Secret Libido Killers

Sex drive dragging? One of these may be the culprit.

Your pill prescription

Oral contraceptives decrease your body's production of estrogen and testosterone, two hormones that directly influence your level of sexual interest. As a result, some women on birth-control pills feel less of an urge to get busy. If you experience this, check in with your gyno and ask her to prescribe a Pill with a different hormone combination.

Feeling uptight

When you're anxious, your body releases stress hormones into your bloodstream, which can shut down desire in many women. Tension also has a psychological impact on your interest in sex.

Boozing it up

Sure, a few cocktails can make you feel frisky at first. But alcohol is a depressant, meaning that after a few hours, it slows bodily functions—including your ability to become aroused and be in the mood for physical fun with your guy.

Source: Marjorie Green, MD, Clinical Instructor at Harvard Medical School and Advisory-Board Member of the Women's Sexual Health Foundation in Cincinnati

- from Cosmopolitan Magazine, October 2008

When Your Breasts Act Strange

We help you decode some bizarre symptoms.

Your breasts itch.

If both breasts have an allover itch, the culprit may be dry winter air, which dehydrates skin. Apply a moisturizer twice a day and after every shower.

If the itchy area is located under your breasts or in your cleavage and/or is red and scaly, it's likely a skin yeast infection triggered by sweat buildup. An antifungal cream or powder will usually clear it up fast.

Your nipples get hard for no obvious reason.

Nipple erections sometimes seem to happen spontaneously, but they're typically brought on by a subtle change in room temperature or your own anxiety or arousal levels. It's not a sign of anything serious, but if it happens frequently, wear a lightly padded bra to mask them.

A few dark hairs appear.

Hair near your areolae or between your breasts is normal, particularly for darker-hued women. Tweeze it, then prevent infection by dabbing on antibacterial cream.

Source: Marisa Weiss, MD, president and founder of breastcancer.org and coauthor of Taking Care of Your "Girls"

- from Cosmopolitan Magazine, April 2009

Tap In to Your Guy's Weekend Brain: Wake Up Call

How he wants to wake up on alarm-free mornings

Give Him a Visual Thrill

Bring him coffee in bed... in the buff.

Make a Little Noise

Whisper the steamy stuff you're going to do to him.

Use Your Hands

Slowly rouse him by caressing his back.

Source: Joan Elizabeth Lloyd, author of The Perfect Orgasm: How to Get It, How to Give It

- from Cosmopolitan Magazine, October 2008

Breast-Cancer Prevention

A heart-pounding way to ward off the disease

A new study found that women who exercised regularly before turning 35 had a 23% decreased risk of developing breast cancer before menopause than did sedentary young women.

One theory: Working out seems to reduce the amount of estrogen in your body, and research indicates that the more estrogen a woman has, the greater her breast-cancer odds.

It's never too late to start indulging in moderate 30-minute cardio sessions at least 3 times a week. Try biking around your neighborhood; taking a long, brisk walk; or popping in a workout DVD to do in front of the TV.

- from Cosmopolitan Magazine, October 2008

When You Feel a Lump

Don't panic—most turn out to be benign. Here, three types common in young women.

A hard, movable lump in one breast.

If it feels firm and smooth all over, like a marble, and isn't fixed in one place, it's probably a fluid-filled cyst. Have your doctor take a look to be sure. Cysts are harmless but can be drained.

A pimplelike swelling on your areola.

Sounds like a buildup of mucus in one of the many tiny glands that dot the areolae. These glands lubricate your nipples during breast-feeding. Let your gyno diagnose it; you can then leave it alone or apply a warm compress to loosen the buildup. An antibiotic may be needed if there are any signs of infection.

Little lumps that appear in both breasts preperiod.

If this happens just before your flow then smooths out once it's over, it's likely due to hormone changes and nothing to worry about. If a lump or area of thickening persists or gets larger over time, talk to your gyno.

Source: Marisa Weiss, MD, president and founder of breastcancer.org and coauthor of Taking Care of Your "Girls"

- from Cosmopolitan Magazine, October 2009

Want Better Sex?

Just a few meditation sessions can jack up your sex drive and speed arousal, say researchers at Canada's University of British Columbia and Israel's Hadassah University Hospital. They measured reactions among 24 women watching an erotic film, then again after the subjects had attended three mindfulness meditation courses. Watching the same movie, the women were markedly more turned on than during the first viewing.

"Mindfulness can directly change brain processing and allow women to experience arousal more acutely," says study coauthor Lori Brotto, PhD.

- from Prevention Magazine, December 2008

More information:

• Mindfulness in Plain English
  • read online or via a free eBook
  • no signup required

  • This is a meditation manual, a nuts-and-bolts, step-by-step guide to Insight meditation. It is meant to be practical. It is meant for use.

• How to do Mindfulness Meditation
• Mindfulness Meditation

Itchy Chest?

"Sometimes my chest gets incredibly itchy, and I have to scratch—even in public."

First, slather your set with body lotion after you shower. This will keep your skin moisturized, which reduces dryness-induced itching. Next, look for moisture-wicking fabric and breathable microfibers, which are less irritating.

Itching plus redness can be a sign of a skin allergy. If you notice this, ease the discomfort with a cortisone cream, and then switch detergent and soap brands to see if that makes a difference. Should you detect a patch of red, scaly skin, you may have a skin yeast infection. Apply an OTC antifungal cream to kill the yeast.

But if a scaly sore appears on your nipple and doesn't heal, visit your MD. It can indicate a very rare form of breast cancer.

- from "Bizarre Boob Behavior," Cosmopolitan Magazine, May 2008

Rash from a Fungal or Yeast Infection

Rash Treatment Options

I've had this happen. It's itchy and red, and normal lotions won't fix it. The problem is that sweat can collect between or underneath the breasts; moisture-rich environments are breeding grounds for fungal and yeast infections. I used an over-the-counter cream, Lotrimin Ultra, to clear mine up.

Whatever treatment you choose, make sure to follow the instructions. It'll tell you to use the cream for a specific number of weeks. Even if your symptoms clear up, continue to use the ointment for the instructed treatment time. If you don't, the rash could come back. Also, make sure to rub the cream over the entire rash and on the surrounding skin. You want to treat the entire general region, not just the itchy red spot.

The ointment should help soothe your skin and make it less itchy; if it irritates your skin, stop treatment immediately and see your doctor. If your rash returns or doesn't clear up after treatment, see your doctor. Take anything you used on the rash with you to show your doctor.

Rash Prevention

To help prevent getting a rash in the first place, keep your skin dry. I sometimes use cornstarch powder. However, don't use powder if you have a rash or are currently treating a rash: it could make it worse.

Reducing the amount of oil on your skin may also help to prevent rashes. Try using a glycolic acid cleanser or lotion to dissolve excessive torso oils.

Learn more about fungal infections of the skin at WebMD

Read about more treatment options for tinea versicolor at DERMAdoctor

Breast Cancer News

We get to the bottom of three very alarming recent headlines.

"Lights at night are linked to breast cancer."

It's not yet clear yet whether it's living in a well-lit area that's a risk factor or if some other component of urban or suburban life may be to blame.

"Depression may influence breast cancer."

Researchers looked at five studies and concluded that women with depression had a 2.5-fold increased risk of developing breast cancer. But some of the risk factors for breast cancer overlap with risk factors for depression, such as obesity, so depression itself may not be the cause.

"Early smoking boosts breast cancer risk."

Study authors theorize that a young woman's breast tissue is still developing and, therefore, more vulnerable to the carcinogenic effects of tobacco. Though more research needs to be done, the advice is clear: Don't smoke... or quit!

Source: Breast Cancer Oncologist Marisa Weiss, coauthor of Taking Care of Your "Girls"

- from Cosmopolitan Magazine, May 2008

Bra Bummers

An ill-fitting bra can cause bodily harm. Here, signs you need better support.

Your back and shoulders ache.

The band size is probably too large for your body, causing you to tighten the shoulder straps to make up for the lack of support. To get the correct band size, measure your torso by putting a tape measure right under your breasts. When trying on bras, you'll know the band fits if it stays level just under your armpits and across your back.

Your boobs feel really tender whenever you move.

The cups may be too big or the elastic in the cup fabric may be worn out, leaving your girls free to bounce around. Also, the band size could be too large, allowing it to ride up your back and the cups to angle down loosely, like a seesaw.

You notice redness under your breasts.

Your bra may not have enough padding around the underwire or the cup size could be too large, causing it to fail to lift your breasts off your chest and resulting in chafing.

Source: Bra Expert Susan Nethero, founder of Intimacy Bra Shops

- from Cosmopolitan Magazine, July 2008

Why Breasts Change

Do your boobs look or feel different than usual? One of these could be the culprit.

You've gained or lost weight.

For some women, excess pounds tend to go to the boobs and butt first; when you drop pounds, the weight may disappear from these areas first as well.

They can grow into adulthood.

Though most women hit their adult height during puberty, it's not uncommon for your girls to continue changing shape until your late teens or early 20s.

You went on or off the pill.

The hormones in birth-control pills can make you retain fluid, making boobs puff up. The amount of swelling depends on the hormone combo in your prescription, and it doesn't happen to all women. When you quit the Pill, your breasts return to normal.

You're pregnant.

Pregnancy hormones can make your boobs feel sore and tingly, and your breasts and areolae may swell and darken. These changes are often the first signs of conception.

Source: Women's Health Specialist Jennifer Wider, MD, Cosmo Radio Sex-Health Expert

- from Cosmopolitan Magazine, June 2008