#at least some people are finding no genitals is an option

[copper-tones]

saw barbie movie. in terms of feminism, mid.

here’s my 3 reasons, no “women bad”, capitalism not mentioned, spoilers abound. least to most egregious in my eyes:

3. i want genital nullification, tldr the no genitals look of any doll. that makes the closing joke land less hard. worst case, it says that all women want/would choose vaginas, but i’m not willing to claim that’s the audience’s takeaway. but it does suck that a chance for some interesting representation was shut down. even leaving it open ended would have felt nice.

2. why barbie vs. ken? i thought feminism was about dismantling the patriarchy and achieving gender equality, not “winning”. you should be able to flip all genders and have no issues either way. barbieland had a matriarchy until the knowledge of the patriarchy came over and the kens broke free. so why didn’t they come to a compromise? it messes with the messaging because returning to the status quo is anti-feminist. the narrator claiming change comes is a copout.

1. the climactic speech isn’t as effective as it could be. for one, there’s a kind of implied “society says… but it doesn’t need to be that way”. which is fine, except there’s only a few women who break society’s mold, and barely in a major way. it’s also kind of a negative framing of it. why not a positive message?

you are beautiful. everyone will see different ways your’e beautiful, and for reasons you haven’t even thought of. and not in any necessarily relationship-oriented way. just that, you’re cool.

this thought still comes into my head when i replay that scene.

on the other hand, maybe it’s a perfectly serviceable film. i watched a critique before seeing the movie and that could have irrevocably twisted my opinion.

[intersex-support]

i am https://www.tumblr.com/intersex-support/756014826153771008/i-knew-i-was-intersex-based-on-medical-care-i-got?source=share this anon what was done to me seems to be the kind where they tuck the phallic tissue into the public bone like this (warning medical diagrams of genital surgery): https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Surgical-techniques-of-clitoroplasty-A-recession-clitoroplasty-without-reduction-of_fig1_355550660 at least it was not completely amputated, i guess prior to even knowing this, i had complained to sexual partners after feeling frustrated/unsatisfied many times, that it "feels like my dick is buried in my flesh and i cant get to it, and i have to masturbate in a really weird way for it to work, you have to press spots that arent intuitive" now i'm finding out that is literally what is happening, and its feels crazy in some way i'm interested in if theres any way to undo that too. i want my fuckin dick back and accessible. some people have mentioned there's surgical stuff to undo it, but i don't know where to begin researching, and i don't know specifically what was done to me in order to account for every detail; it seems near impossible in some way.

content note: continued discussion of genitalia, surgery, and sex

Hi anon.

That must have felt absolutely surreal to have described your genitalia in that way to your partners and then to find out that literally was exactly what had happened, and that your intuition and description had been right. Like holy shit, you literally basically described what happened before you even knew what happened.

It's so fucking hard to come to terms with what doctors do to us and how that can affect the rest of our lives and how it can influence things like intimacy, relationships, sex. It never should have happened to you and more than anything I wish there was a way to undo it and get it back.

From what I know about surgery to try to undo it, a lot of it is very dependent on the individual and on what surgical techniques were used, what kind of scar tissue you have, and things like that. Some things are not reversible, because there might have been tissue that they removed that doesn't grow back. But sometimes, there are surgical options that might help with function or sensation. I've really struggled to find resources about this because from what I've seen, it just all is so dependent on individual situations. I have one friend who ended up getting a surgical consult with a surgeon who does gender affirming surgery for trans people who was able to give them an idea for what their particular options would be, and there was a few options in their particular case. But I know that a lot of us just feel like fuck no, we don't want to go to another surgeon and don't even want to explore that as an option which is SO reasonable.

If this isn't helpful for you definitely feel free to ignore, but I think something that helped me come to terms with some of the impacts of medical abuse and navigating intimacy as an intersex person was reading just a bunch of stuff from other intersex people talking about sex. I'll link a few articles here in case that's helpful for you or any other followers. Content note for in depth discussion of genitalia and sex in all the articles, as well as mentions of surgery.

What intersex people want you to know about sex from Teen Vogue

I'm Intersex. Here's how that affects my sex life by Mark Hay.

Honestly I wish I had more resource suggestions for how to figure out how to cope after surgery, possibilities for undoing, how to actually figure out exactly what was done to you. I feel like that can be honestly another layer of injustice that there isn't this information, that we don't have these resources. Coping with medical abuse has definitely felt like a grieving process for me at times, because it is just so, so hard to come to terms with what was done to me, what was irreversible, and how it changed my life. I wish i had better advice or suggestions to give to you, but know that you aren't alone + that I share your anger + that I hope you're able to figure out a way to cope/process/heal in whatever way makes sense to you.

sending so much solidarity and support 💜💜💜

[msviolacea]

There's a lot of "oh, Baldur's Gate, isn't that game all about sex?" out there - I've seen it on the internet and heard it in conversation - which is fair, that's what the mainstream articles have been about, and let's not lie, most of us around here are all about the sexytimes with pretty people. (Me included, 100000%. And my "romance doesn't make an experience less interesting or serious" rant will be saved for another day.) But anyway ... it's Monday, and I'm avoiding work, so I figured I'd list as many things as I can think of right now that make the game amazing that have nothing to do with actually having sex with someone.

GINORMOUS areas to explore.

There are lore books literally everywhere. If you like reading random bits of in-universe texts, you'll be spoiled.

Have you ever played D&D and wished certain spells had more utility - like Grease, or Sleep, or Create/Destroy Water? You're in luck here! Anything that can either create a ground effect or temporarily distract/take enemies out is OP!

Animated, voiced cut scenes with nearly every single NPC you run across.

At the same time, most of them are not required. Some will give you interesting side quests, extra approval/disapproval from your companions, or interesting information that will give you more options in a future quest, but you don't have to spend hours talking to people unless that's your jam.

In character creation, you don't pick male/female as a gender. You pick from four body types (two small, two large, two with breasts/more slender, two more broad/slightly larger), three sets of pronouns (he/she/they), and several different sets of genitals - mix and match all three categories to your hearts' content. I'm sure there are other things they could have done, but it's the most inclusive character creator I've seen in a major game for sure.

The turn-based combat is a blessing for anyone who struggles with real time combat. Take your time, consider your options, look at things from all angles, sort through your spells and attacks to find the right one.

Or you can remember you picked up that barrel of smoke powder three rooms back, climb up into the rafters of the room, and chuck it into the fire pit in the middle of the room for maximum effect. I cannot overstate how fucking satisfying that is.

Big fucking tiefling horns. Of a variety of shapes!

Your female companions are the tanks/hearty warriors. Your male companions are all delicate fucking flowers, at least until you get Druid Daddy who can turn into a bear.

While optimizing your 4-person party to bring the usual configuration - one tank, one healer, a couple of DPS - is useful, it isn't always necessary. There are some fights where bringing four ranged options is a great idea, as long as you give them some survivability spells or plenty of potions. Sometimes bringing four people who can just barrel their way into a pile of ogres is satisfying. Mix it up!

Okay every companion thus far (I'm still only through act 1 yet, listen I have two games and my partner didn't feel well enough to continue the game where we're the farthest this weekend so I spent my time catching my solo game up) is absolute gold, no duds in the bunch, and the next few bullets will be one awesome thing about each one of them that has nothing to do with romance.

Astarion with the Thief subclass at level 3 literally cannot fail most lockpicking or trap disarming checks unless he rolls a nat 1. He is invisible when stealthed. He can one-shot most low level goblins with sneak attack arrows from range. He is a very bitchy fancy-lad Super Rogue.

Wyll is the Goodest Boy - the speed with which he goes from "I am oathbound to kill you demon!" to "well shit you're just a tiefling guess I'll deliberately fuck up my very dangerous warlock oath for you" is wonderful. He's noble and impetuous and wants to be more than a rich boy and gives nearly everyone the benefit of the doubt. I would die for him.

Karlach does the ADHD idle dance of "I could not stand still if you paid me all the gold in Baldur's Gate" and has the best puppy dog eyes. Also the story tie-in to her rage mechanics is really great and excellent storytelling.

Lae'zel is nigh unkillable if you give her the right stuff. Speccing her as Battlemaster is amazing for controlling the most powerful combatants on the field. Trip Attack has saved my ass so many times, you have no idea.

On paper, Gale should be absolutely insufferable. But somehow the writing and voice acting managed to hit just the right notes of humor and good nature and wizard geek. I'm very impressed.

Shadowheart is a very interesting combination of amoral/self-involved but also compassionate and I find myself fascinated by it. She clearly contains multitudes, and thus far the story is doing a good job of doling out pieces of her at a satisfying pace.

And speaking of interesting moral dichotomies, I absolutely adore that Halsin is both the good influence authority figure and also utterly ruthless when things run afoul of his strongly held belief system. Also thicc, broad-shouldered elf supremacy.

The tieflings you meet in Emerald Grove are directly tied to the D&D adventure "Descent Into Avernus" - as is Wyll! (And I'm sure it has a lot of context for Karlach's story as well, I haven't finished reading it yet.) I'm sure there's more when you get to the actual city of Baldur's Gate, but I'm not there yet. It's just fun to have that as an option to read for backstory about some of the game's characters and situations if you want. It's not required reading, though - cough, Bioware/Dragon Age, cough - everything that happens with them is perfectly understandable without any additional context!

The "Balanced" combat difficulty is a really good mix of fights that take a LOT of strategy and ones that can be easily cheesed.

Have you ever wanted to shove someone off a cliff even though you have like 8 strength? Listen, a 30% chance is STILL A CHANCE, and you have limited bonus action choices. TAKE YOUR SHOT.

... feel free to add your own. I'm still pretty early in the game and can't wait to get to more.

(edited for some slightly better phrasing about the character creation gender options, hopefully)

[thatstormygeek]

The Democrats are a Big Tent Party less in the celebratory, inclusive sense, and more in the way you might feel if you arrived at a group camping trip to find that there were not individual accommodations.

“Fuck. It’s just one big tent.”

Awareness of this dynamic is acute in the party’s left wing. That’s because, at least in my lifetime, they have almost always been the losers in the internal power struggle, a minority faction alternately wheedling and hollering as the moderates and the neoliberals steered the ship confidently to the right. This was true during both the Clinton years and the Obama years. It took the ascendance of Trump, a crisis that neither party’s establishment was ready for, to weaken the neoliberals’ hold on the party’s controls. The realization that they were the ones who had fucked up the country enough to make Trump’s ascendance possible made them seem a little less omniscient than before. Even after Biden was able to beat back the challenge of Bernie in the primaries, it was clear that progressives were strong enough in the party to make real demands. Biden acquiesced to a “unity task force” that produced a set of progressive policy demands as he took office. Biden’s domestic policy team, particularly at the FTC, the NLRB, and his economic advisers, were markedly more progressive than those in past Democratic administrations. Unions had more clout in the White House. Things had ticked to the left, domestically at least. Biden was not radical enough to see his way to not helping Israel incinerate thousands of children, but he did some good economic stuff. Keynes would be proud.

Let me suggest a way for the congenitally hapless Democratic Party to break out of its natural inclination to be forever locked in a dispiriting battle between being those who want it to be a party of social progress and those who want it to be a more polite version of the Republicans, a Chamber of Commerce party without all the discomfiting talk about genital examinations in high school sports. Let me name a single constituency, a single faction, that is capable of uniting the vast majority of Democrats around it. This is a group that can pull in construction workers and engineers, house cleaners and home builders, teachers and civil servants, bank tellers and airline pilots, baristas and Hollywood actors. Yes: It is organized labor. Is it “populist?” Sure. Is it “progressive?” Intrinsically, if not in its branding. It is the big tent that Democrats aspire to be. Put labor at the heart of the Democratic Party. Build the party around that. ... Labor does not need to try to represent America. It is America. Yet neither party has thought to claim it. Republicans hate it, and the Democrats have long been happy to make organized labor a junior partner, a desperate little dog fed on scraps, an afterthought that doesn’t require much attention because it has no other choice but to stick with you, given the options.

The left wing of the party, I’m sure, would get on board with this setup. (Those who rose with Bernie Sanders over the past decade have notably evolved closer to this position in recent years, as they recognized that labor must be the foundation of any mass progressive movement.) The Hollywood liberals would accept it—they’re all union members themselves. The normies of party, the regular folks who just don’t want Trump, could easily be made to see the appeal of an institution representing every type of working person, even if they don’t know much about unions. The money wing of the party, the Tony Wests and Reid Hoffmans, would not like it. But fuck them. They should be the junior partners in this coalition. There is an entire party of capital sitting right across the street. The rich people who have enough moral fiber to not want to hop on board with fascism in order to protect their fortunes are left with one choice: the Democrats. Get on board, fuckers. If this sound harsh, understand that this is essentially the message that Democrats have long sent to organized labor itself—a group that has tens of millions of members, not just a few.

[oathbreakerapologist]

Ahem… FIRSTLY, SORRY FOR MY BAD ENGLISH

SECONDLY, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS

1. What is your favorite detail of his biography? Or some small thing that does not affect much, but pleasured to you? (I’m dying with their matching bracelets....)

2. Did Orin draw him? Or maybe their portrait together? 👀

3. Does Orin have scars or a piercing by Ghost? Yes, she is changeling, but maybe something is hidden from the eyes?..

4. How does he feel about the increased attention from the cultists? Likes/ignores/pulls out guts through the mouth?

5. Could you tell us a little bit more about their relationship with Gortash and Ketheric?

6. ... and the most pressing question. What about Ghost and Scratch?

HI THANKS FOR ALL THESE FUN QUESTIONS!! <3

What is your favorite detail of his biography?

I think my favorite detail is that he and Orin invented a way to communicate covertly using a tactile code in which certain combinations of finger-taps coded to certain letters. Using their code, they could speak privately to each other in any situation as long as they could touch each other. He and Orin developed the code together when she was quite young. She was going through a phase of being interested in secret messages, and she wanted to be able to send secret messages to him, but because he's blind, he couldn't read, so the tactile code is a workaround that doesn't require vision to interpret. The code stayed with them as Orin grew up and adopted a role in the cult alongside him.

In meetings, gatherings, and formal events, the two of them were known to be incredibly clingy, almost incapable of keeping their hands off one another; no one else knew that they spent much of that time strategizing, teasing, flirting, mocking those around them, and much more, all through silent conversations tapped out against each other's skin.

2. Did Orin draw him?

This is a fun idea—yes, I think she did! Now I want to draw her drawing him, lol. I also have a vague idea that she seems like the type of person who'd be really into highly realistic dolls. I think she's also sculpted dolls of him.

3. Does Orin have scars or a piercing by Ghost?

If it weren't for the fact that she was a changeling, she absolutely would. The way I choose to interpret her shape-changing abilities, she has essentially total control over her physical appearance, and because every part of her appearance is mutable, I have to imagine that she doesn't really acquire scars, or at least not scars that stick wither for longer than it takes to change shape again; when a wound heals, it melts right back into mutable flesh. The same is true of piercings. She can have a different set of piercings every day if she wants to, because that's just another switch she can flip on her appearance, so to speak.

Both Orin and Ghost find the idea of leaving permanent marks on each other intensely erotic, so I think they're both a bit annoyed that that neither of them could ever do that—Orin loses scars by shape changing, and Ghost's supernatural healing abilities close up wounds without any scarring.

But even if scars aren't really an option for either of them, and piercings aren't as permanent for Orin as they are for your average individual, I think that the act of creating those temporary wounds is still an integral part of their sexual relationship. A form of foreplay that drives them both wild involves Ghost putting plenty of needles through Orin's lips, tongue, nipples, genitals, or other sensitive patches of skin.

4. How does he feel about the increased attention from the cultists? Likes/ignores/pulls out guts through the mouth?

Depends on the day! Especially pre-tadpoling, he's always had a strong sense of superiority over other people, so he's generally disinterested in their opinions of him, but he's vain and extroverted enough to do a great deal of peacocking around in front of people that show sufficient admiration of him. He believes himself deserving of others' reverence, fear, and desire; so long as they display those feelings towards him, he's happy.

"Happy" can be a fairly dangerous thing for him to be, though. More than a few eager-to-please cultists have received terrifying and bloody deaths at his hands, if only for the reason that, well, they were eager to please, and their suffering pleased him greatly. He and Orin were notorious within the cult for seducing and... taking apart... attractive young recruits who were all too enthusiastic to serve their leaders' whims. Too little reverence earns you a wretched death; too much reverence earns you a creative death.

5. Could you tell us a little bit more about their relationship with Gortash and Ketheric?

I'll probably make a separate post for this one soon, as this post has already gotten quite long, but for now I'll give one fun fact each:

Gortash attempted several times to improve Niro's attitude towards him by giving him elaborate weapons and armor; Niro, who is just as happy fighting with a broken-off chair leg as he is with a masterwork greatsword, was unmoved by this effort.

6. ... and the most pressing question. What about Ghost and Scratch?

...I forgot to get Scratch during Ghost's playthough, so they never met. Ghost's not really a dog person, anyway, unfortunately—he's too generally grossed out by land animals to be all that fond of any of them.

[queercripintersex]

Unsorted reactions to the various polls I put out in the last few days and the comments people have left me in reaction to them:

Thank you all to those have been participating!

Before joining tumblr the only word I'd ever encountered for non-intersex was endosex. I wonder if there's some regionalism going on there (seems like Canadian and Aussie intersex orgs use endosex). Was a genuine surprise at how few votes it's gotten.

There are a lot of people questioning if they're intersex who will then describe what sounds to me like a pretty unambiguosly intersex variation. I was in this boat for a while too so I hope that following blogs like mine help you get comfortable / clarify with the term and your relationship to it!

Offline the vibes I'd gotten about people whose intersex variations weren't apparent until adulthood tended to find out when trying to conceive. Haven't had people voting on that option. Have sampled a lot of people figuring it out when questioning their gender or transitioning and kinda suspect that might be a result of the poll being on tumblr dot com lol

Interesting to see that the poll the perisex people are most eager to see is the one that is on when our variation became apparent. Kinda feels like it reflects a societal preoccupation with biology over social experience (like the polls on when we figured out we were intersex, what to call the non-intersex) as well as I kinda suspect there's some genitalism going on there. At least some of them really want to know how many of us were born with intermediate genitals. :\

[sleepy-shutin]

happy new year, it's my 6 month anniversary on T and it's great. i did my T-shot at 1 am because i spent most of the day extremely viscerally and hopelessly dissociated and have barely done anything, at least until it turned around 10 pm and i suddenly became functional. and i think i also had a flashback at some point but that's neither here nor there.

i should probably start an hrt log of some kind maybe, i think that'd be helpful to see the changes happening, and if people want to block that discussion they can.

below is somewhat NSFW, but it's in regards to HRT, bottom dysphoria, bottom growth, bottom surgery and my thoughts on my options, etc. nothing directly sexual. minors may not want to read below the readmore for those reasons.

so far the only thing that's happened was mild voice dropping and some new hairs popping up here and there on my stomach, the backs of my legs, etc. i fully expect to be pretty hairy since my brother on my father's side is very hairy with a full beard before he hit 30, and even before hrt, i see way more of my biological father in my face than i do my mom.

bottom growth has been there. however, while i'm on intramuscular injections and that is the fastest available route for most people, don't expect results like this so soon if you're on T. my bottom growth is definitely accelerated by the fact that i specifically requested a cream to use to accelerate it, since that would alleviate some of my massive bottom dysphoria and get me closer to my personal transition goals. my bottom dysphoria is perhaps even more distressing than my vocal dysphoria. but not as much as a whole vaginectomy/metoidioplasty might.

right now, some of my biggest transition goals would be to drop my voice, get good bottom growth, and to get the gaping wound between my legs closed up for good. that's all i see it as, personally. maybe that'll change in the future but that's how i feel about it now.

i've thought a lot about bottom surgery over the past 10 years since i discovered i was trans, and i think out of everything else i'd probably go for metoidioplasty instead of phallo, for several reasons. 1) the devices they have come up with to give phallo dicks an erection are utterly terrifying to me in so many ways. that is scary, that there could be a device in me that would give me an insta-boner. 2) on myself, i don't know if i would find a phallo dick aesthetically pleasing. i don't judge other people's genitals and their bottom surgery choices, but i wish there was a way to include things like foreskin and glans and other things like that into a phallo penis. that's why i've come to find the t-dick more aesthetically pleasing for myself. it doesn't exactly look the same as the dick someone might be born with, but it does have its own ways of looking strikingly similar in its own right, because in the clinical sense, it's essentially a micropenis.

my girlfriend was surprised earlier when i told her that my tits don't bother me at all. i'm an a-cup, they're very small and what i consider to be a perfect size on me. if they were much bigger, i'd start to consider a breast reduction, but maybe not a full top surgery. for a long time i've found the chest of a non-op transmasc person who's been on T for a year+ to be aesthetically pleasing. something about the masculine body shape and hairy chest coupled with breasts is something that suits my personal gender non-conformity. and if i ever had a problem with the chest hair, i still have options to remove it.

my girlfriend thought i was more dysphoric about the tits than the lack of a dick, but no, it's the bottom dysphoria that really kills me inside.

i'm excited to see what other changes HRT brings to my body. i wonder if i'll look more like my father than i feel i do now. the only change i'm actually worried about is potential hair loss. my biological father isn't necessarily bald, but he doesn't really have as much hair as he used to. however, he's about 70 now, and considering my older brother on my father's side is in his mid thirties and still has a great full head of hair, i think i've got a bit of time before that becomes a serious concern, and i've still got options in regards to treatment for hair loss caused by testosterone.

all in all, i can't wait for what it's going to be like 6 months from now. hopefully i'll be ready to change my legal name and gender marker at that point.

[cruelsister-moved2]

you said you weren't gonna elaborate but ifyou have time could you on that point that most cis women will only give their genitals as what ties them to womanhood. not sure I understand the implication bc in my experience that's true and I've also wrestled with the same idea a lot bc of being in that space between cis and nonbinary where it's like well I don't feel like what society says a woman is but to pretend that all cis women do is misogynistic. jw your thoughts because i think abt it a lot

yeah I think about it too... obligatory The Quote:

anyway yeah I just I don't know how to say this without coming off dismissive to people who find other frameworks useful to understanding their existence but there really is only how you want to live in reality and what gets me is the... assuming people who don't use certain labels dont have the same interior complexity as you(ie the pansexual effect). no one can ever see your internal Experience of Gender and you can never see anyone else's so it feels like there might actually be an upper limit to how useful it is to engage with. idk maybe I'm just too autistic for all this stuff but I feel like on the internal level you, to yourself, are just you. gender is literally a relational framework that we use to categorise OTHER people so we are all going to feel some amount of awkwardness about the attempt to apply it to ourselves internally. I think some people, upon discovering this, are a little too hasty to assume everyone else (esp cis women) has an easy time doing that. So i guess THAT'S what i mean, like a lot of people are just straight up NOT doing that and just not considering themselves as having a say and therefore not thinking about it. which isn't to say that they don't have complex feelings about themselves as individuals in a gendered society, or even that they might not hypothetically feel equal or better about existing in the opposite category, if they were able to consider that for themselves.

Like im femme4butch I'm obviously a big enjoyer of fun with gender performance but I do feel like ultimately your options are like "I'm expected to be in group A but group B feels at least somewhat less terrible to me" or "neither group A nor group B feels at all comfortable for me" or "existing sometimes in group A and sometimes in group B depending on the context is preferable to me" etc. and each of those encompasses a host of internal experiences of gender but it just skips feeling like that is something fundamental that we automatically owe each-other and require to understand each-other and decides that actually in terms of interactions with other humans our efforts are best placed in facilitating others moving through the world in a way that's most frictionless for them. and internally within the LGBT community who even cares because its only recently that cis gay people have even had a category resembling cisness open to them bc previously manhood and womanhood were so inherently contingent upon heterosexuality (spoiler: they still are it's just you can at least theory cut out the gender of attraction and replace it). i think this is why people are increasingly identifying with terms like transsexual again because it DOES feel relevant to their identity that much of their lived experience is organised around moving through the world as other than their cagab. ithink once you acknowledge that gender isn't defined for you (either by your genitals or like your Male Brain or Female Soul or whatever) then it kind of turns the concept of what even is gender into soggy cardboard anyway, and trying to articulate the specific qualities of ur handful of soggy cardboard is largely pointless in comparison to what container youre going to put it in. and if that begs the question of why we're putting soggy cardboard into all these different containers anyway, well then there you go

[larnax]

ok im not strong enough. hater mode activate.

im only so angry about this because its the first time ive ever seen bottom surgery even mentioned in a fandom context and its to shit on it. im gpnna turn into the joker

easy to DIY" this is dumb for the same reason "DIY wheelchair ramps" are dumb. gcs and making hrt both take skill and knowledge the average person does not have. DIY hrt saves lives and is many peoples' only option i am not disagreeing with that but its not your buddy brent making it in his bathtub its someone who has the medical knowledge who just isnt operating in an official capacity. you cannot do it Yourself unless you want to end up injecting olive oil. this is even more true for surgery. do you think you could perform a DIY vaginectomy????? have at least a baseline respect for the people who developed gcs procedures and the people who perform them

"leaves scars" every non op trans person owes me $500USD. i am so fucking tired of people who never bothered to address their internalized ableism/transphobia about ew yuck icky scars making that my problem by loudly announcing how disgusted they are by an extremely normal part of the human experience. there is nothing wrong with having visible scarring and there is nothing wrong with surgical scarring and acting like there is provably makes people avoid procedures that would unambiguously improve their lives

"certain procedures can be risky" aw cmon bud we all know which procedures you mean! pretty please keep fearmongering about how risky bottom surgery is otherwise someone might decide to actually get a surgery which has an extremely normal success rate for surgeries. yes they make you sign a bunch of forms acknowledging the risk thats called Informed Consent and 90% of the complications are true for literally any surgery or literally any surgery on the urethra/genitals. bottom surgery is not some uniquely dangerous procedure

"implants and bottom surgery highly imperfect" every non op trans person owes me $1000USD. would you say this about any other aspect of transition? is there any fucking room in your head for the fact that postop trans people actually exist in real life and could possibly see you talking about how disgusting you find them? because im 1) real and 2) fucking your mother with my Imperfect Dick right now

"doesnt leave scars/looks completely natural" every non op trans person owes me $1500USD. this stupid fucking idea people have that The Natural Body is 1) even a thing and 2) something we should aspire to or protect is so wildly transphobic and ableist that it, too, turns me into the joker. would you say this to an amputee? to someone who had an organ transplant? because people do and its the same bullshit. the right to bodily autonomy includes the right to alter your body! i dont fucking care if i Look Natural(although its worth noting that most people cant actually tell fully healed phallo dicks and natal dicks apart. i went to a urologist and he only realized i was postop when i told him) and it should not be treated as an unambiguously good thing.

LIKE EVEN THE FUCKING DOCTOR IS NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE MEDICAL BOTTOM SURGERY. olberic had an "averse reaction to medicine" <- directly against canon where he can be healed fine WHOLESALE INVENTED just so that we minimize the amount of people who could theoretically have phalloplasty

also youre lying to yourself and more importantly me if you think ophilia has any medical knowledge whatsoever shes literally a faith healer who cant even deal with poison

like ok "a wizard did it" is better than literally not even acknowledging some trans people want to "switch their junk" like most people do or arguing that its ahistorical to have any medical transition, However this is just having that so you can present it as the better alternative to the inferior gross medical transition which . go fuck yourself!!! go fuck yourself.

again im mostly so mad about this because when i saw the words "bottom surgery" in a fandom thing i was really really excited because i never get to see even other fans who acknowledge that their favorite characters could be like me! i had a solid 5 seconds of just being ecstatic to be represented and then i actually read the damn thing and it was just more of the fucking same.

[sex-ionary]

Untold Narrative of Masturbation

Masturbation has been part of our society for centuries. It’s experienced from teens to elder people, yet it remains a taboo subject in many societies and cultures.

So what is masturbation? It’s simply the act of stimulating oneself sexually, usually by touching but not exclusive the genitals.

Everybody has experienced masturbation at least once in their lifetime, the age at which people first start masturbating varies, with some people starting as young as infancy and others not discovering it until later in life.

But why is masturbation so important? There are a variety of reasons why people engage in this activity. For many, it’s simply a way to explore their own bodies and desires, leading to learning what feels good. Masturbation can also provide a sense of pleasure and release, which can have a positive impact on one’s overall well-being.

Some people may believe that masturbation is a solo activity, it’s worth noting that it can also be done with a partner, that’s why it can be considered sex. This can be a great way for couples to explore each other’s bodies and find new ways to experience pleasure.

But is masturbation really considered sex? A question that has been debated for years, and the answer is not clear-cut. Nowadays it all depends on your personal definition of sex.

Many people consider masturbation to be a form of sex, while others argue that it’s not the same thing as intercourse. It’s important to note that there’s no right or wrong answer here. Ultimately, it’s up to each individual to decide.

In terms of the benefits of masturbation, there are many.

For beginners, it can help to reduce stress and anxiety, which can have a positive impact on one’s mental health. It can also provide a sense of pleasure and satisfaction, which can boost the mood and physical well-being.

When we masturbate, our bodies release a variety of chemicals and neurotransmitters, including dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins. These chemicals can have a range of effects on the body, including pain reduction, increasing feelings of pleasure, and promoting a sense of relaxation.

Of course, like anything else, there are pros and cons about masturbation. On one hand, it enhances our health, it’s free therapy. On the other hand, it can become a problem if it interferes with one’s daily life or relationships. it must be regulated personally to avoid sex addiction.

So when is masturbation considered a problem? This is a difficult question to answer, as it ultimately depends on each individual’s circumstances. For some people, excessive masturbation can interfere with their work or social life, while for others it may not be an issue at all.

Masturbation can be a powerful tool for self-exploration and self-care.

The decision to keep exploring oneself through masturbation is personal. Those who choose to engage in this activity can enjoy free therapy.

For those who are interested in exploring masturbation further, sex toys can be a great way to enhance the experience. There are many different types of toys available, from clitoral vibrators to dildos to prostate massagers. With so many options to choose from, there’s sure to be something that will provide the perfect level of stimulation.

Perhaps one of the most underrated benefits of masturbation is the emotional benefits. Masturbation can be a great way to connect with one’s own body and emotions, and can provide a sense of empowerment and self-confidence.

Masturbation is a complex topic that has been the subject of much debate over the years. But one thing is clear: when done in a healthy and respectful way, it can provide a range of benefits for both physical and emotional well-being. Whether you choose to engage in this activity alone or with a partner, the most important thing is to approach it with an open and curious mind, and to always prioritize your well-being.

[asexual-society]

tw: brief mentions of trauma related to sex and mentions of genitals (non gendered) , stay safe

hello! for context i realized i'm ace around 3 years ago, and while i definitely feel like the label is fit for me, i also feel like some of my sex-repulsed characteristics, to the point of feeling very scared or disgusted, are also due to my trauma- and i'm not sure how to navigate this. my repulsedness fluctuates, but i'm always scared of irl contact and even touching ~down there~, at least like most people, including some aces do. I'm not sure if this is just the way i'll always be or if there's some healing that can be done in order to be at least more stable, but it is kind of making life inconvenient because i'm trans (ftm) and i'd like to medically transition, if it wasn't for the fact that my parts changing their shape and the way they function sounds very overwhelming and scary, even though i know i'd like to have this and get happy at the thought of me being naturally born with those characteristics i desire. Sorry if it's a bit of a long rant, i'd just like to find some guidance, or perhaps shared experiences with whoever's willing. Have a nice day !

Hey anon!

Sex repulsion as a result of trauma is unfortunately common, regardless of sexuality, and it can suck, especially if it's very extreme and distressing. There are some ways of getting yourself more comfortable and used to sexual subjects, depending on what specific things you are repulsed by, but these things have to be handled delicately and might not be something you can do alone without professional help. Since for a lot of ace people our sex repulsion doesn't affect our day to day lives much if we don't plan on being sexually active, it can be easily avoided without causing too many issues, but with medical transition and surgery which I'm assuming you're talking about, people being in the vicinity of your bits can be harder to avoid.

I would strongly advise you to speak to a therapist about your concerns because they may be able to talk you through your options and solutions better than Unqualified Internet Stranger (who would walk across hot coals before letting another human near their genitals) (they might also be able to point you in the direction of other resources to help you with non-gender-related sex repulsion). It's totally normal to be worried about intimate medical procedures, that's so normal I promise, they can be scary and overwhelming regardless of sex repulsion, and regardless of how positively you feel about the end results. That being said, depending on where you are, I know expressing these concerns to a doctor in places without informed consent (like the UK), or otherwise where they are looking for any excuse to withhold treatment, can be difficult, so if you are able to, speaking to a therapist unrelated to your transition could be another option.

Other than this, speaking to other trans people about their experiences with medical transition will probably be beneficial to you because they can give you first hand advice as well as emotional support. Reddit might be a good place for this if you're looking for advice specific to your geographical region, but there are plenty of blogs on tumblr too ofc.

If anyone has any more advice please feel free to comment, ik this can be a pretty nuanced topic.

Best of luck with your transition though anon, I hope you're doing okay <3

- mod key

[transexualpirate]

i spent the whole afternoon away from my phone and this post got over 1000 notes during those hours. here are some things that happened

apparently someone said something really dumb and transmisogynistic in the notes, because three or four people replied to them saying they were being dumb and transmisogynistic, but either they deleted their comment or tumblr did because i can't find it

two amazing people with really cool takes reblogged this post, one of them i consider a tumblr micro-celebrity, which is a weird thing to be proud of but im not going to censor my own happiness so hell yeah

someone started talking about world hunger in their tags and im still not sure what they meant, i think maybe it was an analogy that i didn't really get or something?

far too many people were talking about the tme/tma thing which caused me to do the one thing that in my very long years of online discourse i always refused to do for my own mental health: i looked it up. immediately took 50 psychic damage

no i didn't know what tme/tma meant and i wish i still didn't. that is the HEIGHT of bioessentialism what the fuck. "your genitals determine your life experiences" isn't really the progressive message you seem to think it is

some people added onto this with the most amazing well thought out tags ive ever seen and im surprised that tumblr still has people with critical thinking skills. cool

someone asked if people were really putting afab/amab in their bios and despite the fact that i HAVE seen it AT LEAST ten times in ten different blogs when i actually looked it up i couldn't find any so either my post had more of an impact than 2800 notes would make you think OR i hallucinated this whole thing. im surprisingly fine with both options

me and some friends defeated an evil clown demon in an rpg session. this isn't relevant to the post at all but it did happen this afternoon

this might be slightly controversial but i really hate how bioessentialism has dug it's claws in trans spaces. we used to prioritize individual identity but now it's like afab and amab are the new mbti. yall put it in your fucking bios

[intersex-support]

hello! i have been wondering if i am intersex. i was hoping someone might be able to advise me, or direct me towards resources.

i was assigned female and have not yet taken any hormones. around 13 i developed breast buds, but they have stayed small (unusual compared to family). my voice dropped when i was 14-15—not low in comparison to “typical” male voice but enough that people read me as young teenage male. i grew a small amount of facial hair starting around 15, and i also have a lot of body hair more typical of males in my family. i got my period at 14 and it has always been very irregular and painful (i’m looking into other potential causes for this too).

overall these characteristics developed pretty late, at least for my family. i did not experience any other physical changes (like fat distribution, weight gain, growth spurt, etc.) so i still look young for my age. [i am unsure about genitals because i have no reference for if mine are “normal”.]

thank you for your time!

Hi Anon!

So first just want to give my usual disclaimer that we are not doctors and cannot diagnose you, and that all the info we provide is just to give you an idea of what things to look into more.

Firstly, I just want to say that sex characteristics have such a wide amount of diverse presentations that it's entirely possible that you could be endosex (not intersex) and have some variations in your hormones or sex characteristics that don't quite fall within the degree of variation necessary to be considered intersex. I would encourage you to keep looking into other explanations for your painful periods as well, and not to rule out other things. And no matter what, if these traits are causing you distress or you want support or find yourself relating to other intersex people, you're absolutely welcome to find resources and open communities that resonate with you, regardless of your diagnosis.

I think it makes sense that you would be curious if these traits might be a sign of an intersex variation, though! Based on the traits you've talked about, the main intersex variations that could be a possibility are ones that include hyperandrogenism as a symptom. The two relevant common variations with hyperandrogenism are Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Non classic Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. The first steps to get a diagnosis for those would be blood testing to check the levels of hormones in your blood. Since you have a period, that makes some other intersex variations associated with hyperandrogenism a lot less likely. However, it might still be worth looking into Turner's Syndrome, specifically mosaic Turner's syndrome, if any of the other symptoms listed on this webpage resonate with you. Usually, people with Turner's Syndrome don't have a period, and it wouldn't explain the hair growth, so I'm a lot less confident that this is relevant, but the fact that you haven't really grown or had a lot of development in puberty lines up with some traits associated with mosaic Turner's. You can also have both mosaic Turner's and PCOS. The other intersex variations that are possible options with the traits you've described are things that are a lot rarer like mixed gonadal dysgenesis or ovotestes, which would be things diagnosed with genetic testing after other causes had been ruled out.

Overall, if you're interested in looking into intersex variations as the possible cause of some of your traits, the place to start would probably be PCOS and NCAH. Continuing to look into options outside of intersex variations would also probably be a good idea, as some rarer intersex diagnoses can only be diagnosed after other things are ruled out.

Wishing you the best of luck, anon, and feel free to come back with any other questions!

[estrogenboyfriend]

some questions i won't answer yet

expand read more to find out the answers:

19

masc enby femboy (he/him/any)

around 5'6? i don't remember

murica

i don't know or care

you can figure it out from my UID in genshin screenshots if you want

for now i'll only say english

turquoise

rice with soy sauce

idk currently

(possibly) coding OR playing video games

idk, i listen to obscure japanese stuff

don't have one currently

i can't choose

i don't have a favorite movie cuz i don't watch movies anymore

GENSHIN IMPACT!!!! it has become my new hyperfixation

i don't watch TV shows anymore either. but there are a few i wanna watch including toilet bound hanako kun which I have watched a bit of, and hazbin hotel which i've only seen the pilot of

i'm not into sports

same as favorite activity

my favorite article of clothing are DEFINITELY my pink femboy shorts. they are SOOOOOOO COMFYYYYYYY and cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i love wearing them so muchhh

pansexual demiromantic with a VERY strong preference for guys

single (& recently broken up too) 😢

never had one

any guy(optional) who is bonded with me (i.e. i am hyper attached to them) and also sexually compatible with me (i.e. it's possible for me to adapt to what satisfies them)

any irl meetup with someone from whom i don't have to hide my identity

online: probably. irl: no

satisfying someone else, being appreciated (mostly just people liking/complimenting my body), and praise (call me a good boy PLEASE)

excessive misgendering, "sissy" stuff (please don't EVER call me that🤢), nipple/genital piercings (sorry), excessive bondage, strain on the genitals (done by certain contraptions i've seen and it looks super disturbing), catheters, and any phobia that i have (needles and sharp objects near "veiny" areas, insects, excessive gore, etc). a lot of those are not just turn offs, but also triggers

not rn, no

not that i'm aware of

not yet

around 5? maybe more...

only reddit, discord, and tumblr

u/xhydrochaeris, xhydrochaeris (i don't accept friend requests unless i know you), and @estrogenboyfriend

no, i don't like NSFW subreddits/pages and don't really find them appealing

discord > tumblr > reddit (????)

none lol, i'm a fucking lonely ass nobody everywhere

yes, all of them

uhm i don't know? probably very little compared to average for the actual functions of social media, but a LOT to communicate with others

idk lol probably some 冰淇淋 shit that i got obsessed with ages ago

black/very dark brown

black/very dark brown

no i don't, I'm pretty enough without makeup

uhm medium for a girl, long for a boy. i am a boy but girl standards apply more to me since i present femininely

kinda fat but fem (i am working on my body, eating disorder fucked me up tho)

extremely messy, naturally curly, so it just is a constant mess

usually a t-shirt, hoodie/sweater, and sweatpants.

no

no

online: yes, if you mean me with a boy. but it doesn't really happen anymore....

idk i forgot (memories are not sorted and i'm not gonna bother sorting them)

idk i ACTUALLY forgot, like forgetting on demand which is apparently something that i can do if i try hard enough...

no bruh eww lung cancer

nope

no

does pirating music and video games count? oh and also hacking(homebrewing) my new nintendo 2DS XL

uh probably not, im a good kid

YES... A LOT. i have sleep issues.....

anything that has been within 0.5m of an onion/garlic. those fuckers are NASTY, they smell horrible, taste horrible, and their smell and taste LINGERS in your fucking mouth for DAYS.... YYYYYUUUUUUUCCKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!

yes

not sure if i've met any famous people

i kinda forgot ... i have a bunch of japanese CDs/records that i like but those haven't seen the light of day ever since I got burnout months ago

baizhu in genshin impact because i WHALED for him 😢 I was so desperate but hey at least i got him now :3

GTA V on epic games cuz it was on sale

probably my phone or laptop or smth idk

my homebrewed new nintendo 2DS XL which is so fucking cool because nintendo wants it to die but i am keeping it alive against their will and i really need to start playing with it again.

奥村チヨ - 恋の奴隷 / 眠くなるまで (vinyl 7" single, jun 1 1969) https://www.discogs.com/release/3249405-%E5%A5%A5%E6%9D%91%E3%83%81%E3%83%A8-Chiyo-Okumura-%E6%81%8B%E3%81%AE%E5%A5%B4%E9%9A%B7-%E7%9C%A0%E3%81%8F%E3%81%AA%E3%82%8B%E3%81%BE%E3%81%A7

i mean, the sega genesis model 1 that i have qualifies as futuristic, doesn't it? in fact i think it's way more futuristic that a LOT of stuff that have come out recently. being "futuristic" isn't about features, it's about aesthetic, and those designers in 1989 LARPed futurism WAY better than whoever the fuck is in charge of the capitalist machine nowadays

idk, check my weird shit drawer. i once had a massive dick-shaped crumpled up paper object but i think it's been recycled now.

phone and laptop. couldn't even do basic shit without them.

i said this before, my favorite article of clothing are DEFINITELY my pink femboy shorts. they are SOOOOOOO COMFYYYYYYY and cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i love wearing them so muchhh

my hard drive. don't worry, there's nothing sussy on there, just 8+ TB of illegally downloaded music

money

some clothes for men just sitting in my closet... they disturb me so much and i fucking hate them

yes

BOTH. i place equal value on both yellow and purple. on light backgrounds, it's purple, on dark backgrounds, it's yellow.

i don't like either, but i dislike taylor swift a TINY bit less

neither, the nerds can fight over this without me

sour. i have terrible spice tolerance

i guess i'd prefer cold cuz i could cover up more. hot weather would require me to show off my body even when i'm under the most dysphoria...

this kinda contradicts the last question, but summer because more free time

i am masculine in a feminine way 💙

video games

PC, but for proprietary media, nintendo

uhm i really don't know honestly

idk...but i have a pet dog

whichever has the least rules and strategizing involved. i am NOT gonna spend thousands of spoons on a game i have to learn for months and years before i can even enjoy it slightly

....what?

.......what??

...don't know

neither

lemon juice probably

if i'm in the US, neither. if i'm in europe, then mcdonalds (there is a MASSIVE difference because of capitalism which makes sure that all murican fast food and processed foods SUCK ASS and are filled with unhealthy AND un-tasty junk, and the government can't do shit to regulate the hypergigacorporations that are doing this bullshit)

uhhh depends on my mood really. maybe horror?

MAYBE alternative rock, idk..... it's hard to pick

not gonna lie, lotr is IMPOSSIBLE for me to get into and it takes 50 million spoons, but i won't pick harry potter any time soon because jk rowling is a prick, so if i'm FORCED to, it's gonna be lotr. FYI i don't enjoy any nerd media at all due to the sheer amount of effort it takes to get into them and keep up with them. it's like i'm almost completely incompatibility with them

again, i don't fucking know.

i don't want either, please leave me alone

invisibility.

i haven't listened to either so i don't know

soccer, because i don't understand baseball at all, and i kiiiinda understand soccer very little

yep a pet dog

question 33

i'm about to go to university

a B in a particularly shitty class (the professor was a prick)

As in literally all except 1 class

most programming classes

no

no

i am ABOUT to start working out. not at a gym tho, just gonna do some workouts at home and see how it goes.

probably not

maybe? idk?

[andersunmenschlich]

Requests for Personal Information Online (a guide)

In order to socially interact with a person online, there is only one thing you need to know: what to call them. A name of some sort will do. A set of pronouns is helpful, but in a pinch you can do without (albeit awkwardly... at least in English).

"What do I call you?" is the one question you're obliged to answer: unless you're refusing to interact with them altogether, they're entitled to know how you want them to refer to you.

Answering other questions is optional.

— Q: Say, Anders Unmenschlich, how old are you?

Answering this question gives the asker some idea of how much life experience I have. Answering incautiously (say, with my exact birthdate) might also help them do something I don't want them to do (find me in real life, for instance, or hack an account I own).

I don't mind answering this question. Knowing how much life experience the person you're talking to has can be helpful in social interactions with them.

A: I'm 34.

— Q: Are you a man or a woman?

Despite the false binary presented here, this is a question about gender identity. Answering it gives the asker a vague impression of what my personality is likely to be like. It also hints at what my pronouns are. It would be better to ask those questions straight out, but hardly anyone ever does.

I don't mind answering this question on Tumblr. Elsewhere online I enjoy keeping my gender private and letting people make guesses based on my personality and pronouns, but I don't do that here. …Much.

A: Neither. I'm agender.

— Q: What are your pronouns?

A rare question, and one I enjoy getting. When asked straight out, I never withhold this information.

A: I use they/them pronouns online. I'm also comfortable with he/him pronouns—those are what I use IRL.

— Q: Are you male or female or intersex or what?

This question is both vague and rude. The questioner wants to know some intimate detail(s) about my body. Which ones? Unclear. Quite possibly they want to know everything:

What are my hormone levels? What do my genitals look like? How does my reproductive system function? Does it function? What do my chromosomes (some? all? most?) look like? How much body hair do I have, and where is it located? How broad are my shoulders? My hips? How is my skull shaped? Did I undergo any medical procedures after my birth? What ones? What was done? Have I taken hormones? Which ones, for what purpose?

Answering this question would give the questioner information they might need if they were my doctor, or a prospective lover. They are neither. They're a stranger on the internet, and have no need to know what I look like naked.

A: I prefer to keep my privates private.

— Q: What's your sexual orientation?

This is another question that shouldn't be asked right off the bat. Why would they need to know what type of person I am or am not sexually attracted to unless they were evaluating the possibility of me being sexually attracted to them (or to someone else they have in mind)? It's an odd thing to bring up without some kind of explanation.

That said, I don't mind answering this question either. Internet strangers don't need to have this information, no—but I find my online life is more enjoyable when people are aware that I'm not available.

A: I'm asexual, aromantic, and in a monogamous relationship with another aro ace.

— When asked a question, always ask yourself this before answering: "Do they need to know the answer to this question? Would it help us interact more smoothly?"

From there, you can decide for yourself if answering is worth it to you.

[hemasuresh1112]

Herpes Treatment and Immune System: A Comprehensive Guide

Living with herpes can be challenging, both physically and emotionally. This common viral infection affects millions of people worldwide, causing outbreaks of painful sores and blisters. While there is no known cure for herpes, various treatments and lifestyle changes can help manage the symptoms and support the immune system in fighting the virus. In this article, we will explore herpes treatment options and delve into the crucial role of the immune system in managing this condition.

Understanding Herpes

Herpes is a viral infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two main types of herpes: HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 primarily causes oral herpes, commonly known as cold sores, while HSV-2 is usually responsible for genital herpes. However, it is important to note that both types can infect either area.

Once the herpes virus enters the body, it establishes itself in the nerve cells, where it remains dormant until triggered. During an outbreak, the virus replicates and causes painful sores and blisters on the affected area. These outbreaks can recur periodically, triggered by factors such as stress, weakened immune system, hormonal changes, or exposure to sunlight.

Traditional Herpes Treatments

Over the years, various treatments have been developed to manage herpes outbreaks and alleviate symptoms. These include antiviral medications, topical creams, and natural remedies. Antiviral medications, such as acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir, are commonly prescribed to reduce the duration and severity of outbreaks. These medications work by inhibiting the replication of the virus, thus minimizing symptoms and promoting faster healing.

Topical creams containing antiviral agents or pain-relieving ingredients can also provide temporary relief from discomfort during outbreaks. Natural remedies, such as aloe vera gel or tea tree oil, may have soothing properties but should be used with caution and in consultation with a healthcare professional.

While these treatments can be effective in managing outbreaks, they primarily focus on symptom relief rather than eradicating the virus itself. Moreover, some individuals may experience side effects from antiviral medications, such as nausea or headaches.

The Immune System's Role

The immune system plays a crucial role in managing herpes outbreaks. A healthy immune system can help suppress the virus and reduce the frequency and severity of outbreaks. On the other hand, a weakened immune system can make individuals more susceptible to recurrent outbreaks.

Maintaining a strong immune system is essential for managing herpes and preventing flare-ups. Here are some tips to support immune health:

1. Adopting a Nutritious Diet

Eating a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains provides essential nutrients that support immune function. Specific nutrients, such as vitamins C, E, and D, zinc, and selenium, have been linked to immune-boosting properties. Including these nutrients in your diet through foods or supplements may be beneficial.

2. Getting Regular Exercise

Engaging in regular physical activity not only improves overall health but also supports immune function. Exercise increases blood circulation, which helps immune cells move more efficiently throughout the body. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week.

3. Prioritizing Sleep

Adequate sleep is vital for maintaining a healthy immune system. During sleep, the body repairs and rejuvenates itself, including the immune system. Strive for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night and establish a consistent sleep routine.

4. Managing Stress Levels

Stress can weaken the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to herpes outbreaks. Find healthy coping mechanisms to manage stress, such as practicing mindfulness, engaging in hobbies, or seeking support from friends and family. Regular exercise and sufficient sleep also play a crucial role in stress management.

5. Considering Immune-Boosting Supplements

Certain supplements, such as vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, and echinacea, are believed to have immune-boosting properties. However, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new supplements to ensure they are safe and appropriate for your individual circumstances.

Exploring Natural Herpes Support: Herpagreens

In addition to lifestyle changes, some natural supplements can provide support for the immune system and help manage herpes outbreaks. One such supplement is Herpagreens, a unique blend of potent superfoods and herbs designed to support immune function and reduce the frequency and severity of outbreaks.

Herpagreens contains a range of immune-boosting ingredients, including spirulina, barley grass, wheatgrass, and lemon balm. These ingredients are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that help fortify the immune system and promote overall well-being.

To learn more about Herpagreens and its potential benefits for herpes management, you can visit their website here for an in-depth review.

Conclusion

While there is no cure for herpes, various treatments and lifestyle changes can help manage outbreaks and support the immune system. By adopting a healthy lifestyle, including a nutritious diet, regular exercise, sufficient sleep, and stress management, individuals can strengthen their immune system and reduce the frequency and severity of herpes outbreaks. Additionally, exploring natural supplements like Herpagreens may offer additional support for immune health. Remember to consult with a healthcare professional before making any significant changes to your treatment regimen or starting new supplements.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Please consult with a healthcare professional for personalized guidance and treatment options for herpes.