A Word From Dr. Yen:

September is PCOS and Sexual Health awareness month

PCOS Month

PolyCystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) will affect 1 in 10 women during their lives. PCOS is a hormonal disorder with the following symptoms:

• Signs of high androgens (extra acne, hairiness or high levels of testosterone)
• Irregular periods or frequently missed periods

The first line medical treatment for PCOS is the birth control pill, patch, or ring because estrogen and progesterone block the ovaries from ovulating which reduces the risk of new cysts. Also, it’s better to skip or shorten the placebo/bleeding week because the more days you are off the active pills, the greater the risk of cysts.

We’re a proud supporter of PCOS Challenge, the National PCOS Foundation.

September is also Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

Did you know that being on the birth control pill for at least 5 years lowers your chances of ovarian cancer by 50%? When you don’t ovulate, then you decrease your risk of ovarian cancer.

 

Sexual Health Awareness Month

September is Sexual Health Awareness Month! According to the WHO, one in two sexually Americans will contract an STD/ STIs by age 25. Since these STDs/STIs can be asymptomatic, the CDC recommends sexually active women under 25 get tested annually for chlamydia and gonorrhea.

Now, testing for STD/STIs is easier than ever! Pandia and Simple HealthKit (SHK) are partnering to empower women to take control over their sexual wellness and get tested regularly with Simple HealthKit’s discreet and easy to use at-home Sexual Wellness Test Kit.

A single urine sample can be collected in the privacy of your own home and provide actionable results when screening for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis. Once your sample reaches SHK’s CLIA-certified and CAP accredited laboratory, you will receive your results in under 24 hours via a HIPAA-compliant portal. If you receive a positive test result, you can request a telehealth provider consultation on Simple HealthKit’s portal at no additional cost.

Test kit includes: instructional insert, urine collection cup, sample tube, transfer pipette, sample ID, biohazard bag, return envelope & label.  This test kit will be available via Pandia Health starting September 13th. 

Upcoming Live Streams

Real Talk Live: Sexual Wellness 101
September 21st 5pm PT
Join us on IG live as we celebrate Sexual Health Awareness Month with SHK’s Dr. Kelly! We will be discussing safe sexual habits post-pandemic and at home STI test kits. As always, bring your questions!

TMI Tuesday with Dr Sophia Yen
September 13th 5 pm PST
Dr. Yen will be joined by the fabulous Tamra Moon (@mstamramoon) on Tik Tok live as we keep on the theme of Sexual Health Awareness Month, discussing STI facts you may not know and how to stay safe!