Women's Healthcast

In August 2024, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released updated recommendations for pain management during intrauterine device placement. Dr. Molly Lepic and Dr. Abigail Cutler joined this episode of the Women’s Healthcast to tell us more about what these recommendations mean for patients, and why pain management during IUD placement is such a hot topic. Dr. Lepic and Dr. Cutler are both obstetrician-gynecologists in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn. They talked about the different types of IUDs, how getting an IUD works, why pain or discomfort during the procedure can be an important consideration for many patients, and what today’s pain management options look like. Have a suggestion for a future episode? Let us know what health issues you'd like to learn about here! https://forms.gle/XaoArBtnxfHxA4Up7 

Incidence and mortality rates for endometrial cancer within the United States are on the rise. We also see a significant disparity in survival rates for endometrial cancer between Black and white patients in the U.S. Charlotte Gamble joined this episode of the Women's Healthcast to discuss disparities in treating and diagnosing endometrial cancer. Dr. Gamble is an attending surgeon in gynecologic oncology at the Washington Cancer Institute at the MedStar Washington Hospital Center, which is part of Georgetown University. She discussed the disparities seen at every stage of cancer, from diagnosis through treatment. She also talked about what needs to change to make sure all patients have equitable access to cancer care. Have a suggestion for a future episode? Let us know what health issues you'd like to learn about here! https://forms.gle/XaoArBtnxfHxA4Up7 

Pelvic floor physical therapy is a common treatment option that can be immensely helpful for people experiencing pelvic floor issues like incontinence or prolapse. But some patients may be reluctant to consider pelvic floor PT, or unsure about how it works. Sari Archer and Carrie Schwoerer joined this episode of the Women’s Healthcast to tell us more about pelvic floor disorders, how physical therapy can help, what the process is like, and where physical therapy fits under the broader umbrella of treatment options for pelvic floor issues. Sari Archer is a nurse practitioner in the UW Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery. Carrie Schwoerer is a physical therapist and rehabilitation manager with UW Health. If you’d like to learn even more about pelvic floor disorders and treatment options, please join us on September 30, 2024, for a Healthy Women Community Talk featuring even more experts in pelvic health! https://www.obgyn.wisc.edu/community-talks

As part of the Women’s Healthcast series about the fourth trimester, we’ve talked about physical recovery, breastfeeding, birth control after pregnancy, postpartum mental health, and long-term health concerns after birth. For the final episode in this series, Dr. Tiffany Green talked about inequities in postpartum health and policies that impact peoples’ ability to recover after giving birth. Dr. Green is an associate professor in the University of Wisconsin–Madison Department of Population Health Sciences and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She talked about common barriers to postpartum health, and policy changes that could make big changes in support for families. Have a suggestion for a future episode? Let us know what health issues you'd like to learn about here! https://forms.gle/XaoArBtnxfHxA4Up7 

One in eight people in the United States have high blood pressure or hypertension during their pregnancies. What does that mean for their health moving forward? Our guests joined the Women’s Healthcast to talk about blood pressure and cardiovascular concerns during and after pregnancy. Dr. Kara Hoppe is an associate professor in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Megan Knutson-Sinaise is a research coordinator and health coach.  They discussed how common blood pressure issues are during pregnancy, important signs and symptoms to be aware of, and what people should know about their lifelong cardiovascular health after high blood pressure during pregnancy.  Resources:  Treating chronic hypertension in early pregnancy benefits parents, babies – National Institutes of Health  Life’s Essential Eight - American Heart Association  Staying Healthy After Childbirth – UW Department of Ob-Gyn  Have a suggestion for a future episode? Let us know what health issues you'd like to learn about h

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists calls the 12 weeks after giving birth the Fourth Trimester. In this series, the Women’s Healthcast will air episodes about physical recovery, postpartum mental health, birth control after pregnancy, and more.  Dr. Ryan McDonald joined the Women’s Healthcast to talk about postpartum depression and anxiety. Dr. McDonald is a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn. He talked about postpartum mental health signs and symptoms, a variety of treatment and support options, and important resources for parents and families navigating postpartum depression or anxiety.  RESOURCES:  988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline – dial 988 at any time or visit https://988lifeline.org/   National Maternal Mental Health Hotline – dial 1-833-943-5746 or visit https://mchb.hrsa.gov/national-maternal-mental-health-hotline   ACOG Perinatal Mental Health Toolkit: https://www.acog.org/programs/perinatal-mental-health  Healthy Brain and Child Developm

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists calls the 12 weeks after giving birth the Fourth Trimester. On the Women’s Healthcast, we’re airing a Fourth Trimester series, with episodes about physical recovery after birth, postpartum mental health, breastfeeding, and more. Dr. Katie Sampene joined this episode to talk about pregnancy prevention in the fourth trimester. Dr. Sampene as an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn. She discussed recommendations for spacing pregnancies, why people may want to consider a birth control method so quickly after giving birth, how different methods affect breast or chest feeding, and more. RESOURCES: Postpartum Family Planning Worksheets - UW Department of Ob-Gyn / UnityPoint Health-Meriter Hospital Have a suggestion for a future episode? Let us know what health issues you'd like to learn about here! https://forms.gle/XaoArBtnxfHxA4Up7 

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists calls the 12 weeks after giving birth the Fourth Trimester. For the next few months, the Women’s Healthcast will air a Fourth Trimester series, with episodes about physical recovery, postpartum mental health, birth control after pregnancy, and more. Dr. Molly Lepic joined the Women’s Healthcast to talk about a common aspect of the postpartum period: breastfeeding. Dr. Lepic is an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn. She talked about how breastfeeding works, resources available to support people through the ups and downs of breastfeeding, and more. Have a suggestion for a future episode? Let us know what health issues you'd like to learn about here! https://forms.gle/XaoArBtnxfHxA4Up7 

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists calls the 12 weeks after giving birth the Fourth Trimester. For the next few months, the Women’s Healthcast will air a Fourth Trimester series, with episodes about physical recovery, postpartum mood changes, breastfeeding, and so much more.  Our first episode covered general questions about physical recovery after giving birth. On this episode, we’ll learn more about one particular aspect of recovery: perineal tears, or perineal lacerations.   These complications are very common during childbirth: somewhere between 60-70 percent of people who give birth experience some degree of tearing in the skin or muscles between the vagina and anus. Despite their frequency, they’re not commonly discussed.   Dr. Jon Pennycuff, a female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgeon in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn, joined the Women’s Healthcast to talk about perineal tears – how often they happen, how they’re treated, and what he wishes more people understood about them.  

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists calls the 12 weeks after giving birth the Fourth Trimester. For the next few months, the Women’s Healthcast will air a Fourth Trimester series, with episodes about physical recovery, postpartum mood changes, breastfeeding, and so much more. On the first episode of our Fourth Trimester series, Dr. Kim Bannon joined us to talk about physical recovery after giving birth. Dr. Bannon is an obstetrician-gynecologist in the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She talked about common body changes in the postpartum period, what to look out for in terms of mental and emotional health, how to tell when you’re ready to resume activities like exercise, and more. Let us know what Fourth Trimester topics you want to know more about here: https://forms.gle/XaoArBtnxfHxA4Up7 

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists calls the 12 weeks after giving birth the Fourth Trimester. This can be a time of significant physical and emotional change, and also a period of time where it’s hard to prioritize your own wellbeing.   To kick off 2024, the Women’s Healthcast will air a Fourth Trimester series, with episodes about physical recovery, postpartum mood changes, breastfeeding, and so much more. Over the next several weeks, we will learn more about postpartum health from experts in the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.   Let us know what Fourth Trimester topics you want to know more about here: https://forms.gle/XaoArBtnxfHxA4Up7 

Reproductive coercion – any behavior that interferes with someone’s ability to make decisions about their reproductive health – can happen in the context of intimate relationships, family relationships, or even in health care settings.   Laura Swan, PhD, LCSW, research scientist in the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Department of Population Health Sciences and the UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity, joined the Women’s Healthcast to talk about her research on reproductive coercion, and why she thinks it’s important for patients as well as providers to understand reproductive coercion and autonomy.  Have a suggestion for a future episode? Let us know what health issues you'd like to learn about here! https://forms.gle/XaoArBtnxfHxA4Up7 

November is Bladder Health Month. To celebrate, we’re replaying an interview with Angie Sergeant, a nurse practitioner in the UW Health Women’s Pelvic Wellness Clinic. In this interview from 2020, Angie talks about risk factors for pelvic floor disorders, pelvic floor physical therapy and other interventions, and what visits to her clinic look like.  If you’d like to learn more about pelvic floor disorders, join providers in the UW Health Women’s Pelvic Wellness Clinic at a free, virtual Healthy Women Community Talk on November 14, 2023, at 6:00pm. More information and registration here: https://www.obgyn.wisc.edu/community-talks Have a suggestion for a future episode? Let us know what health issues you'd like to learn about here! https://forms.gle/XaoArBtnxfHxA4Up7 

Health disparities in the United States are a pressing issue – and we see gaps in health outcomes across all aspects of ob-gyn care, too. What role does the health care system have in reducing health disparities? Dr. Denise Howard sat down with the Women’s Healthcast in advance of delivering the keynote lecture “Our Greatest Challenge: Eliminating Healthcare Disparities” at the 2023 UW Women’s Health and Health Equity Research Lecture & Symposium. Dr. Howard is Chief of Obstetrics & Gynecology at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital and Vice Chair in the Weill Cornell Medicine Department of Ob-Gyn. Dr. Howard discussed what she views as common causes of disparities in health care, why she frames the conversation around inequities in health care settings, and some of the most promising innovations in healthcare that could help reduce disparities. Have a suggestion for a future episode? Let us know what health issues you'd like to learn about here! https://forms.gle/XaoArBtnxfHxA4Up7 

Can starting a new birth control method, or changing your method, be as easy as opening an app, answering a few questions about your health, and picking up your prescription? E-visits for contraception are increasingly popular, whether offered through clinics or online-only services.  Dr. Eliza Bennett, an ob-gyn at UW Health, and Nicole Shapiro, a nurse practitioner and certified nurse midwife at UW Health, joined the Women’s Healthcast to talk about e-visits for birth control: how the process works, what kinds of birth control are available using this service, and why they launched an e-visit system for UW Health patients.  Have a suggestion for a future episode? Let us know what health issues you'd like to learn about here! https://forms.gle/XaoArBtnxfHxA4Up7 

Palliative care – medical care to help relieve symptoms and improve quality of life for people with serious illnesses – is often a key component of cancer care and treatment. During Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, Dr. Catherine Zhang joined the Women’s Healthcast to talk about palliative care, palliative care’s place in gynecologic cancer treatment, and how people can approach conversations around advance care planning in their own lives. Dr. Zhang is a gynecologic oncologist in the UW Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, where she cares for people with all types of reproductive cancers. RESOURCES: The Conversation Project What are palliative care and hospice care? - National Institute on Aging Have a suggestion for a future episode? Let us know what health issues you'd like to learn about here! https://forms.gle/XaoArBtnxfHxA4Up7 

Perineal tears, or perineal lacerations, are a very common complication that can happen during childbirth – somewhere between 60-70 percent of people who give birth experience some degree of tearing in the skin or muscles between the vagina and anus. Despite their frequency, they’re not a commonly-discussed topic. Our guest today hopes to change that. Dr. Jon Pennycuff, a Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgeon in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn, joined the Women’s Healthcast to talk about perineal tears – how often they happen, how they’re treated, and what he wishes more people understood about them. RESOURCES: Pelvic Floor Health Guide – American Urogynecologic Society Third and Fourth-Degree Perineal Tears – American Urogynecologic Society Have a suggestion for a future episode? Let us know what health issues you'd like to learn about here! https://forms.gle/XaoArBtnxfHxA4Up7 

In July 2023, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved a birth control pill for over-the-counter use, meaning most consumers could buy it from a pharmacy without a prescription. The pill will likely be available sometime in 2024. To learn more about the progestin-only birth control that’s approved for over-the-counter use, we talked with Dr. Amy Domeyer-Klenske. We discussed how the pill works, important safety considerations for people to know, and the remaining questions about how birth control without a prescription might affect availability and access for people in the U.S. Dr. Domeyer-Klenske is an obstetrician-gynecologist, director of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, and president of the Wisconsin section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. RESOURCES: Progestin-Only Birth Control - American College of Ob-Gyns FDA Approves First Nonprescription Daily Oral Contraceptive - US Food and Drug Administration Over-the-counter birth control is comi

Vasomotor symptoms, also known as hot flashes, are one of the most common and most disruptive symptoms of the perimenopause transition. For some people, they can happen more than seven times a day. And once hot flashes start, people experience them for an average of 2 years (but sometimes as long as 10 to 12 years). On this episode of the Women’s Healthcast, Dr. Genevieve Neal-Perry joins us to talk about a new understanding of what causes hot flashes, what hot flash management has looked like until now, and her recent studies examining new treatment options for these symptoms. Dr. Neal-Perry is the Robert A. Ross Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. RESOURCES: Safety of Fezolinetant for Vasomotor Symptoms Associated With Menopause - Obstetrics and Gynecology 5 of the Most Common Questions About Menopause - American College of Ob-Gyns Hormone Therapy for Menopause - American College of Ob-Gyns Have a suggestion for a

In early April 2023, the World Health Organization released a new report that suggests one in six adults – or roughly 17.5% of the world’s adult population – will be affected by infertility in their lifetime. Despite how common infertility is, access to treatment in the United States is inconsistent. This week (April 23-29, 2023) is National Infertility Awareness Week. For this episode of the Women’s Healthcast, we wanted to focus on equity and access in the infertility world. First, we’ll hear from Dr. Kate Schoyer, a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist in the Medical College of Wisconsin Department of Ob-Gyn, about whether everyone in the U.S. has equitable access to fertility care, what kinds of barriers may stand in the way of building a family, and what would need to change to make sure that those one in six adults can take advantage of needed fertility services. Then we’ll hear from a Wisconsin couple – Karron and Brian – about how the financial realities of fertility care in the U.S.