Lissa Rankin's Blog

Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. Joy is a choice.

A Case Against Circumcision

Lissa Rankin, September 8, 2010

When I was an intern, just starting my OB/GYN residency, someone handed me a list with a dozen names on it and said, “Go. It’s your job to circumcise these babies.” My mouth flung open. Say what?

Let's Talk About Coochies and Boobs

Lissa Rankin, September 7, 2010

Greetings, Pinkies! Today we are beyond thrilled to publish the full introduction of Lissa's book What's Up Down There? Questions You'd Only Ask Your Gynecologist If She Was Your Best Friend in anticipation of the book's launch on September 28 (more info below). Enjoy!

Introduction: Let's Talk About Coochies and Boobs

Brrrrringgggg….The phone rings. Caller ID says it’s Chloe. I pick up.

All I hear are giggles. Then a snort, followed by a cackle.

“Chloe?” I say.

Chloe snorts again. I shake my head and smile.

I hear someone yell, “Don’t say vagina so loud!”

They’ve done this before. Chloe and Piper are in Manhattan celebrating some girl time away from the kids, obviously talking about sex over a few cocktails. Whenever they think up questions about their girl parts, they call me. They are my best friends, and I am a gynecologist.

Owning My Inner Diva

Lissa Rankin, September 6, 2010

Something happened a month or so ago that pissed me off. At first, I tried to shove it down. I talked myself out of getting upset, reminded myself that people like me more when I’m easy going, and kept my cool, even when I had steam coming out of my ears. My efforts to keep my righteous indignation under wraps worked for a few days. Then Victoria Rochester took over, and all hell broke loose.

What's Itchy Down There?

Lissa Rankin, September 2, 2010

Greetings, Pinkies! We are thrilled to jump into our countdown to the launch of Dr. Lissa Rankin's book What's Up Down There? Questions You'd Only Ask Your Gynecologist If She Was Your Best Friend that will hit shelves THIS MONTH - September 28 (preorder here)! We're going to start featuring questions here from Lissa's medical blog, based on the book. If you have a question you'd like Dr. Lissa Rankin to answer in her blog, please join the What's Up Down There posse in our Owning Pink community, and be sure to check the book tour page and Team Pink headquarters for all the deets on Lissa's upcoming travels...

Q: I’m 49 years old and every month, I’m itchy, red and sore down there for a few days after my period. Why?

Standing For What You Believe: An OB/GYN’s Thoughts on Abortion

Lissa Rankin, September 1, 2010

Okay, I’m gonna go out on a limb here and write a post that literally scares the bejesus out of me. The other day, I was doing a podcast interview with Owning Pink blogger Stacey Curnow, and she asked me how it feels to write stuff like I did in my upcoming book What’s Up Down There? Questions You’d Only Ask Your Gynecologist If She Was Your Best Friend, which is more about me and my vagina than you probably ever wanted to know. In this book, I write about the sexual dysfunction I suffered with my ex-husband, the HPV I contracted from my current husband, the porn my hubby and enjoy from time to time, the elective C-section I decided to have, and yes -- I write about the painful decision I had to make as an OB/GYN about whether or not to do abortions.

Want a Raise? Wash Your Vagina

Lissa Rankin, August 29, 2010

OMG. You’ve got to be kidding. I just heard about a magazine ad that’s got me steaming mad. Check out this full page Summer’s Eve ad in Woman’s Day magazine. The title: “Confidence at Work: How to Ask For a Raise.” The very first suggestion in the eight tips on how to ask for a raise?

Dr. Lissa Rankin Is Going On A Book Tour!

Lissa Rankin, August 27, 2010

Lissa Waving Goodbye Out Car Window

Uterine Prolapse

Lissa Rankin, August 26, 2010

I’m a hair stylist, and in the past month, I’ve noticed by the end of my work day, I have a heavy “pulling” sensation down there. Plus, I’ve noticed a bulge of tissue when I go to the bathroom, which seems to get worse the longer I’m on my feet. I confided in a friend, and she said it sounds like uterine prolapse. She said that her sister had one, too, but that she just had it “taken care of” with a hysterectomy. Is that really my only option?

Am I Going Through Early Menopause?

Lissa Rankin, August 19, 2010

Dr. Lissa Rankin's medical blog is based on her upcoming book What's Up Down There? Questions You'd Only Ask Your Gynecologist If She Was Your Best Friend, which you can preorder here. If you have a question you'd like Dr. Lissa Rankin to answer in her blog, please join the What's Up Down There posse in our Owning Pink community, or contact us.

I’m 37 years old, and over the past seven months, my periods have stopped. I’m also suffering from mood swings. I’m healthy otherwise and of average weight. My doctor recently ruled out polycystic ovaries, and she said I could just go on the Pill to “regulate” my cycle and my moods. But I’d really like to just get to the root of the problem, especially because I may still want to have a baby. Can you help?

Turning Online Friends into Real Life BFFs

Lissa Rankin, August 18, 2010

The Bloggess Jenny Lawson, Owning PInk's Lissa Rankin, and BlogHer Co-Founder Jory Des Jardins

When I attended the BlogHer 2010 conference last weekend, I was struck by the power of what happens when you gather women (and few token men) together with the intention of supporting each other. My friend Jory Des Jardins is one of the founders of BlogHer.com, and I was SO proud to see her there, gloriously pregnant and radiant with her passion for the yearly estrogen fest of their annual conference. When we first met and she was describing to me what inspired she and her co-founders Lisa Stone and Elisa Camahort Page to launch BlogHer, I didn’t quite get it. Now, after attending the conference, I do. It’s all about building community, empowering women to stand behind and uplift each other, raising the decibels of our voices, and linking arm and arm as we beeline towards our dreams.

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