women - Women of Rubies

In lifestyle March 8, 2017 By Esther Ijewere

5 FACTS ABOUT THE VAGINA THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW

Most women feel that they know their body and how it works. There are some facts however that may be lost on most about the vagina.

1. The vagina has a pH level. A healthy pH level is between 3.5 and 4.5. There are many outside factors that can change the pH level. When outside factors such as blood, semen, lubricant, or bacterial vaginosis are introduced, the pH level drops, making it become more acidic. The pH drops naturally when ovulation is happening so that a few “little swimmers” will be able to reach the egg for fertilization.

2. The vagina relies on good bacteria to keep things in check. The bacteria Lactoballicus is a good bacteria that is found in foods such as yogurt with live cultures. This bacteria will help to fight off infection and keep things running smoothly.

3. The vagina is made up of muscle. These muscles must be strong to withstand intercourse and childbirth. After surgeries such a hysterectomy, age, and childbirth, the muscles are not as strong as they used to be. Kegel exercises can help strengthen the muscle again. This exercise is done by clenching the muscles as if you were trying to stop a flow of urine. The best part is that you can do these exercises any time of the day.

4. There is a production of mucus that some confuse with an infection. Right around ovulation, the mucus becomes thicker to accommodate sperm. It can have the appearance of some type of infection, and if you are not sure, see a doctor.

5. It comes in all shapes and sizes. The plastic surgery business is booming, and some people will have almost anything tucked if they think it doesn’t look right, including the vagina or other parts around it.

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In self development March 6, 2017 By Editor

JAY HILL : WHAT NOT TO DO ANYMORE WHEN YOU TURN 24

Congratulations on making it to 24! You’re still young, but you’re starting to move into fully-mature adulthood. So how exactly should you change you life for the better? Start by following this guide that outlines 10 things you should stop doing right now!

Stop buying cheap clothes.

As a teenager and young adult, it’s fine to buy clothes and only wear them a few times, changing them as fashion dictates. However, now you’re older and probably settling into your first serious job, it’s time to start taking style more seriously. Invest in a few key pieces rather than buying a new wardrobe every few weeks.

Stop dating unsuitable ones.

It can be hard to find someone worthy of your time and attention, but by the time you reach your mid-twenties, you should have a better idea about what you need in a partner. Don’t waste your time on experimenting with people who you know, deep down, are not right for you. Strike a balance between being realistic and being too willing to give people a chance.

Stop caring what other people think.

It’s human nature to worry about what other people think of us, and no-one likes to feel as though they are being judged or criticized. However, being overly concerned with others’ opinions can cause you to lose sleep and even sacrifice your cherished dreams and ambitions in favour of living someone else’s idea of a great life. Trust your own judgement first and foremost.

Stop blaming your parents.

Sure, no-one’s parents are perfect and yours probably made their fair share of mistakes. However, it’s too easy to fall into the trap of blaming your parents or your upbringing for any current issues you may have. This isn’t productive, and will sour familial relationships.

Stop holding onto old hopes and dreams.

Are you guilty of holding onto aspirations that you really would be best off releasing? It may be time to trade in your old goals and ambitions for newer, more realistic aims. This doesn’t mean you have to give up on your vision of an ideal life, just that you need to keep your aspirations realistic.

Stop living in denial about your finances.

Those years when you could get away with being oblivious to the intricacies of your financial situation are over. It’s time to get responsible and set up a decent savings account, together with a pension plan if you haven’t got one already.

Stop being too nice.

This is an extension of Point 3, above, but deserves its own point. Stop people-pleasing. By your age, you should have a good idea of what you are capable of, and where your limits are. Learning how to say ‘no’ is an important step on the road to maturity.

Stop wasting so much time on the internet.

This is a tough one. These days, it seems as though everyone is addicted to the internet. We use it to find information, keep in touch with friends…and most of the time just browse social media unconsciously…wasting plenty of time. Learn to set time limits for yourself. You could even try one completely internet-free day per week.

Stop taking your health and fitness for granted.

Most of us can subject our bodies to late nights, too much alcohol and excessive junk food in college without feeling the after-effects. Unfortunately, as you move into your mid-twenties and then into your thirties, your body isn’t quite up to the task any more. Time to start eating more healthily and limiting those wild late nights!

Stop being messy.

How many hours have you lost looking for your wallet, cell or keys? Make this the year you finally start getting your possessions in order. Nothing makes you feel more mature than knowing exactly where your stuff is.

Source: Lifehack.org

In self development February 15, 2017 By Editor

NIKE ADEDOKUN : DEAR WOMAN, YOU DESERVE MORE….

Ladies, you have been praying about your new relationship. You even chose to pray when he started misbehaving.

You asked God to show you signs if you should marry him or not.

Suddenly, his mild bad attitudes became worse. He even maltreat and abuse you more. He doesn’t respect you and doesn’t bother about your welfare.

You have been asking him what went wrong and he says nothing or talks down on you.

You have been fasting and praying more for greater signs and wonders and after every prayer, his attitudes become worse.

What else do you want?

Greater miracles? Unseen signs and wonders?

The problem is not that you can’t see the signs, you just expect a change because you’re deep in love. You are obsessed.

The love is not the problem, he is not the issue too, you just haven’t discovered who you are what you want and what you deserve.

You even think you don’t deserve better. You are so used to being abused and you have embraced it more. You keep projecting your insecurities but you think you are just a slaying Queen.

Take a look at your past and your present. Observe the patterns, notice the emotional instability and ask yourself questions that can preserve your future.

Don’t get carried away by the internet and it’s societal pressure of what a woman is.

Don’t read fashion magazines alone, read quality books too.

Your life is more than what you see now. You are a treasure waiting to be found.

Pause and seek within. You deserve more.

Don’t limit yourself to the experiences you have had with friends and men while growing up.
You need to sort out your issues and inner demon before it consumes you.

I know what it feels like to be insecure and have low self-esteem. It’s not a good pace to be. I know what it means to seek for validation from men and relationships but that’s not what you need yet. Let God fill your heart and give you a sense of purpose and essence. Work on your values and what you project. Talk to someone if it’s not doable by you.

Enough of nudity, promiscuity, abusive relationships and purposeless life.

It’s time for you to evolve.

We can connect on: adenikeadedokun@gmail.com if you need to talk about it.

In Career Gems January 31, 2017 By Editor

ONE IN 10 WOMEN DO NOT ENJOY SEX — STUDY

Nearly one in 10 British women finds sex painful, according to a large study.

The survey of nearly 7,000 sexually active women aged 16 to 74, in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, suggests this medical problem – called dyspareunia – is common and affects women of all ages.

Women in their late 50s and early 60s are most likely to be affected, followed by women aged 16-24.

Doctors say there are treatments that can help if women seek advice.

But many still find the subject embarrassing and taboo, the survey results show.

Painful sex was strongly linked to other sexual problems, including vaginal dryness, feeling anxious during sex, and lack of enjoyment of sex.

However, there can be lots of different physical, psychological and emotional factors causing painful sex, which can be complex to treat.

Some women said they avoided intercourse because they were so afraid of the pain.

Karen (not her real name) is 62 and from Greater London. She said her problems began around the age of 40.

“I felt that my sex drive dipped quite considerably, arousal seemed to take longer, and, despite an understanding husband, I started to dread him making approaches.

“It’s like any muscle group I guess, the less you use it the worse it gets.”

Karen tried using lubricant but still encountered problems.

“It became like a vicious cycle. You worry and get tense and that only makes it worse.”

Karen developed another complication called vaginismus – involuntary tightening of the muscles around the vagina whenever penetration is attempted.

“It wasn’t just in bed. It happened when I needed smear tests too. I would be crawling up the bed away from the nurse because it hurt so much.”

Karen spoke to her doctor who recommended she try oestrogen creams and pessaries for the dryness and dilators to help with the involuntary tightening.

“Women need to know that there is help out there for these kinds of problems, especially as we are all living longer.

“You shouldn’t have to be writing off your sex life in your 50s.

“Many women don’t like to talk about it. We share all the gore of childbirth, yet women of my generation don’t tend to talk openly about sex and the menopause. We should.”

The national survey of sexual attitudes and lifestyles was carried out by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), University College London and NatCen Social Research.

Of those who reported painful sex (7.5%), a quarter had experienced symptoms frequently or every time they had had intercourse in the last six months or more.

Around a third of these women said they were dissatisfied with their sex life, compared with one tenth of the women who didn’t report painful sex.

Lead researcher, Dr Kirstin Mitchell, from LSHTM and the University of Glasgow, the said there could be a whole range of reasons for dyspareunia.

“In younger women, it might be that they are starting out in their sexual lives and they are going along with things that their partner wants but they are not particularly aroused by.

“Or they might be feeling tense because they are new to sex and they are not feeling 100% comfortable with their partner.”

Painful sex might be caused by other health problems, such as sexually transmitted infections, endometriosis and fibroids, which should be diagnosed and treated.

Women around the age of the menopause can find sex painful because of vaginal dryness.

Dr Mitchell says it’s not just older women who can feel embarrassed talking about painful sex, even though the condition is common.

In Career Gems January 30, 2017 By Editor

FIRST CLASS UNILAG GRADUATE CELEBRATES

It was all pomp and glee yesterday during the graduation ceremony of Funmi Ilawole at the University of Lagos Akoka.

This ‘beauty and brains’ graduated with a First Class Degree From the Department of Economics.

She couldn’t contain her joy throughout as she celebrated while giving thanks to God for seeing her through a most tasking four years.

In self development January 27, 2017 By Editor

GLORY EDOZIEN : WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOUR MAN ALREADY HAS A BOO

Glory Edozien is back with a new episode of her “Discovery with Glory” Vlog.

In this episode she talks about a personal experience dealing with a guy she met on Tinder who unknown to her at the time already had a boo!

She share the steps she took in getting out of that situation and also some mindset shifts that women need to take so they can enter into more wholesome relationships.

She says “Bottom line ladies, before you get into any kind of relationship, ask yourself if this is REALLY what you want. Don’t believe the lie that there aren’t good men out there or that you have to manage ‘whatever’ just to join the relationship bandwagon.”

Watch below:

In Career Gems January 24, 2017 By Editor

AJIMOBI SIGNS BILL TO PROHIBIT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Monday in Ibadan signed into laws, the state’s Administration of Criminal Justice Bill, 2016, and Violence Against Women Bill, 2016

The governor signed the two bills after the state executive council m

Ajimobi told newsmen after the assent that the laws would enhance justice administration.

“Our own government is a law-abiding one,” he said.

The bills were presented for assent by the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Musah Abdulwasi, and the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Seun Abimbola,

The Administration of Criminal Justice Law provides for speedy and efficient administration of criminal justice and other matters related to it.

The Violence Against Women Law prohibits violence against women in public and private lives as well as harmful traditional practices against women and other related matters.

The two bills were passed by the Assembly in October, 2016, and November, 2016, respectively.(NAN)

In Career Gems January 23, 2017 By Esther Ijewere

COOKING WITH KEROSENE DANGEROUS FOR PREGNANT WOMEN —STUDY

A new study conducted in Ibadan, Oyo State, has revealed that the use of clean-burning ethanol stoves, as against kerosene stoves, can reduce hypertension and cardiovascular risk in pregnant women.

According to the lead study author and professor of medicine and family director of international programmes at the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine, Christopher Olopade, pregnant women who were used to using kerosene stove had lesser chances of developing high blood pressure when they switched to ethanol stoves.

In report titled, ‘Randomised Controlled Ethanol Cookstove Intervention and Blood Pressure in Pregnant Nigerian Women’, researchers stated that the frequency of developing hypertension and diastolic blood pressure were decreased in pregnant women who cooked with ethanol, rather than with traditional cookstoves fueled by wood or kerosene.

They, however, noted that systolic blood pressure levels of the pregnant women that took part in the study did not change significantly.

Olopade stated, “Although previous studies found that exposure to household air pollution increased the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, no randomised, controlled trial had investigated whether clean-burning fuel would reduce the incidence of hypertension in pregnant women,”

According to the report, Olopade and his colleagues enrolled 324 pregnant women living in Ibadan. However, women who smoked or lived with a smoker or who cooked for a living were excluded from the study.

None of the women enrolled were hypertensive when they enrolled and they were randomised into the study between the 16 and18th weeks of pregnancy.

Half of the participating women who previously cooked with firewood or kerosene were randomly assigned to cook with ethanol. The other half continued to cook with either wood or kerosene. Blood pressure was recorded during six patient visits.

By the end of the study, the researchers found that 6.4 per cent of those cooking with wood or kerosene became hypertensive compared with 1.9 per cent of those cooking with ethanol. The study also showed that 8.8 per cent of those who cooked with kerosene became hypertensive compared to only 1.8 per cent who stopped using from kerosene and switched to ethanol.

It stated, “Mean diastolic blood pressure was 2.8 mmHg higher among those cooking with wood or kerosene than those cooking with ethanol. It stated. The mean diastolic blood pressure was 3.6 mmHg higher among those cooking with kerosene than those cooking with ethanol. “

Olopade said the findings have echoed the call by the World Health Organisation to remove kerosene as a home cooking or heating fuel.

Source: PUNCH

In Career Gems January 23, 2017 By Editor

THE WAITING ROOM; MAKING IT COUNT!

When two love birds get married, naturally, the next phase is parenthood! However, when this doesn’t happen as soon as they expect, the couple begins to experience a whole gamut of emotions including worry, fear, anger, disappointment, frustration, and so on. Some people even begin to develop a negative self-concept. The love that once ran so deep begins to lose its depth, as the couple has to deal with external pressure in addition to the emotional rollercoaster they are experiencing.

The Waiting Room Seminar will provide an emotionally supportive environment for such couples to expressly dialogue about the impact of this struggle on their lives, without feeling judged. The inability to effectively communicate feelings results in negative interactions and sometimes no interaction at all and this further drives a wedge between the couple. Therefore the couples will learn effective communication, as well as effective coping skills to deal with the struggle to conceive.

The couples will also be encouraged by the testimonies of others who were able to navigate this journey successfully as a team against all odds, and where all hope has been lost, there will be a rebirth!

The main essence of this seminar is for each couple to eventually be able to look back on their seemingly tumultuous journey to parenthood and proudly say “We made it and emerged even stronger as a unit!”

Here is the registration link : bit.ly/2jvwwtd

Powered By : The Family Place

In Interviews&profile January 21, 2017 By Editor

#INTERVIEW | EVERY HOUR IN NIGERIA, WOMEN ARE DYING FROM CERVICAL CANCER, TEWA ONASANYA, FOUNDER, EMACC

13 years ago Tewa Onasanya took the bold step to start a fashion magazine to celebrate and profile the achievement of women , a medium she has also been using to create awareness for cervical cancer hence the reason why started the EMACC project . The pharmacologist turned publisher tells us her plan to help wage war against Cervical cancer in Nigeria and why she is passionate about the cause.

Me, Myself & My Work

I am a daughter, sister, wife, mother and a Pharmacologist turned Publisher / Entrepreneur. I am very passionate about what I do and I believe anything worth doing is worth doing very well. I have two great children (13 and 10), who I have to set great examples for about being the true and better version of yourself every day. I believe in everyone abilities and it makes me so happy when I see people succeed at what they do and being able to help people the best way I can.

Transitioning from Pharmacology to Publishing

The Transition was great from Pharmacology to Publishing. I must say it was challenging at first but after a while I got used to it, learning on the job. Luckily as you know, there are transferable skills you learn in life and as a student, which could be applied to any profession (to an extent). I have to also say that I was led by my conviction that instead of complaining about something, you do something about it and if I wanted to be good at it, I need to keep learning, take the good with the bad to make a great product.

The Beginning

Yes, I did start Exquisite Magazine when I was still living in England. I used to live in an area where we couldn’t readily buy a magazine that was for the Black British woman and to crown it, then, we only had two or three magazines for women of colour with majority of that two or three being just about hair and beauty. I needed a magazine for us that would also cater to our fashion, beauty and lifestyle needs and that’s how Exquisite magazine was birth. After a few years, we decided to launch in Nigeria and we were well received. There weren’t that many fashion magazines when we started, so the land was still (and still is ) virgin.

I believe we are in a league of our own with our own vision and mission. We are different because before anything else, we are a fashion magazine, then beauty and Lifestyle. We thrive on being able to empower, inspire and motivate people with the information required to get them excited about themselves. We also use our platform to create awareness for a form of cancer that is 100% preventable and a lot of women are dying from (cervical cancer). The ELOY awards which is our biggest baby at Exquisite magazine. After a few years of being in Nigeria, I noticed that almost all the awards ceremonies that were held were to honour men and maybe, maybe one or two females. We wanted to change that, as there are so many women doing exceptionally well in different fields and are not being recognised. These women need to be honoured, recognised and celebrated, so other women especially the younger ones would be encouraged to be the best at anything they want to do even if its male dominated. With the vision and mission of exquisite magazine being to celebrate, inspire, motivate and empower women, we started an event which brings women together to network and communicate. In 2009, we started the only female awards in Nigeria called the ELOY awards. ELOY is acronym for EXQUISITE LADIES OF THE YEAR, which uses its platform to celebrate women of excellence in different fields to inspire and motivate other women.

The EMACC project and its Spread

The focus of the Exquisite Magazine Annual Cervical Cancer (EMACC) project is on all things to do with cervical cancer including information about symptoms and causes of the disease, ways to prevent it and ways people and companies can support us. Every hour in Nigeria, women are dying with cervical cancer, which is preventable thanks to cervical screening and the HPV vaccination programme. However people are still not going in for their yearly screenings. Early detection is also key in increasing survival rates and so educating everyone on the disease, its symptoms and ways to prevent it is key. The reception has been ok but could be great. We are gradually getting there. We are on a mission to make people realise early detection is key, they need to get screened and spread the word. Not all cancers are pink!

To an extent, we are attaining our goals, but not attaining it enough. We want to be able to screen thousands of women monthly and vaccinate children so that deaths associated with cervical cancer can be minimised but we are still trying to get there.

We have already expanded into different states. Aside from Lagos, we have been to cities in Abuja for free screening session and to villages in Rivers state. More states are currently being explored as well

Reason for Focusing On Cervical Cancer

Our focus on cancer especially cervical cancer is a little personal. Too many women have died from a form of cancer that is preventable and for me that is totally unacceptable. Women are the solid foundation of any society, if we keep losing our women what going to be left of us? You hear of different illness that just happen to people in the cause of their lifetime and we hear of preventative medicine for some of these illnesses. I think it is wise to prevent cervical cancer than to have to treat full blown cancer and eventually die from it. Cancer is real, yes it can be beaten but we need to be wise. One death every hour from a preventable cancer is not acceptable.

Balancing it all

God. God is the one helping me day in day out as I even don’t know how I do it. I know what my responsibilities are and I work to make sure one doesn’t suffer for the other. I’m still work in progress though.

My Drive and Passion Won’t Let Me Give Up

As a publisher, the challenges come in different packages. Lol. There is the need for great editorial staff, the need to be able to share your vision with people who are passionate enough about that vision to go on the mission to fulfilling it with you. There is the economic challenge as well but with the different challenges, we are able to raise above them and still churn out great magazine with great content every issue and great events.

What inspired me not to give up is the drive and passion that I have for my work. I love what I do and every day, I believe I can be better at it to bring out the best in me. Plus I love it when people give us the compliments and constructive criticism. It drives me to be better.

Women, Believe in Yourself

My advice would be to believe in yourself. Don’t mind the naySayers or what the statistics say, if you can visualise your vision and are prepared to work on that vision, it has no choice but to be a reality. Notice I said believe and work. It’s not enough to believe alone, you must put in the required work to achieve anything.

Celebrating Other People’s Success Makes Me a Woman of Rubies

I am a woman who has grown into herself, who believes in herself and knows her worth. I am an exquisite woman of rubies who doesn’t let life happen to her but is a go-getter and takes life on with the mind set of being able to do anything I set my mind to. I am beautiful on the inside and outside and I desire that all women and men are a success. I celebrate another person’s success because I believe life is not a competition. I am not afraid to ask for help when I need it.