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Posts from Those Nerdy Girls

All the posts from our Those Nerdy Girls Facebook page dating back to May 1st, 2020, are currently archived here and can be searched for by category, key words, etc. Be sure to check back often as additional posts are being added each day.

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Q: Why can’t I get antibiotics for a cough?

Infectious Diseases

A: Taking an antibiotic when it’s not needed contributes to antimicrobial resistance and can put you and others at risk of more severe infections. TLDR: Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, fungi, parasites or viruses mutate in ways that make common treatments ineffective. More and more antibiotics are losing their effectiveness due to antimicrobial resistance, so Read more…

What is Transgender Awareness Week?

Reproductive Health

Transgender Awareness Week is a time to protect, advocate for, celebrate, uplift, understand, and honor our trans community. Why is this important? There are many reasons to celebrate and cultivate awareness of issues around the transgender experience. Let’s start with a crucial goal of public health efforts: investigating and addressing health *hazards* and root causes. Read more…

Nerdy Girls Live 11/17/23

Vaccines Videos

Those Nerdy Girls answer your questions about fall vaccines for COVID-19, flu, and RSV. Hosted by: – Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD: TNG Founding Member & Contributing Writer – Chana Davis, PhD: TNG Contributing Writer & Founder of Fueled by Science ➡️ Welcome and Intros (0:00-0:59) ➡️ Who needs an RSV vaccine and why? What is Read more…

Can the new diabetes and weight loss drugs affect reproductive health?

Reproductive Health

A:  Potentially, yes!  Semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound) may reduce birth control effectiveness and may increase risk of birth defects if taken during pregnancy. The new GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs have been a breakthrough in treating obesity and Type 2 diabetes.  They significantly improve blood glucose levels and lower body weight.  Read more…

The number of babies born with syphilis has risen dramatically over the last 10 years. What’s going on?

Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health

Tl;dr: Congenital syphilis is a disease that occurs when a pregnant person passes the infection on to their baby during pregnancy and can be very serious. Rates of congenital syphilis have significantly increased in the last decade. Congenital syphilis can be prevented by finding and treating syphilis in pregnancy. Unfortunately, lack of access to pregnancy Read more…

How long do flu shots last?

Infectious Diseases Vaccines

In general, you can count on 6 months of meaningful protection starting two weeks after you get your annual flu vaccine. Protection may wane earlier in older adults. Getting vaccinated in advance of flu season’s start ensures that you have good coverage when the season begins, and in most adults, your protection will stick around Read more…

Can the keywords you use in a search help you figure out whether a rumor or claim is legit?

Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation

A: Yes! Being strategic about your search terms can help you more effectively identify credible, fact-checked information and avoid just bringing up a bunch of websites promoting the rumor or false claim. TL; DR: MediaWise recommends keywords include specific names or places, target the specific topic or claim, and help focus the results on credible Read more…

Does the Novavax COVID-19 cause fewer side effects?

Vaccines

The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine (Nuvaxovid) causes slightly fewer side effects on average, but the difference is modest at best. People who get the Novavax shot are somewhat less likely to report symptoms at the injection site (e.g. soreness) or throughout the body (e.g. fatigue). Mild to moderate side effects are still very common with Novavax. Read more…

How can we prevent dating violence among teens?

Health & Wellness Mental Health

This post discusses intimate partner violence.  ______________________ A: Supporting healthy relationships and creating a safe environment are key to preventing and stopping teen dating violence. TL; DR: Partner violence can start in early teen years. The emotional and behavioral effects are severe and can carry over into adulthood for both victims and perpetrators. However, abuse Read more…