Reproductive Health Research: Behind the Scenes
I am now five years into my journey of reproductive health research. From my senior year of high school researching adolescent endometriosis to my master's work examining menstrual health literacy in Alabama, I've gained a tremendous passion for menstrual education and menstrual disorders. But with the academic highs came bouts of culture shock, anxiety, and self-doubt as the literature I'd so carefully scouted time and again failed to apply to my research situation. Of cours
Nov 4, 20253 min read
Midwives and the Birthing Community
Picture yourself as a woman in 1896. Alabama has just recently created a state flag, and now the state’s first public tech school to train girls for careers is about to open its doors. Meanwhile, you are very pregnant, and your water has just broken. The midwife is called, and she provides emotional and physical support to deliver your baby in the home, alongside a few close female relatives and friends. Your midwife has attended thousands of births and knows your family and
Apr 1, 20244 min read
What Girls Don't Know Hurts Them: Period Stigma
Last fall, I walked into a Birmingham nonprofit’s classroom expecting to give a simple presentation to middle school girls on anatomy, periods, and menstrual disorders. I hoped to ask a few questions of the girls afterward to gauge their comfort with the subject of menstrual health, and maybe even to start thinking about how to bring more resources to other young girls to learn about their periods. I’ll be honest: as an out-of-state pre-med student with a long-time interest i
Mar 25, 20244 min read
