Are you in the know about testosterone? | Source: Shutterstock

The thing is though, that doesn’t really give a complete picture of what testosterone actually is and what it does or even who has it. Because believe it or not, your body makes testosterone too!

Now, there is definitely a reason that testosterone is often associated with men, since testosterone is a hormone produced in their testes and responsible for many of the changes that guys go through during puberty. From that point on, guys keep producing testosterone (though not always at the same level).

Though guys’ bodies have more testosterone present than girls’ bodies, women’s bodies do still produce it! Ovaries produce the hormone in smaller amounts and it actually plays a role in a variety of functions, such as affecting a woman’s sex drive and keeping bones and muscles in healthy condition. The genetic medical condition where women happen to have higher testosterone levels is called hyperandrogenism.

When it comes to women and testosterone, you may have heard in the news about issues going on for female athletes. The Olympic Committee’s regulations allow them to make women they deem have “excessive” ineligble to compete. The issue is that there’s not evidence to back up their claims that too much testosterone puts those women at an unfair advantage and it also targets women who “look like” they’d have more testosterone (which leads to a lot of potential for discrimination based on appearance).

Later in life, testosterone may be prescribed for women during menopause. There is also some evidence that it could help with bone issues as a result from osteoporosis.

Did you know that women have testosterone too? Did you learn something new about what testosterone does? Tell us in the comments!

What Is Estrogen?

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Turns out it’s not that kind of boxing. | Source: Shutterstock

Boxing Day is a holiday that is celebrated on December 26th across the pond in Great Britain, as well as in some of the Commonwealth countries, including Australia and Canada. Apparently it’s a little fuzzy around how this whole holiday exactly got its start.

One idea is it has to do with how the day after Christmas was when churches would distribute the money they’d collected in boxes to the poor. Another theory is that the name comes from the boxes of gifts that were given from employers to servants typically on the day after Christmas. Indeed, both potential reasons would make sense for the name “boxing.”

According to Time, today Boxing Day is kind of an extra relaxation day that now tends to revolve around shopping and sports (Ed. note: Initially, I’d made mention of the tradition of Boxing Day fox hunts. Even though hunts still gather in Great Britain on Boxing Day, using dogs to kill foxes during fox hunts was outlawed in 2005).

Different countries have their own variations added to the holiday, such as the Junkanoo festival in the Bahamas or how in Ireland, a fake wren is paraded around on St. Stephen’s Day (the feast day of St. Stephen falls on December 26th, so in Ireland that’s the name the holiday goes by).

There you have it – a little bit of Boxing Day trivia cleared up for you! Use your new knowledge to impress your friends and families today, as you continue to enjoy your well-deserved winter break!

Did you know anything about Boxing Day before this? Does your family celebrate Boxing Day? Tell us in the comments!

5 Amazing Reasons To Eat Christmas Cookies Right Now!

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If you like insane animals, funny sound effects, and frustrated humans, you really must watch this. It even has a car chase (well, the turkey version of a car chase, but still). I dare you to only watch it once.

Have you ever met a wild turkey? Did you gobble at it? What would you do if a crazy turkey started chasing your car? Tell us in the comments!

Have You Ever Heard Of Turkey Flavored Gumballs?

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But what is depression, and how do you know if you’re depressed or just pretty sad? Doctors use a checklist to diagnose depression (yes, doctors, because it’s a medical condition!), and it’s a handy one to refer to if you think you or someone you care about might be battling depression. The nine things they look for are:

* A bummed out mood during most of the day, particularly in the morning like you can’t bear the idea of getting out of bed

* Feeling exhausted or just really sluggish almost every day

* Feeling guilty or like you don’t matter almost every day

* Not being able to concentrate or make a decision

* Gaining or losing a lot of weight

* Weird sleeping patterns, like not being able to sleep or sleeping way more than usual almost every day

* Feeling restless

* Not being able to enjoy stuff you used to really like

* Any thoughts of death or suicide

First off, if you even for a second think about hurting yourself or ending your life, STOP and call a help line like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). Your life is important, even if you don’t think so right now. You do not have to face this alone.

And if you haven’t ever thought about hurting yourself, but still match up with lots of things on that list, talk to someone. Anyone. Your teacher. Your dad. A counselor or even your boss. If you are, in fact, clinically depressed, you could be feeling a lot better if you reached out and got some help. Your smile is too pretty to go into hiding like this, girl.

Seeing A Therapist Doesn’t Have To Suck

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School’s a source for anxiety of all types – it’s hard to concentrate on already-difficult work if people are gossiping. | Source: Shutterstock

Anxiety can be felt both emotionally and physically. Some of us say it feels like butterflies in our stomachs. some of us get sweaty palms, feel our hearts pounding, our fingers tremble, we can’t sit still, we even want to cry or yell. Generally, we have the anxiety for a short period of time, and although it’s annoying, we get through it and move on–it’s a normal part of life. But sometimes anxiety isn’t such a small thing.

Facts about anxiety:

* Symptoms of anxiety that are beyond what the typical person experiences can include: constantly feeling anxious for no reason, worrying about everyday things, panic to a degree where you can’t get through normal events (like a test, completing homework, or even a peaceful family dinner), or a general feeling of doom.

* When anxiety gets to a really high point, some people get panic attacks, which is a situation in which anxiety becomes so overwhelming that it temporarily, and completely, takes control. Panic attacks can be really scary, so much so that some people who experience them become afraid to go out, period. It’s most common to begin experiencing panic attacks between the ages of 15-19.

* Girls are twice as likely to experience anxiety than boys. Studies show it may be because of cultural stressors like body image and the expectation to people-please. One study revealed that of high school seniors, nearly 4 out of 10 girls (compared to fewer than 2 in 10 boys) reported being “frequently overwhelmed.” Among college students seeking mental health services on campus, 60 percent are female.

* Most of us experience social anxiety at some point – like going to a party where you barely know anyone and feel shy or awkward – but some people are so fearful of doing something embarrassing in front of others that they aren’t comfortable in public or with strangers, period. This is called Social Anxiety Disorder, and can isolate people with it because they feel too self-conscious to interact.

* Sometimes anxiety affects our bodies as well as our minds. Common physical problems stemming from anxiety include chest pain, headaches, tiredness, tight muscles, stomachaches, or vomiting. Using drugs, alcohol, or tobacco can worsen this.

* While short-term anxiety can be caused by everyday events like homework or an upcoming date, some people suffer from long-term anxiety caused by trauma in their past, like an assault, a natural disaster, or having someone important die. This anxiety, called Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, can last years if not dealt with.

Supportive friends can make an enormous difference in lessening anxiety. | Source: Shutterstock

* If you think you might have a serious problem with anxiety, TELL SOMEONE. A parent or other relative, teacher, coach, or religious figure may be able to help. See a doctor to check if the anxiety may be related to a health problem, and make sure you’re eating healthily and getting enough sleep. If using relaxation skills like the ones above don’t help, consider talking to a therapist who specializes in anxiety.

Do you ever have anxiety? When do you feel most anxious, and what do you do to calm yourself down? Tell me in the comments!

Are You Depressed?

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Sometimes it feels like our emotions drown us; talking to someone could pull you to safety. | Source: Shutterstock

Cut to a few years later, when I realized I was having problems and needed someone to talk to, someone who wasn’t a friend or family member, who wouldn’t judge me, and who I wouldn’t feel I was burdening with my problems. Turns out that’s exactly what a therapist is for, so I went to one. You absolutely don’t have to be “crazy” to see a therapist, and the VAST majority of people who go to therapy aren’t wearing tinfoil hats or convinced that traffic lights talk to them. They’re average people, like you and me, only something’s happened in their lives that they can’t quite handle on their own, and they need someone to talk to.

There are about a billion situations in which therapy can be helpful, including ones many of us go through: depression, anxiety, the death of a loved one, moving, school stress, rough relationships with family members, sexual identity issues, dealing with parents’ divorce or remarriage, and also things like eating disorders, self harm, sexual assault, chronic illness, or experiencing something traumatic. Some people think it’s weird to go and talk to someone you don’t know, but I think in some ways, it’s almost easier: this is someone you go to just to talk, and they’re 100% there to listen to and support YOU. You don’t see this person in class or at family gatherings, and due to therapist-client confidentiality, even if you’re a minor and your parent takes you to every appointment, your therapist still can’t repeat what you’ve said, unless you or someone else is in danger (so stuff like you and your sweetie fooling around or your ditching class isn’t gonna make it outside the therapist’s door. Your therapist might tell your parent or guardian something – or have you do it in session – if there’s a concern you may be in serious trouble, like if you’re about to run away, or you’ve started drinking a LOT).

Going to therapy can help you feel a lot better. | Source: Shutterstock

Getting help is a great thing, and I wish I’d known to ask for a different therapist when I was 14; it might’ve made a big difference. I’m glad I know the benefits of therapy now and I’m not afraid to get help if I need it.

Have you ever thought about seeing a therapist? If you’ve seen a therapist, was it helpful? Tell us about it in the comments!

Feeling Down? You’re NOT Alone

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Yeast infections MAJORLY suck. |

So, we’ve all seen the ads for Monistat and other “lady medications,” but what exactly are they for? Well, if you don’t knowyet, consider yourself lucky.

Monistat and other treatments like it are for yeast infections, which are irritations in your vagina and the tissues around the opening to your vagina–the vulva.

I know, it’s really ick to think of an infection getting literally up in your business, but since roughly three out of four women will get at least one yeast infection in her lifetime (most ladies get two or more . . . blah!) it’s probs good to know what’s going on and how to deal.

So, without further delay, here are some important facts about yeast infections:

* If you notice thick cottage cheese-like discharge and feel major itchiness up in your vagina and around your vulva, you’ve probably got a yeast infection.

* Yeast infections can be transmitted via oral sex, but you don’t have to have sex (or have ever had sex!) to get one.

* Taking antibiotics and douching can both cause yeast infections, since they both mess with the natural balance of bacteria up in Lady Land.

* If you’re having yeast infection symptoms, call your doctor right away. You can probably treat it with an over-the-counter treatment, but you want to make sure you know what’s really going on before you start self-medicating!

For more on yeast infections, click here.

Have you ever had a yeast infection? Did you know what a yeast infection was? Tell us all about it in the comments!

Ever Had A UTI? Know What It Is?!

This thing? Probably not your BFF. |

Who’s with me, girls? Who runs, works out, or plays a sport mainly just because it makes them feel good? Tell me all about it in the comments!

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This. Is. The. WORST! | Source: Shutterstock

UTI stands for “urinary tract infection,” which means it’s a bacterial infection of your urinary tract (the part that you pee out of). In our book, though, it may as well stand for “ugh, torture, impossible” because of just how awful a UTI can make you feel.

But what can you do to fix a UTI . . . or better yet, how can you just not get one in the first place? We’ve got you covered with all the facts about UTIs:

* Most UTIs are caused by E.Coli, a bacteria that’s usually found in your gastrointestinal tract (i.e. your rear), getting all up in your urinary tract.

* Having sex can bring on a UTI, but so can holding your pee for too long. So if you need to go, GO!

* Girls are way more likely to get UTIs than guys, because the places where we poo and pee are way closer together than on dudes.

* You’ll know you’ve got a UTI if it feels like you have to pee all the time, but then not very much comes out–and it burns when you pee.

* Sometimes when you have a UTI, blood can show up in your urine.

* Cranberry juice is one of the most commonly used remedies for a UTI, and although it’s not scientifically proven to cure these infections, studies show that drinking it does help.

* Your best bet, if you’ve got a UTI, is to call your doctor right away. She may have you come in to see her, or she may just prescribe antibiotics over the phone. Most UTIs can be cleared up in a day or two with antibiotics.

* When you’ve got a UTI, avoid coffee, tea, or soda with caffeine. Those will only make your symptoms worse. Ouch!

* To avoid getting a UTI in the first place, do not wait to go to the bathroom when you need to go, always pee right after having sex, wipe from front to back when you go to the bathroom, never douche, and drink plenty of water to help your body keep flushing any dangerous bacteria from your system.

For even more on UTIs, click here.

Have you ever had a UTI? Do you have any tips for dealing with one? Tell us in the comments!

Why Is It So Taboo To Say VAGINA?! Find Out Here

Being organized doesn't mean you have OCD. | Source: Shutterstock

Here are a few facts on what Obsessive Compulsive Disorder really is:

* OCD is an anxiety disorder in which people have unwanted and repeated thoughts, feelings, ideas, sensations (those are the obsessions), or behaviors that make them feel driven to do something (those are the compulsions). Carrying out the behaviors to get rid of the thoughts will only provide temporary relief for people with OCD. People with compulsive behaviors are often aware that their behavior is detrimental to their lives, but still can’t stop their actions.

* OCD symptoms usually appear before a person is 30 years old.

* Symptoms include: Obsessions or compulsions that are not due to medical illness or drug use, and cause major distress or interfere with everyday life.

Excessive hand washing is a common compulsion. | Source: Shutterstock

*Treatments include medications and therapy, particularly exposure therapy, where the person with OCD is repeatedly exposed to situations in which the obsessive thoughts occur, then learns to deal with the thoughts. With treatment, people with OCD can make huge improvements, which will allow them to live with a lot less stress.

If you think you may have OCD, don’t be afraid to talk to a doctor or therapist. Starting with a parent or guidance counselor at school could help if you don’t know what to do. This site also has plenty of resources.

Do you know anyone with OCD? Do you ever joke about having OCD, but know that you’re just super organized? Tell me what’s what in the comments!

Do You Know Someone Who Hurts Herself? Here’s Help

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