Health guidelines for transgender people are unfortunately an under-researched topic. Most existing guidelines are extremely binary and based on sex assigned at birth, which comprises anatomy, body composition, and hormones. The research doesn’t offer much guidance for non-binary or intersex individuals. Knowing whether to follow existing female or male guidelines can therefore be confusing and often requires the guidance and support of a health care provider.

Stress is a normal psychological and physical reaction to the demands of life. Work, school, relationships, and daily hassles can often serve as stressors, or sources of stress. Stress isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Good stress, or eustress, pushes us to work harder. When this stress becomes overwhelming or hard to manage, it’s called distress and can impact your health.

The main symptom of headaches is head pain. Though the majority of headaches are benign or not life-threatening, some may be an indicator of a more serious health issue.

Sexually transmitted infections are infections that are transmitted from person-to-person during anal, oral, or vaginal sex; genital skin-to-skin contact, or when fluids are exchanged from one person to another. This can occur via direct contact with the fluid or through the mutual use of sex toys.

Quitting nicotine and tobacco is no small feat—and sometimes quitting can be difficult to navigate. As you plan your quit journey, there are many different things to consider to make these next steps easier. This includes having an understanding of nicotine and tobacco, how to get started, and what supports you have available to you during your journey. 

If you’ve made the decision to quit nicotine, you might experience withdrawal and other unpleasant side effects. While this shouldn’t deter you from continuing your quit journey, there are some considerations when navigating nicotine withdrawal.

Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) is a viral infectious disease caused by the mpox virus. Mpox belongs to the same family of viruses that causes smallpox (variola virus); therefore, the viruses are closely related.

Due to the changing legal landscape in the United States, access to abortion can vary by state. Various resources can be utilized in order to find an abortion provider and to learn about what services are available in your state. Different funds also exist to help people who need these services pay for the costs associated with it.

Sleep plays an integral role in maintaining physical and mental health. Not getting enough quality sleep can interfere with a person’s ability to store newly learned information, potentially leading to a negative impact on academic performance. In addition, sleep deprivation is associated with daytime sleepiness, depressed mood, impaired concentration and memory, and a weakened immune system.

Gender-affirming care (GAC) is an umbrella term for health care that aims to help a transgender or gender diverse person’s body better align with their gender identity. You might seek out GAC if you experience gender incongruence—when the gender you identify with conflicts with the sex you were assigned at birth. There are many different forms of GAC, including both lifestyle changes and medical interventions. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH)—the organization often recognized as the gold standard for GAC— outline guiding recommendations for GAC. Additionally, it’s helpful to keep in mind that medical transition isn’t necessary to identify as transgender or gender diverse.