Marla Ahlgrimm On Common STDs

Although nearly half of the 20 million STD cases diagnosed each year are among people ages 15 to 24, Marla Ahlgrimm says it’s never too late to learn about sexually transmitted viruses. All women who are sexually active should have at least a fundamental understanding of issues they might encounter. Here are a few of the most common STDs. 

 

HPV 

 

By far the most common virus transmitted between people. According to Marla Ahlgrimm, HPV is the virus that causes genital warts. However, it does not always show signs, and the vast majority of people spread it without ever knowing they have it. 

Herpes 

 

You’ve probably heard of herpes, but do you know what it does? Marla Ahlgrimm explains that herpes is responsible for common cold sores and fever blisters. The sexually-transmitted variant can also cause genital blistering. Alarmingly, herpes can have a significant negative impact on a developing fetus, particularly if a woman becomes infected within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. 

Marla Ahlgrimm On Skin Cancer Types

When it comes to skin cancer, there are two common types. According to Marla Ahlgrimm, these are squamous cell and basal cells. Here, the women’s health entrepreneur offers up a bit of information on the two. 

 

Q: What is cancer? 

 

Marla Ahlgrimm: Cancer is essentially cells in the body growing abnormally. It can happen anywhere. Skin cancer almost always starts on the top layer of the skin, which is called the epidermis. Skin cancer is often caused by exposure to sun or tanning beds, but, sometimes, it is the result of having a weak immune system or having come into contact with toxic chemicals.  

 

Q: What are squamous cells? 

 

Marla Ahlgrimm: Squamous cells are a type of cell that grows on the outermost layer of the skin. They are perfectly normal, and they are continually regrown and shed. However, occasionally, the cells grow outside of the spectrum of normal. This is when they become skin cancer or, medically, squamous cell carcinoma. 

Marla Ahlgrimm: What Causes Bleeding After Sex?

Sex is supposed to be an enjoyable experience. However, there are times when the joy can turn to fear, particularly for women who experience bleeding after intercourse. According to Marla Ahlgrimm, postcoital bleeding is not uncommon, but it might be cause for concern. 

 

Q: What causes bleeding after sex? 

 

Marla Ahlgrimm: There are many potential causes of postcoital bleeding. One of the most common is pelvic inflammatory disease. Vaginal dryness, cervical polyps, and, in extreme cases, cervical cancer are also known issues that can trigger bleeding after intercourse. However, often, bleeding after sex may be the result of the cervix shedding its lining, which can happen several days before and after a woman’s period. 

 

Q: How do I know what’s causing my postcoital bleeding? 

 

Marla Ahlgrimm: It happens outside of your period, it’s probably best to see your doctor. They will likely administer a pregnancy test and a pelvic examination. This involves inserting two fingers into your vagina to manually feel for abnormalities. Your physician will also insert a speculum into your vagina to look for issues not felt. This exam will feel much like a routine Pap smear/visit to your gynecologist. 

Why Do My Hormones Matter? Marla Ahlgrimm Explains

By now, you already know that your hormones are tiny chemical messengers that pretty much tell everything in your body what to do. But, how do they work, can you have too many hormones, and can we influence our hormone production or is it entirely controlled by the body? Marla Ahlgrimm answers these and other questions below. 

 

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, your body creates hormones and, when you eat, exercise, and get enough sleep, your body usually maintains the exact balance you need to perform virtually every function. But, there are many things that you can do to influence your hormone production. Not sleeping enough, using too many pesticides and herbicides, ingesting man-made chemicals, and living a stagnant lifestyle all affect your body’s hormone production. 

Gender And Metabolism | Marla Ahlgrimm

We’ve all heard the joke about the woman who quits drinking sodas and gains three pounds while her similarly-abstaining husband loses 20. As ridiculous as it sounds, there is a slight grain of truth, although Marla Ahlgrimm says that it doesn’t really have that much to do with gender, but more size and body mass. 

 

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, women do have slightly slower metabolisms than their husbands and brothers. However, this biological function isn’t necessarily different because of gender, but more because women tend to have more fat on their bodies than men. But, higher muscle mass is the result of sex hormones, specifically testosterone. Women have higher estrogen levels and, proportionately, more body fat. Muscle burns fat faster; therefore, men are typically more efficient at the process. 

 

Another difference between men and women relating to fat is where it’s stored. Women tend to be lucky in that fat is distributed more evenly across the body. Women also have more subcutaneous fat, which is easier to lose and poses fewer health risks than visceral fat, which is more common in men. Visceral fat stored in the abdominal cavity. If you’ve ever seen a man with a “beer belly,” then you have seen visceral fat at work. 

Marla Ahlgrimm: Vaccine Approval Vs. Authorization

By now, all know that the FDA has approved at least one vaccine for COVID-19. But, two others remain in Emergency Use Authorization stage. Marla Ahlgrimm answers questions about the difference below. 

 

Q: What is the difference between approval and authorization? 

 

Marla Ahlgrimm: In virtually all other situations, approval and authorization mean the same thing. When it comes to the FDA, however, Approval is a term that denotes that long-term studies have taken place on the medication or device in question and that it has been deemed safe for widespread use. Authorization means that the FDA believes that using an unapproved product, in this case, a vaccine, is safer than not using it. 

Marla Ahlgrimm On Key Health Facts Important To Women

Men and women are very different when it comes to health, says Marla Ahlgrimm. Here, the retired pharmacist offers up a few key facts that women should keep in mind throughout their lifetime. 

 

Women live longer than men. 

 

There’s a good chance that you will outlive your same-age partner. According to Marla Ahlgrimm, nine out of 10 people in nursing homes are women. This is because women tend to live longer than their male counterparts. According to Marla Ahlgrimm, this also means that elderly women are also more at risk of social isolation.