Your year end women's health audit

Happy Hump Day {{first_name | Toaster}} 🐪 ,

We know you didn’t open your inbox today expecting to be lovingly dragged about your last PAP smear, but here we are. Women’s health is notoriously under-researched, underfunded, and under-prioritized, which means we cannot afford to skip the basics. So we’re doing a little health audit this week:

Book the appointments you’ve been avoiding

Most women spend years being dismissed, misdiagnosed, or told their pain is “normal.” It’s often not. A 30-minute appointment now is easier to deal with than a 6-month medical crisis later. Here are some of the big ones to keep in mind:

PAP/HPV Test: Every 3 years, or sooner if you’ve had abnormal results. Cervical cancer is sneaky, but HPV screening is even sneakier.
Breast Health: Breast self-exams monthly. Clinical breast exams every 1–3 years in your 20s/30s, yearly after 40. Mammograms typically start at 40, earlier if you have family history. (Ask your mom and aunties.)
PCOS Screening: If you have irregular periods, acne, hair thinning, or fatigue that feels like it’s dragging you through the floorboards: ask for it. PCOS is one of the most underdiagnosed conditions in women.
Thyroid Checks: Fatigue? Weight changes? Mood swings that aren’t just vibes? Thyroid panels once a year and more often if you have symptoms or autoimmune history.
Colonoscopy: General guideline is to start at 45, but if you have family history, start by 40 or even earlier (10 years before the age that your family member was diagnosed). Colon cancer is rising in young women, remember to eat your fibre!

Your mental health is also your health

Catching emotional exhaustion early is as important as catching physical symptoms early. Rest is required, not earned - use your massage benefits, therapy benefits, PTO (the world will not collapse if you log off). If you're exhausted all the time, that’s a symptom, not your personality.

Do the tiny things to stay healthy this winter

Take your Vitamin D, especially if you live anywhere that drops below 12 degrees for half the year.
Hydrate! Coffee and peppermint mochas do not count as water, unfortunately.
Prioritize sleep even if it means Irish exiting the holiday party at 9:47 p.m.
Get fresh air - a 10-minute walk can reset your nervous system.
Move your body in gentle ways: stretching, yoga, walking with a podcast. Not everything has to be a 75-hard challenge.

Schedule the appointment, take the day off, refill your vitamins, talk to someone, and show up for your body the way it’s been showing up for you. At the end of the day, women’s health is a lifelong, non-negotiable act of care.

One last thing - we’re hosting gatherings in several major Toast communities (and a virtual one for those who can’t attend locally) with 100% of proceeds going to Human Concern International (HCI) to support maternal and newborn healthcare in Gaza. You can join us and directly support mothers and babies who need it most. Find an event near you here.

Team Toast 🥂

P.S. If you’re noticing our newsletter looks a little different, it’s because we’ve officially made the switch to Beehiiv — new look, same big Toast energy.

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