Considering comprehensive sex education is only taught to about half of U.S. adolescents (age 10 to 19), there’s a pretty good chance you never learned about your ins and outs. “As women, we’re just kind of expected to know about reproductive health, but most of us didn’t have good resources for that when we were younger,” says Navya Mysore, MD, a New York family physician and women’s health expert.
And yet it’s super important to have knowledge beyond first-person experiences, so you can understand what’s normal and what’s not when it comes to reproductive health. This way, you can speak up when things get out of whack.
“Knowing about anything is half the battle,” says Angela Jones, MD, a New Jersey-based OB-GYN. “And not knowing puts you at an increased risk for things that could otherwise have been prevented.” Being well-versed in your reproductive health “allows you to take control of your health and be able to come to your appointments from a more informed standpoint, and also be able to advocate for yourself,” Dr. Mysore says. This is particularly important in today’s healthcare climate where a shortage of providers means a higher potential for rushed appointments and missed diagnoses.
So, what do you know about your menstrual cycle and reproductive health? Take the quiz below. Don’t worry, the results will not go on your permanent record. (Mostly because there’s no such thing.)
Top LOLA Products to Manage Your Period
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Heating Patch
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