'm saying. I have run into that problem a lot at previous jobs and it makes it really hard to be taken seriously. It's bullshit because my feelings are valid regardless and also PMDD is not a joke. I am so lucky now to have a male boss who understands but it wasn't always that way. I have also have found a lot of relief with naturopathic and herbal remedies." —Amalia F., 28, Vancouver, Canada

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"My PMS was tolerable until my second child was born and then everything went off the rails. I'd be looking forward to plans with others, happy, and then about 10 to 14 days before my flow would start, my mood would turn on a dime. I'd be horrible—crying, screaming that ~nobody understands~, just so much emotional pain. I'd basically lock myself up in the bedroom for a full day to cry, get angry, and feel sorry for myself. It took three doctors before I finally found one who would listen to me before I was finally diagnosed with PMDD. I took Prozac for three years for it but it made me feel numb, like a zombie and not like myself. So I quit and my family just deals with me now. As I've gotten closer to menopause the PMDD is not as bad, but can be very unpredictable due to hormonal swings from perimenopause. The worst part now is I feel like my friendships have suffered. I always seem to have episodes around major holidays and events and I end up bumming everyone out if I do show up so I end up staying home a lot." —Colleen T., 50, St. Paul, MN

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"I'm overly emotional for the week before my period. Saying that makes it sound like it's not that bad but I get so distraught that my fiance has actually scheduled it in his phone as 'blood sport' to remind himself what's coming. I'm thankful that he's patient because I also feel like everyone hates me that week, too." —Kenlie T., 36, New Orleans, LA

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"All month long I'm fine and feel even and calm and then suddenly, the week before my period, I can't handle even the tiniest little thing. My irritability goes through the roof (which is not great since I have a 5-year-old) and I feel like I have no friends. It really makes me sad." —Jessica S., 28, Broomfield, CO

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"I know my period is coming because all of a sudden all of my joints hurt, especially my knees and ankles. I also get crazy gnarly cramps and once I even had a cyst that ruptured while I was on a date and the guy had to take me to the hospital! It was so embarrassing. Thankfully my husband now is very understanding when this time rolls around each month. The worst part is people who just think I make this stuff up. Some months are better than others and sometimes the pain is completely debilitating! My emotions are also a rollercoaster. Anytime I see something cute or inspiring, I burst into tears." —Ivie C., 21, Rexburg, ID

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"My PMDD manifests in both mental and physical symptoms. From the time I got my period at age 12, I've had extreme cramps and heavy bleeding. I'd leak at school through a super maxi pad every class so I'd tie sweatshirts around my waist and have to scrub my clothes when I got home. It was super humiliating. I'd have to take six to eight ibuprofen at a time to deal with cramps, and if I didn't I'd end up on the floor sweating like I had the flu. Sometimes I'd even throw up. This meant I ended up spending a lot of time sick in bathrooms and knew where every restroom was at all times. Birth control helped manage the PMDD and other issues, but as soon as I was done having kids, I had a hysterectomy. That was the best thing I've ever done." —Mandy P., 39, Mendon, UT

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a19972132/premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder/

[boxesmanufacturers]

plastic shake water bottle suppliers Siegfried

I promote using a bipolar magnetic water wand to magnetise water. It will be decades before the science of magnetized water is fully understood.

There is a long history of the promotion of magnets to improve the quality and health benefits of water.

Some very exciting research done in Hungary has shown that these clusters actually have a memory and can remember and carry an imprint of the magnetic energy they have been exposed to either simply from the earth’s magnetic field or through flowing over paramagnetic rock. Proceedings, pp. Doctors, scientists, researchers and natural healers all agree that drinking enough water on a daily basis can help plastic foldable washbasins factory maintain good health and likely help fight disease. Researchers found that when a permanent medical magnet is kept in contact with water, the water gets magnetically charged and acquires magnetic properties.

The magnetic water wand is 14cm (5¾ inch) long and looks like a pen with a ceramic ball at the end. It is perhaps reasonable to assume that if scientific studies on animals have proven that magnetized water has health benefits, then it should also be beneficial to humans. It is a quick, efficient, simple and cost effective method. You can magnetise any cold fluid with the water wand!

. Those in mainstream medicine may discount magnetized water as "quackery". 400- 07 )

Here’s a list of all the claims of the potential benefits of drinking magnetic water:

- Magnetized water tastes sweeter and has more clarity. Because you are actually placing the magnets directly into the water the magnetic field penetrates the water extremely quickly.

Can water be magnetised?

Many of us understand our basic need to drink clean, healthy water.

The most efficient way to magnetise drinking water. However, so far there have been no systematic, clinical trials done to prove or disprove the healing effects of magnetized water in humans. Water has a dipole moment and is, therefore, subject to paramagnetism. Water in living systems naturally gathers into structures of 14, 17, 21, 196, 280, or more molecules (Mikesell, 1985; Davis, 2004). (Zhalko-Tytarenko, Olga, et al. Also, when water is magnetically treated, more hydroxyl (OH-) ions are created to form alkaline molecules, and reduce acidity. Nakagawa and K.

Research has shown that it is possible to regenerate water to its original healthy state by magnetizing it. Since opposite electrical charges attract, water molecules tend to attract each other (Kegley and Andrews, 1998). Endogenous electromagnetic field influence on the free energy of hydrogen bond formation in water. (Gursche, plastic shake water bottle suppliers Siegfried and Rona, Zoltan. Ikezoe, N. A water molecule consists of two hydrogen atoms and an oxygen atom., Burnaby, Canada, 1997, pp. All our biological functions including circulation, digestion, absorption, and excretion depend on water. It is the fact that this memory is destroyed on the way to the tap which renders our drinking water lifeless. If one understands and accepts that each of our cells possesses a small magnetic field, as many research studies are now supporting, the logical conclusion that magnetic water has the ability to affect our cells must be taken seriously. It is now clear that water has a very definite structure. 23-27 ). Normal water has a pH level of about 7, whereas magnetized water tends to be more alkaline. The long lasting, lime scale resistant rhodium coating protects the 2 bipolar, magnets inside, totalling 2300 gauss (230 m Tesla).

Remember, you don’t have to drink ONLY water. Because of the electron configuration of the molecule the hydrogen atoms tend to attract other water molecules resulting in the formation of clusters which can contain anywhere from four to hundreds of water molecules each.

The health benefits of drinking magnetic water. But what actually is healthy water, and why do we need it?

We are over 70% water. Encyclopedia of Natural Healing. Here’s some more data about the water wand. - Magnetic water revitalizes the body - Magnetic water provides positive effect on the autonomic nervous system - Magnetized water has been reported to help regulate the heart function and clear clogged arteries - Magnetic water has been beneficial for kidney ailments, gout, obesity and premature aging - Magnetic water may help relieve pain - Magnetic water infuses energy into the body, controls bacteria, and stimulates brain function. Such magnetically treated water affects the human body when taken internally and regularly for a considerable period of time (Lam, 2001).

Water is Paramagnetic meaning that it holds a magnetic charge.Paramagnetism occurs primarily in substances in which some or all of the individual atoms, ions, or molecules possess a permanent magnetic dipole moment. That in the forefront of magnetic research paints a different story. 2nd Advanced Water Sciences Symposium, Dallas, Texas, October 4-6, 1996. Most experts advise drinking at least a litre of water a day to assist in maintaining healthy skin and properly functioning kidneys, bowels, and circulation. Hirota, J. The bottom line is that structured or ionised or magnetised water can be formed using magnets (Mikesell, 1985).

In this article I will try to explain how magnetic water works. (At the University of Tokyo researchers were able to make water levitate using magnets (Source: NATURE .

Again, water molecules are dipolar. To magnetise a glass of water (200 - 250 ml), leave the magnetic wand for 10 to 15 minutes. Kitazawa, Making water levitate, Nature 393 (1998) 749-750).

Whether these claims are true or false remains to be tested by science. and to magnetise a litre, I recommend leaving the magnetic water wand for an hour.

Magnetized water is claimed to be energy-building, activating, cleansing and detoxifying. Alive Publishing, Inc. There are reports of people resolving bladder problems, recovering quickly from a stroke, alleviating arthritis pain and reducing blood pressure by drinking magnetized water. - Magnetic water promotes a more alkaline pH in the body - Magnetic water promotes healing of wounds and burns - Magnetic water has a therapeutic effect on digestive, nervous and urinary systems - Magnetic water may also be beneficial for fevers, sore throat, menstrual and menopause discomfort. First, I’ll talk about whether water can be magnetised or not, then a quick review of the possible health benefits you can gain from drinking magnetic water and finally the easiest and most effective method to magnetize water. Water is required for blood, the lymphatic system, and healthy skin and muscles

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hair vitamins for Dummies

My dilemma in your case is….compared to Ultrax, it would appear much less expensive to utilize a mix of Lipogaine Significant five and Nizoral. Is there a huge dropoff in outcomes by using the latter selection? We mentioned it previously: whilst numerous hair loss shampoos assert for being the actual offer, some fall within the facet of snake oil. It’s frequently tough to type throughout the numerous critiques to learn what’s pretend and what’s not. As https://www.facebook.com/steptoremedies/ know hair is mainly made up of proteins, and lack of protein will gradual the hair growth, and may even bring about brittle hair. Iron is an additional important nutrient for wholesome hair growth. I have menopause now my hair is thining and possess bald sopts any ideas for a home solution thank you. I’m inclined to employ Ultrax Labs’ Hair Surge. Am i able to utilize it day to day? I've oily hair and if I don’t wash my hair day to day, they look dirty And that i also don’t come to feel snug. - Samiksha Shambharkar. The technique at Labelle has changed my texture and high-quality. I now have a healthier and lengthy hair. Honest thanks to Labelle hair clinic for this transformation. Most hair and hair loss gurus agree that you can start utilizing hair loss shampoo as soon as you recognize a loss of hair. Effectively in excess of half of all Guys expertise hair loss by age 35 and several Some others by age 21. The underside line: there’s no rationale to attend. Baldness occurs if the stem cells stay inactive for a long time. But, with stem cell therapy, the very long lifeless hair follicles are stimulated to beat baldness. Besides topical growth treatments like Rogaine, the regular utilization of a top rated-rated shampoo for hair loss and regrowth can promote follicles, moisturize your scalp, end dandruff, and generally aid the growth of thicker and fuller hair although protecting against it from falling out. Pull exam. Your health care provider gently pulls quite a few dozen hairs to view the number of appear out. This can help establish the stage of the shedding system. While there is certainly some sign that a concoction of lavender oil, thyme, rosemary and cedar could be valuable, we nevertheless will need extra analysis to understand obviously. I colour my hair and constantly make use of a Sulfate-free of charge shampoo to retain the colour. Do have a selected instructed brand for shade addressed hair? No less than per month needless to say. But I’d always give at the very least 6 months ahead of I’d Consider any hair loss merchandise. Together with these essentials, this good quality shampoo is hypoallergenic, sulfate and paraben-absolutely free, and is manufactured without any harsh chemical substances or irritants. The outcome is always that it restores the natural pH equilibrium of one's scalp and stimulates growth.

5 Essential Elements For hair fall

Whilst factors such as age, genetics and hormones also have an affect on hair growth, optimal nutrient intake is essential. The most recent investigate exhibits that there's a Considerably larger than ordinary proportion of white blood cells (immune system cells) and antibody clusters (Immunoglobulin) within the hair follicles of young balding Gentlemen then Guys with full heads of hair. I am able to’t go into all the details in this article, but I would like to offer you a transient overview of the 2nd motive. HairLossRevolution.com owns and operates the Grogenix model. This website will make money by offering hair care products. The researchers powering this tests are currently pushing for phase three scientific tests on the drug, even though success from period two ended up definitely promising. The value of Nizoral is that it is a triple risk – it protect against hair loss and dandruff when comprehensively cleansing your hair and scalp and also blocking androgen receptors that can lead to thinning. If you think that your hair thinning or balding stems from lousy care, then Pure Biology can assist prevent even more hair loss and promote healthy growth. Supply. As will be to be envisioned, The mix treatment proved to generally be the simplest at enhancing hair count, and also hair mass (not revealed in the above mentioned graph). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA6vWbDFAZY ’re worried about dropping your hair, and you would like an easy and straightforward way to stop, and even reverse your hair loss with a hundred% certainty and good results fee. However, you'll find limitless merchandise in existence that assure unrealistic benefits, only to depart you let down. When exploring the very best shampoos for hair loss, here are a few components to keep in mind. I will reveal below the exact treatment to pinpoint the foods teams you will be allergic to and they are producing and rushing up your hair loss. Clearly ingesting more alkaline foods and less acidic kinds might help to shift the body back into it’s natural alkaline condition and safeguard the scalp from extra DHT. When you are seriously interested in therapeutic your microbiome, and also need to kick-commence the alkalisation course of action then I would really advise a vegetable juice fast detox. Looking at https://www.wikihow.com/Reduce-Hair-Loss grow naturally together your hairline, feeling the hair thicken, building up with just the occasional hair about the pillow are very motivating to carry on.

Top hair loss Secrets

Like with any hair loss solution, every one responds various to various persons. What will work for one might not function for an additional so for those who are going to pay for any hair loss merchandise, ensure You will find there's a refund warranty so you don't squander your hard earned money. so happy I'd stumbled on this site, fantastic recommendations inside the short article and within the comments.. many thanks ya’ll. Treatment is often solely behavioral. One has to note the actions and after that consciously quit. Serious or resistant scenarios may possibly demand strain counseling having a therapist or psychologist or medical treatment that has a psychiatrist. Several antidepressant or anti-nervousness prescription drugs may help using this type of affliction. It works internally, at the basis from the lead to. Therefore, via stepto remedies to read the full post during the front and top rated on the scalp don’t need to struggle off just about just as much DHT. These items is the real deal and the outcome won’t go unnoticed – just request the 5000+ reviewers on Amazon. Health-related specialists should distinguish hair loss from breakage in the hair shaft from hair loss due to diminished hair growth. Following replication, they inject it again into your scalp in which it is required. via steptoremedies.com has done a section one medical trial and can enroll a hundred and sixty male participants with mild to reasonable hair loss for his or her Section two demo. In other news RepliCel declared a investigation collaboration with College of British Columbia. They intention is to create a map with protein and gene expression of hair follicle cells that will help RepliCel even further enhance their mobile therapies i.e. hair loss avoidance merchandise. Alternatively, whisk an egg and add just one cup of milk, two tablespoons of additional-virgin olive oil, as well as juice from fifty percent a lemon to it. Implement it with your scalp and leave it on for twenty to 30 minutes prior to washing it out and shampooing your hair. Use warmth only when you Completely need to to get a Particular event. In any other case, Allow your hair air dry and magnificence it without the need of utilizing warmth instruments. Curry leaves are a typical cooking ingredient for folks native to India’s subtropical and tropical locations. The curry leaves are... As a kid I've applied Meera hair wash powder and it has constantly aided preserve hair problems at bay.Even so I'm worried to employ it once again lately as the standard has changed over time with addition of sulfates. Vegans and vegetarians commonly try to eat a lot less protein than meat eaters, because you will find less protein-significant options. In the event you’re vegan or vegetarian, shell out close attention towards your protein consumption to be sure you’re having just as much as you will need. You can find number of Negative effects with Rogaine. The main challenge using this treatment is the necessity to hold implementing it a few times each day, and most Gentlemen get Sick and tired of it just after some time. Additionally, minoxidil tends to work significantly less properly on the front of The pinnacle, which can be where baldness bothers most Adult males. Inadvertent software to your face or neck pores and skin could cause undesirable hair growth in All those regions. Common balding (androgenetic alopecia) happens in Males and women and it is due to impact of testosterone metabolites in genetically inclined hair follicles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXJPoD37NW8

This refers to the habitual pulling or twisting of one's possess hair. The scalp and eyelashes tend to be afflicted. Contrary to alopecia areata patches, which happen to be completely clean, hair patches in trichotillomania show broken-off hairs. Ultrax hair surge shampoo is surprisingly economical considering the benefits it provides. This shampoo was rated in 2016 as among the best shampoos for facilitating hair growth. The key here is micro blended caffeine. During https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-SiXXn3EKKI2t7btdwEplw , we insert two extra matters: pure honey and castile soap. Honey is a wonderful moisturiser and provides luster to uninteresting hair. While castile soap is really a natural cleaning soap made from plant oils and it is free of awful preservatives, colours and perfumes. So I acquired the aloe Vera juice, and only immediately after having back again home did I recognize you will discover preservatives in it. It has sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate. It also has some sorbitol. Find out how using a vitamin D deficiency can add to hair loss and what you are able to do to take care of healthy vitamin D levels in The body. Occasionally the immune method assaults only the hair bulb. In such a case, the hair follicles regenerate once the immune procedure is introduced under Manage. Given that the name indicates, this hair growth shampoo contains the key component as soya protein and it is ideal for conditioning of the hair and the scalp. Toni & Man is speculated to be one of several top notch firms for hair care and something which is a short while ago easily available during the Indian marketplaces. hair loss in women gained’t locate any sulfates, parabens, or other severe substances that can exacerbate hair loss With this product. The ingredients are all natural and holistic, for instance apple cider vinegar, black castor oil, Shea butter and keratin proteins. The Shea butter moisturizes the scalp and also the keratin strengthens the roots of the hair. In the majority of mild cases, sufferers can certainly address up or comb around the afflicted areas. In additional intense and Long-term situations, some clients have on hairpieces; nowadays, some men shave their complete scalp now that this search has become trendy. Recently, investigators have famous some valuable ends in tiny teams of people with extensive alopecia areata or alopecia totalis with a JAK1/two inhibitor, baricitinib (Olumiant). Prolonged-phrase studies are underneath way. Pregnancy may possibly cause several improvements from the scalp hair. Because the hormones fluctuate all through pregnancy, a lot of women really feel their hair thickens and will become fuller. We know that all hair loss is not really a result of biological variables which include aging. Most cases of delicate hair loss are brought on by environmental factors, like making use of shampoos with harsh and harmful chemical compounds like sulfates and parabens. Just Natural hair loss shampoo features a completely natural and organic formula that cleans hair without the usage of Terrible chemical substances. Anyone struggling from this problem may well lose all of the hair. This however is often a temporary affliction and the hair might grow again following a several years. Though there's no guarantee. Have you been performing ideal by your skin? Go ahead and take Skin and Makeup Quiz to find out how to take advantage of of your attractiveness program.

The 2-Minute Rule for hair loss

Questions abound regarding the efficiency of hair growth vitamins and health supplements, which includes The main 1: Do they work? Look into the evaluations of shoppers who attempted a particular product or service. Note, https://www.pinterest.com/healthhomeremedies/steptoremedies/ should be regarded with skepticism, but you have to be in a position to get a good idea of what products deliver effects and they are well-known sellers. Sure other lessons of medication may also market hair loss. Extra prevalent among the them are particular blood thinners as well as blood-tension prescription drugs often known as beta-blockers. Finasteride (manufacturer title Propecia) is definitely the closest to the hair loss cure capsule that scientists have uncovered up to now. This is the DHT hair loss cure. DHT is produced when 5 alpha reductase converts testosterone, and Propecia has actually been uncovered to get a powerful inhibitor of DHT by stopping this method from occurring. Glashofer states. However, this frequent taking part in and pulling can in fact strip your head of its natural defense: hair. Trichotillomania usually begins prior to the age of seventeen and it is four instances as widespread in women as in Adult men. We persuade you to definitely comment and Convey your view. It’s often a delight to hear your ideas, and also respond to any queries You may have. Hair affirmation is a robust Resource that assists you are worried fewer and treatment greater in your hair. You are able to develop your very own affirmation and visualize oneself obtaining it. Coconut oil will work the ideal for my type of hair. I have thick hair so if you have thick hair also I might advise to work with coconut oil. I observed cause about 2 weeks. They then will have to choose between two paths: therapeutic the skin (generating epidermis) or making hair. It is actually there exactly where Follica sees the window of possibility, the place they could stimulate the cells to do the latter and regenerate new plus more hair. As we know hair is especially composed of proteins, and lack of protein will slow the hair growth, and may even trigger brittle hair. Iron is yet another crucial nutrient for wholesome hair growth. Join our mailing listing and get the most up-to-date news about developments in hair loss prevention engineering. We keep our visitors up-to-date on what is Functioning, what's not, and what is around the horizon. I am on Birth Command, but I by no means realized how many facet has an effect on there are actually… I hope these assist, my hair I wan to grow it out a whole lot extended. Why you need to avoid hair dyes: Synthetic hair dyes contain severe chemical compounds for example ammonia, hydrogen peroxide,  p-phenylenediamine, which may irritate the scalp and lead to pressure on hair follicles. Risk-free to make use of on even probably the most delicate skin, this effective method stays on your scalp until all of the active elements – caffeine, ketoconazole, and saw palmetto – are absorbed. Consequently none of the product or service will go to waste or get washed away ahead of offering utmost therapy.

The best Side of hair growth shampoo

Your efforts to spice up hair growth will not likely enjoy good final results if you have fundamental problems just like a thyroid dysfunction, hormonal imbalance, Continual disease, or maybe a severe an infection. home remedies via steptoremedies retain our viewers current on what's Operating, what is actually not, and what's within the horizon. Regardless of whether or not it's a review of the next new issue, or progress towards a hair loss cure, you'll be the 1st to understand. Hi Domen, did https://en.search.wordpress.com/?src=organic&q=hair+regrowth accustomed to advise ArtNaturals Argan Oil shampoo? I bought this another working day as I shed all my hair as a result of chemo and drugs and even though it has grown back it is way thinner now. The way you brush your hair is additionally really significant as tough and consistent brushing can cause Actual physical damage to your hair. Be especially mindful any time you detangle damp hair, as maximum harm and hair loss can materialize then. With often oiling your hair and these natural tips may help you attain for a longer time hair only if you are dependable and affected person. As on your issue, I don’t think It might be a huge dropoff in the slightest degree. I suspect it would largely be described as a comfort aspect. In that scenario, I'd advise you employ Nizoral 2 times a week (e.g. on Wednesday and Sunday) and use Lipogaine Large five as your “typical” shampoo. You could stimulate hair growth by maintaining nutritious hair by way of a excellent diet plan and proper hair care. Certain herbs will help make your hair grow faster, also. Well-known hair growth items and natural remedies for hair loss Hair loss ordinarily takes place once the cycle of hair growth and hair shedding is disrupted. In addition, These are the key ingredients you should see in almost any shampoo that’s alleged to quit hair loss, promote growth and block the effects of testosterone on follicles. Saw Palmetto is a little plant that offers a lot of Positive aspects, one among which requires blocking five-alpha-reductase, an enzyme in the body that converts testosterone to DHT. The parents at Ultrax Labs are self-assured sufficient that you just’ll see final results from Hair Surge that they offer a ninety-working day a refund assure. They don’t make plenty of solutions – only three inside their overall portfolio – but they may have a firm perception in their formulation. No less than per month for sure. But I’d usually give a minimum of six months in advance of I’d evaluate any hair loss products. SLS is a standard ingredient in personalized care products and solutions like soaps, shampoos, and toothpaste. It’s an affordable and productive foaming agent. It might cause discomfort in uncommon situations, but it really shouldn’t be an issue for that vast majority. The shampoo includes one% ketoconazole and is similar value as Lipogaine, Utilised everyday, that may seem to get rid of the necessity for introducing Nizoral for the weekly routine. Curious to listen to Whatever you learn about that solution. Thanks once more!!! Since there are plenty of kinds of hair loss, acquiring the result in is often hard. This assessment will include the most typical will cause of hair loss developing on regular unscarred scalp pores and skin. The health-related phrase for hair loss is alopecia.

hair growth vitamins Things To Know Before You Buy

At the end of this segment I’ll provide you with why exercise routines and massages assistance to encourage blood circulation drastically and thereby may also help reverse (cure) hair loss. And In case your hair dry hair, frizzy with flyaways there’s a natural strategy to relaxed them down — use a depart-in conditioner. You don’t have to have any extravagant makes. We recommend the selfmade Variation in the Equilibrium Program. The Scalp Elixir can result in discomfort straight away pursuing a dermarolling session, so you ought to wait around at the least eight hrs ahead of making use of for the scalp. "I believed I'll by no means have healthy and thick hair. I failed to endure with my hair graft.. I bought the identical results, for less than a cup of espresso! I look and feel terrific!" Every time I lose hair -when oiling or combing- I affirm that a new and balanced hair will grow as an alternative. Considering that DHT is in a roundabout way inhibited, Consequently testosterone and DHT amounts in the human body are remaining unaffected. Of course, genes are concerned. (You’re additional likely to go bald if you father and your mom’s father and so forth. can also be bald.) But what is https://twitter.com/steptoremedies/ 's that it is a ‘genetic predisposition.’ What I’ve composed on this page to curing hair loss is only the start of the path to naturally regrowing your hair. Once again, oils like coconut and almond make an excellent leave-in conditioner. To utilize: Have a few drops of oil and rub it involving your palms and implement to damp or dry hair (averting the roots) and leave in. The catagen phase, often known as the transitional phase, will allow the follicle to, in a sense, renew itself. During this time, which lasts about two weeks, the hair follicle shrinks as a consequence of disintegration as well as papilla detaches and "rests," chopping the hair strand off from its nourishing blood source. Signals sent out by your body (that only selectively have an impact on 1 per cent of all hair of 1's overall body at any supplied time) identify if the anagen stage ends as well as the catagen phase starts. When you have been using great/sharp tooth plastic combs can be it’s time and energy to rethink a wood choice. And properly-performed Should you have currently carried out it Methods to use: You should utilize amla juice with coconut oil or amla oil for just a head therapeutic massage. It's also possible to incorporate some amla powder inside a hair mask. Could it be doable the delayed allergic reactions to specific foodstuff groups are contributing to an autoimmune response that brings about hair loss in Gentlemen? Do not forget that this is only one of some ways to grow again dropped hair. Lots of people uncover that they aren’t allergic to any particular food stuff teams which happens to be high-quality.

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Yashtimadhu

YASHTIMADHU BENEFITS and MEDICINAL USES

The primary advantageous impacts of Mulethi (Yashtimadhu) are on stomach related framework and respiratory framework. It helps in mitigating gastric indications like acid reflux, consuming sensation in the midsection, peptic and duodenal ulcer, stomach colic, GERD and persistent gastritis.

Aphthous ulcers or Mouth ulcers or Canker injuries

YASHTIMADHU can give 50 to 75% help from Aphthous ulcers inside one day and complete abatement of ulcers inside three days. (10)

Infection are a typical sort of mouth ulcers described by torment and delicacy. These are white or yellow in appearance encompassed by red region. Yashtimadhu water or tea decreases the agony and delicacy. Its wash is likewise compelling in lessening the size of infection.

Ulcerative colitis

Mulethi contains a Glabridin compound, which decreases colonic irritation. It can accelerate recuperating measure in excited mucosa and forestall ulceration of mucosa of the digestion tracts. (11, 12, 13)

In Ayurveda, It is utilized with Indian gooseberry, Bamboo Manna (vanshlochan) and Giloy satva for ulcerative colitis treatment.

Nonalcoholic greasy liver infection

Mulethi can help in nonalcoholic greasy liver infection. It decreases raised liver proteins. (14, 15)

As per Ayurveda, YASHTIMADHU is certainly not a powerful solution for liver sicknesses, yet it can help in this condition when taken with other hepatic defensive spices, for example, Punarnava, Bhringraj, Giloy, Patha and so on

Utilization of Mulethi in Cough

Mulethi is restoratively useful in sensitive throat, throat bothering, hack and bronchitis.

Yashtimadhu has expectorant properties. It additionally facilitates in hacking up the thick yellow sputum amassed in the lungs. Because of antibacterial properties, it additionally diminishes contamination of upper respiratory parcel. It decreases throat aggravation and helps in ongoing hack.

In Ayurveda, it is utilized in such conditions as follows:

Mulethi Churna 2 grams

Sitopaladi powder 2 grams

Honey 1 tsp.

Bronchitis and Asthma

Mulethi weakens the irritation of bronchi and relieves respiratory plot, in this way it helps in bronchitis. Because of calming impacts, it is viable in numerous incendiary sicknesses including bronchitis and joint pain. It can likewise be advantageous in unfavorably susceptible asthma, as per contemplates. (16, 17, 18)

In asthma, it very well may be utilized with Pushkarmool powder and nectar.

Elevated cholesterol

Mulethi has strength to diminish serum cholesterol levels and hepatic cholesterol. The conceivable activity of Yashtimadhu may be related with change of cholesterol into the bile. (19, 20)

Atherosclerosis

Mulethi root or mulethi has against atherosclerotic qualities. The impacts can be because of decrease of serum cholesterol and plaque development in the veins. Another cell reinforcement property can likewise potentiate its belongings in forestalling cardiovascular sicknesses. (21, 22, 23)

Chemicals

Mulethi is known for its consequences for adrenal organ. It further develops the adrenal organ capacities. It very well may be useful in individuals who take steroid drugs, since steroids stifle significant adrenal organ capacities and result in adrenal deficiency. It helps adrenal organ to recuperate its normal capacities and invigorates adrenal chemicals.

Jungle fever

Chinese licorice roots contain a compound named as LICOCHALCONE. It hinders the falciparum strain and its belongings are like chloroquine. The investigations have presumed that another disengaged licorice compound has powerful enemy of malarial properties. (24, 25)

Tuberculosis

LICOCHALCONE found in Chinese licorice roots has inhibitory impacts against myco-bacterial species. Nonetheless, further examinations are needed to research the aftereffects of licorice in tuberculosis, in spite of the fact that it can help in bacterial lung diseases. (26)

Sore throat

Rinse with YASHTIMADHU water or decoction diminishes throat aggravation, bothering and torment. The investigations have shown that yashtimadhu swish lessens rate of sore throat by half in post-extubation hacking and weakens postoperative sore throat. (27, 28, 29)

In Ayurveda, mulethi root powder is utilized in sensitive throat with nectar and sitopaldi churna.

High potassium levels

Some exploration examines presume that there are sure mixtures found in mulethi, that decline potassium levels in the blood. Consequently, it very well may be compelling in instances of high serum potassium in individuals with kidney infections and diabetes.

The principle cautioning is that it ought not utilized in cases with low potassium levels and high sodium levels. Else, it might result in cut off myopathy because of hypokalemia. (30)

Dermatitis

Mulethi glue, oil or gel application helps in dermatitis just as aggravated and irritated skin. Some natural creams and gel utilized for dermatitis treatment contain licorice remove. It decreases irritation, redness and growing. (31)

Its belongings have been mostly seen in stomach fit that happens during feminine cycle in ladies, however it can’t be intense to the point that it can work alone, so understanding may require different prescriptions as well.

It can likewise help forestalling muscle cramps in patients on hemodialysis. (32)

Osteoarthritis

In ayurvedic medication, Mulethi is utilized with Ashwagandha for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Numerous ayurvedic pain relieving arrangements contain yashtimadhu and ashwagandha as principle fixing.

Constant exhaustion condition (CFS)

Mulethi can assist patients with persistent exhaustion condition. This activity may be because of fortifying and cancer prevention agent exercises. (33)

Menopausal Hot Flashes

Studies recommend that Mulethi can diminish the seriousness and recurrence of hot glimmers during menopause. It is likewise well satisfactory and average in a large portion of the ladies. (34)

In Ayurveda, Yashtimadhu is utilized for decreasing menopausal side effects alongside SARASWATARISHTA and MUKTA PISHTI.

Oligospermia

Mulethi has cooling impact on the body, as per Ayurveda. It additionally has incredible fortifying and revival impacts. It is utilized with different spices to help spermatogenesis and nature of sperm.

Original Weakness

Be that as it may, Mulethi isn’t suggested in individuals with loss of moxie, yet it can help in men enduring with early release or original shortcoming . By and large, hyper-fervor or extreme touchiness is a reason for early release in men. It decreases unreasonable energy and along these lines helps in treating early release issues in men. Here and there, mind assumes a part in early release wherein yashtimadhu is likewise powerful.

Prostate hypertrophy or malignant growth

Mulethi is likewise utilized in prostate hypertrophy and prostate malignant growth, however its pertinent examinations are not yet accessible regarding this matter.

Stomach fat

Mulethi contains a few flavonoids, which decrease stomach fat aggregation. The examination proposes that it additionally has hypoglycemic impacts, so mulethi can profit in diabetes as well. (35)

It can likewise assist corpulent individuals with raised serum cholesterol levels. We have effectively talked about the impacts of yashtimadhu on cholesterol in heart wellbeing segment above.

MULETHI DOSAGE and ADMINISTRATION

The overall dose of Mulethi Churna (Yashtimadhu Powder) is as per the following.

Children 250 mg to 1.5 grams *

Adults 1 to 3 grams *

Greatest Possible Dosage 6 grams Per Day (in partitioned portions)

Twice Daily with Water, Lukewarm Milk or as suggested by doctor

Best Time to Take: Before Meal in stomach illnesses like gastritis, ulcer and so forth

Security PROFILE

Mulethi incidental effects happen in individuals with hypertension. By and large, it doesn’t will in general raise your pulse on the off chance that you don’t have history of hypertension. The incidental effects show up generally in cases taking high measurement of mulethi. Subsequently, it might POSSIBLY be SAFE in individuals having no set of experiences of hypertension. The measurement ought not surpass from 10 grams each day. You ought not burn-through mulethi more that a month consistently.

Incidental effects

Normal admission of mulethi is likewise not suggestible on the grounds that standard admission additionally brings about low potassium and high sodium in the body, which can cause liquid maintenance.

A couple of incidental effects are recorded here:

Hypertension

Low potassium in the blood

High sodium levels

Bloating*

Liquid retention*

*These impacts are uncommon and happen in the event that it is taken with milk or in unnatural structure like concentrate. Incidental effects happen just when it is taken for a while routinely.

Mulethi may build your circulatory strain, yet this impact is seen distinctly with measurements in excess of 10 grams each day. All examinations proposing this incidental effect are finished with the measurements over 50 grams to 200 grams each day, which is definitely not a restorative dose. The restorative measurement doesn’t surpass from 3 grams to 10 grams each day. (36, 37)

Glycyrrhetinic corrosive present in mulethi can bring about low potassium level in the blood and in this manner it can cause hypertension. This impact happens because of hindrance of renal 2-beta-hydroxysteroid de-hydrogenase and incitement of mineralocorticoid receptors by the glycyrrhetinic corrosive. (38, 39, 40)

These impacts vanish after licorice (mulethi) withdrawal inside three weeks and the circulatory strain returns to typical, as indicated by a report distributed in Journal of hypertension. (41)

Customary admission of mulethi causes hypermineralocorticoidism, which can bring about moderate hypertension and hypertensive YASHTIMADHU.

[decolonisemenstruation]

Extended Referrals List

Sexual & Reproductive Health Services List

Abortion helplines https://www.bpas.org/ - 0808 506 0904, phone lines open 7am-9pm https://www.mariestopes.org.uk/ - 0345 300 8090, 24-hour booking and advice line

Doctors of the World: Medical service for typically excluded communities  Medical service for typically excluded communities

Decolonise Contraception has a wide variety of projects and information. They have created a list of referral services, A guide to managing your sexual health and mental well-being during coronavirus (COVID-19) including but not limited too: What is coronavirus? What is self-isolation? What is social distancing? Busting myths. Can I have sex? STIs, HIV, PEP & PrEP, Contraception, Abortion Care, Periods, Endometriosis, Pregnancy Care, Menopause, Domestic Abuse Survivors, Mental Health 

FGM (Female genital mutilation) FORWARD: information on  Female genital mutilation

GET IT: Free condoms and advice for young people 

London in Your Language Period problems for English improvers YouTube Channel 

NHS Periods and fertility in the menstrual cycle 

National Sexual Health helpline Advice on sexual health, contraception, pregnancy, emotional health 0300 123 7123 Open 9am-8pm Monday to Friday

Menstrual Matters: Research-based menstrual health website and blog 

Refugees' and asylum seekers' entitlement to NHS care - Refugee and asylum seeker patient health toolkit

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

If you do not have any symptoms, you may be able to order a home STI testing kit from the following places, but your local sexual health clinic may also provide their own postal service:

• Sexual Health London – https://www.shl.uk/ (FREE)

• SH:24 – https://sh24.org.uk/ (FREE)

• Fettle – https://fettle.health/ (affordably priced)

SWARM (Sex Workers and Advocacy Collective Movement):

is a sex worker led collective based in the UK, who define sex workers as people who sell their own sexual labour or performance, or who have done so in the past. Available 24hrs a day, 7 days a week

Mental Health Support Services

Samaritans Talk to the Samaritans any time you like, in your own way, and off the record – about whatever’s getting to you. Tel: 116 123 (24 hours) Email jo@samaritans.org Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) Call 0800 58 58 58 – 5pm to midnight every day Visit the webchat page SOS Suicide of Silence – for everyone Call 0300 1020 505 – 9am to midnight every day Email support@sossilenceofsuicide.org Shout Crisis Text Line If you do not want to talk to someone over the phone, text line open 24 hours a day, every day. Text “SHOUT” to 85258

Talk to someone you trust Let family or friends know what's going on for you. They may be able to offer support and help keep you safe. There's no right or wrong way to talk about feelings – starting the conversation is what's important.

If you find it difficult to talk to someone you know, you could: call a GP – ask for an emergency appointment call 111 out of hours – they will help you find the support and help you need If you have seriously harmed yourself – for example, by taking a drug overdose – call 999 for an ambulance or go straight to A&E. Or ask someone to call or take you.

Support Services for survivors of gender-based violence

Safeline Safeline is a leading specialist charity for sexual abuse and rape. Supporting – offering counselling and support services for those who have been affected by the traumas that sexual abuse, rape and their associated issues reveal. Preventing – actively working towards stopping rape and sexual abuse from happening. https://www.safeline.org.uk

National Domestic Abuse Helpline (run by Refuge), 0808 2000 247

Rape Crisis Rape Crisis England & Wales is a national charity and the umbrella body for our network of independent member Rape Crisis Centres https://rapecrisis.org.uk/

Women and Girls’ Network Counselling and support to help women and girls recover from violence. Tel: 0808 801 0770

Samaritans Talk to the Samaritans any time you like, in your own way, and off the record – about whatever’s getting to you. Tel: 116 123 (24 hours)

Victim Support Free and confidential support to help you deal with your experience,whether or not you report the crime. Also supports witnesses of crime. Tel: 0808 168 9111

The Havens (Sexual Assault Referral Centre): Urgent advice/appointments – 020 3299 6900, https://www.thehavens.org.uk/

Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (RASASC) (South London Rape Crisis): National Helpline – 0808 802 9999, 12-14.30pm and 19:00-21:30 daily – http://www.rasasc.org.uk/

Specialist Support Services for survivors of gender-based violence

Survivors UK (National) Information, support and counselling for men and boys (18+) who have been raped or sexually abused. Helpline Web Chat Monday – Friday 10am – 9pm, Saturday – Sunday 10am – 6pm; Contact the National Male Helpline: 0808 800 5005

Galop is a charity that supports lesbian, gay, bi, trans, and queer people affected by sexual and domestic violence. They run London and National phone helpline as as well as an online chat service Saturday & Sunday: 15:00 – 19:00

Respond Helps children and adults with learning disabilities who have experienced abuse or trauma, as well as those who have abused others, through psychotherapy, advocacy and other support. Tel: 0808 808 0700

Revenge Porn Helpline: 10.00am-4.00pm, Monday to Friday – 0345 600 0459 https://revengepornhelpline.org.uk/

National Centre for Domestic Violence: Can help with obtaining Non-Molestation Orders (injunctions): 0207 186 8270 or 0800 970 2070 and Press option 1: Information about getting an injunction (http://www.ncdv.org.uk/are-you-suffering-domestic-abuse/)

FORWARD: information on FGM (Female genital mutilation) Female genital mutilation

LAWA (Latin American women) LAWA is a dedicated free support service and the only refuge provider in the UK and Europe for Latin American, Black and minority ethnic women and children experiencing, or recovering from, domestic violence. We welcome women from any background, ethnicity, sexuality or ability, including trans* women. http://lawadv.org.uk/

Sistah SPACE Against Domestic Abuse (African & Caribbean) Sistah Space is a safe venue dedicated to African & Caribbean victims/survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. It is staffed and managed by volunteers https://www.facebook.com/Sistah-SPACE-Against-Domestic-Abuse-1655536731379576/

Southall Black Sisters Southall Black Sisters (SBS) was founded in 1979 to address the needs of black (Asian and Afro-Caribbean) women. It aims to empower women to escape poverty, violence, abuse and other restrictions on their lives which prevent them from asserting their human rights to freedom, equality and justice. http://www.southallblacksisters.org.uk/

Jewish Women’s Aid: Specialist service with a helpline and counselling: The JWA helpline – 0808 801 0500, 9.30am – 9.30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Chinese Information and Advice Centre (CIAC): part of the ASCENT consortium to provide linguist and culturally sensitive services to survivors of sexual and domestic violence and abuse https://ciac.co.uk/our-services/women-and-children-support/

Asian Women’s Resource Centre (AWRC): Domestic violence and advocacy services available in five community languages: Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu: http://www.asianwomencentre.org.uk/our-service

[ipilates]

Take it easy on yourself, sweet soul. You are doing much better than you think.

Notes on Menopause

Jen Day

Being stopped in your tracks

By the Menopause..

2014, aged 39, I lay on the bed sobbing. I hadn’t the energy, I had run out of steam. That year I had competed in Aix en Province half Ironman, I followed a five month training plan to the letter and trained for 18 hours a week. The seven years before I had been competing in Olympic distance Triathlons. I ran a Pilates studio, teaching for 30 hrs a week. I was raising two spirited teenage boys. I was tired, really tired. Looking back it was no wonder, but something wasn’t right. I have always had boundless energy, this year I also married Tim, my love, my biggest fan, support crew, steady step father, and all round best human being who stood shoulder to shoulder with me, and also dried my tears and told me I was doing a good job. 

As it happens, at 37 I started to feel drained, I kept coming over ‘all funny’, I was getting hot and bothered all the time, I was anxious, I felt every bit of sorrow in the universe, I had become emotionally super sensitive. I worried about the boys, not just general stuff like have they brushed their teeth worries, but astonishingly irrational worries. I worried about everything. I wasn’t sleeping as I was being roused out of sleep by a hot sensation that started in the palms of my hands and souls of my feet that radiated throughout my whole entire body. I once woke up convinced I could smell gas and that we should get the hell out of the house. I put most of it down to being over tired. It got quite crazy, I went to the Dr’s, they ran some blood tests. And boom there it was Oestrogen levels way low, I was going through the Menopause.

I wasn’t a sporty child or adolescent. I was artistic. I have an Arts degree, arty people are rarely sporty. After my son Olly was born I started running (in 2000) and have never really stopped. In 2011 a girlfriend and I cycled 700kms in Northern Vietnam. I hadn’t been on a bike since I was 11 and thoroughly enjoyed the challenge. Also that year I was asked to take part in my first team triathlon. I was asked to do the run leg and I had a decent 5k time of sub 21 minutes. I was a runner, marathons, half, 10k’s, I loved running. 

The day of the triathlon I watched in awe as swimmers launched into a lake, freezing cold, very early one September morning. I couldn’t swim, never learnt. After being disturbed watching Jaws when I was nine years old, I was convinced I would get eaten alive in a swimming pool. I even went through a phase as a child of having to look behind me whilst sitting on the toilet, convinced something would emerge and take me down. But something sparked in me that day as I watched the swimmers, and it ignited a passion, albeit a little obsessive for the next seven years, I had found Triathlon. Slight hurdle to overcome though.

I had to learn to swim. Both my boys swim well, I watched them progress from babies, they had to love the water, I was certain they wouldn’t feel my fears. Never once had I the urge to learn to swim. I had never been out of my depth particularly, and could just about tread water in my Pajama’s if necessary. That I remember doing at school. As a child we never went on holiday, and I certainly didn’t have the privilege of swimming lessons like my boys. So I read EVERYTHING about swimming, I found a pool and started swimming. Kicking hard with my arms stretched out in front of me dipping my face in and out of the water (which I hated doing). 25 meters was a massive goal.

I swam everyday for the first year and that really is the truth (ok maybe not Christmas Day). I joined a swim club that met every Tuesday and Thursday lunchtimes called Swimfit and I was by far the worst. Everyone swam amazingly. David the group coach gave me every bit of encouragement that I needed, not that I needed a great deal as I am quite determined it turns out. He inspired me to keep trying to tickle the toes in front of me. I was seriously slow, and to this day I blame my ‘runners’ legs. I learnt only front crawl and four months in I signed up to do a 3k open water swim, having NEVER swam in open water. So that was next, come early spring my first experience was a complete disaster. Terrifyingly cold, the wetsuit was so tight around my neck I couldn’t breathe. I tried to put my face in the water but the shock sent me into panic. Lets not even talk about the demons lurking low in the murky waters…

If at first you don’t succeed….and of course I persevered, I had set myself a goal and being an upholder I was sticking to it. After seven months of learning to swim I found myself on a chilly (they are always chilly) morning treading water (still not very good at that, but the wetsuit gives you buoyancy) facing my biggest challenge yet. 

We had pink caps on, about 50 women, I decided a women only race would be a good gentle start to my swimming career, goggles on and waiting. The klaxon sounded loudly, and I nearly jumped out of my skin. Everyone surged forward, I hung back thinking basically I’m going to drown. I got going and about 30 metres in, disaster struck. My ‘lucky’ goggles snapped, (I had fiddled with them and tightened them so much with nervous anticipation). I suddenly became the biggest NON swimmer out there, my goggles gave me security, without them I was going no where. You are told if you get into trouble just lay on your back and put your hand in the air, well I couldn’t think straight and somehow thrashed my way back to the start, ( I have no idea how that happened), thinking I can’t even lay on my back and float, I’d never even tried doing that before..

So I hauled my body out and sat in shock on the jetty, by this point the stronger swimmers were almost completing the first 750m lap. Trying to compose myself, my legs were like jelly and I was shaking so much with cold and adrenaline,  I said to myself that’s it, that’s over then, just get back to the car and get warm. What the hell was I thinking anyway?! I clearly wasn’t ready in the slightest, no way. And this is what happened next: A lady marshal in her 50’s asked me what happened and I explained that my goggles snapped and that is was ok, I just want to go home. ‘Hang on’ she said ‘there’s a bucket over there with spare goggles, go grab some and get yourself back in’. I protested politely  and said ‘NO but thanks, really.’ What she wouldn’t have understood at that point is how utterly terrified I was and that my ‘lucky’ goggles were the only pair in the whole wide world that were going to assist me in swimming 3k( I had trialled so many pairs, it was a joke).

‘Don’t be silly’ she said, I rolled my eyes like a teenager and dutifully went to peer into the bucket, which in hindsight I should have used to throw up in, but I showed willing just to get her off my case. FORTUNATELY they were all mens, all large, all wrong and hallelujah I’m going home! ‘WAIT’ she exclaimed I have mine in the car, and off she runs. I stood there thinking what the hell? What the actually F*@k. Is this really happening? At this point the swimmers are almost two laps in by the way, sure enough like a flash she returned with two sets of goggles.

Again, I said ‘look really kind of you but I don’t want to get back into that water and I’m absolutely 100% ok with that, ok?’ ‘Not ok’ she said. ‘Put the goggles on, she was a little stern which could of gone two ways but I found myself complying. ‘Listen’ she softened ‘ I don’t care what happens today, I want you just to jump back into that water, swim to the first buoy and back, then you can go home, deal?’ I actually started to cry, ‘ I don’t think you understand (of course she did) this is all new, I have a fear of the water, I have made a huge mistake, I’m terrified and I just cant, I’m sorry” I sat down in protest still holding onto her goggles. Then this happened: She started to undress, to my relief, surprise and dread she had a bright orange swimming costume on underneath, she took my hand, ‘come on, we will do this together’ Was this woman out of her mind? She said ‘get the goggles on, we are going to jump in together, that’s all, then you can get out’ I was in such shock that I didn’t really have time to think about it ( however I do remember thinking get this god dam woman off my case). So, three, two, one we jumped. To my utter surprise the goggles stayed put and we bobbed up like two corks, she must have been freezing, Her eyes never left mine, ‘few strokes?’ She pleaded. My heart rate would have been 200 I swear, we remained still for a minute eyes locked. I decided to start swimming to the first buoy, that’s it, no further, and we did, together, I had her orange swimsuit on my right hand side the whole way, 20 freaking metres. I had a choice, I could turn round and swim back or I could carry on, and that’s what I decided to do, for that woman. With no word or signal I just swam, I found myself on the course with a mantra that went over and over until my heart rate settled, ‘bubble bubble, breathe’. I completed the four laps, 3 kilometres, at one point a guy in a canoe with a flask of tea paddled along side me, probably thinking I may drown at any point. I surrendered and found a rhythm, a flow, and I remember the swim being very peaceful given the struggle.

I exited the water, second from last (yes that’s right!) and she was there (dressed) , our eyes met, she cried, I cried and that was the start of something truly amazing. That lady was a gift to me, we didn’t know it at the time but she was the reason that Triathlon became my next big passion. I’m convinced I would have left that lake (had I not gone back in) and stopped swimming altogether. Instead that was the start of a fabulous journey with many many more strokes to come. That lady was a gift.

So I spent the next seven years pushing boundaries, always slightly out of my comfort zone. I went to Mallorca early springtime and trained with proper age group athletes, I acquired a series of bike upgrades ( that was fun). I swam in seas, rivers, lakes and lidos. I ran tracks, trails, mountains, and cities. I cycled everywhere and hunted hills. I met a brilliant community of triathletes. I succumbed to taking HRT in this time and it truly lifted me. I still had good days and bad but my anxiety was reduced and I could sleep. There was a nagging feeling that I wasn’t fully listening to my body, it was asking me to slow down. Teaching Pilates is a fairly physically demanding job and it takes a lot from you. So something had to give.

My last race in 2015 was Aix en Provence, a stunning course, beautiful lake swim ( horrendously physical start) the bike ride was the moment for me where time stood still and something shifted, that’s the only way I can describe it. I had been so convinced I would get a puncture, I was worrying I wasn’t eating or drinking enough, cramp was starting in my feet, by the time I actually lifted my head up to breathe I was about 30k into the 90km course. I was going through a very flat section purple mountains ahead, the scenery was breath taking but I couldn’t afford the breath, and that’s when a voice inside my head said, slow down, you’re missing this. I had become fixated with times and numbers and stats that I had begun to loose the joy, I couldn’t even appreciate the view. And I was tired, so tired my body wanted to stop.  

I have never been so relieved to finish, the run was the biggest endurance (aside from childbirth) of my life. But I felt like I’d achieved a massive goal and I was happy with the race. However that voice got louder. I got home had a lot of moments of crying on the bed, I took some time off. Scaled my work schedule down a tad, stopped training and had to go through a transition of not beating myself up for not training, this I found hard. At that point I had been running for 16 years, triathlon for seven, I needed a break. By the way, I’m one of those slightly obsessive people if you hadn’t noticed, when I do something I do it.. 

*a note: The one consistency in my physical life has been Pilates. I have been practising and teaching for 18 years. I absolutely adore The Method, it has kept me strong, pretty much injury free and sane. It has given me so much more, I couldn’t imagine life without it. And yes, I think it is absolutely brilliant to ease you through Menopause. I started practising Yoga, gently, carefully knowing not to get competitive with it. I introduced meditation, again without trying to make it my next big obsession. 

I tread lightly these days. When I was first told at 37 I was going through the menopause I was in denial, I felt it wasn’t fair, I was embarrassed, I felt like life was slipping through my fingers. Some of my friends were just starting their families! I felt my life just stopped, having been very driven, active and determined, I lost my joy and that drive. My path seemed to fizzle out, I wasn’t sure of my direction anymore. The menopause made me fuzzy, forgetful, and low. Having entered into my second marriage I was young enough to have more children, but that was taken away. The very feeling of not being able to have children anymore is quite frankly sad. 

Seven years in and I’m feeling a shift again. Over the last year a more dramatic one. And it’s this, I am starting to feel that this is a special time. A time to reevaluate and put your health ( which includes mental health) first. Given that I am incredibly grateful to be gracing this beautiful planet, I feel life is a gift, like that woman. We have a choice, keep swimming up stream, feel the sun on your face, walk barefoot, eat nutritiously laden food, move our bodies with grace, be strong and centred, breathe well, meditate, jump in when you feel scared and don’t let life pass you by, love and be loved, its a gift.

These words by Susan Sontag from the book The double Standard of ageing pretty much sum it up for me..

“Women have another option. They can aspire to be wise, not merely nice; to be competent, not merely helpful; to be strong, not merely graceful; to be ambitious for themselves in relation to men and children. They can let themselves age naturally and without embarrassment, actively protesting and disobeying the conventions that stem from this society’s double standard about ageing. Instead of being girls, girls as long as possible, who then age humiliatingly into middle-aged women, they can become women much earlier - and remain active adults, enjoying the long, erotic career of which women are capable, for longer. Women should allow their faces to show the lives they have lived. Women should tell the truth.”

*Today I am still on HRT, the advice is to take it for 10 years. Originally it went against everything I believed in, I went down every natural avenue I could find first, nothing helped. I stopped eating meat three years ago, one of the best decisions I’ve made for my health. A whole plant based diet works for me.

Thanks for reading xx

[cookinguptales]

Okay so weird question, but how exactly did you get diagnosed with POTS? I was diagnosed with hypermobility syndrome and partial arrhythmia a while ago, and it's only just recently that I've had a doc wonder if I have POTS. He didn't really tell me anything about POTS, and now I'm really lost! Do you think it's unlikely that I could get to be 21 and not be diagnosed?

Strap in, friend, because the story of how I got diagnosed is long and unpleasant.

So to start off, here’s a basic explanation of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. It’s a syndrome, which means that it is a description of a collection of symptoms rather than an underlying cause. Frankly, doctors aren’t super sure why any of this happens, what exactly causes it, or even if it’s genetic or what. (But my mom, sister, and grandmother all show signs of mild POTS, so uh. It’s probably genetic.) The long and short of it, though, is that your blood vessels are supposed to automatically tighten or release in order to control blood flow. When you stand up, they tighten to counteract gravity and make sure blood stays where it should be. When you have POTS, your blood vessels don’t do what they’re supposed to do. Your autonomic nervous system stops controlling this tightening and loosening process, which means your blood flow is not being adequately controlled. (Also, there seems to be some research showing that #1, we tend to have more elastic blood vessels, which means they just expand when they fill up more – bad because that means your body can’t use blood pressure to regulate blood flow, either, and #2, we may not always have enough blood in our bodies to fill our blood vessels, so again, shitty blood pressure.) ANYWAY, what all this means in practice is that assorted parts of your body aren’t getting enough blood, or they’re getting too much blood. Blood does all sorts of important things for your organs, especially oxygenating them, so this really means that POTS is an “anything that can go wrong will go wrong” situation. Anything in your body that uses blood can go haywire at any time. And sorry to say, that’s everything.

Now, POTS is highly variable. Again, it’s a loose collection of symptoms, and those symptoms are different for literally every patient. POTS is actually super common in teenage girls, but it tends to be very mild and some teens (mostly boys, mind) completely grow out of it, so people often don’t even notice they have it. People only just started researching it and it’s still not talked about much, which, well, is probably due to sexism. I learned the hard way that teenage girls are not generally listened to when they complain about nebulous symptoms, especially if those symptoms have literally anything to do with hormones and menstruation. (Which POTS does. It’s…I think ¾ of all people who have it are biologically female, and onset usually accompanies periods of hormone fluctuation such as start of menstruation, childbirth, or start of menopause. Most sufferers get it in their teens when they start getting their period.) Like… It’s hard to really put this in a gender neutral way because I promise you, the reason doctors are shitty about POTS is tied to both the biological and societal effects of being female. That’s an aside though.

Anyway, tl;dr, it’s different for everyone and doctors think you’re nuts. When I was diagnosed, in the informational packet literally said “THIS IS NOT ALL IN YOUR HEAD” because so many patients have been repeatedly told that. For me, I was actually uh. I don’t want to say lucky? But in some ways I guess, yeah, lucky. I have a really bad case of POTS with some really severe symptoms. I have a lot of digestion problems, extreme exhaustion problems, dizziness, faintness, anxiety/depression, pooling/tingling/coldness in extremities, and here’s the biggie – blindness. When I stand up, I often just straight-up go blind. (Or if I’m just sitting there doing fucking nothing if I’m on an airplane.) It was really bad especially when I was a teenager. It used to be like literally every fucking time I stood up. (We later found out it was because all the blood was draining out of my head bc gravity. Turns out your brain likes blood! This is also why it hurts so much.) Now, doctors ignored most of what I told them about exhaustion, trouble keeping down food, aches and pains, etc. I was repeatedly told “oh, well, that’s just part of being a teenage girl”. Like honestly, try telling someone that you have exhaustion, pain, and nausea relating to a period and see how seriously you get taken. Jesus.

BUT UH THEY COULD NOT IGNORE THE BLINDNESS. Like I don’t care how teenage girl-y you are, it is not normal to go blind on the regular! My doctors could not figure out what the hell was happening. And I do mean doctors. I got POTS when I was around 10, along with my period. I was diagnosed when I was almost 18. In the meantime, I was passed around between dozens of doctors and honestly? I was a guinea pig. They didn’t know what was wrong with me so I was subjected to constant barrage of tests and treatments that made me a hell of a lot sicker. I was going to like 3 different doctors a week, sometimes every day. There are very few medical tests I have not had at least once. Some of the treatments they tried, I later learned, carried a strong risk of addiction, permanent neurological damage, and death. I was a drugged-out mess trying to drag myself through 15 flavors of physical therapy every day. Like uh. In short, my teenage years weren’t…good… 

I finally got referred to like my sixth neurologist, and the guy was like “okay, you have been passed around between neurologists, cardiologists, ENTs, sleep disorder specialists, etc. for YEARS and we don’t know what’s wrong, so it makes no sense to keep ‘treating’ you – so I’m gonna take some readings and send them (and you) to a research hospital”. And that’s what he did! He took me off all of my medications (leading to the kind of DTs that honestly possibly could have killed me; I researched a few of the medications later and let’s just say you’re not supposed to go off them cold turkey) and did some tests. He found out some stuff like my blood pressure moves around a lot when I stand up. And sometimes my blood pressure was as low as 60/40. (Yo, that’s almost dead. The nurse took the reading three times with two different machines bc she was freaking out, lmao.) So he referred me to Mayo Clinic.

Now, what I did not know before this was that Mayo was actually the clinic that had discovered (and still researched) POTS! They saw a lot of girls like me. They took some blood, did a few tests, and when I had my appointment with them, they knew in under a half hour that I had POTS. I…cried. A lot. haha. It was so bizarre how many things in my life were actually an indicator of POTS. They were like “do you often sit all folded up?” and I basically exclusively do – and often got in trouble for it in school – and they were like “yeah, that’s POTS, you unconsciously try to keep all your limbs tucked in to reduce how far your blood needs to go”. Which is, I guess, why I tend to lose sensation in my legs and/or have my feet turn purple when I sit in normal chairs. lol. “Do you ever get dizzy or black out when you stretch or yawn?” oh yeah. “Do you get really sick when you take hot showers?” almost died once or twice, check! “Do you get weak when you lift things above your head?” you betcha. “Do you have a lot of problems with heat and sunlight?” OH YES I DO. Living in Florida was hell. I’d be vomiting and unable to stand up after like 30 minutes outside in the summer. I still vomit and get migraines if I look at a sunset, when the sun is strongest. Sensory sensitivity, especially photosensitivity, is a thing with POTS.

The actual diagnosis of POTS is kind of difficult. They usually have to do a ton of tests to rule everything else out first. Then they’ll usually try a tilt-table test (they tilt ya and measure your heart rate to see if your heartbeat skyrockets to help battle your blood doing weird shit) or a sweat test (which I am told is supposed to be painless but was one of the most painful experiences of my life so maybe it was a POTS thing) or look at your pee and see if you’re hella dehydrated. If you have POTS, you’re pretty much always hella dehydrated. (Gross but important: a symptom I never mentioned bc I didn’t know how abnormal it was – it burned like HELL when I peed. Turns out I was grossly, dangerously dehydrated. My urine was so concentrated that it was literally burning my urethra. idk how this slipped by so many doctors, but drink some dang water!) So it’s really a combination of tests for diagnosis, and they have to know to look for it in the first place! More and more doctors know about POTS now, but when I was first diagnosed almost a decade ago (this February! :’) when I went to college none of the school doctors knew about it. My family doctor didn’t know. None of my specialists knew about it. They wouldn’t give me student vaccinations bc they didn’t know how they’d interact with my brain. lol. It’s better now, though! I recently got a new doctor when I left my school’s health system, and she knew what POTS was! I was so happy, haha. Once I had a doctor literally google it right in front of me, so it was uh. A welcome change.

All this is to say that getting POTS diagnosed can be hell!! And I could definitely buy that you’re 21 and haven’t yet been diagnosed, especially if you’re female. My recommendation is this: the main treatment for POTS is diet and exercise, and that can’t hurt even if you don’t have POTS. I shit you not. There’s no cure or anything, but you are supposed to drink A LOT of water (I drink over a gallon a day, and that’s on days I’m not dealing with the sun) and eat a LOT of salt (”as much as you can stand” was their exact wording) and wear compression clothing (spanx and compression socks help me) and try to keep your body as toned as possible. It’s really easy to get out of shape when you have POTS (god knows I did), but they recommend trying to keep your blood moving. (THOUGH, CAVEAT!! I put on a lot of weight since I got diagnosed, and I have to admit. It’s gotten my blood pressure to a healthier level. So idrk what to make of that.)

I’m not gonna tell you to start eating massive amounts of salt when I don’t know your body, but drinking water can’t hurt you. So if you suspect that you may have POTS, start drinking water. This is not a replacement for a treatment plan, but it can’t hurt you! It can only help! So while you’re working with your doctor, just drink a lot of water and see if it helps you feel better. It is like night and fucking day with me.

Finally, POTS has a high comorbidity rate with other issues. In other words, if you have a severe case of POTS, you probably don’t only have POTS. A common illness to have with POTS is EDS, or Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. It’s a type of hypermobility, which may be why your doctor is concerned. (I don’t have EDS, probably, but I do have some pain/movement issues that they’ve never been able to pin down, so there’s probably…something. idk.)

Here’s my advice. Work with your doctor to try and figure things out. Drink water. Make sure you have a good doctor whom you trust. Even after I got diagnosed, I regularly got medical professionals who believed this shit was all in my head. And try not to worry. Like I said, for most people who have it, POTS is extremely mild. If you change your lifestyle, you might not see many symptoms at all, and if you do, well. Work with that trusted doctor. Hit me up. I know a lot of ways to get a lot of salt in your body. lol

[retailwench]

This is my brain on menopause

I am seriously beginning to wonder whether I'm going to get through this unscathed this time.

When I was 21 I had to have an ovarian cyst removed and I was put through 'medical nenopause'after for 6 months so everything could heal.

I figured that since I'd been through imenopause once it probably won't be so bad this time. I figured wrong. While the hot flashes, so far, haven't been as bad as they were the mood swings are horrific. I nearly smacked 3 people today while in throes of hormonal rage. 

NO YOU CANNOT USE A COUPON ON SPECIALS! YOU'RE ALREADY GETTING IT FOR 65% OFF YOU CHEAP DUMBASS GET OUT OF MY FACE!

NO WE WON'T TAKE BACK THAT BRA YOU BOUGHT 2 YEARS AGO! 

I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH IN YOUR CHECKING ACCOUNT, YOUR DEBIT CARD WAS REJECTED!

It's not just moodiness though.

I spent 10 minutes this morning waiting outside the bathroom door because I   kept thinking someone might be in there even though the door was slightly open. The thought of knocking never occurred to me.

I find myself singing out loud along with the music at work and don't realize until half way through a song. This is actually probably more upsetting for other people since I can't sing.

Have had some truly bizarre dreams. Actually dreamed the other night that I was trying to create a musical based on Manos:Hands of Fate.

Not sure if this is all connected to menopause but it's all been quite recent.

As long as I manage NOT to slap some annoying idiot and get fired/arrested I should be ok. Heck if I've survived this long in retail it shouldn't be a problem.

[clearskinpune]

I heard that if I had acne during my teen years I probably will have acne after menopause—is this true?

Hello everyone,

Acne begins in teenage when hormonal changes takes place, but as you age your acne gets reduced in most of the acne sufferers. But in some individual you might see acne in adult age.

In this video I have explained acne in teenage in detail

But it is really uncommon to get acne after menopause, here I will explain in detail relationship with acne & menopause.

As i have mentioned above, your acne gets reduced as you age, but during menopause there is more fluctuating, so during or after menopause you might see more acne breakout.

Skin is sensitive to hormones, and this the reason you can see acne at teenage,in young females, in women & in older women & in some women who are in initial stage of menopause.

In one study they have explained relation between age & acne in female from 10 year of age to 40 yr i.e from teen to adolescence to old age.in that they have explained that once you age, your acne gets reduced in females.

10 to 20 year of female- in age group from 10 to 20 year of female around 56% of females gets acne.

21 to 30 year of female- in age group of 21 to 30 year of female their acne gets reduced upto 26%.

31 to 30 year of female- in age group of 31 to 40 year of female their acne gets reduce and reaches upto 18%.

What happens during menopause-

Our body consist of hormones i.e. estrogen hormone- female hormone & androgen hormone- male hormone, which is present in both the gender male & female.

And our skin has receptor for both estrogen & androgen hormone.

This receptors are found in skin cells, hair follicle cells & skin oil glands cells.

Male receptors gets bind to skin’s receptor & this androgen hormone causes overgrowth of skin cells & sebum production and this growth causes pore to get clogged & you will see new acne breakout.

During menopause hormones which gets increased is follicle stimulating hormone (FSH).

And this increased follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) produces more hormone i.e androgen hormone, causing an overproduction of sebum & skin cells leading to acne.

3 menopause affects occurs in female’s-

Increase in FSH hormone i.e. follicle stimulating hormone.

Overproduction of androgen hormone

Resulting in increase in sebum production.

Acne After Menopause-

Getting after menopause is rare, but if you are getting it you should immediately consult your Doctor, because it can be symptom of tumor or due to some medication, because in some studies it has proved that female who are taking treatment with testosterone, might get increase in androgen hormone, resulting in acne.

Older women who are getting acne before menopause, need not to worry, because it will get settle with time, but if you are getting acne breakout after menopause then I would like to guide you to consult your Doctor, because it can be one of the reason to think seriously, such as tumor or reaction to androgen hormone i.e. male hormone.

For detail about acne cause and treatment kindly go through this video. 

  **to enquire more about acne treatment always feel free to contact us on……+91–7888091118**

Dr.Dhananjay Chavan,

MBBS DVD Dermatology &

Hair Restoration Surgeon,

B J Medical College, Pune (1986)

[paullassiterca]

Why the Media Went Crazy for Keto Crotch

“Your Meat-Heavy Diet Might Be Giving You ‘Keto Crotch,’” an article1 on munchies.vice.com announces, claiming “Doctors have confirmed that changing your diet can create new and interesting smells … down there.” “'Keto Crotch’ Might Be the Strongest Argument for Eating Carbs Yet,” Emily Alford reports on Jezebel.com.2

“'Keto Crotch Is the Seriously Smelly Side Effect of the Popular Diet,” the New York Post declares,3 and then goes on to confuse diabetic ketoacidosis — which causes bad breath — with nutritional ketosis achieved through a ketogenic diet. (The two have absolutely nothing to do with each other, as explained in my interview with Dorian Greenow and on ketogenic-diet-resource.com.4) 

Countless other mainstream and not-so-mainstream news sources suddenly carry similar headlines, warning people that going keto can cause stinky discharges that will render you a social outcast — and that eating high-sugar foods like fruit juices and whole grains is the answer to these offensive odors.

Remarkably, an online search for the term “keto crotch” on the day of this writing produces an astounding 2,060,000 results. The question is, where’s the proof to support this nonsense?

The Rise of 'Keto Crotch’

From what I can tell, the term “keto crotch” initially appeared on a reddit discussion board back in 2014,5 and again in 2016,6 and many of the articles now discussing this issue appear to be referring back to these brief anecdotes.

Since then, and up until February 24, 2019 — when Delish.com published Korin Miller’s article,7 “'Keto Crotch’ Might Be a Surprising Side Effect of a Low-Carb Diet,” republished that same day on Yahoo Finance with the more eye-catching headline, “'Keto Crotch’ Is the Most WTF Side Effect of Going on the Diet”8 — the term “keto crotch” was virtually nonexistent as far as I can tell, after digging through about a dozen search pages.

Miller, who appears to be one of the first journalists to use the catchphrase “keto crotch,” is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in a number of health and women’s magazines.

She’s also an SEO consultant and founder of the SEO company keepUP Marketing9 that helps websites optimize their search results, and is the managing editor of the StyleCaster Media Group,10,11 a “leading digital media and technology platform for fashion, beauty and lifestyle.”12 With these qualifications, it would seem reasonable to assume she has the know-how to make a story go viral. The reason why is a question that has yet to be answered.

The story started spreading the very next day, and by February 28, keto crotch articles were “everywhere.” Yet not a single scientific study is brought forth in these articles, and a search of the medical literature turns up nothing. In fact, Miller’s February 24 article specifies there’s no medical evidence linking nutritional ketosis to foul-smelling private parts.

Who Are Some of the Health Experts Commenting on 'Keto Crotch’?

Articles do, however, cite several health care providers, among them registered dietitian and nutritionist Lisa DeFazio13 — whose commentary appeared in multiple news stories within 48 hours14 — gynecologist Dr. Lauren Streicher and dietitian Andrea Hardy.15

DeFazio offered a link to a 2009 study16 in the Journal of Nutrition when questioned by a Twitter follower about the basis for her concerns, which found bacterial vaginosis was most prevalent among women who had the highest dietary fat intakes.

Streicher’s comments, on the other hand, have been far more neutral, noting that dietary changes will temporarily alter the pH in the vaginal area in general, and that there’s no medical evidence linking the ketogenic diet with infections or other odor-causing vaginal ailments. Huffington Post writes:17

“'When I got the first call asking about this, I asked if they were making this up to write a story,' Lauren Streicher, medical director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause and clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, told HuffPost with a laugh.

Streicher said that while it’s certainly possible that diet can have an impact on vaginal health, there is no scientific evidence to prove it, and myriad of potential causes for odor to exist.”

The problem with the study18 cited by DeFazio is that the women also had high carb intakes, and carbs are primary drivers of infection and yeast. According to the authors of the study:

“[T]he mean [energy intake] exceeded the recommended daily allowance for adult women. Also, the energy, fat, and carbohydrate intakes of the women were considerably higher than those reported in NHANES (1999–2000) for women of comparable age.”

In other words, it appears these women were eating a standard American diet high in both fats and carbs, so the results cannot be attributed to a high-fat, low-carb diet such as the ketogenic diet. Not surprisingly, DeFazio recommends eating carbs to lose weight and keep it off, saying “low carb diets don’t work long term.”19

DeFazio also welcomes media inquiries, stating she’s “available for all magazine, newspaper, radio, television and website interviews,” and “will accommodate you ASAP, even on short notice.”20 She’s also a talent with Taylor Talent Services,21 which specializes in “Helping brands, producers and marketers find the face of their products.”22

Ketogenic Experts Have Never Heard of 'Keto Crotch’

Ketogenic experts, on the other hand, myself included, have never heard of this complaint before now. In the video above, Dr. Ken Berry,23 a self-proclaimed “keto friendly” medical doctor, shares his views on the topic.

As noted by Berry, carbs are in fact the primary driver of yeast infections, vaginosis, bladder infections and similar ailments, and women who struggle with these conditions who switch to a low-carb diet universally improve. “There’s nothing about the ketogenic diet that’s going to make you have vaginitis or vaginosis,” he says. “It just makes no sense whatsoever.”

Kristie Sullivan, Ph.D.,24 who has been on a ketogenic diet since 2013, and has spent years coaching people on the ketogenic diet, shared similar views:25

“In nearly six years of following a strict low-carb diet, and interacting with literally hundreds of thousands via social media and my Facebook groups (over 250,000 people … ), I have interacted in nearly every discussion imaginable regarding personal health and low carb or keto. 

Not once has the issue of foul vaginal odor been part of that conversation. Bad breath or changes in body odor are not uncommon concerns, but those tend to be experienced early in the adaptation phase and are not long term or ongoing issues.”

Another ketogenic expert, Megan Ramos, CEO of Intensive Dietary Management in Toronto, Canada, said in an interview:26

“We’ve treated over 10,000 patients at this point. Approximately 65 percent of them are females. Not once did I have a woman bring up this issue with me.

As a matter of fact, we’re seeing the opposite: women have less and less yeast infections and bladder infections, in particular our diabetic patients who normalize their blood sugars, and who stop taking their SGLT2 inhibitors (which is a drug that makes people pee out sugar).”

Where Did Keto Crotch Story Come From?

Considering the complete lack of scientific evidence to support claims that nutritional ketosis can cause vaginal infections, one has to wonder where this story originated from. After all, some arbitrary anecdote simply won’t spread like wildfire for no reason, being picked up by major media simultaneously. Yet here are dozens of near-identical stories being featured in different magazines and news outlets on the same day.

Two individuals have stepped forward with an answer. In the video above, Berry explains how, when browsing through several women’s magazines in a bookstore that carried the keto crotch story, he noted a curious pattern. Each of them had full-page ads for Weight Watchers, whose stock prices, incidentally, have plummeted by 80 percent since July 2018 — a drop attributed by Weight Watchers to the mass adoption of the ketogenic diet.27 In his video commentary, Berry says:

“Rest assured … we see less and less things that could give you changes in odorous discharge when you eat keto. You don’t get more of that, you get much, much less …

So, I think keto crotch is just the latest myth [pushed by] the big publishing houses who get a lot of their ad dollars from Weight Watchers and Biggest Loser and Jenny Craig. They would love for you to stop eating keto …

[I]f they can scare you with the latest scare tactic, which is 'keto crotch,’ then they’re successful and they’re going to get more ad dollars from the big, carbohydrate pushing weight loss programs.”

John Zahorik, a self-described “nutrition explorer,”28 has taken his investigation a step further. In a series of Twitter posts (this thread reader29 offers the easiest to read view), Zahorik shows the links between Weight Watchers, its PR company Edelman,30 some of the primary health experts interviewed about keto crotch, as well as some of the authors of these nonsense articles, Shireen Khalil31 among them.

'Keto Crotch’ — A Secret Weight Watcher’s PR Stunt?

September, 2018, PR Week announced “Weight Watchers turns to Edelman to handle global consumer PR.”32 According to PR Week, “Weight Watchers wants to strengthen its reputation, better define and grow 'the Weight Watchers impact,’ and increase revenue to more than $2 billion by the end of 2020 …” Other clients of Edelman include pasta giant Barilla,33 and The Coca-Cola Company.34

According to screenshots taken by Zahorik, Khalil, Streicher and DeFazio are all Edelman PR followers on Twitter.35 While that certainly doesn’t prove they’re working together, it suggests collaboration is a possibility. He also reminds people about the reality that is “native advertising” — marketing designed to look like news.36 As reported by Conently.com in 2015:37

“Native advertising — articles paid for and/or written by a brand that live on a publisher’s site — has emerged as a powerful and popular new advertising tool over the past few years.

Media companies like BuzzFeed, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Atlantic have all invested heavily in the creation and distribution of native advertisements on behalf of brands, with many charging over $100,000 for a native advertising campaign.”

Indeed, PR companies not only create recognizable ads and native advertising (ads not recognized as such), they also do news placement on behalf of their clients. In many cases, such news stories will feature actual science that happens to benefit the client’s position.

In this case, however, the “news” is anything but. It’s pure fabrication, and appears to be aimed at implanting a highly memorable mnemonic device38 into the public consciousness. After seeing the term “keto crotch” hundreds of times, you’d be hard-pressed to not instantaneously think of a stinky crotch every time you hear “ketogenic diet.”

Already, people have made comments on social media saying the mere possibility of this malodorous condition has dissuaded them from going keto, and there’s little doubt this is the exact aim of this fake news campaign.

Zahorik points out the Edelman firm is in fact a master at creating these kinds of viral campaigns, a key part of which is “Leveraging top-tier influencers to integrate a brand’s key messaging directly into the content target audiences are consuming” (per tweet from Edelman39).

“The thing that made this campaign different from typical 'branding’ efforts is that this was a SECRET effort to DESTROY the brand of the COMPETITION,” Zahorik writes.40“What was the source of this alliterative affliction in these 'articles’? Answer: People on the internet were talking!”

Big Business Is Clearly Afraid of Keto Success

While the evidence implicating Edelman and Weight Watchers in the creation of this “keto crotch” myth is still circumstantial, the timing sure seems suspiciously convenient. The very same day the keto crotch myth exploded on the internet (February 28), CNN Business reported on Weight Watchers’ financial demise, stating:41

 "CEO Mindy Grossman attributed the problem to the keto diet, a popular eating regimen that makes bread and other carbs taboo. She said during a call with analysts … that keto is 'becoming a cultural meme’ and she even called it a 'keto surge.’“

Let’s face it, the media is owned by industry, and leveraging of social media influencers can make fake news and unsubstantiated claims like this spread like wildfire. While there’s no evidence to support this obnoxious story, there’s an incredible amount of published literature showing the health benefits of a ketogenic diet.

For example, ketones have a biological impact similar to that of fasting,42 including accelerated autophagy and mitophagy, improved glucose metabolism, reduced inflammation, clearing out malfunctioning immune cells,43 and reduced IGF-1 (one of the factors that regulate growth pathways and growth genes and is a major player in accelerated aging and cellular/intracellular regeneration and rejuvenation).

Ketogenic Diet Basics

I strongly believe adopting a cyclical ketogenic diet — which means after you have achieved metabolic flexibility, you cycle in and out of eating foods high in healthy fats, with moderate protein and low net carbs (think nonfiber carbs) — can benefit most people. It’s very effective for weight loss, and as discussed earlier, works with your body in such a way as to improve regeneration and renewal.

Maintaining net carb (total carbs minus fiber) intake at or below 50 grams allows you to enter into nutritional ketosis (the metabolic state associated with an increased production of ketones in your liver, which is the biological reflection of being able to burn fat). However, we are all different in how we respond to foods, so expect this amount to vary from person to person.

Some people can be in a full fat-burning state with full ketosis at a level of nonfiber carbs that’s higher than 50 grams, sometimes even as high as 70 or 80 grams. However, if you’re insulin resistant or have Type 2 diabetes, you may need to limit your net carbs to as little as 20 or 30 grams per day.

To find your personal carb target, it’s important to measure not just your blood glucose but also your ketones. One of the most accurate and least expensive ketone measuring devices on the market right now is Keto Mojo. This will give you an objective measure of whether or not you’re truly in ketosis, rather than just relying on counting the grams of carbohydrates you consume.

Using a nutrient tracker will radically improve your ability to understand your ketogenic diet nutrient targets and assess the nutrient value of your food choices. There are a number of trackers available, but my first choice is Cronometer.com/Mercola. That’s my revision of the basic Cronometer tracker, and it’s already set to default to macronutrient levels that will support nutritional ketosis.

Once you’ve confirmed that you’re in ketosis, start the cycling procedure described earlier, where you add in higher net carbs and protein once or twice a week, ideally on days you’re strength training. Intermittent fasting works very well with a ketogenic diet as well, and can further speed up and optimize your results. You can learn more about the benefits of a ketogenic diet from my books, ”Fat for Fuel,“ and ”Ketofast.“

>>>>> Click Here <<<<<

from Articles http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2019/03/18/keto-crotch.aspx source https://niapurenaturecom.tumblr.com/post/183534844866

[stephfights]

Looking for my big girl panties

It’s been a while since I blogged.  Too long really.  But I have been in and out of depression, anger, sadness....pretty much any bad feeling.  It’s been a weird summer.  But I’m back and ready to finish the middle of this race so I can get to the end and be done with all this cancer mess!  Buckle up y’all...this is going to be a long blog!

I had a small hiccup on June 30th.  I was sitting watching tv when I got a horrible pain in my bottom right jaw.  It quickly moved down the right side of my neck and into the right side of my chest.  Then it would go away.  Then it would start all over again.  I called Chris to come to me and he was as baffled as I was as to what it could be.  But it wasn’t getting any better.  We finally decided we better call for an ambulance to come check me out.  Of course with me being a cancer patient they were very attentive.  Well...the ambulance people were....but a couple of the first responders were useless.  They didn’t do anything.  Chris was severely pissed.  The paramedic took my blood pressure and it was 180/100.  They wanted to take me to Vandy.  I didn’t really want to go with all this covid mess but the chemo I take can affect your heart so I decided to give in and go.  They wanted to start an IV in route and I told them I had a port and they could just access it.  But the paramedic said that Sumner County would not provide them with the equipment to access a port.  Thanks a lot Sumner County!  He said we could wait until we got to the hospital and they could access it.  When I got to Vandy 3 doctors were waiting for me and they put me in a room by myself to isolate me from anyone else.  They started running EKG’s and ordering other tests.  But of course...when I go to do something medical it is usually a shitshow....and this time was no different.  My nurse was a guy named Cody.  I looked like I could be his mother.  He started out sort of nice I guess.  He was pissed off because I did not have an IV in.  i told him that I had a port and he could access it and he looked at me like I had 2 heads (red flag #1)  So he huffs off to go find the kit to access it but stops at the door and asks me if I know what size needle they usually use (red flag #2)  I tell him 1/2 inch.  He drags back in and tells me the only size they have is 3/4 inch...yippee.  He opens the kit and starts getting all of the stuff out, wiping my whole chest down with alcohol and feeling around for my port.  Luckily my port is right under the skin.  It has 3 raised dots on it and you stick the needle in the middle of those dots.  He is rubbing and pushing and feeling with this intense look on his face.  So I casually ask “You have done this before, right?”  And he says “Of course!”  Okay, cool.  So I am sitting there looking to the left so I don’t breathe on my sterile chest and I wait and I wait and I wait...nothing.  So I sneak a peak to my right and I shit you not this KID has got the directions out of the kit and reading them. (red flag #3)  Why would he have to read the directions if he has done this before?  I mean has he only done it once before when he was in school or what?  I ask “everything okay?”  And he says “Yes, these are new kits and they are different from the old ones so I want to make sure I have this right.”  Uh..,,yeah!  So he finally gets all his ducks in a row and asks me if I’m ready.  Dude...I’ve been ready for 30 minutes!  Let’s go!  Bam he inserts the needle and I immediately know something is wrong because it has never hurt that bad.  He missed.  He freaking missed the whole port!  He has put this 3/4 inch needle into my chest.  I open my mouth to tell him to stop and he starts twisting it thinking he can maneuver it enough to get it into the port.  Y’all....I aint gonna lie.  I didn’t know whether to pass out, cry or punch him in the face.  He finally pulls it out...of course blood starts running so he slaps his hand on my chest and throws the needle onto the tray which causes blood to splatter on the counter and the wall.  He’s looking at me and I’m looking at him.  He says “I missed.”  Well no shit Sherlock...ya think?  He gets the bleeding to stop and leaves the room.  I sit there and plot his death and he comes back in with another kit.  I grab ahold of his wrist and tell him that he has one more shot at this or I am putting it in myself.  He looked terrified and just shook his head yes.  On the second try he got out an ink pen and marked the center of the port and got it right in with no problems.  What did I tell ya...shitshow.  I should have been more aware of the red flags.  Trying to make a long story short they did multiple EKG’s, chest xrays, CT scan and ultrasound.  Everything came back fine.  They think maybe the port shifted and caused the pain.  So after 13 hours in the ER (by myself because no one could be with me) Chris brought me home. 

We did get to go camping 3 times this summer....finally!  And we had so much fun!  It was the only thing outside of the house that I could do.  We fished, talked, sang, ate junk food, played games and just hung out.  It has been wonderful!

I saw my surgeon, Dr. Mary Hooks, on July 7th.  We finally got my surgery scheduled for August 21.  I am nervous but I am trying to find my big girl panties to put on so I can get thru this.  I think I am down to my last pair.   As of right now Chris can go with me but he will have to drop me off at surgery that morning and wont see me until that night when I get in my room.  Surgery will be a minimum of 4-5 hours.  I will blog more details about that later on. 

I had treatment #6 (out of 11) this week.  My awesome infusion nurse (seriously, I love her)  had a little trouble with my port....she says it has moved.  So that explained everything that happened to me the day I went to the hospital.   And of course....I had a reaction to my treatment.  I once again had to be pumped with emergency meds.  But I’m okay.  It has made the last couple of days hell but I am hoping for a better tomorrow.  The steroid jacks me up and the benadryl wears me down.  So it is like my body is constantly fighting with itself.  It definitely screws with your mind!

So that is my update as of now.  I am still in menopause hell but no one wants to hear about that today.   I will lay out all of the surgery details within the next 2 weeks.  I am so thankful for all of you that have called, sent cards, texts, etc.  It means so much to me.  I miss everyone!  I know I still have a few more months of quarantine but man when this is over I am going to paint the town red.  Or maybe just light pink.  (wink wink)

Love to all,

Steph

[peacekaleandyoga1]

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Upwards of 40 percent of women experience Female Sexual Dysfunction

(FSD) at some point in their lives, which is defined as persistent

problems with sexual arousal, orgasm, pain, or desire.2-4 To

help educate about FSD and elevate the conversation, the American Sexual

Health Association (ASHA) is partnering with leading experts in women’s

sexual health – with support from Valeant Pharmaceuticals International

Inc. – to launch Find My Spark. This educational campaign aims to

provide facts about FSD, while empowering women to take charge of their

sex lives and talk to their healthcare provider about any troubles they

may be facing.

While the majority of women agree that sex is an important part of their

lives and relationships, nearly 50 percent of premenopausal women age

21-49 admit that their low sexual desire is putting their relationship

at risk, according to results from a new online Harris Poll survey

conducted on behalf of ASHA of 2,501 women.1 Despite the

impact that a healthy sex life can have, results suggest that too many

women are just “dealing” with low sexual desire and are not taking

action to address their health.1

Key National Survey* Findings Include:1

48% of premenopausal women age 21-49 say their sex drive is lower now

than in the past

93% of women believe that having low sexual desire can put a strain on

their relationship

46% of women currently in a relationship feel that low sexual desire

is putting their relationship at risk

81% of women in a relationship admit to having sex with a partner even

if they are not in the mood

77% of women believe there needs to be more open, honest discussions

about women’s low sexual desire in the news/media

67% of women are worried that low sexual desire in women isn’t taken

seriously

Only 14% of women are aware of the availability of treatments for low

sex drive/desire

“Female sexual dysfunction is a true clinical condition. Countless women

come to me in perfectly healthy relationships and are distressed by

their lack of desire, as well as other forms of female sexual

dysfunction impacting their life outside of the bedroom,” said Dr. Leah

S. Millheiser, director of the female sexual medicine program at

Stanford University. “And the unfortunate truth is that there are a

number of women that I don’t get to see, because they suffer in silence.”

There are four types of FSDs; arousal problems, orgasmic problems,

sexual pain disorder and desire problems.4 The most common

type of FSD is known as hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD),

impacting more than 4 million premenopausal women in the United States.2,5-6

“Having a conversation about your sexual health isn’t always easy,

especially for women who have FSD, who are often told that it’s all

in their head,” said Lynn Barclay, CEO and President of ASHA. “Our

hope is that Find My Spark sheds light on FSD as a true medical

condition, educates women about sexual difficulties and their symptoms,

and encourages meaningful conversations between women, their partners

and their healthcare providers.”

Through Find My Spark (www.FindMySpark.com),

women can access resources to learn the facts about FSD. The website

features patient testimonials and an opportunity for women to share

their own stories, while relating to the experiences of others who may

be dealing with a similar struggle. Women can take an interactive quiz

to help identify potential common sexual troubles and review tips to

open up a dialogue with their healthcare provider or therapist.

About the National Survey*

The survey was conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of the American

Sexual Health Association with support from Valeant Pharmaceuticals

North America from July 1 -14 2016, and included 2,501 U.S. women age

21-49 who are not experiencing menopause symptoms. Data are weighted

where necessary by age, race/ethnicity, region, education, income, and

propensity to be in line with their actual proportions in the population.

About the Find My Spark Campaign

The American Sexual Health Association – with support from Valeant

Pharmaceuticals International Inc. — launched an educational campaign, Find

My Spark, to build awareness and educate about Female Sexual

Dysfunction (FSD) and encourage women who have lost their spark to take

charge and begin a conversation with a therapist or healthcare provider

about any sexual difficulties. For more information, visit www.FindMySpark.com.

About Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD)

Trouble with having sex or enjoying it are sometimes called female

sexual dysfunction, or female sexual difficulty (FSD). It can be

life-long or can develop over time.3 There are four types of

FSDs; arousal problems, orgasmic problems, sexual pain disorder and

desire problems.4 The most common form of FSD is known

hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD).5 HSDD is thought to

be related to an imbalance in serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine in

the brain, which have been associated with sexual desire response in

women.7

About the American Sexual Health Association (ASHA)

The American Sexual Health Association (ASHA) is a not-for-profit

organization founded in 1914 to promote the sexual health of

individuals, families and communities by advocating sound policies and

practices and educating the public, professionals and policy makers, in

order to foster healthy sexual behaviors and relationships and prevent

adverse health outcomes. ASHA’s educational websites include: www.ashasexualhealth.org,

www.iwannaknow.org

(for teens and young adults), and www.quierosaber.org

(Spanish language site).

# # #

1

  Harris Poll. American Sexual Health Association (ASHA) and

Valeant Pharmaceuticals. July 2016.

2

Shifren J, Monz B, Russo, P, et al. Sexual Problems and

Distress in United States Women. Obstetrics & Gynecology.

2008; 112(5):970-978.

3

Female Sexual Dysfunction. Mayo Clinic. March 2016.

4

Your Sexual Health FAQ What are the types of sexual problems

that affect women? ACOG.

5

Kingsberg SA, Clayton AH, Pfaus J. The Female Sexual

Response: Current Models, Neurobiological Underpinnings and Agents

Currently Approved or Under Investigation for the Treatment of

Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder. CNS Drugs.

2015;29(11):915-933.

6

U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social

and Economic Supplement, 2013. Internet release date: March 2016.

7

Bianchi-Demicheli F, Cojan Y, et al. Neural bases of

hypoactive sexual desire disorder in women: an event-related fmri

study. J Sex Med. 2011:8(9):2546-59.

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Dating younger guys in your twenties

7 Essential Dating Tips For Young Guys I Wish I Had Known Your value as a writer is that you rarely fall into that trap.  A man in his 30s realizes that he was a mess in his 20s and wants to better himself, but he also realized that he needs support getting his stuff together.  But my romantic heart roots for you and a happily ever after.  Also popular was loyal, respectful, genuine, and real.  Im 44 years old now just turned last month, and a 26 year old has been pursuing me the last few months.  One day I finally relented and said yes to him.  I am often told I am beautiful and I look about 10 years younger than I my age.

Dating: 20s Vs. 30s With daygame, night game, and online dating, you easily have access to large amounts of women.  This turned her right back on again, and we had sex, and I lost my V-card.  I am 46 and have been writing a 33 year old now for almost 9 months.  I told him i am thru with menopause and cant get pregnant.  Only one left, to go back to his ex with whom he had an infant.  Women their own age are expecting them to be the man, the leader of the relationship, the decision maker.  I truly do expect to be with him until death do us part.

Dating Guys in Their 20s and 30s A lot of younger guys are very ashamed that they are virgins, or have only had sex with three women or whatever.  Our eggs are not aging as fast as they used to before the 50s and 60s.  I 100% focused on my business and financial goals.  Almost never is the past sexual experience of the man a make-or-break issue for a woman.  I have had 7 kids, never a problem getting pregnant, even at 47.  Speaking only for myself, when I was 14 I found women aged between the mid 30s — mid 40s to be the most interesting.

Dating younger men can be exciting for women in their 40’s & up Guys in their twenties were, to me, terribly earnest and always seemed to be trying to prove how cool and mature they were.  Dating men in their 30s is like hitting the sweet spot.  For me, at least, after 4-5 months, I really started wanting someone my own age that remembered and could dance to The Cure.  So in my early 20s, I was the typical beta stumbling around in the dark, trying to do what felt right which is almost always wrong when it comes to women , not getting laid very much beyond when I got lucky.  Yet he favours our only son over his girls and I really hate this as hurts them but they have gotten over it now because I love them more than anything in the world.

Dating: 20s Vs. 30s Thanks for putting it into the words I needed.  A caveat which I must acknowledge: if neither of you desires children, then you have a far better chance.  When it comes to dating, a lot of people say that age is just a number.  Or do normal things like twentysomethings do.  As a man, you have no such conditioning.  He had sex with tons of chicks, and while some were ugly, many of them were hot as hell.  I am entering my peak years, starting to think about retiring in ten years if all goes well, and he is still in the building phase.

What Do Guys In Their 20’s Want With Women In Their 40’s? Im crazy about a 19 year old and im 42.  One could also get a job where lots of hot women are common and concentrated, such as a bartender, bouncer, musician, photographer, or similar.  I have now met and are seriously dating a 24 yr old beautifull young man with a good heart who I feel completly safe with and trust which is so important after a lifetime of not feeling safe and even worrying when slept would I actually wake up alive.  I have never experianced love like we both have in 26 years.  I am not ashamed of being out in public with my young man im 49 and he is 24.

7 Essential Dating Tips For Young Guys I Wish I Had Known I actually remember talking to him at the bar and that he had a white shirt on.  We have different cultures but shes older then me with a gap of 19 years.  I have an 11-year-old daughter.  Last week I was asked what my biggest regret in life was.  I have enjoyed conversations with a 25 year old over the last 8 months as attractive and enjoyable our brief encounters, never did I consider a potential anything past talking due to his age — we are 26 years apart.  If a dalliance is okay go for it.  Then we had problems of his jealousies.

The Downfalls Of Dating Younger Guys Still, this group would be my first choice.  He wants to find a suitable partner for a long-term relationship, and, eventually, possibly, marriage.  These people are sharing real life experiences and your throwing around info out of a book, Internet or wherever else you get them.  So rather than mourn the fact that you're still unattached at 35, recognize what a beautiful opportunity this is to get the best of both worlds.  I can see that being a problem should he want a family.  While he was a shitty worker, he was good looking, extroverted, socially competent, and had natural game with women.  I am in a relationship exactly like yours.

21 Dating Struggles Gay Men Face In Their Twenties But it sure did give the public the wrong impression about what is possible.  Hell, i am going to enjoy it as long as it lasts.  We lived together for 10 years before marriage and yes we invited all who could come from both families and friends and we married in a tiny rural church near Girona, Spain.  Your friends can get you laid.  I was capped to a life of relative scarcity and then marrying a 6.