Category Archives: Women’s Health

All, Women's Health

Laser Hair Removal

By Natalia Pastor Navarro

Many of us have fallen victim to viral beauty gadgets and treatments that claim to make us look and feel our best. From red light masks to vibration plates, the beauty industry is full of promises to provide life-changing results. Although laser hair removal is not new, it has seen a surge in popularity in recent years. It may seem like the ideal solution to remove unwanted hair, but is laser hair removal as effective and risk-free as the industry claims it to be? Let’s dive into the science behind it and think twice before adding a device or session to your cart.  

One of the biggest misconceptions around laser hair removal is that it is permanent. However, experts state that although it will result in a reduction and delay in hair growth, it will usually not be permanent and often requires maintenance treatments. This is because laser hair removal produces results by disrupting the hair follicle. However, over time the hair follicle can recover, and the hair can grow back (1).  

For results that are not permanent, the cost is not pocket friendly. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons the average cost of in-office laser hair removal is $697 per treatment (2). Whereas the cost of at-home laser removal machines can start at around $100. This raises the question: if the results are not permanent, should one save money and do it at home? 

Both devices use the same principle of selective photothermolysis but at-home devices will usually differ in wavelength range, which is how deep the laser energy can penetrate the skin.   

Some studies comparing at-home and in-office hair removal devices found comparable efficacy and safety between the devices (3,4). However, both studies were limited in that they did not look at skin colors past medium brown skin, an important shortcoming given that experts warn about the risks including scarring for darker skin colors with certain laser types and wavelengths (5).   

The bottom line is that laser hair removal, like most beauty treatments on the market, is not a one-size-fits-all or a permanent solution. While there are certainly benefits to laser hair removal, there are risks and nuances associated with it. Understanding the science behind it can help be better informed to help make a decision that best aligns with your personal goals, budgets, and preferences. Hopefully, if you end up purchasing laser hair removal and notice there is not the right wavelength for your skin type, you will think twice before swiping your card.  

Sources 

  1. “Laser Hair Removal.” Mayo Clinic, March 13, 2024. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/laser-hair-removal/about/pac-20394555.  
  2. Frankeny, Ariel, Daisy Brumby, and MD & Eric Shiah Samuel Lin. “Laser Hair Removal Cost.” American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Accessed February 27, 2026. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/laser-hair-removal/cost?euidtkncn=H6XxIBadoGsbch8.  
  3. Yan, Y., Lu, S., Wu, S. et al. Comparison of the efficacy and safety of home-used intense pulsed light with medical intense pulsed light for hair removal. Lasers Med Sci 40, 148 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-025-04414-x 
  4. Hendricks, K., Nxumalo, C. T., Makgobole, M. U., Ghuman, S., Jacobs, D., & Mpofana, N. (2023). Evaluating the effectiveness of laser hair reduction using a home use laser in comparison to a Diode laser. PloS one, 18(5), e0286162. https://doi-org.ezproxy.lib.utexas.edu/10.1371/journal.pone.0286162 
  5. Lim, S.P.R., Lanigan, S.W. A review of the adverse effects of laser hair removal. Lasers Med Sci 21, 121–125 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-006-0377-y 
All, Women's Health

Can Birth Control Make You Gain Weight?

 By Swetha Velayutham

The internet and social media are filled with women claiming that hormonal birth control causes rapid weight gain. From sudden bloating to stubborn fat, hormonal contraceptives often get the blame. Let’s Think Twice. 

According to the Cleveland Clinic, hormonal birth control methods include estrogen pills or patches, progestin only pills, vaginal ring, hormonal implant, and some intrauterine devices (IUD) (1). Hormonal birth control works, in general, by preventing ovulation and thickening the cervical mucus to prevent sperm from entering the uterus. Constant exposure to synthetic sources of estrogen and progesterone prevents the production of hormones that aid in ovulation, or the release of a fertile egg (2).   

In a systematic review of 49 randomized trials examining combined hormonal contraceptives (containing both estrogen and progestin), researchers found no statistically significant difference (mean weight difference= 0 kg; p<0.05)in weight change when consuming contraceptives versus discontinuing or using placebo contraceptives (3).  

While birth control does not contribute to direct weight gain, a study has shown that the increase in weigh that it can cause temporary water retention by disrupting osmoregulation of arginine vasopressin (AVP) (4). Another study has shown that increased progestin may affect appetite pathways and lead to an increase in appetite and changes in eating behavior, potentially contributing to indirect weight gain (5). These factors may contribute to the myth that birth control causes weight gain.  

The one exception to this myth is the birth control shot. According to a study that analyzed patient charts at Casa Grande Valley Center, users gained about 5 pounds in the first year, on average (6).  

Given this research, there is no direct correlation between weight gain and birth control. So, before you avoid birth control because of weight gain fears, remember to think twice!  

Sources

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11427-birth-control-options 

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/pill-how-pill-works/  

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10640873/  

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10484572/  

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7556729/  

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih,gov/8605778/  

All, Women's Health

Is your menstrual pain “normal”?

Written by Mansi Patel

It can be argued that, in part under the influence of patriarchy, women may have felt the need to suppress their emotions and behave according to accepted gender norms (1,2). For instance, women may tend to default to an assumption that their level of menstrual pain is average and expected (2). This may limit the potential for women to benefit from helpful diagnoses and treatments to alleviate menstrual pain (1).

The diagnosis of dysmenorrhea is based on severe and frequent pain in the lower abdomen that may radiate to the inner thighs and back during the menstrual cycle (3). Other symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and even fainting (3). There is evidence that most women fitting these characteristics (up to 86%) in the U.S. do not seek care (1).

Reasons to consider seeking care include the potential for correctable pathophysiologies such as secondary dysmenorrhea or treatable associated conditions such as endometriosis or ovarian cysts (4). Endometrial ablation, destruction of the uterine lining, or hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) may be available treatment options to prevent further complications of any underlying conditions (3).

Given that most menstrual pain is not pathological, it can also be helpful for women to be aware of simple techniques they can use to alleviate menstrual pain. For instance, numerous randomized trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of relaxation exercises for alleviation of symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea, mostly within four weeks, compared to control groups receiving no intervention or regular care (5).Nonsteroidal medications can also help alleviate symptoms (3,5).

Accommodation and personal health agency are effective health strategies that are helpful no matter the diagnosis identified, and treatment selected. Women can be aware of the option of medical care to be sure specific treatable pathophysiologies are not overlooked. Beneath what may appear to be part of an expected monthly cycle that women accommodate, there is the option to seek care or try treatments at home. Before assuming nothing can be done for strong menstrual pain, think twice!

References:
1. Chen CX, Shieh C, Draucker CB, Carpenter JS. Reasons women do not seek health care for dysmenorrhea. J Clin Nurs. 2018; 27: e301–e308. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.13946

2. Getahun, S. B., Berhe, S., Mekonnen, B., & Melaku, G. (2023). Reasons for Not Seeking Healthcare Among Students with Dysmenorrhea: A Qualitative Study. International journal of women’s health, 15, 1733–1744. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJWH.S437233

3. John Hopkins Medicine. “Dysmenorrhea” https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/dysmenorrhea

4. Coco A. S. (1999). Primary dysmenorrhea. American family physician, 60(2), 489–496.

5. Tsai, I. C., Hsu, C. W., Chang, C. H., Lei, W. T., Tseng, P. T., & Chang, K. V. (2024). Comparative Effectiveness of Different Exercises for Reducing Pain Intensity in Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Sports medicine – open, 10(1), 63. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-024-00718-4