PSST! CAN I TELL YOU ABOUT THIS PROBLEM I’M HAVING?

JASON FUGATE creative director jason@akersmediagroup.com

VOLKAN ULGEN art director volkan@akersmediagroup.com

JOSH CLARK senior designer josh@akersmediagroup.com

MICHAEL GAULIN production director michael@akersmediagroup.com

FRED LOPEZ chief photographer // fred@akersmediagroup.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

FRED HILTON, RICHARD T. BOSSHARDT M.D., MARIA CROSS, ERIN BECK, GAIL FERO, AJ COVARD, J.E. CARPENTER, TRISH PENN,

SALES // MARKETING

TIM MCRAE / vice president of sales tim@akersmediagroup.com

MIKE STEGALL advertising executive mike@akersmediagroup.com

CREE HOWARD sales executive assistant cree@akersmediagroup.com

TATINANNA GELIGA sales executive assistant tatianna@akersmediagroup.com

ADMINISTRATION

DEB MATLOCK / office manager deb@akersmediagroup.com

AUBREY AKERS / advertising coordinator aubrey@akersmediagroup.com

DISTRIBUTION

SCOTT HEGG / distribution manager scott.hegg@akersmediagroup.com

DIGITAL SOCIAL MEDIA

GARRETT REARDON / digital specialist garrett@akersmediagroup.com

Throughout a woman’s lifespan, a number of health concerns can arise. We face all types of medical questions that we feel too embarrassed to address with our health-care provider. I try to remind myself that medical professionals see and deal with these scenarios on a routine basis, but that still does not make it any easier.

That is why in this month’s issue, we do our very best to answer some of those questions for you. For example, have you ever wondered what it means when your poop is a strange color? You wanted to ask someone, but how do you bring that question up over a cup of coffee?

Or how about those painful cramps and mood swings we experience at certain times of the month? Are we alone in this, or are there other women who are suffering as well? It seems almost impossible to talk to our spouses or significant others about this, because they just don’t seem to understand. And the worst-case scenario is when you are moody and having a hard time, and your spouse makes the grave mistake of asking you, “Are you on your period?” That can make a woman go from aggravated to boiling hot lava in a matter of 1.5 seconds flat.

The good news: you are not alone. We all struggle with the same issues, some worse than others. And even though our health conditions are not always easy to talk about, it is important to remember that women have been experiencing these issues since the beginning of time and there usually is an effective treatment option available.

So, don’t be embarrassed or afraid. If you need guidance or answers, a good first place to start is reviewing your concerns with a medical practitioner.

Until next month,

Kendra Akers