In a revealing compilation shared by the BuzzFeed Community and published on Yahoo.com, women from various walks of life have opened up about unexpected discoveries regarding their own bodies, highlighting a range of medical and physiological experiences that caught them off guard. The article, titled "21 Things Women Didn't Realize Their Body Was Capable Of Doing Until It Just... Happened," draws from personal anecdotes submitted in response to a community prompt, shedding light on issues from reproductive health to autoimmune disorders that many say were never adequately discussed in health education or medical consultations.
The stories underscore a common theme: the gaps in knowledge about women's health that persist despite advances in medicine. According to the piece, which was posted on Yahoo.com with the URL https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/articles/21-things-women-didnt-realize-041601044.html, the responses came flooding in after a call for submissions, resulting in what the author described as a "rollercoaster of emotions." One woman recounted her confusion at age 12 when her first period appeared as brown discharge, leading her to believe she had food poisoning. "I was highly embarrassed because I thought I was shitting myself all day," she shared, adding that she only confided in her mother after some time, who then explained it was her period. "I thought period blood was only red until that point," the woman said.
Postpartum experiences featured prominently in the submissions, with several women describing unforeseen complications after childbirth. A woman in her 20s detailed a prolapse of her bladder following labor, which she discovered herself just before a six-week checkup. "About 1cm in, I felt my cervix! After a lot of freaking out, thinking my organs were falling out," she explained. After consultations with a midwife, gynecologist, and urologist, she learned her condition would require surgery only after she finished having children. "It isn't painful; it doesn't really affect my day-to-day life... except that I can no longer wear a menstrual cup," she noted, emphasizing that such prolapses can occur even in young, healthy individuals and calling for more open discussions to reduce feelings of isolation.
Chronic pain and undiagnosed conditions also emerged as key narratives. One 36-year-old woman described a six-year ordeal starting with debilitating lower back and groin pain that prevented her from sleeping on her right side. After misdiagnoses including issues with her IUD and ovarian cysts, and even suggestions that the pain was psychosomatic, an MRI revealed a torn labrum caused by congenital hip dysplasia. "My pelvis was cut in four places, and my hip joint was moved to the correct position," she said of the periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) surgery she underwent. Now fully recovered after months of physical therapy, she highlighted that the condition is more common in females and firstborn children, with pediatricians now screening infants for early intervention.
Heart-related alarms prompted by wearable technology led to another surprising diagnosis. A 33-year-old woman, who considered herself healthy with regular workouts and a balanced diet, received an Apple Watch alert for a heart rate of 110 bpm during dinner. Subsequent episodes of tachycardia, hot flashes, weight loss of 14 pounds, and other symptoms culminated in a coworker's husband, a vascular surgeon, spotting jugular pulses in her neck and diagnosing hyperthyroidism, specifically Graves' Disease. "I never thought I was at risk of an autoimmune disease (no family history of any of them)," she said. An endocrinologist confirmed the condition, which she said helped her empathize with friends battling similar issues like Lupus.
Long-term effects of birth control were a point of contention for some contributors. A woman in her late 30s discovered a large, non-cancerous liver tumor via a CT scan, which she linked to over 20 years on birth control pills, originally prescribed for painful cramps in her teens. Despite asking gynecologists about stopping the medication during periods of inactivity, she was advised against it. "Not once was this possibility discussed or even hinted at by any gynecologist," she stated, pointing to online forums like Reddit filled with similar stories and even class action lawsuits. While affirming birth control as a human right, she urged women to advocate for themselves regarding long-term risks.
"The hymen is not a fragile, wall-like membrane; it’s more like a rim that can tear and separate from other pieces of itself. Because of this, you can get what’s known as a hymenal tag — kind of like a skin tag — that can protrude from the vagina," one woman explained, noting that these can cause discomfort requiring surgical removal and may arise or persist after vaginal childbirth. She added that despite their commonality, few women she spoke to had heard of them.
Age-related changes caught others by surprise. A 40-year-old woman without children reported involuntary urine leakage when running or sneezing, contrary to assurances it wouldn't happen to her. Another described her hair texture shifting to curly during menopause, while a third shared how post-birth hormones extended pain during sex for over six months, beyond the standard six-week clearance. "It felt like something was broken or raw inside me for a very long time," she said, attributing it to breastfeeding effects that resolved only after her period returned.
Variations in menstrual experiences were frequently mentioned. One woman on non-estrogen birth control noted the absence of bleeding but persistent cramps and mood swings. "I don't track my period because I don't bleed anymore, but I'll still get cramps, cravings for chocolate, and mood swings," she said. Others highlighted differences in cramp intensity, with one recalling her mother's dismissal of her severe pain because "her cramps don’t ever feel that bad." Tampon incompatibility was another revelation; a 19-year-old discovered she couldn't use them as they absorbed urine, leading her to stick with pads.
Miscarriages and their aftermath were described as unexpectedly traumatic. A woman who miscarried at nearly 12 weeks ended up in the ER and faced ongoing debilitating cramps and PMS as "super fun reminders of the pregnancy and loss." She noted, "Nobody talks about how violent a miscarriage can be or how it can take months to recover." Similarly, gallbladder issues mimicked menstrual cramps for another, persisting for a month until diagnosed via MRI and ultrasound.
Pregnancy differences between experiences were noted by a woman in her second pregnancy, who experienced less nausea but more specific cravings like Lucky Charms compared to her first. Trusting one's body signals was a recurring advice. "I’m extremely sensitive... Only my body can tell me how I feel, and I have no time for anyone who argues otherwise," said one woman after painful medical procedures contradicted assurances of minimal discomfort.
After-labor pains, likened to contractions as the uterus shrinks, surprised new mothers. "I thought I had an infection or something causing pain," one said, only learning from a friend that it was normal. Fitness-induced changes disrupted another woman's regular cycles, causing nausea and irregular periods after weight loss in her late 20s. "Body fat and hormones are linked, and when I lost the body fat, it threw mine out of whack," she explained.
Unusual phenomena like sleep orgasms were shared, with one woman experiencing them since pregnancy 13 years ago, often tied to dreams. The compilation also touched on perimenopause symptoms, including hot flashes, mood changes, and hair changes, with contributors lamenting the lack of preparation.
These stories, cross-verified through the consistent reporting on Yahoo.com, illustrate broader implications for women's health education. Experts and community members alike suggest that increased dialogue could prevent feelings of alienation and encourage proactive medical advocacy. As more women share such experiences online, from Reddit threads to community forums, there is growing calls for healthcare providers to address these topics more openly in routine care.
Looking ahead, the BuzzFeed Community's response highlights the value of peer-shared knowledge in filling informational voids. With related articles on Yahoo.com discussing topics like colon cancer risks and safety tips for women, the conversation continues to evolve, potentially influencing how health information is disseminated to future generations.