Do ALL women really have to breastfeed? We’ve all heard the slogan “Breast is Best” for years. There is good data that there is some benefit to breast feeding. For those of us who’ve been able to breastfeed our babies, there’s a lot of feelings of it’s benefits, convenience, and the positive feedback from the […]
Hot flashes, night sweats, urinary issues, dryness – all common symptoms of menopause. However, studies show that the frequency of these symptoms is linked to traumatic experiences, such as intimate partner violence (IPV) or sexual abuse. According to a study in JAMA Internal Medicine, symptoms of PTSD were associated with vaginal symptoms such as irritation […]
Have you had your Pap recently? Pap testing has been one of the most successful public health interventions of the 20th century. Cervical cancer used to be the most common cause of death from pelvic cancer. Now it is one of the least common, thanks to early detection of precancerous lesions. During a Pap test, […]
This is the second article in our Lasting Weight Loss Series for 2019. (Read Post 1 here) What does it mean to eat “normally”? If you think looking around you and watching who are enjoying their lives, eating anything is the definition of “normal” eating, you’re likely wrong. According to the NIH, 34% of […]
A few years ago, I wrote this blog post on determining gender of a pregnancy. I wrote it after having been asked the same question 10 times in the same week, and of course, repeating the same answer. The same question comes up often. Very often. It’s a very human desire, to prefer one […]
Taking care of our teeth is always important. It’s best to see a dentist at least twice a year for regular checkups and cleanings. For women planning pregnancy, it’s important to be up to date on dental care. There’s a clear association between periodontal disease and an increased risk of preterm birth. Having clean, healthy […]
Every New Year, almost half of Americans make a New Year’s resolution to lose weight. That’s right, someone out there keeps statistics on New Year’s resolutions! It’s not surprising given that a third of Americans are overweight and another third are obese. As physicians, helping people achieve their best health often includes a discussion […]
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that there were about 300,000 cosmetic breast augmentation surgeries in 2017, up 41% since 2000. Using a filler material such as saline or silicone, a plastic surgeon can change the size, shape, and contour of a person’s breast. While most of these surgeries can be done safely, there […]
We’ve all learned by adulthood not to ask a woman if she’s pregnant. If you’re wrong…. you’re in trouble. However, the reality is, pregnancy is a very public experience. Some of this is wonderful, in the third trimester, feeling tired, people open doors for you, carry things for you, make space for you, let you […]
With menopause comes a whole host of symptoms, with the most well known being hot flashes and night sweats. Unfortunately, there are some symptoms linked to vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) that worsen the quality of life for menopausal women – from urinary issues to vaginal dryness. In a study published in the journal Menopause, […]