NBC's 2016 fall break-out This Is Us is obsession-worthy, and Chrissy Metz — who plays Kate on the roller-coaster ride of a show — is one of the biggest reasons why.

Obviously we're in love with the entire cast (I mean who can resist Sterling K. Brown, Milo Ventimiglia and Mandy Moore?!), but Metz just has that je ne sais quoi that we are totally drawn to. Randall's heart-wrenching struggle to get to know his dying biological father and Jack's impending death definitely have us reaching for the tissues on the regular, but Kate's plight keeps us tuning in every week — and it's all because of Metz.

More: This is Us' Chrissy Metz's battle with self-acceptance started with Hollywood

Find out why.

1. She loves herself

Everyone struggles with self-acceptance, and Metz is undoubtedly no different, but she's talked about wanting to lose weight for herself. Not for Hollywood, or anyone else.

"[I want to lose weight] not for anybody but myself," she told People in February. "I want to have a fit, healthy body and not have to be put in a box. I don’t want to be limited by anything."

We think it's that kind of attitude that makes Metz's spirit shine through on screen.

2. She's keeping it real

She's a huge star now, but when Metz booked This Is Us, she was broke as a joke. In fact, when she found out she got cast in the now hit-show, she had 81 cents in the bank. 81 freakin' cents!

She clearly has a bit more than pocket change in her account now, but she's not letting fame go to her head.

"I could cry right now just thinking about it," Metz told Glamour of her pre-fame life. "Getting the role of Kate has changed everything. It’s crazy to go from not having enough money to buy food to getting free dinners. Why is it that when you really need something, you don’t have it? And when you can afford it, you have a surplus of it? You may think, 'Ooh, you’re on TV, you’re a millionaire!' No. It’s definitely a lot more than I was making, but I still live with my roommate — though I pay my proper share of the rent now. Meeting my car payment on time? That’s new. I paid my friends and my stepdad back. And three months ago I finally paid my credit cards off!"

3. She earned her success

While Hollywood certainly has its fair share of overnight success stories — as evidenced by her previously empty bank account — Metz is not one of them. No, she had to claw her way to the big-time through hard work and determination, and it makes us admire her that much more.

Metz chatted with SheKnows about how difficult it was to balance acting with trying to pay the bills early on in her career.

"It’s just about trying to find your footing," Metz told us of striking a balance between working a day job, studying the craft and going out on auditions. "But I also felt like, 'What am I doing? I’m gonna get stuck in a vortex.'"

But Metz persevered and ended up on a hit NBC show. It doesn't get much better than that.

More: EXCLUSIVE: Chrissy Metz addresses backlash to those fat stereotypes on This Is Us

4. She has a healthy outlook on life

Metz may have struggled while coming up, but the experience hasn't made her hardened or bitter. In fact, it's made her appreciate everything that's happening now that much more.

"Success is about happiness and what makes you happy and not necessarily how many shows you booked that year or how much money you have in your bank account," Metz told us. "Because all those things are fleeting. But it was so important for me to go on this journey the way I did — because I believe everything happens for a reason. So while it was really difficult, there's a lot of humility and I’m really grateful for the whole scope of what happened."

5. The girl can sang

We got a little taste of Metz's voice in the third episode of This Is Us, but her performance in the old-folks home was really just the tip of the iceberg.

6. She knows life is all about love

"The stories we are made to believe — that if we look this way, drive this car, live in that zip code, we will ultimately be happy. We constantly compare and compete with one another — and for what?" she said in an interview with Chubstr. "We all want the same thing. We all just want to be respected and admired. That all boils down to love. We end up sacrificing who we truly are just to get back to the place that we originated from, which is love."

7. She was on frickin' American Horror Story

AHS has been our obsession for years, and Metz was amazing as Ima Wiggles in the Freak Show season. But what's even more impressive than her performance in Freak Show is her feeling about her character.

"I would like to think talent 'weighs' out, but plus-size actresses are still typically the butt of the joke in the storyline," she told Chubstr. "What was especially wonderful in Freak Show was that, not only was Ima accepted into the freak family, but she accepted herself, first. It was also really refreshing to see a big girl who was attractive, and dare I say, sought after. Hair/makeup and costumes really made me feel pretty, no matter what size I was. Can I get an Amen?"

Amen.

More: We've put the pieces together and concluded that Jack dies on This Is Us

8. She's honestly touched by the This Is Us response

Metz was open with SheKnows about being grateful regarding the amazing reaction audiences have had to This Is Us, and for her, it has made all her earlier struggles worth it.

"I’ve had these responses from men and women who’ve been so kind and loving and wonderful and gracious and it’s overwhelming," she told us. "It's really overwhelming, but I feel truly in my heart that we're here to commune, and we're a community, and to be close as human beings and to make — we're all here to help each other and if I can do that while pursuing my dreams, it's unreal."

9. She's a hopeless romantic

Metz is a sucker for love poems, and counts R.M. Drake as one of her faves.

"I'm a hopeless romantic. I romanticize everything," she wrote on Instagram. "I love poems. I love poems about love. That's just the way it is."

10. Her Snapchat game is strong

"I don't eat trash." Metz's alter ego Elenore is priceless.

11. And her Old English accent is nothing short of amazing

Seriously, follow her on Snapchat tout de suite (username: themids929).

12. She's fierce

Metz is a self-proclaimed lipstick enthusiast, according to her Twitter bio. This reason, coupled with everything mentioned above is exactly why we want her to be our best friend forever.

Are you as in love with Chrissy Metz as we are?

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Image: Paul Drinkwater/NBC

It's Valentine's Day, and as this video proves, even the goats are feelin' the love. This gorgeous salad for two — paired with water in Champagne flutes, of course — is the perfect way for the barnyard besties to celebrate the special day. At least, until they tear it to pieces. What else did you expect?

One of the goats, Maria, has a tragic backstory, but she's living (and loving, obviously!) again at Farm Sanctuary. Read her story here. And if you're feeling especially amorous, sponsor your own barn-loving animal couple so even more perfect pairs get a chance at love in the year to come.

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The end of The Vampire Diaries is quickly approaching. There are only four episodes remaining, which means theories about its ending continue to run wild.

More: Will Bonnie Have to Die to Bring Elena Back for TVD's Final Episode?

On Monday, a short teaser for the series finale was released and it featured the return of Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert, herself. Not only is there a short glimpse of her staring at a high school trophy case, but she's heard questioning, "What happened? Why am I here right now?" That's exactly what most viewers are wondering, too.

As all die-hard fans know, Dobrev will be back for the last episode, but what's in store for her character is unknown. However, this tiny promo might've given a major clue away about Elena's return.

Many are speculating that if and/or when Elena wakes up from her magical coma induced by Kai that she'll have no recollection of anything that happened. That's right, there are some who believe Elena will lose most of her memories and will only remember things before she met Stefan and Damon Salvatore.

According to one Twitter user, she tweeted, "NEW #TVD FINALE THEORY: Elena was aging backwards the whole time and wakes up a human teen." She then added after a different user said she thinks Elena has lost her memories, "There's definitely something off. Maybe they took her memories back to before she met the Salvatores? Hmm!"

More: Nina Dobrev Announces Vampire Diaries Exit With 23 Photos and Sweet Message

What? How the heck is something like that even possible? Of course, TVD is capable of anything. It is also a supernatural series, so the possibilities are endless. As teased in the promo for this coming Friday's episode, Kai is back and offers to help kill Cade and bring back Elena.

Well both of those are great, but regarding Elena, last time fans knew the only way to bring her back was to have Bonnie die. So is there another way for Kai to wake up Elena and keep Bonnie alive? Maybe the catch is in order to keep Bonnie alive and kicking and simultaneously bring back Elena, the beloved Gilbert will have to sacrifice all of the memories she made as soon as she met the Salvatore brothers.

But would the series really do that to fans? Would they really bring Elena back and have her forget about everything single thing, event and person she met from the time she was in high school and first came face to face with Stefan?

That's not only crazy, but also kind of heartbreaking. If you think about it, it would be kind of cruel to make Elena forget about everything she went through, including falling in love with Damon. Yeah, if they're destined for one another, they'd probably fall in love all over again, but still. It's like all that hard work they went through to finally realize they're meant to be just went out the window.

On the other hand, Elena did go through a ton of pain and heartbreak, so maybe forgetting all of that would be a blessing in disguise. She could start fresh and basically create a whole new life as Elena. If this were to happen, would Elena wake up still a vampire or a human? Really, there are a lot of factors at play here and things are starting to get complicated.

What makes the most sense of what Elena is saying in the finale teaser is that she's now awake and wondering why and what happened because she probably didn't expect to be awake so soon. Plus, there's a good chance she's a little fuzzy on what's happening because she's been asleep for so long. Basically, Elena is just as confused as we are right now about how TVD is going to end.

Whatever happens, let's just hope Elena keeps her memories, especially of Damon, and finally gets her happy ending. We're trusting TVD to not disappoint and deliver on an epic level.

The Vampire Diaries series finale airs Friday, March 10 at 8/7c on The CW.

More: The Vampire Diaries Spoiler: Paul Wesley Reveals the Future for Steroline

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

All right, let’s talk. So we're all familiar with the usual below-the-belt culprits, namely yeast infections and UTIs. But what if your gynecologist tells you that you have bacterial vaginosis? Although it's the most common vaginal infection in women of reproductive age, it's not one that comes up frequently in conversation.

We can bet that the first things that come to mind when you think about bacterial vaginosis aren’t necessarily pleasant. And before long, your brain is probably buzzing with thoughts of sexually transmitted infections, the terrible imagery that comes along with it, medication and some potentially awful long-term effects. And without that much dialogue surrounding the topic, it has left the term shrouded in mystery.

More: 6 Causes of Vaginal Odor, Because Yes, It Happens to All of Us

But have no fear. We’re here to debunk the mythology surrounding BV by bringing you a roundup of the top five things you ought to know about bacterial vaginosis (before having your own full-blown freak-out).

Causes and symptoms

A lot of women are confused about what BV actually is, and many are led to generalize it as another STI to try to avoid. But that’s not the case.

According to Dr. Sherry Ross, an OB-GYN and women’s health expert at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, BV is “caused by an overgrowth of harmful bacteria that disrupts the delicate pH balance of the vagina.” So basically, it’s an accumulation of germs that change the optimal operating conditions in your vagina.

Symptoms of BV include itching, burning, redness and swelling of your vagina and a yellow/gray/sometimes greenish-tinted discharge. It can also be accompanied by that cliché “fishy” smell. That smell is often intensified because of semen, so that may be why it seems a bit more noticeable to you — or your partner — after sex.

More: Sigh, Your Vagina Will Probably Rumble With One of These Issues Eventually

For some women, the smell can be a greater concern than the other symptoms, as it can be a huge source of discomfort or embarrassment. But in the same vein, symptoms aren’t always guaranteed and a woman with BV may not experience any of these things at all.

How is it transmitted?

The most common misconception about BV is that it is transmitted sexually. But BV is developed by specific bacterial conditions in the vagina, not by contracting it from another person.

In fact, even women who aren’t sexually active can get BV. Yet while it isn’t transferred this way, there is an increase in risk factors when certain things do occur (i.e., having unprotected sex, new sexual partners, douching, etc.).

Dr. Mary Jane Minkin from Yale University explains that “what is does do is make it easier for other bad guys to cause problems — bad guys such as gonorrhea or chlamydia.” BV creates the perfect environment for actual STIs to thrive in, so it makes your vagina much more prone to serious infections.

Other risks to keep an eye on

Some other increased risks that occur due to BV besides vulnerability to STIs include affected pregnancy conditions — making it more likely for pregnant women to deliver a baby either preterm and/or with a low birth weight.

It is also important to note that after treating BV, it is possible — and normal — for it to recur frequently. Dr. Katherine J. Lee, OB-GYN at the Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills, California, says that “studies have shown that 30 percent of patients can have their symptoms come back within three months.”

More: 4 Common Causes of Vaginal Itching And How to Get Relief

Treatment

Treatment for BV is commonly administered via antibiotics called metronidazole or clindamycin. These medications can be administered either orally with pills or vaginally with creams. However, it is also possible that it can go away entirely on its own with time. Some doctors say that women will still continue to visit because the symptoms remain bothersome or irritating.

Always visit your doctor

When in doubt, never hesitate to visit your doctor with your questions and concerns. With the immense amount of overlap between symptoms of STIs and other bacteria-related problems that can happen in your vagina, there’s always a lot of confusion and difficulty in self-diagnosing and figuring out what’s really going on.

The best way to combat that is to make an appointment with your gynecologist to get the most accurate — and comforting — response, rather than racking your brain because of the oh-so-infinite knowledge (cough, cough) of WebMD.

Good news, uterus-havers: We can now add baby “hosts” to our unique set of lady skills.

In what sounds like a plot device from an episode of I Love Lucy, a bill was introduced by an Oklahoma lawmaker that would require women seeking abortions to first obtain written permission from her male sexual partner.

Why, you ask? Well, according to Rep. Justin Humphrey, it’s pretty simple: Men are being increasingly excluded from decisions in our current society. And really, when you think about it, women are just "hosts." No, seriously — that is the word he used.

“I understand that they feel like that is their body,” he said of women in The Intercept. “I feel like it is a separate — what I call them is, is you’re a ‘host.’ And you know when you enter into a relationship you’re going to be that host and so, you know, if you pre-know that, then take all precautions and don’t get pregnant,” he explained.

“So that’s where I’m at. I’m like, hey, your body is your body and be responsible with it. But after you’re irresponsible then don’t claim, well, I can just go and do this with another body, when you’re the host and you invited that in,” Humphrey concluded.

More: Our Bodies, Ourselves Takes on International Surrogacy

Humphrey said that his initial intention was that the bill would make sure that fathers are required to pay child support from conception, but as it turns out, that language was removed from the bill.

So hypothetically, one evening, Mr. Hubert Head-of-the-Household would don his slippers and smoking jacket trying to relax after a hard day at the office only to be bothered by Little Sally asking him to sign her math test because she failed (she’s a girl, after all) and then his wife asking him to sign a permission slip granting her the ability to make basic medical decisions regarding her own body.

But here’s the thing: Using this “host” terminology is confusing and counterproductive for anti-abortionists because that would make the fetus the parasite, which basically undermines anti-abortion arguments that fetuses should be considered persons in and of themselves.

More: Reversible Male Contraceptive Gel Looks Promising

Another bill was also being considered (for a second time), which would forbid a woman from aborting a fetus because of actual or suspected genetic abnormalities, regardless of how early she sought to end the pregnancy.

In a surprise move, neither bill made it past the Oklahoma House yesterday. But both were put back on the agenda for Valentine’s Day because few things are as romantic as restricting women’s autonomy. [Swoon.]

More: Pornhub Launches New Sex Ed Site

We love going to movies because we like to see our own lives reflected on the big screen. The same is true about our romantic relationships — watching Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling meet cute in the musical fantasy La La Land warmed our hearts and helped us understand the deep yet mysterious bond of true love.

More: That Titanic Theory Isn't the Only Crazy Movie Theory Out There

Some movie couples we totally want to emulate — take Hazel and Gus from The Fault in Our Stars. They didn't have much time together but certainly made the most of it.

More: Emma Stone and Viola Davis Exchanged a Cringeworthy Air Kiss at the SAG Awards

Then there's Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele from Fifty Shades of Grey. Depending on your pain tolerance, you may or may not want to emulate them.

We studied eight movie couples and created this quiz to help you find out which movie couple best reflects the chemistry and commitment level you share with your partner.

More: Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban Showed So Much PDA at the SAG Awards

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

The good news: You can go back to work now. You can resume your hobbies. You can take a shower. Jessa Duggar Seewald and her husband finally named their week-old second-born son.

The bad news: Jessa Duggar Seewald and Ben Seewald should probably not be allowed to name plants, pets or children.

More: We Are Waiting With Bated Breath to Hear Jessa Duggar Seewald's New Baby's Name

Baby No. 2 fared better than firstborn Spurgeon, 15 months — in our humble opinion. The little guy's new moniker? Henry (oh my God, great, just stop right there, Jessa and Ben) Wilberforce (theeeeere it is).

Henry Wilberforce. Kind of Star Wars meets Hogwarts meets Winston Churchill.

But whatever, at least they can stop calling the baby things like Hey You and Schmoopie and Promised Land and God's Little Half Pint. We are sure Henry is relieved to have a name. And we are sure that Spurgeon is toddling over to see the name-change clerk at the town hall.

Why Wilberforce? We're so glad you asked. He's apparently named after William Wilberforce, a politician and philanthropist who somehow helped end the slave trade. Info released by the Duggar-Seewald clan does not elaborate on how old William gave slavery the smackdown or where. We feel a Wikipedia moment coming on. Or maybe we'll just email Frederick Douglass for the scoop.

More: Jessa Duggar's Pregnancy Announcement Is for Real

On Wednesday, the couple posted the very first pic of their new family of four — along with a video clip of Baby Seewald.

The couple decided on Henry simply because Jessa “really likes it.” Fair enough, Jessa.

“We just thought it was cute, but also there was another great man of God named Matthew Henry who lived before Wilberforce and he wrote a lot of great commentaries,” Ben explained in the video.

There's Drunk History, and then there's Vague History by the Duggars. Well, at least the kid has a name. Also? They gave Spurgeon a nickname — Quincy, obviously — so we're not quite as worried about his prospects in life anymore. Hang in there, Spurge!

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

It's been almost a year since country star Joey Feek died from cervical cancer, leaving behind her husband and musical partner, Rory Feek, and their baby daughter, Indiana. As Joey got sicker and sicker, the world followed her story through heartwrenching posts that she — and, in the end, Rory — posted on the family's blog. Almost a year later, the story is just as heartbreaking.

More: Joey Feek's Video of Her Daughter is Beautiful, Emotional and Hard to Watch

Rory was a guest on the Today show this week, where he gave fans an update on his family since Joey passed. In his interview, he explained what he's learned from being part of such an incredible love story.

"It would be that sometimes, faith can change everything," he said. "Just faith in something greater than what you've lived before. It doesn't matter where you came from. I'm an unlikely person to be part of an amazing love story, and I hope that's an encouragement to others."

More: Rory Feek's Three Daughters Helped Him Find Happiness on Father's Day

When asked how he manages to look toward the future, even after the death of his wife, he still credited Joey with getting him through the hard times.

"My wife, for her to be so positive to the very end, even with a 2-year-old playing on the floor — if she can be positive, I have nothing to be upset about," he said. "I can be positive."

Since Joey died, Rory has repurposed much of the blog he wrote during her illness into a book. Other than that, though, he's lived a more private life than he did before Joey died. But that doesn't mean he doesn't have plans for the future.

"I see an amazing journey that God has in store for all of us — for my children and I — and Joey's going to be part of it," he said. "I just believe that He's still going to be giving us a great story. It's going to be different. She's going to be part of it. That's what I see."

More: Rory Feek Brought the Senate to Tears Presenting His Joey-Inspired Mission

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

The death of a parent is something no child should ever have to face. Losing both parents is almost unimaginable. But for three siblings in Merseyside, U.K., who said goodbye to both of their parents within the span of five days, the loss is all too real.

According to CBS News, the siblings’ heartbreaking story spread online last week after Oliver, 13, Hannah, 18, and Luke, 21, shared a photo of their parents’ final goodbye at a hospice in Merseyside. Nurses at St. John’s Hospice pushed their beds together so Mike Bennet, 57, and his wife Julie, 50, would be able to hold hands one last time.

The children captured this touching moment between their parents in order to share with the world just how much the two loved each other and were together until the very end.

Mike fought a brain tumor for the past three years, while his wife Julie battled kidney and liver cancer since her diagnosis in May 2016. Julie’s love for her three children and husband was clear to everyone who knew them.

When Julie became too ill to carry Mike up the stairs to their bed, the family put his hospital bed in the living room and she slept next to him on the couch, never leaving his side. And as he lay dying in a hospital bed, she held onto his hand in an act of true love that will forever be remembered by those who were blessed to know and love them.

Before she died, friends of the couple promised Julie they would take care of her beloved children. So to try to give Oliver, Hannah and Luke the life their parents worked so hard to give them, friends have set up a fundraising campaign to raise money for the Bennet children.

Family spokesperson Heather Heaton Gallagher told CBS News that the Bennet children shouldn’t need to grow up so fast right now, emphasizing that all funds will go toward the kids’ future. She also shared that Julie was a great believer in her kids and wanted to see them achieve and live their dreams.

At night when we lay our heads down, a whole dreamworld unfolds. A universe in which Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone don't just whisper sweet nothings to each other's ears on the big screen, but in their own personal lives, too.

Seriously though, we really wish Stoneling could be a real thing. Yes, we know Gosling is very happy with Eva Mendes (and they're an adorable couple), but it's hard not to ship two people who can publicly share a moment like this:

As if you needed even more evidence that Gosling and Stone are the perfect couple, here are all the times that have us wishing they could be together for reals.

When they couldn't stop cracking up of that scene from Crazy, Stupid, Love

Next: When they found out Stone's ex, Andrew Garfield, shared an intimate moment with Ryan Reynolds

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When they found out Stone's ex, Andrew Garfield, shared an intimate moment with Ryan Reynolds

Next: When we found out Stone doesn't know a whole lot about musicals

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When we found out Stone doesn't know a whole lot about musicals... and Gosling knows even less

Next: When we saw their behind-the-scenes dance rehearsal for La La Land

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When we saw their behind-the-scenes dance rehearsal for La La Land

When they did their best to look serious together at the Golden Globes

When she gazed on adoringly while he referenced her in his Golden Globes speech

This lip-licking, snuggly moment

When they went old school in Gangster Squad

When she called him out for being photoshopped in Crazy, Stupid, Love

Basically, any moment from La La Land

What's your favorite Stoneling moment?

Before you go, take our poll below!

Each year, 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer. Thanks to screenings, Pap smears and vaccinations, prevention and treatment is possible. Nonetheless, we are going to keep talking, promoting and encouraging women to take the right steps to get there.

According to the American Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, women should have an exam every two years once they turn 21. At the age of 11 or 12, Gardasil, the HPV vaccination, should be given to boys and girls who are not yet sexually active. Women can lower their risk of being diagnosed with cervical cancer or HPV a lot by beginning very early on with preventative measures.

More: Cervical Cancer Death Rates Much Higher in Black Women

Here are a few tips that further expand on how to deter and detect cancer and the HPV virus.

1. Learn about HPV and cervical cancer

Cervical cancer has been linked to the common virus human papillomavirus, the most common sexually transmitted disease. Some strains cause warts, others lead to cancer and many have no symptoms and heal on their own. Twenty million people are living with HPV, with the highest numbers in women who are 20 years old. By the age of 50, 80 percent of women have been infected with HPV. However, for most women, approximately 90 percent, the infection regresses on its own within two years.

About 4,000 women in the United States die from cervical cancer a year, while 12,000 are diagnosed. Dubbed the “silent killer” because of its notorious reputation of having zero symptoms, cervical cancer may take 10 to 15 years to progress.

Some side effects of abnormal cervical cell changes are:

• Bleeding from the vagina
• Pain in the lower belly or pelvis
• Pain during sex
• Vaginal discharge that isn’t normal

2. Get it over with and go in for your Pap smear

Look, you may hate it, but it could save your life one day. Pap tests detect precancerous cervical lesions, which can be removed before turning into cancer.

More: Cervical Cancer Survivor, 24, Shows It Can Happen to Women at Any Age

If your Pap is abnormal and lesions are found, you may have a cervical cone biopsy, cauterization or an excision, which will destroy or remove the abnormal areas. While precancerous cells or HPV do not necessarily indicate cancer, treatment and precaution will highly reduce your chances of being diagnosed with cervical cancer. Because HPV and cervical cancer may not have any symptoms, an exam is necessary.

3. Gardasil is your pal

A recent study proved that Gardasil is a preventative vaccination that can reduce the chances of women contracting HPV. Issued in a 3-shot regimen, Gardasil produces antibodies that fight four strains of HPV, two of which are the most connected to cervical cancer. We are lucky to have a tool for determent and the deaths from cervical cancer in the United States have declined by 2 percent a year.

More: What You Need to Know About Cervical Cancer

4. Never stop learning more

While all of this information may seem a little daunting, you can ensure a healthier life by following through with treatment, finding the necessary help and keeping up with your gynecological exams. You can motivate and support women to learn about cervical cancer and HPV. Let’s encourage young women to take the correct steps toward a healthier and responsible lifestyle.

What else can you do to take care of your cervical health? Sound off in the comments below.

By S. Nicole Lane

Originally published on HelloFlo.

Yes, as we all have been endlessly reminded, it has been shown that “older” mothers (at least 35 years old) tend to undergo high-risk pregnancies. This includes a higher likelihood of miscarriage and intrauterine complications along with higher percentages of babies born with Down syndrome. But just because an older dad doesn’t have a uterus doesn’t mean he’s off the hook. We’re talking to you, George Clooney.

Clooney and his wife have just announced that they’re having twins. Don’t take this the wrong way — we love celebrity babies too. But the guy is 55 years old — why isn’t anyone concerned about the health implications that come with his age?

A study published in JAMA Psychiatry has shown that children with fathers older than 45 are more likely to develop severe mental or developmental issues such as autism, schizophrenia and attention deficit disorders along with forms of dwarfism. While the evidence isn’t completely conclusive, these are still major risks we should be paying attention to and kind of aren’t.

As it turns out, these illnesses can come from mutations in a father’s DNA. How does this happen? Here’s a quick biology crash course:

Women are born with a specific number of eggs, and since we don’t regenerate them, this number never grows, and the eggs can’t change genetically. Men, on the other hand, produce millions of sperm in a single day. Producing new sperm means copying and recopying DNA. This is a human process that occurs practically nonstop, so it’s not perfectly done every time. Mistakes happen, and this leads to some genetic mutations, or copying errors, in an individual sperm’s DNA.

More: Why Your Man Should Have His Sperm Tested Stat

And "mutation" sounds like a scary word, but one genetic mutation doesn’t mean the sperm will have three tails or make a green baby — most mutations are minor and quite harmless to us. The problem exists when the mutation occurs in a specific way that leads to a serious illness.

Where does age come into the picture? An older man has been producing sperm longer than a younger man, and so logically his body has had more time to accumulate mutations. The study suggests that in comparison with children born to fathers aged 20 to 24, children born to older fathers are twice as likely to develop schizophrenia, three times as likely to be born with autism, and 13 times as likely to show signs of an attention deficient disorder.

Before you panic, know that this doesn’t mean that all kids born to older dads are immediately screwed — percentages of these issues are still pretty low. However, some men are taking this information seriously and are proactively deciding to bank their younger, less mutated sperm.

Preparing to have kids years in the future makes perfect sense in some situations; maybe you’re waiting to become more financially stable or perhaps just more mature. Methods such as in vitro fertilization have opened the doors to new types of families with different types of plans. But how far should this go?

More: Why It’s OK to Wait to Have Kids

Do the math here, ladies. By the time George Clooney’s children are 10, he will be 65 years old. And he’s not the only celebrity with this delayed goal of fatherhood — it seems to be a completely normalized trend. Mick Jagger had his seventh child at age 73. Steve Martin decided to have a daughter at age 67. So much for father of the bride, am I right?

OK, that was a cheap shot; but all jokes aside, it’s a valid point to consider. How would the life of a completely healthy child be impacted by having older parents? Will aging parents have the energy to keep up with a child’s bustling schedule? Will the child have to live without knowing their grandparents and other deceased relatives and watch their own parents’ health decline?

More: Totally Realistic Women and Their Biological Clocks

Maybe these celebrity parents don’t have to deal with the stress of retirement or finding the best medical care, but for the rest of us, the age of a man's sperm — not just our eggs — needs to fall into the pregnancy conversation immediately. Men have a biological clock too. And maybe they should be the ones getting the you’re-too-old-to-have-kids talk for once.

By this point in time, no one is really surprised to see Madonna flashing her nipples on a magazine cover, like she did on the current issue of Vogue Italia.

More: Madonna Might Not Have Been Able to Adopt if She'd Still Been in Custody Battle

58-year-old Madonna won't be fully appreciated until she's gone. The simple fact that she's old enough to be a grandmother and still baring her nips on magazine covers proves that she's anything but all talk when it comes to combating ageism in the music industry. It's something Madonna has been speaking out against for literally decades.

"I’ve always felt oppressed. I know a lot of people would go, ‘Oh, that’s ridiculous for you to say that. You’re a successful white, wealthy pop star,’ but I’ve had the shit kicked out of me for my entire career, and a large part of that is because I’m female and also because I refuse to live a conventional life," she told Harper's Bazaar earlier this year. "I’ve created a very unconventional family. I have lovers who are three decades younger than me. This makes people very uncomfortable. I feel like everything I do makes people feel really uncomfortable."

More: 51 Powerful Images of Celebrities Supporting the Women's March on Washington

And when she's not fighting ageism, she's spreading a message of body positivity. Madonna has been the subject of an absolutely unreal amount of body shaming throughout her career. The woman's been hated on for every single part she possesses, but she's still proud of her bod (which obviously looks amazing) and showing it off on her own terms.

Is it too late for one last New Year's resolution? Be as badass as Madge.

More: Madonna Adopts 4-Year-Old Sisters

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Dance goddess Peta Murgatroyd of Dancing with the Stars fame and fortune is not afraid of keeping it real when it comes to breastfeeding her 5-week-old son, Shai. (Papa is Murgatroyd's fiancé Maksim Chmerkovskiy, whose boobs do not feature prominently in this story.)

More: Peta Murgatroyd is a new mom

Murgatroyd posted a mirror selfie (oh mah gah, we are in a world where "mirror selfies" are a thing) on Instagram and Twitter on Monday. In the photo, her shirt is stained with leaking breast milk. That or she dipped one boob in a glass of water just to hang with all the cool moms who are standing around in puddles of their own breast milk.

More: Peta Murgatroyd is showing off her post-baby belly

Whatever the case, Murgatroyd makes leaking boobies super-hot. Leaking boobies are the new nip slip, apparently. Well done, Murgatroyd. She captioned her photo on Instagram:

“Oh the joys of motherhood Leaking boobies are so NOT hot right now… LOL #mustremembermyboobpads."

Yeah, but you iz so hot, Peta. So there's that.

On Twitter, Murgatroyd used the hashtags #MomReality and #NormalizeBreastfeeding.

It's nice that Murgatroyd is trying hard to play down her demi-goddess vibe and blend with mere mortals who are wrapping their aching breast milk-brimming boobs in cabbage leaves. But Peta, bae, your #MomReality is not exactly our #MomReality. We're all for normalizing breastfeeding though. How about a nice up-close cracked, bleeding nipple shot? Now that's reality. Horrible, frightening reality.

We called it: Duchess of Cambridge the former Kate Middleton's Valentine's Day plans were the best Valentine's Day plans.

More: Kate Middleton Swept the 2017 BAFTA Awards Without Starring in a Single Movie

Instead of spending V-day with Prince William, Kate was hanging out with air cadets at a Royal Air Force base, and the pictures are proof that Valentine's Day doesn't have to be spent with your spouse to be a seriously good time.

Really though, look at her smug, happy face:

She got to hang out with some kids, which is something the royals all love doing:

More: Kate Middleton is Planning Pippa a Pretty Stellar 'Hen Party’

She got to sit in a plane and chat with a strapping young Air Cadet:

And he obviously wooed her by saying something hilarious because look at her. Way to have game, kid.

She also got to play with a flight simulator, which is honestly better than any Valentine's Day date I've ever had in my life, and her face shows it. Seriously, she's having more fun than anyone in the world.

BRB, ditching my BF forever and spending every Valentine's Day playing flight simulators.

More: This Video of Pippa & Kate Middleton as Bridesmaids is as '90s as it Gets

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

If you're in a couple, whether you've been together for five months or 15 years, you know that ups and downs with your S.O. are natural. (Though, if it's only been a few months, you've probably had way fewer — hopefully.) When you go through rocky periods, it's easy to doubt the strength and resiliency of your partnership. That's why it's important to keep things in perspective, and that means paying attention to the little things that might not seem like a big deal but can really indicate whether your relationship will stand the test of time.

Whether it's holding hands in a restaurant or laughing at each other's dumb jokes (even if it's for the 20th time), these 19 little signs are usually present in the best relationships. If you and your S.O. can check off most of them, chances are you're pretty golden.

There’s a sense of casualness (in a good way)
“When two people are confident in their connection, they become more at ease with themselves and therefore can be more casual when together,” says relationship expert and breakup coach Chelsea Leigh Trescott. “In a strong relationship, the romance lies in two people feeling like they can be both simple and uneventful when they are together.” 

You both respond to texts
Gone are the days when you’re scrambling to come up with reasons why the person you're dating isn't texting you back. “In a strong relationship, neither person is trying to appear any busier than they are. If their phone is on them and you send a text, there is no waiting game to be implemented,” says Trescott. Basically, both people are still excited to hear from one another and are transparent about that excitement.

There’s open and good communication
Kind of "duh," but more important than almost anything else because how can a relationship be strong if neither partner talks about what’s going on? “Strong relationships have great communication with one another and know how to have open and honest conversations with each other, even when it may be difficult,” says licensed marriage and family therapist, Dr. Candice P. Cooper. You also address and talk to each other with respect.

You’re affectionate in public and private
“Touch is a very vulnerable experience, as well as kissing, and couples who touch are typically more connected emotionally,” says Cooper. And touching (e.g., holding hands, locking arms, touching lower back while walking) for these couples is not conscious. It's just something they do.

You (almost) always share what’s on your mind
Hopes, dreams, fears… if your S.O. is always opening up to you (and vice versa), it shows there's emotional intimacy. “It means that he/she never tires of talking to you and also indicates that they take comfort in you knowing what they know and that they want you involved in all aspects of their life,” says Trescott.

More: 10 Nightmare Proposals That Did Not Live Up to Expectations

You go out on dates
They don’t always have to fancy and expensive… or even planned. “Regular date nights shows that the couple prioritizes fun and makes the time to connect, laugh and create memories together often,” according to relationship experts and husband and wife, Meygan and Casey Caston.

You're a team
You know you’re in a strong relationship if you feel more like a “we” than an “I,” no matter what life brings — because you know you have each other. “When facing any obstacle coming our way, we’ll often shout out, 'TEAM CASTON,' as our rally cry that we got this,” say the Castons.

You each consider the other to be your best friend
Do you share everything with your partner, confide in them and feel like you can be your true self, similar to how you’d be with your best guy or gal pal? “In strong relationships, couples have friendship as the foundation of their relationship. If at any given moment they have nothing else to stand on, they have their friendship to carry them through the tough times,” says Cooper.

There's tons of trust
“If your partner is out of town, working late for business or just off doing things that are important to them, there is a profound trust in their honesty and in where they say they are,” says celebrity relationship expert Audrey Hope. This is a sign that you know each other so well — and believe in your closeness — that you don't need to question or worry about it.

You’re proud of each other
You honor what your partner stands for and what he or she does and are proud to tell others about her or him. “This is not about false bravado or superficial bragging, but a genuine honoring for who your partner is. And they feel the world is lucky to have you in it,” says Hope.

More: How to Avoid Disappointment on Anniversaries and Valentine's Day

There’s lots of laughter
Couples who laugh together last. “Laughter is always a sign of true happiness and life cannot be taken too seriously. If happiness is the lightning, it is immediately followed by the thunder of laughter,” say the Castons. Note: The humor is primarily positive; not sarcasm, digs or insults that could be offensive.

You make foreplay a priority
Quickies are great, but in order to increase your lust for one another and the intensity of your orgasms, you don't always rush through the process of getting turned on. “Couples who take their time in the bedroom and make things romantic feel more in love and desire to be together. Frequency also helps to increase sex drive,” say the Castons.

You have good sex — often!
The one thing that always stands out as sustaining the longevity of a relationship and a strong relationship culture is good physical chemistry — that is, good sex. “The positive nesting effects that the biochemistry of intimacy creates is profoundly important to create goodwill, interest in one another, passion, sexiness and flirtation,” says Victoria Lorient-Faibish, a psychotherapist and relationship expert.

You buy in twos
In a strong relationship, one partner has no issue paying for the other and vice versa, and that’s because both people feel like they are always paying for “us,” says Trescott. Here, too, the romance in this dynamic is that someone always feels like they are being treated.

You talk about the future
It doesn’t have to be weddings and children (if you’re not there yet), but upcoming trips, events and even just date nights, weeks and months in advance. “By making plans and talking about the future, you’re treating them as part of your future life and you’re also consulting with them on decisions that may impact your future together,” says Michelle Frankel, professional matchmaker and relationship coach.

You’re each other’s biggest fans
You cheer your partner on when she or he's got a huge presentation at work. They're your biggest cheerleader when it comes to publishing your first novel. “When each person knows that, no matter what, their partner has their back and will make every effort to not be judgmental or critical, it has a profoundly healing and bonding effect on the couple and on the relationship culture,” says Lorient-Faibish.

You each have your own separate lives and identities
“A relationship is only as strong as the people in it. If each person has a strong sense of self, then the relationship will naturally be stronger,” says Trescott. It’s hard to have a strong relationship when one partner doesn't have his or her own interests, friends and hobbies because it can put too much pressure on the couple.

You do sweet things for each other for no reason
Your S.O. knows you hate breaking down boxes because you always cut yourself, so he does it for you without even asking. “Goodwill deeds and random acts of kindness are like a healing elixir for a couple who wants a long-term and passionate relationship culture,” says Lorient-Faibish.

You make candid introductions to new people
Does your partner introduce you as their “friend” or their “girlfriend”? In a strong relationship, couples will introduce each other as just what they are — "boyfriend," "girlfriend," "partner," "fiancée," etc. “They openly acknowledge what they are to each other and to other people before they're even asked, and this is because they have great pride in who the other person is to them,” says Trescott.

Oh, you crazy teens. Sure, you think the barfing-rainbows Snapchat filter is just adorable. But what does Yale think of your weird-ass social media activity?

Because it turns out that college admissions officers are watching, teens. So that pic your friend took of you pounding a beer on top of the roof of your high school or the one of you smoking weed in the driver's seat of your grandma's convertible? Yeah. We're no angels here either, but you might want to rethink some of your social media choices. (And while you're at it, may we humbly suggest taking a close look at your life choices.) Because hey, slacker, the world belongs to those who make good choices. Yes, we're old and boring, but sometimes, we have good advice. Like: Don't sour your college chances by posting a shot of your bestie holding your hair while you yak up your guts into a toilet.

More: Life skills all kids should know before heading off to college

Anyway, you're being watched by the college powers that be. That's the bad news. Want some good news?

They might like you anyway. Thirty-five percent of 365 college admissions officers who took part in a survey conducted by Kaplan Test Prep admitted that they do check social media during the admissions process. Interestingly? A larger bunch of the survey sample said that their peeks into a student's social media accounts actually helped the student, with 47 percent of the admissions officers saying the barfing rainbows filter (or, you know, pictures of the student working for Habitat for Humanity) had a positive impact.

One example is a student who spoke passionately about LGBTQ rights on Twitter — something she hadn't mentioned in her college application. Yariv Alpher, executive director of research for Kaplan Test Prep, said, "There are a lot of positives here. It shows diversity, it shows initiative, it shows leadership, and it stood out positively to an admissions officer."

So if you're a college-hunting teen, maybe scale back on the Snapchat filters and post more Instagram shots of you rescuing kittens and elderly stroke victims and stuff. That seems to be the takeaway here.

More: Meh, I don't care if my kids go to college

Oh, also? College admissions officers want you to know that it's not the grooviest idea to tour a campus, then take to Twitter to rant about the crappy food or ugly library or boring tour guide. Common sense, people, common sense. When in doubt, delete. You'll thank us later from your corner office or your yacht — trust us.

Former Young and the Restless star Victoria Rowell’s court case has finally come to an end. Anyone waiting to hear the major details will be sorely disappointed, though — Rowell settled for undisclosed terms with Days of Our Lives producers and Sony Pictures Television.

More: Sean Spicer Could Have A Career in Television After His Run As Press Secretary

Rowell has long been an advocate for diversity not only in soaps, but in television in general. She spoke about it on Oprah: Where Are They Now? in October 2016.

“Here in Hollywood, I have long championed diversity, not only for African-Americans, but for all minorities, for gender bias, etc.,” Rowell said. “I want to see hiring practice changes. I want to see the inclusion of more stories that show full breadth and depth of our stories across the board.”

The original lawsuit began two years ago with claims against Sony Pictures Television, Bell Dramatic Serial Company, Bell-Phillip Television Production Inc. and CBS Corporation. She felt there was retaliation for her beliefs in diversity in front of and behind the camera. Rowell believed they prevented her from coming back to Y&R after she left for a period and did not offer her the same opportunities to direct or write for the show like her white co-workers.

More: GH Star Kirsten Storm Is Feeling the Heat From Fans Over Her Appearance

While that suit was dismissed, U.S. District Judge John Kronstadt allowed her to amend her filing and redefine her complaint about a specific role she wasn't being hired for. That’s how DOOL was drawn into the suit.

Rowell claimed she was blackballed while auditioning for a role on DOOL. Corday Productions clapped back with the argument that they were at the forefront of diverse hiring practices.

"Rather, Plaintiff — who has years of daytime drama experience and her own fan base — was not the right actress to play Melinda Trask, a minor, one-note character who appeared in only 20 episodes of DOOL," Corday's lawyers wrote in the motion.

More: Former Y&R Star Michael Muhney Comes Clean About That Sexual Harassment Rumor

The case was expected to begin on Monday, but the judge was informed that the parties had come to an agreement. The only terms revealed were a waiver of costs.

With such a public fight and now a private closure, it seems to weaken all of the work Rowell set out to do. Diversity is a hot topic in Hollywood and in a week where the first Bachelorette of color is cast, it’s important to keep these lines of communication going.

Rowell has not made any mention of the case on her social media profiles, so it leaves her supporters in the dark over why she chose to settle the case. Her fight was long, drawn-out and not an easy one to battle, but she remained true to her beliefs throughout the two years.

If Rowell can’t speak out about the final outcome of her case, do we lose the meaning behind her fight? Her advocacy work is important to the entertainment industry and I would hate to see a settlement be the reason her message gets lost in the shuffle.

What are your thoughts on the lawsuit coming to a close? Let us know in the comments below!

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

It's that special time of year, my friends: Valentine's Day. What could be better than feeling the love tenfold by indulging in some celebrity Valentine's Day 2017 tweets? Whether you're busying treating yourself to some luxurious self-care or getting sexy with your significant other, the group of people that will always be there for you are your fave celebs. They are sharing the love as much as they're getting it on this most romantic of holidays. Sure, there are a few who are saying "Boo-hoo" to the occasion but for the most part, these celebs are feeling the love. Even better: most of them are our favorite woke feminists. Does it get any better than that?

More: 18 Pics of Chrissy Teigen, John Legend & Baby Luna So Cute We Can Hardly Stand It

Chrissy Teigen

Be still my beating heart. This mother-daughter duo just created the cutest Valentine's Day Snapchat of all time.

Miley Cyrus

How cute is Cyrus in that Valentine's Day throwback?

Hailee Steinfeld

Steinfeld, who gave us the beautiful self-love and self-care anthem Love Myself, sent her love in a short & sweet tweet.

More: Valentine's Day movies For Him and Her

Reese Witherspoon

Witherspoon is currently filming A Wrinkle In Time in New Zealand, so she celebrated — and sent her love — a day before us Americans!

Katy Perry

The singer and activist gave a big shoutout not to her sweetie Orlando Bloom. Instead, she chose to show love to her fans and supporters on this special lovey-dovey day.

Gina Rodriguez

The Jane the Virgin star gave a shoutout to all her supporters and queens of the universe (that means you!) on Valentine's Day.

Michelle Obama

As if it couldn't get any cuter, Mrs. Obama decided to fill up our feeds with some extra-cute love for her boo.

More: Michelle Obama Delivers Beautiful, Emotional Last Speech as First Lady

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Your sweet and sensitive Internet boyfriend just sent you a little candy heart. What will you say back?

Geri Halliwell

The original champion of girl power formerly known as Ginger Spice sent us all a little bit of love on her Twitter.

Leslie Jones

The Saturday Night Live comedian managed to neatly sum up the alternate description for Valentine's Day to hilarious effect.

Kim Kardashian

What would Valentine's Day be without a little love from Kimye?

Chance The Rapper

He may have recently won two Grammys, but this gleeful rap virtuoso is a bit more cynical when it comes to Valentine's Day.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below!

We never thought a pair of 50-something politicians would be our ultimate #RelationshipGoals, but here we are — the Obamas' love is truly everything.

More: Michelle Obama's Face at the Inauguration is Basically All of Us Watching From Home

The former President and First Lady celebrated Valentine's Day with a few public posts to each other on social media, so everyone could get in on their ridiculously perfect love.

Barack posted a sweet throwback pic of himself and Michelle in the White House, writing, "Happy Valentine’s Day, @michelleobama! Almost 28 years with you, but it always feels new."

More: Michelle Obama Delivers Beautiful, Emotional Last Speech as First Lady

And while we were still trying to come back from how dead that cuteness made us, Michelle came back at him with a photo of their feet in the sand on their recent post-presidency vacay, writing, "Happy Valentine's Day to the love of my life and favorite island mate, @BarackObama."

I don't even care that POTUS and FLOTUS are sappy as heck, because even my cold dead heart got warmed up a little by these two. And this comes right after BO absolutely slayed us all with a tribute to MO during his farewell speech in Chicago.

"Michelle, for the past 25 years, you have not only been my wife and mother of my children, you have been my best friend," he said. "You took on a role you didn't ask for and you made it your own with grace and with grit and with style and good humor. You made the White House a place that belongs to everybody."

More: Michelle Obama Paid a Surprise Visit to These People — And They Totally Freaked Out

Sorry, crying, bye.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.