Profile for Nancy Lichtenstein

20 Ways To Feel More Confident About Your Relationship

Nancy LichtensteinDecember 1, 2009 //

There are many ways to feel more confident about your relationship, but here are 20 to get you started. Take the reins or the bull by the horns (or whatever else comes to mind), and start feeling more confident! Keep reading »

The Five Most Important Things You Should Know About: Bacterial Vaginosis

Nancy LichtensteinApril 9, 2009 //

Bacterial vaginosis, also known as BV, isn’t the most pleasant of subjects in polite company, but it’s something that every woman needs to know about. Not only is it the most frequent cause of vaginal infections, it’s also common during pregnancy and can cause problems as serious as miscarriage, pre-term labor, ectopic pregnancies, serious uterine infections, or even infertility if left unchecked.

1. Bacterial vaginosis means that the balance between good bacteria and harmful bacteria is upset and the harmful bacteria end up overpowering the good. The cause of bacterial vaginosis is unclear, but if you’re experiencing unpleasant discharge with a bad odor, burning, itching, or pain, see a doctor as soon as possible, especially if you’re pregnant. Bacterial vaginosis is not something you should attempt to self-diagnose because symptoms can be confused with urinary tract infections. Most women have no symptoms at all and discover the problem during a routine gynecological checkup.

2. Bacterial vaginosis is not strictly an STD. Your risk for bacterial vaginosis increases when you engage in sexual activity with a new partner or have multiple sex partners at one time, but virgins can get bacterial vaginosis, too. Don’t worry about getting it from public toilets, swimming pools or casual contact; that’s a myth. Douching, however, can greatly increase the risk for BV. Keep reading »

Women Who Rock: Ida Rosenthal

Nancy LichtensteinMarch 18, 2009 //

March is National Women’s History Month, and we’re celebrating by sharing a lady we admire each weekday.

IDA ROSENTHAL (1866-1973)

Ida Rosenthal has had an uplifting effect on virtually every woman in America, though her name may not be instantly recognizable. Rosenthal was the inventor of the modern bra. She was also the embodiment of the American dream, coming over from her native Russia to escape religious persecution in 1904, and setting herself up in business with a partner, Enid Bisset. Together they established Maiden Form. Ida Rosenthal created the modern bra as a way to make the dresses in her shop fit better, but the undergarments became more popular than the dresses.

The renamed Maidenform company opened its first factory in Bayonne, NJ, in 1925. Maidenform became highly successful, even during the Great Depression, and it also held claim to a lot of firsts, including the first maternity bra, the first adjustable bra fastener, and the development of a standardized method for cup sizes. The fact is that her Maidenform advertising campaign, which utilized underwear models and a racy-for-its-time slogan, “I dreamed…in a Maidenform Bra,” was as big a deal in its time as “wardrobe malfunctions” are now.

Further reading:

  • Bra: A Thousand Years Of Style, Support & Seduction by Stephanie Pedersen
  • History of the Breast by Marilyn Yalom
  • Uplift: The Bra in America by Jane Farrell-Black

    • [Photo: AP] Keep reading »