Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder and is one of the leading causes of female infertility besides Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) and endometriosis.

PCOS is characterized by small, benign cysts that can be found in the ovaries which are caused by increased levels of androgens and decreased number of sex hormone binding globulins. Symptoms include irregular or no menstrual cycle, reduced fertility, excessive body hair growth, and weight gain. Other health problems that are associated with PCOS are diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and cardiovascular diseases.

“PCOS is not fatal though there is a slightly higher risk of cancer of the uterus. Infertility is more common although many women have had normal pregnancies with no effect to the babies,” said Dr. Izham Cheong, a general practitioner at Dubbo Base Hospital.

There are various treatments to help manage PCOS but there is yet a cure. Some of the more popular ones are oral contraceptive pills to regulate menstrual cycles, chemical medications, healthy diet and exercise, and natural therapies.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association of Australia (POSAA), a registered Australian charity, was founded in 1998 to help women diagnosed with the syndrome to better understand about their condition by providing information and encouragement through their support groups, their website and email lists. They also hope to increase awarness by lobbying the government for policies that affect PCOS women.

“Joining [POSAA] was the best thing I have ever done…I share my ups and downs with other women and they share theirs…it’s a place where you can vent your anger, sadness or happiness and everyone understands because we are all in the same boat,” said Jane*.

*Name was changed for privacy.

What’s inside your mum’s handbag?

You’re with your mum, you can feel a sneeze coming up, but (oh no!) you don’t have a tissue in your bag. You turn to your mum and ask for a tissue. Voila! She immediately locates tissue/s for you. Thank-ah-choo-goodness!

Have you guys ever needed something but didn’t have it so you turn to your ever prepared mum for it? They carry around massive hand bags that are just chocker block with handy little items you’d never thought of bringing yourself. Some of the things I’ve asked for before include the ever popular tissues, nail clipper, scissors, and money (naturally!). Mums’ bags can be like treasure troves full of unexpected things. Cool!

Yesterday my family and I were in the car and my dad goes, “Mum, do you have a toothpick?”. Lo and behold, my mum whips one out. I was like, “What?!”. Seriously who carries around toothpicks in their bag? Tissues, understandable, lip gloss, of course, but toothpicks?!

Size 0: Urm…I think you should eat more

I watched a confronting documentary on television yesterday about our society’s morbid fascination with this ’size 0′ body image. What sparked off the whole debate in the first place was the deaths of those two models from eating disorders but this is the first time I’ve ever watched the harsh reality of it.

While watching some of these models, I thought “Why does society seem to praise this type of body?”. It is emancipated, all the bones are obvious and protruding, and for goodness sake girl, where are your breasts?! Size 0 models must be perpetually hungry/silly/sick (or all of the above) all the time but unfortunately this situation won’t change unless the fashion industry and its designers start making clothes for slightly curvier women. Come on girls, is a size 8 really too much to ask?

Besides, guys like a little bit of ’something, something’ to hold on to anyway. So keep it real, keep it healthy!

Cooks River Festival

You must be the change you wish to see in the world. - Mahatma Gandhi

That was the message that the Cooks River Sustainability and Arts Festival was trying to spread today.

This annual event, held at Steel Park next to Cooks River in Marrickville South, highlights the environmental and sustainability issues that people are confronted with every time they turn the tap or lights on.

“Council hopes to raise awareness of serious environmental issues with our community, and to show how ordinary citizens can make a big impact as individuals on improving the environment,” said Marrickville’s Communication Coordinator, Nick Murphie.

The day’s programme included a Sustainable Water Showcase where ambassadors helpfully answered questions and shared their experiences, and the Climate Change Project which is based on former Vice President Al Gore’s controversial 2006 movie, An Inconvenient Truth. Expert panels, workshop tents and demonstrations also ran in conjunction and they emphasised serious environmental issues while educating festival goers for a better environment.

Parents were encouraged to bring their families and make a day out of the festival with many children-friendly events also held such as craft activities and a storm water education model. Mayor of Marrickville, Morris Hanna OAM said: “It was a fun, relaxed day that the whole family enjoyed.”

Other initiatives the council supports in increasing awareness include The Watershed program which focuses on water pollution and consumption, and is a joint initiative with City of Sydney. There is also the RiverLife Interpretive Tour program which trains and supports local volunteer guides to develop and deliver tours in the Cooks River catchments area.

“[Marrickville] Council’s goal is to encourage all citizens to work in partnership with us to accepting these pressures and help us to implement solutions to manage these pressures. Council wishes to preserve and protect the environment and encourage sustainable living practices to ensure its preservation,” said Nick Murphie.

Links: Marrickville Council

300 Spartans: Nudity, Part II

You have seen Frank Miller’s adaptation of 300 (as watching this movie is merely a question of when, not if – it is THAT good!). Therefore you would have seen the plethora of the various degrees of nudity featured in this movie – the ripped abs, the rippling biceps, Gerard Butler’s very fine…excuse my drool…ass, the occasional breast or two, and all the bits NOT covered by their tiny loinclothes…

Oh, sorry! Do forgive my lack of attention. My mind was pleasantly wandering the valleys and traipsing the mountains of the bodies of these 300 Spartan men. How…nice…oh dear, almost lost my line of thought again!

So, nudity in ancient Sparta – did these men and women really go about their lives in stark, naked glory? In her book, Spartan Women (2002), Sarah Pomeroy wrote that their nudity “may be explained in terms of religion, initiatory rites, erotic stimulation, and the requirements of athletic prowess,” (pg. 25) with emphasis on the last reason.

Spartan women were one of the only groups of women during their time to enjoy the freedom of pursuing sports and physical activities normally reserved for men. They rationalised that strong, healthy women will bear strong, healthy sons and daughters (Sebring, 2004; Scanlon, 2002). Consequently it seems logical that nudism is an accepted part of their athletic, competitive, militaristic culture where attainments of the highest achievements were not impeded by cumbersome clothes. How annoying would it be to have your “chiton” and “himation” (i.e. toga) flapping around your ankles as you ran? Or having excess material wrap around your mighty sword and spear as you are trying to plunge it into your hated enemy’s ‘not-as-muscular-or-pumped-as-mine-booyah!’ chest?

Not only that, Spartan clothing usually differed slightly from other Ancient Greek cultures – it was a lot skimpier, especially for women. Considering that Spartans spent most of their life exercising and doing physical activities…if you got it, flaunt it!

Here are some great sources where I got quotes and references from:

Nudity in Ancient to Modern Cultures by Aileen Goodson (scroll down to ‘Nudity in Ancient Greece’, very informative)

Sparta’s Journal – Richard Sebring writes a very interesting article on Spartan women

Games for Girls by Thomas F. Scanlon

Nudity in Ancient Greece

Pomeroy, S. (2002), Spartan Women, Oxford University Press, Oxford (I’d recommend this book for anyone wanting further information on this topic)