#clinical development specialist

[clinfinite]

Clinical Development Solutions

In the rapidly evolving field of healthcare, clinical development plays a crucial role in bringing novel treatments and therapies to patients worldwide. Clinical Development Solutions (CDS) is at the forefront of this exciting journey, pioneering innovative approaches to accelerate the development and approval of life-saving drugs and medical devices. With a dedicated team of experts and cutting-edge technologies, CDS is committed to transforming the landscape of clinical research and improving patient outcomes.

At CDS, we understand the challenges and complexities of clinical development. Our comprehensive suite of solutions is designed to address these challenges head-on, providing tailored strategies and support throughout the entire drug development lifecycle. From early-phase clinical trials to post-marketing studies, we offer a wide range of services that enable pharmaceutical and biotech companies to navigate the regulatory landscape efficiently and effectively.

One of the key strengths of CDS lies in our expertise in clinical trial design and optimization. We work closely with our clients to design robust and scientifically rigorous trials that generate high-quality data while minimizing risks. By leveraging our extensive knowledge and experience, we can identify the most appropriate patient populations, endpoints, and study designs to maximize the chances of success. Our statistical and data management teams ensure that the collected data is accurate, reliable, and compliant with regulatory requirements.

In addition to trial design, CDS also excels in patient recruitment and retention strategies. We understand the importance of enrolling a diverse and representative patient population to ensure the generalizability of study results. Through our innovative patient-centric approaches, such as digital recruitment platforms and targeted engagement campaigns, we connect with potential study participants and enhance their overall trial experience. By fostering strong relationships with patients and investigators, we improve retention rates and reduce dropout rates, ultimately leading to faster and more reliable study results.

CDS is at the forefront of adopting emerging technologies to drive efficiency and innovation in clinical development. We harness the power of big data analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to uncover valuable insights from complex datasets. These advanced analytics enable us to identify trends, predict outcomes, and optimize trial protocols, thus accelerating the development timeline and reducing costs. Our investment in digital health technologies and wearable devices further enhances data collection and remote monitoring capabilities, enabling more flexible and patient-friendly trial designs.

In the realm of regulatory affairs, CDS provides comprehensive support to ensure compliance with global regulations and standards. Our regulatory experts have in-depth knowledge of regional requirements, including those of the FDA, EMA, and other regulatory authorities worldwide. From preparing regulatory submissions to managing post-marketing safety surveillance, we guide our clients through every step of the regulatory process, ensuring timely approvals and post-approval compliance.

CDS is also committed to fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing within the clinical research community. We organize scientific symposia, webinars, and training programs to facilitate the exchange of ideas and best practices. By promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and staying up to date with the latest industry advancements, we continuously enhance our capabilities and stay at the forefront of clinical development.

In conclusion, Clinical Development Solutions is a leading provider of innovative solutions in clinical development. Through our expertise, technology-driven approaches, and commitment to patient-centricity, we strive to transform the drug development landscape and improve patient outcomes. By partnering with CDS, pharmaceutical and biotech companies can navigate the complexities of clinical research with confidence, bringing new therapies to patients faster and more efficiently. Together, let us shape the future of healthcare through innovation and collaboration.

[growchildrenclinic]

5 Signs of Dehydration in Kids: What Every Parent Should Know

Children usually suffer from dehydration problems, and if not checked can soon lead to serious health problems. Kids are naturally more active and may forget to drink sufficient amounts of water, yet they need hydration for them to be healthy and in the process of development. Five Important Signs of Dehydration in Children That Parents Should Recognize:

1. Dry Skin or Mouth

Dry, flaky skin and a parched mouth are classic signs of dehydration. If your child's lips crack or their skin feels less elastic than usual, it is a sign that the body is lacking fluids to keep moist. Encourage them to sip water throughout the day and eat hydrating foods like watermelon or cucumber.

2. Fatigue and Irritability

Dehydration can greatly impact energy levels. If your child seems more tired, sluggish, or cranky than usual, it may be because of a lack of fluids. Without enough hydration, the body cannot function as it should, causing fatigue and mood swings.

3. Headaches

Headaches are a less common but important symptom of dehydration. When the body doesn't have enough water, it has decreased blood volume, thus reducing oxygen flow to the brain. If your child complains of headaches often or even during or after sports activities, make sure they get enough water.

4. Bad Breath

Dehydration causes a decrease in saliva production, which helps to clean the mouth and regulate bacteria. This can lead to an odor that is not pleasant. If your child has chronic bad breath, even with regular brushing, it may be time to increase their fluid intake.

5. Decreased Urination and Constipation

The child will rarely visit the bathroom and dark urine is an obvious sign of dehydration. For younger children, fewer wet diapers are a red flag. Dehydration also affects digestion, causing constipation in most cases. To prevent this, encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids and add fiber-rich foods to their diet.

Tips for Dehydration in Children

Provide Water Regularly: Ensure your child drinks water at all times, especially when they are physically active or the weather is hot.

Add Hydrating Foods: Fruits like oranges, melons, and strawberries have a lot of water and can fill up some of their fluid needs.

Develop a Habit: Teach the children to develop hydration habits, especially in younger kids who tend to forget drinking.

Steer Clear of High-Sugar Drinks: Hydrate with water or fresh juices instead of sodas and artificially flavored drinks.

Conclusion

Proper awareness and timely action can prevent dehydration in kids. With the knowledge of the five signs—dry skin or mouth, fatigue and irritability, headaches, bad breath, and decreased urination or constipation—you will be able to keep your child healthy and hydrated.

Hydration is very important for your child's overall well-being. Provide fluids easily, encourage frequent sips of water, and observe behavior for any sign of dehydration.

[nupalcdc]

Empower your communication with top speech therapy experts in Delhi. Personalized treatments for all ages to help overcome speech challenges and build confidence!

Book your appointment today! https://tinyurl.com/4fy75d3p

🤙Call us at +91 9910388103

[drashwinikarale]

Boosting Your Child's Immunity: Tips for a Healthy Start

A child’s immunity plays a crucial role in their overall well-being, enabling them to fend off infections and grow healthy and strong. As a parent, ensuring your child has a robust immune system can set the foundation for lifelong health. At Dr Ashwini Karale's Kids Clinic, a trusted children's clinic in Baner, we aim to help parents understand the key factors contributing to boosting immunity, starting from early childhood. Here are some vital tips that can help strengthen your child’s immune system for a healthy start in life.

Breastfeeding for Natural Immunity

Breast milk is often referred to as the "first vaccine" because it contains antibodies that protect infants from infections. Colostrum, the initial milk produced by the mother, is packed with immunoglobulins that help build a newborn's immune system. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life is highly recommended by pediatricians, including Dr. Ashwini Karale, to provide a strong foundation for your baby’s health.

Balanced Nutrition for Immune Support

Nutrition plays a pivotal role in boosting immunity. A diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants helps your child's body develop a defense system that can fight off infections. Focus on providing a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Vitamin C-rich foods like oranges, strawberries, and broccoli, along with zinc-rich foods like nuts and seeds, are known to boost immune function.

If you're unsure about whether your child is receiving adequate nutrition, consider scheduling a child development assessment in Baner with Dr. Karale. Her clinic provides comprehensive health check-ups to ensure your child’s nutritional and developmental needs are being met.

Regular Physical Activity

Physical activity is vital for building a strong immune system. Exercise helps promote healthy circulation, allowing immune cells to move freely through the body and perform their protective functions. Encourage your children to engage in at least one hour of active play every day, whether it’s outdoor sports, cycling, or simply running around the park.

At Dr. Ashwini Karale's Children Clinic in Baner, we often advise parents on the importance of balancing screen time with physical play to ensure children develop not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too.

Adequate Sleep

Sleep is a powerful ally when it comes to boosting immunity. During sleep, the body produces cytokines—proteins that help fight infections and inflammation. A lack of sleep can impair the production of these vital proteins, making your child more susceptible to illnesses. Ensuring your child gets the recommended amount of sleep (10-14 hours, depending on their age) will keep their immune system in top shape.

If you notice behavioral issues or problems with concentration due to poor sleep, a visit to Dr. Karale’s clinic can help identify any underlying health concerns and guide you on improving your child’s sleep patterns.

Vaccinations: A Critical Tool

Vaccinations are one of the most effective ways to strengthen your child’s immune system. Vaccines work by preparing the immune system to recognize and fight specific pathogens, reducing the risk of potentially serious infections. At Dr. Ashwini Karale's Kids Clinic, we follow a comprehensive immunization schedule that ensures your child is protected against common diseases.

Parents can discuss their child’s vaccination needs and understand the importance of timely immunizations during a child development assessment.

Minimizing Stress and Encouraging Emotional Well-being

Children are sensitive to stress, and emotional well-being is often overlooked when considering physical health. Chronic stress can weaken the immune system, making children more vulnerable to illnesses. Encouraging open communication, providing a stable and loving environment, and teaching children relaxation techniques can go a long way in reducing stress levels.

Dr. Karale’s clinic also focuses on holistic approaches to child health, offering guidance on both physical and emotional development to ensure a well-rounded approach to your child’s care.

Conclusion

Boosting your child's immunity is essential for giving them a healthy start in life. By focusing on breastfeeding, proper nutrition, regular exercise, sufficient sleep, timely vaccinations, and emotional well-being, you can equip your child with the tools they need to grow strong and healthy. For personalized guidance, you can visit Dr. Ashwini Karale's Children Clinic in Baner, where comprehensive services like child development assessments in Baner are available to ensure your child’s developmental milestones are met, and their health is on track.

Give your child the best start with expert care and support. Schedule a visit today!

[spreejobs]

Speech Language Therapist Job Vacancies in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Speech Language Therapist Job Vacancies in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Speech Language Therapist Job Vacancies in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates JOB DESCRIPTION To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work and to ensure a high standard of clinical care for patients under one’s care and support other team members to do likewise. To maintain and update professional knowledge and skills to screen, assess and treat…

[woundcareunited]

Best Wound Care specialist in united states | WoundCare United

Collaborating with Wound Care United allows physicians to enhance their wound care capabilities,Wound Clinic Management, Wound Care Program Development provide optimal treatment to patients, and achieve improved healthcare outcomes. Whether you are looking to start a new outpatient Wound Treatment Program or transition management of your existing program, we can help you design a cost-effective, evidence-based, and quality-driven Wound Treatment Program!

[bestfemaledoctorinbhubaneswar]

Best Female Doctor in Bhubaneswar - Laser Hair Removal Doctor by ashuskincare.com

Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that originate in the uterus (womb). It is not known exactly why women develop uterine fibroids. Most women with uterine fibroids have no symptoms. However, fibroids can cause a number of symptoms depending on their size, location within the uterus, and how close they are to adjacent pelvic organs. These are most commonly abnormal bleeding, pain and pressure. We understand that women across different age groups have different health complications. At Ashuskincare, a lot of emphasis is laid on providing top notch gynaecological treatment.

The Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology across all units aim to provide the most comprehensive women’s healthcare services.

Highly trained technicians, latest technology & equipment, and some of the best gynecologists' in Bhubaneswar ensure that complex clinical situations are dealt with ease and expertise. Our obstetrics department promises the best pregnancy care – starting from pre-conception to the post-natal period.

Ashuskincare

is one of the most advanced centers for obstetrics and genecology in Eastern India, Providing the full spectrum of women’s healthcare services, making it the best maternity hospital in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

Visit More - https://www.ashuskincare.com/

Contact Info

ASHU SKIN CARE , Plot No-202, Near IDBI Bank, Biju Pattnaik College Rd, Jayadev Vihar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 082700 55000 ashuskincare@gmail.com +91 90900 94000 +91 8270055000

[noirandchocolate]

RICE Alzheimer's Research Institute

Terry died on 12 March 2015, having given his PCA a run for its money.  Open about his diagnosis, he has helped to unlock the secrecy and stigma that often surrounds dementia.  His legion of fans is undoubtedly grateful that despite the inevitable progression of the PCA he was able to fight his ‘embuggerance’ and continue to produce a number of both well-received and well-reviewed books.  Terry was also a great example to me in emphasizing how important it is that, in caring for people with any type of dementia, we always look for what people with a condition like PCA can still do, rather than what they can’t: by maximizing what is possible, a person can still live well with dementia for a significant time.

–Professor Roy Jones, Director of RICE (taken from “Terry Pratchett: His World”)

I wanted to post something for the Glorious 25th about the Research Institute for the Care of Older People (RICE) in Bath, where Sir Terry Pratchett received treatment for Post-Cortical Atrophy, the type of Alzheimer’s disease that eventually took his life. From the organization’s website:

RICE established one of the first memory clinic services in the UK in 1987 – a service which has since been widely replicated and is now considered standard and best practice by the NHS. In fact, RICE now runs the NHS Memory Clinic in Bath and North East Somerset on behalf of the local clinical commissioning group and local authority through a sub-contract with HCRG Care Group. To date, we’ve assessed, diagnosed, treated and advised 12,000 people with memory problems and their families in our memory clinic. 

Most of RICE’s clinical services and research activities take place in our own purpose built, specialist centre located on the Royal United Hospital site. The building of the RICE Centre was possible as a result of generous donations from major donors, trusts and foundations, and members of the public. RICE moved into the ground and first floor of the centre in 2008. Following the success of the DementiaPlus Appeal and further generous donations from major donors, trusts and foundations and members of the public, RICE converted the attic floor in 2019 to create more office space. This has given us access to much needed additional rooms and offices which will enable us to grow and run more services and activities. We’ve worked hard to ensure that the areas of the centre visited by our patients meets their needs and we regularly receive feedback on how much our patients enjoy their visit to our centre.

RICE not only provides clinical services to patients, but also conducts research into aging and dementia, including performing clinical trials for new drug treatments for memory-related diseases and developing other “techniques for diagnosing, managing, treating and understanding dementia and memory changes in older adults.”

Lady Lyn Pratchett is the patron of the organization, and the website includes a page about how people can donate funds or volunteer at the clinic and participate in fundraising events.

SO, if you’d like to help fund Alzheimer’s research on this Glorious 25th of May–or at any time–in honor of the Man in the Hat, take a look!

[alismak]

LSKLİNİK - PLATİN

Istanbul is one of the largest and most popular cities in Turkey and has a very important position in terms of medical tourism. Especially in recent years, hair transplantation, implants, eye laser surgeries and plastic surgery operations performed in Istanbul have become very popular. Many people who want to have these procedures done prefer Istanbul to receive quality service and to visit the city and have a fun holiday. In this blog post, we will give detailed information about hair transplantation, implants, eye laser surgeries and plastic surgery operations performed in Istanbul.

Hair Transplant Istanbul

Istanbul, which is one of the first cities that come to mind when Hair transplant istanbul is mentioned, is also a very important center in terms of hair transplantation. Istanbul, which provides services with clinics with high standards and experienced doctors for hair transplantation operations, is preferred by many people. Especially expert organizations such as LS Clinic perform hair transplantation operations successfully with their state-of-the-art equipment and professional team.

Hair transplantation has become very common with the advancement of technology and the development of surgical techniques. Thanks to modern methods, it has become possible to obtain natural and permanent results. Hair transplantation clinics in Istanbul offer aesthetic and natural-looking hair to their patients thanks to these advanced techniques.

In addition to hair transplantation operations in Istanbul, quality services are also offered in areas such as eye laser surgery, implant and plastic surgery. In this way, it is possible for patients to find solutions to their different aesthetic needs from a single center.

Implant Istanbul

When it comes to implant istanbul, the first thing that comes to mind is dental treatments. With the developing technology and the advancement of the medical world, implant applications have become quite common. Istanbul serves as a city that has proven itself in this field. At LS Clinic, high quality implant applications are performed under the supervision of specialist physicians.

Implants are also very important in terms of dental aesthetics in the Istanbul region. Professional service is offered in a sterile environment for those who want to have a more aesthetic appearance with smile design. Defects in your teeth can be fixed permanently with implant applications.

Additionally, you can get detailed information about dental implants and get support from specialist physicians by making an appointment at https://lsklinik.com/. Having a healthy and aesthetic smile is now much easier and more accessible.

Eye Laser Surgery Istanbul

Laser eye surgeries have become very popular in recent years with the development of technology. In a big city like Istanbul, there are many options for those who want to have eye laser surgery. However, if you want to receive quality and reliable service, it is important to choose a specialist center like LS Clinic.

Eye laser surgery istanbul is an operation performed to correct eye defects, and LS Clinic has extensive experience in this field with its expert staff. LS Clinic, one of the best eye laser surgery centers in Istanbul, prioritizes your eye health with its innovative technologies and expert physicians.

If you want to get rid of your eye defects and have a clearer vision, you can benefit from LS Clinic's eye laser surgery Istanbul services. LS Clinic, which cares about your eye health in a quality and reliable way, offers you the best service with its modern techniques and expert staff. For more information and appointments, you can visit the LS Clinic website.

Plastic Surgery Istanbul

LS Clinic serves as a clinic specialized in plastic surgery in Istanbul. It offers the highest quality service to its patients with its expert staff and state-of-the-art equipment in plastic surgeries.

Plastic surgery istanbul is a great option to improve your appearance and feel better. LS Clinic offers various plastic surgery procedures such as breast aesthetics, rhinoplasty, liposuction and face lift.

If you want to leave your plastic surgeries in reliable hands, you can choose LS Clinic. It provides the best results to its patients by using the latest technology. You can visit the LS Clinic website for detailed information.

[clinfinite]

Bio-Specimen and Bio-Repository Solutions: Advancing Healthcare Research In the realm of healthcare and biomedical research, the collection, storage, and management of biological specimens are paramount. These specimens, often referred to as bio-specimens, include various biological materials such as tissues, blood, urine, and genetic samples. Bio-specimens hold the key to unraveling the mysteries of diseases, understanding genetic predispositions, and advancing medical treatments. To facilitate these endeavors, bio-repository solutions have emerged as vital components of the healthcare ecosystem. What are Bio-Specimen and Bio-Repository Solutions? Bio-specimen solutions encompass the entire process of collecting, preserving, and cataloging biological materials from humans, animals, or even plants. These materials serve as the foundation for research, diagnostics, and therapeutic development. Bio-repository solutions, on the other hand, are the infrastructure and systems designed to store, track, and distribute these bio-specimens efficiently. They form a bridge between researchers and the valuable resources required for their work. The Importance of Bio-Specimens and Bio-Repositories Medical Research Advancements: Bio-specimens are invaluable for understanding the underlying mechanisms of diseases and discovering potential treatments. Researchers can analyze these specimens to identify biomarkers, study genetic mutations, and explore the effects of various factors on human health. Bio-repository solutions ensure that these specimens remain readily available for future research endeavors.

[growchildrenclinic]

Must-Know Tips for Mommies-to-Be: Preparing for Your Baby's Arrival

Motherhood is an exciting journey, which can also be overwhelming. As you prepare for your new little bundle of joy, some simple steps can prepare you to have a relatively smooth transition into motherhood. Here are two valuable tips for all mommies-to-be:

1. Positive Mindset

Pregnancy is the time of constant changes, and it can easily fill one's head with an abundance of responsibilities that await. The practice of the positive mindset really makes all the difference to the entire experience. You see, motherhood has lots of happiness, and reminding oneself that it is all right to feel a mix of emotions will help you feel more centered and better-looking. Taking time to relax or practice mindfulness, or even a daily affirmation, can help to calm down your mind and thoughts, which will make both of you better. The main idea is to embrace every moment while remembering that you are strong and capable. Good thoughts can decrease the stress that comes upon you and your baby.

2. Know the pediatrician you want for your baby

Choosing the best pediatrician is one of the most important decisions that you make for your baby. Therefore, in a way, knowing and identifying the pediatrician you'd want to take your baby to before birth helps. Look for a doctor who is accessible, reputed, good and fits your parenting style. Schedule an appointment to discuss questions you may have about their care of newborns and emergency protocol while asking any questions you may have. You can feel more confident as a new mom knowing your baby is being cared for well.

These easy-to-implement tips can make the way to motherhood smooth and set you on your way to a rewarding and joyful experience.

[nupalcdc]

Transform speech and language skills with a dedicated speech therapy specialist. Personalized strategies for all ages to improve clarity, confidence, and connection. Start the journey to better communication today!

Book your appointment today! https://tinyurl.com/3fcwumbf

🤙Call us at +91 9910388103

[star-anise]

are we talking about broke therapists yet?

I've been out of things for a couple of years now, which is why I'm willing to talk about it, and maybe the pandemic has helped things a little, but holy shit the counselling and psychotherapy field is not equipped to help its practitioners in the gig economy.

Of all my interests and talents, I pursued a degree in psychology because being a therapist is supposed to be a safe, stable, well-paid job. Every therapist I met who was registered before 2008 worked and lived under that assumption. And oh boy are all the fee structures--registration, supervision, continuing education, conferences--set up for that scenario.

After getting my Master's, I struggled like hell to get a job. It was especially bad because to get my license, I needed a supervisor to take me on. To take me on, most supervisors wanted me to already have a caseload and client base. To get a caseload and client base, I needed a job.

Friends: Every single job I heard back on wanted me to have my license before I could even land an interview.

Professors and career advisors and professional development specialists all advised me very earnestly to just keep cold-calling people on the supervision list, and it began to feel a lot like my parents' friends telling me to hit the bricks and hand out resumes. That's what worked for them, right?

I finally got a supervisor who agreed to take me on, and I'd be able to use her clinic for advertising and workspace, and we were doing the paperwork to send in with my registration, when she called me up and said, "Is this job going to be your only source of income? If you're trying to depend on getting clients and building your practice for your basic needs, this is not going to work out. This has to be something you're doing on top of a basic salary. Okay, so you're not working anywhere else right now? I'm sorry, I can't move forward with this."

Even once I landed a supervisor and a job building my own private practice, I struggled. I have ADHD and am not great at self-promotion, so trying to do all my own advertising, scheduling, bookkeeping, billing, and records management (on top of counselling) was an enormous strain. One my bosses, supervisors, and other senior professionals watched with a slightly critical eye, but consoled me about because in their early days, their clinics had had business managers, receptionists, filing clerks, and accountants, and getting used to doing everything online yourself was a bit of a learning curve, wasn't it?

I counted my pennies very carefully, because I had to pay my supervisor roughly $180 for their services every 6 hours of in-person counselling I did. This meant that to break even I had to charge my clients an average of about $30 (plus room rental and service fees) an hour--and my clients, being people with complex trauma, were frequently poor, disabled, unemployed, and had no health benefits, so even $10 or $20 a session was a lot for them.

Maybe it would have been easier if I could have taken some of those nice comfortable organization positions where they find clients and funding for you and you work 40 hours a week and get benefits and a pension, but I had to be disabled into the bargain, so working 40 hours a week just isn't possible for me. I start passing out from stress and exhaustion. Older colleagues gave me serious-faced advice about approaching my employer and asking them for some flexibility and accommodation in my schedule, and I tried to explain across the gap between us that employers simply did not hire me if I made the slightest noise about the workload. They weren't going to invest in me as a person; they were hiring 40 units of work a week, and if I wouldn't do it there were a dozen applicants after me who would.

At one point I broke down enough to email my licensing body because the Annual General Meeting/Professional Development Conference was coming up, and I wanted to attend, but I could not produce $500 to do it with. Was there some kind of way I could attend anyway? I felt ashamed to have to ask, and then absolutely mortified when the response came from the organization president, who needed to personally sign off on me being too poor to attend the single most important event in my profession's calendar year.

I honestly felt so ashamed all the time at how I was apparently failing to be a successful therapist, failing to be rich and successful, and every time I mentioned it around mentors and bosses, I could feel myself shrinking from a person to a problem to be solved. My closest therapist-friends and I have reflected on how much more difficult, poorly-paid and underworked, our various career starts have been than we were ever warned about. About the classmates and coworkers who couldn't get disability exceptions when they fell behind in their registration requirements, or burned out and left the field, or dropped their registrations and took up as life coaches, or moved their whole family somewhere exceptionally remote or rural because it was the only good job available, or worked for some godforsaken app skirting the bounds of malpractice like BetterHelp.

I like those conversations, because I feel less like an absolute fuck-up in them. There's less "Hey Lis, you were so talented in grad school, I really admired you, what are you doing now?" "Oh, I, uh... am professionally disabled, so I get government benefits, and I... sell embroidery patterns on Etsy now."

My own therapist kept asking if and when I felt like going back to being a counsellor, and I finally told him: I don't, actually. I don't want to go back and do it like I was doing it before. It was a profession I loved to the depths of my soul, and it profoundly did not love me back. I can't even imagine what would have to change, in me or it, to make it have a space in it that could fit me.

All of which I was way too scared to admit to at the time, because the more I let people know I was struggling, the more they hinted that maybe I just wasn't in a place in my life where this was a job I could do, and I needed to take a little break and wait to come back until money and disability just weren't issues for me anymore.

Eventually my cups of doubt and exhaustion did overflow, and I quit. I'm here now, living a much different life. And at the very least, all my years of helping people in bad life situations set me up perfectly for my own. I already knew what form to fill out for financial assistance, which student clinics to access for mental health support, and which government agency would, if pressed, cough out pharmacy coverage for the genuinely destitute. It gave me that much.

I hope this is just me being in extraordinary circumstances, sitting at the intersections of a few different shitty life situations that most people skip right past. Because it's on one level comforting, but another deeply infuriating, if I'm not, and I've just missed it or we've just all been too afraid to admit it to each other.

[certifiedsexed]

You know what genital condition hurts worse than anything else I've ever experienced, and I'd never encountered at all before I developed one?

A Bartholin abscess. I feel like it's important for people to know about them; they're painful, debilitating, misunderstood, and often dismissed by non-specialist doctors as 'going away by themselves'. The gynecologist I saw with my most recent one said she treats 20+ of them a week, but nobody talks about them. There certainly weren't any clinic posters talking about them. Plenty about STIs and pap smears, but no Bartholin awareness.

I would encourage anyone who's factory plumbing came with a vagina, or who cares about someone with that plumbing, to put Safesearch or the search engine equivalent on (because the images that pop up are the worst case scenario, and also NSFW if you're at school/in the office) and look into Bartholin cysts and the abscesses that come from them. The wiki page is a good starting point.

If you notice a lump near the opening of your vagina, get medical help. Don't wait and see if it goes away. My first one I was so depressed that I just pretended it wasn't there, and it went from the size of a grain of rice to the size of a peach in under a week. Imagine something the size of a peach under the skin of your inner labia.

These abscesses do eventually rupture and drain, which stops them hurting somewhat though they still have to heal, but until then the sheer size and painfulness impedes walking, sitting, using the toilet, cleaning after using the toilet, and just about everything else. The pain I had was extraordinary and entirely debilitating, I can't understate that. It's an area with a lot of nerve endings and very good blood flow, you know?

The second one I had I started treatment with Flucloxacillin on day two and it didn't get anywhere near as big or as painful. It still hurt a little, got to about the size of a grape, and still popped after about ten days, but I was able to continue working and mostly get along as normal.

I've been told that once you've had one they're likely to come back unless you get medical intervention so it really is key to not ignore them.

Sorry to be hijacking, I know this isn't entirely about sex ed as such, but like... I went to a school in a liberal area with fairly comprehensive sex ed which included frank and open discussions around health and diseases, and I've been around on the internet for a decade since as well, and had never heard of these until I developed one. I'm still recovering from the most recent episode, and really do not want anyone else to sprout one of these and have no idea what's happening or be dismissed by a doctor and not have the knowledge to advocate for themselves.

I don't think this is hijacking at all. I think this' great information to share, thank you! [This is an article about Bartholin cysts/abscesses, for anyone interested.]

[thempregsimmer]

Matyáš will be one of the first patients of the newly opened paternity hospital in Katowice.

However, he is the first foreigner to be under the hospital’s care.

From his beautiful apartment with panoramic windows in Ostrava, Matyáš will soon hop on a train for his first visit at 26 weeks pregnant.

His pregnancy has been discovered at 14 weeks by his Czech GP. He recommended Matyáš to find a prenatal specialist, the choice became obvious as he discovered the newly opened hospital just a short train ride away in neighbouring Poland.

Matyáš is developing all according to the doctor’s predictions. He has put on minimal weight so far during the pregnancy, and is determined not to get stretch marks throughout the whole 10 months (well, almost, as his due date is set to be at 39 weeks).

He managed to prepare his skin for the baby’s rapid growth in the next weeks with some cosmetic procedures. He also keeps his belly skin very well nourished, the scene you see right now repeats itself three times a day!

Matyáš is 25 years old and freshly graduated university with a masters degree in psychology. He wishes to open his own practice focused on couples therapy for queer people.

This virtuous plan came to his head soon after a major fight with his now fiancé, Jakub. When they met each other, their perspective on same sex relationships was totally different - they both were clubbers, heavy drinkers and hookups were their daily bread. They saw each other as toys, a way to satisfy each other’s desires.

Matyáš then realised that deep inside, he always wanted to start a family. However, the archetype of a gay man we were fed by the media did not include happy relationships based on love and trust - we were not taught to believe in a happy ever after.

When he discovered he was pregnant, this was a massive shock – both for him, and Jakub, who is the father of his son. They had a massive fight, resulting in Jakub disappearing for two weeks after the news, and Matyáš had a really hard time navigating the potential scenario of single fatherhood.

However, Jakub knew when the first ultrasound appointment will take place, and waited for Matyáš outside the clinic. Turns out Jakub wanted the same thing. He wanted a family. He wanted to live the dream they weren’t supposed to dream. Years of heartbreak and hearing about the way he was “supposed to” live took their toll, and he bottled his dreams deep inside. Matyáš has awaken the true Jakub – caring, emotionally vulnerable guy who wants to be a provider for his growing family.

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive

by Lydia Wilkins

“Come back to me when you start wanting children,” my gynecologist said. I had asked about the implications on fertility, thanks to my Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) diagnosis — and was dismissed once again. It enveloped me with such despair.

For over two years I was shunted between varying medical offices, from primary care to an STI clinic. Among many disabling symptoms, I was experiencing hair loss and excessive hair growth along my jawline since my SARS-C0V-2 infection. After developing Long COVID in March 2022, doctors considered me a “medical curiosity” and tested me endlessly, leading to wrong diagnosis after wrong diagnosis. I was prescribed medication after medication, but nothing seemed to help.

Eventually, I added another diagnosis to my chart when I was diagnosed with PCOS by a gynecologist. The hormonal condition is lifelong, presenting with symptoms such as excessive hair, hair loss, fatigue, and irregular periods. The World Health Organization recognizes PCOS as a leading cause of infertility; you are also at risk of other conditions such as diabetes. The gynecologist additionally said there was a possibility that I have endometriosis, in which tissue from the uterus grows in places where it should not be. Endometriosis is recognized for extreme levels of life-impacting pain and is also associated with infertility.

The impact of Long COVID on sexual health is still not fully known, but there are serious signs of sexual and reproductive health being impacted. To be a disabled woman who has to advocate for herself, with the research, in the face of medical indifference is beyond exhausting. At every stage, I have correctly diagnosed myself, while specialists would play “catch-up.”

Why are medical experts and public health officials not sounding the alarm, to warn the public about the impact of Long COVID on fertility?

Like COVID-19 which leaves inflammation in its wake, PCOS is also thought to be an inflammation-related condition. PCOS is primarily a hormonal condition that impacts an estimated one in ten women and may put you at higher risk of severe COVID-19, according to research. PCOS can also make it more difficult to get pregnant, or, like endometriosis, increase complications during pregnancy.

I still have so many questions, such as if there is anything I could do now to mitigate the chronic nature of PCOS. Yet, doctors continually fob off these questions, shrouding me in a patronizing expectation of “having to wait until you start having children,” as if once I am interested in children, I will gain admission to an elite secret club of better care.

The UK campaigning group Long COVID Kids has documented the wider impact of Long COVID on reproductive health — such as changes to menstruation and triggering menopause. The same post also points to a study of the negative impact on ovarian function, along with other triggered conditions such as ovarian cysts.

A Patient-Led Research Collaborative review also found that women with Long Covid had increased rates of reproductive health issues — including, but not limited to, endometriosis, infertility, ovarian cysts, and other conditions. The review also mentioned another condition I am waiting to be tested for, after two years of misdiagnosis — POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome). Why are these conditions not considered in tandem with each other, to save time and needless testing that causes nothing but distress?

We also know that COVID-19 tends to disrupt menstruation, as well as “fertility potential.” COVID-19 impacts male fertility, too, reducing sperm counts even after mild infections and causing erectile dysfunction. Some people with Long COVID are opting out of having children altogether, because of the strain of delivery and childbearing to the body, or because of the inability to raise or financially support a child.

Before catching COVID-19, I was bouncy, energetic, and socially confident. I had never had any notable health issues; now, my hair falls out in clumps, enough that my hairdresser has adapted to hide the thinning hairline. Excessive hair growth dominates my jawline and eyebrows. There’s also acne, dark spots of skin, and tense bloating warranting “she’s pregnant!” commentary from friends, family, and colleagues. There are few resources on how to cope with such an overwhelming diagnosis and aftermath.

I have been disabled from birth — but attempting to access reproductive healthcare with Long COVID has been a rough learning experience. Thanks to a litany of traumatic experiences when seeking relief from Long COVID, I am now obliged to take a chaperone with me to all medical appointments. Medical professionals speak to my chaperone as if they are the patient — “what can I do to help?”

We are told we have to trust medical professionals — but that trust is a privilege not afforded to disabled people in healthcare settings.

I, in turn, am the “sweetheart” spoken at with “the voice.” Disabled people everywhere know it — slow and childlike, patronizing and loud. I am not afforded dignity or privacy as a result. Other professionals have asked for free disability education instead of discussing my symptoms; it’s an inappropriate presumption, as well as beyond bitterly distressing.

My care was also marked by desexualization, or being reduced to the presumed state of a child. Doctors assumed, “she’s disabled — so she won’t be interested in any of that,” as Lucy Webster documented in her book, The View From Down Here.

Disabled women learn to suppress our anger to achieve any kind of diagnostic result, never “speaking to” the weighted horror. We have dreams, too — but they are tempered by societal commentary, both inside and outside a medical setting. I used to dream of an ordinary life, maybe a life of growing old with a partner, a house, a family in some way. Now, I realize it would be a privilege to not be questioned about these wants or to not be subject to constant commentary.

Women have long been advocating for better reproductive healthcare in the Western world; PCOS has long been misunderstood, with treatment often merely consisting of being told, “just lose weight.” A lack of curiosity has written off reproductive healthcare as only “a woman’s issue” for far too long.

More research on the emerging connection between reproductive health and Long COVID is needed, as is a deliberate culture shift in any caring profession. That can only start with education aimed at ending ingrained stigma. Health is a collective concept — and if we forget that, the pandemic has taught us nothing.