Women’s Healthcast

Health and Aging: Weight and Wellness, Part 2

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 10:14:45 -0500

Over the last few months, the Women’s Healthcast has focused on how aging can affect our health. For the last two episodes in the Health and Aging series, we consider the impact of aging on metabolism – including societal implications.

In Weight and Wellness, Part 1, Dr. Kate Sample joined us to talk about how different life stages can affect body composition. In the second half of our conversation, Dr. Sample discusses additional options for improving health with age, the potential impacts of GLP-1 medications, and how to tell whether so-called “simple” solutions on social media are actually effective.

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Health and Aging: Weight and Wellness, Part 1

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 15:20:02 -0500

Dr. Kate Sample joined us to share her insight into changes in body composition that come with age. Dr. Sample is a clinical associate professor in the University of Wisconsin Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In part one of this interview, she talked about natural changes in weight, muscle mass, and bone density that come with age, the effects of life stages such as pregnancy and menopause on metabolism, as well as how hormonal changes affect our bodies.

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Health and Aging: Protect Your Pelvic Floor

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 11:07:47 -0500

For the last few months, the Women’s Healthcast has been taking a look at health and aging, covering everything from perimenopause to sex to heart health. In our second-to-last episode of the Health and Aging series, we’ll focus on an all-important but sometimes under-appreciated group of muscles in the body: the pelvic floor.

This complex basket of muscles and connective tissue sits under the pelvis, supporting our organs and helping manage important bodily functions like going to the bathroom, having sex, giving birth, even standing and sitting. Repeated stress, pregnancy and birth, hormone changes, and more can all affect how well our pelvic floor functions.

Maureen Sheetz is a nurse practitioner in the Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery in the University of Wisconsin Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Maureen joined this episode of the Women’s Healthcast to talk about how to tell if you’re experiencing common pelvic floor issues like incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, the range of treatment options available for these conditions, and how to protect our pelvic floor health as we age.

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Health and Aging: Heart Health

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 12:48:44 -0500

Cardiovascular disease – things like heart disease and high blood pressure – can have huge impacts on our overall health. For women in particular, life events like pregnancy and menopause can raise our risk of cardiovascular disease.

Dr. Anupama Joseph joined this episode of the Women’s Healthcast to talk about heart health and aging. Dr. Joseph is an assistant professor of cardiovascular medicine in the University of Wisconsin Department of Medicine. She talked about how to recognize common signs and symptoms of cardiovascular disease and what we need to know about improving our heart health.

Let us know what aging-related topics you want to know more about in this survey: https://forms.gle/XaoArBtnxfHxA4Up7

Health and Aging: Let’s Talk About Sex, Part 2

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 08:38:07 -0500

A lot about our lives can change as we get older, and that includes our sex lives. Our last episode covered some of the physical changes that can impact sex as we age. For this episode, Madelyn Esposito joins the Women’s Healthcast to talk about the mental and emotional aspects of sex and aging.

Madelyn is a licensed sex therapist and program manager of UW Health’s Sexual Health Clinic. She answered questions about what sex therapy is, common changes to mental and emotional health that impact sex, and what she wishes more people knew about sex and aging.

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Health and Aging: Let's Talk About Sex, Part 1

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 08:54:42 -0500

For the next few months, the Women’s Healthcast will dive into all aspects of aging and women’s health, through conversations with experts in the UW Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and beyond.

A lot about our lives can change as we get older, and that includes our sex lives. Two guest experts joined this episode of the Women’s Healthcast to talk about some of the physical changes related to age that can impact sexual function – and to tear down the myth that sex and aging aren’t compatible.

Dr. Jon Pennycuff is a urogynecologist and assistant professor in the UW Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Dr. Javier Santiago is a urologist and assistant professor in the UW Department of Urology. We talk about common changes in sexual function for female and male bodies, as well as their recommendations for improving sexual health.

Let us know what aging-related topics you want to know more about in this survey: https://forms.gle/XaoArBtnxfHxA4Up7

Health and Aging: Gynecologic Cancer

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 09:25:10 -0500

Since September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, Dr. Catherine Zhang joined the Women’s Healthcast to help us learn about how our gynecologic cancer risk changes with age. She talked about common types of gynecologic cancer, signs and symptoms to look out for, the most up-to-date screening recommendations, and ways to reduce your risk of gynecologic cancer.

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Health and Aging: Perimenopause

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 08:16:07 -0500

And what better topic to kick off this series than perimenopause? For those of us who get periods, we know this phase of life is coming eventually.

Dr. Laura Bozzuto joined this episode of the Women’s Healthcast to help us learn about the common signs and symptoms of perimenopause, treatment options, why the supplements you see online might not be the solution, and exciting updates in the future of perimenopause and menopause care. Dr. Bozzuto is an assistant professor in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn.

Menopause Practitioner Database - The Menopause Society

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Introducing the Health and Aging miniseries

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 10:15:10 -0500

It’s no secret that our bodies change as we age, and how we care for them might need to change, too. How many of us feel like we have all the information we need to stay healthy as we get older?

For the next few months, this podcast will dive into all aspects of aging and women’s health, in conversation with experts from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and beyond. Join us for episodes about:

Perimenopause and menopause care
Bone health and gynecologic cancer
Gynecologic cancer risk
Sex and aging
Pelvic floor disorders
Cardiovascular health and aging
Metabolism, age, and weight

We hope you’ll listen along with us as we explore women’s health and aging for the rest of this year. Let us know what aging-related topics you want to know more about in this survey: https://forms.gle/XaoArBtnxfHxA4Up7

Thanks for listening to the Women’s Healthcast, from the University of Wisconsin Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Reproductive Autonomy in 2025

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 08:59:22 -0500

Reproductive autonomy is defined as an individual’s ability to make decisions about their reproductive health and access reproductive health services without interference or coercion. In 2025, there are a lot of social and policy factors at play that impact people’s reproductive autonomy both in the U.S. and worldwide.

Dr. Leigh Senderowicz and Amy Williamson joined this episode of the Women’s Healthcast to help us understand the reproductive autonomy landscape in 2025. This interview was recorded in June of 2025.

Dr. Senderowicz is an assistant professor in the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Gender and Women’s Studies at the University of Wisconsin. Amy is the associate director of the UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity, a group that conducts research and shares evidence that focuses on Wisconsinites’ access to abortion and contraception.

Past podcast episodes mentioned in the interview:

Reproductive Health Worldwide

E-Visits for Contraception

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Replay: Finding Out about Fibroids

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Uterine fibroids are incredibly common – between 20 and 70 percent of people with uteruses will develop fibroids during their lifetimes. And while these growths typically aren’t dangerous, they can still cause some issues.

Since July is Fibroids Awareness Month, we are replaying an interview from 2022 with Dr. Bala Bhagavath. He’s a reproductive endocrinologist and reproductive surgeon. In this interview, he talks about common symptoms of uterine fibroids, the broad variety of treatment options, and whether all fibroids need to be treated.

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Know Your STIs: Chlamydia and Gonorrhea

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 15:00:39 -0500

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are two of the most common sexually transmitted infections, or STIs, in the United States. For Wisconsin in particular, rates of both diseases are on the rise.

Dr. Jess Dalby joined this episode of the Women’s Healthcast to talk about the signs and symptoms of chlamydia and gonorrhea, the risks of untreated disease, and how to get tested and treated for common STIs. She also talked about a recent study that found chlamydia and gonorrhea are increasing in Wisconsin, and what’s behind the rising rates.

Dr. Dalby is an associate professor in the UW School of Medicine and Public Health Department of Family Medicine and Community Health. She is also a medical consultant on sexually transmitted infections for the City of Milwaukee Health Department.

Dr. Dalby co-authored a paper published in the Wisconsin Medical Journal about rising rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea: read Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Infection Rates in Wisconsin, 2010-2022.

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Preparing for Your First Period

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 08:31:48 -0500

For many young people, the idea of starting to get a period is at least a little bit stressful.

Dr. Katie O’Brien, a pediatric and adolescent gynecologist in the UW Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, helps kids and families in her clinic feel more prepared for periods. She joined this episode of the Women’s Healthcast to talk about what periods are, how to choose the right period products for you, when to get help for heavy or painful periods, and more.

Resources shared by Dr. O'Brien:

Welcome to Your Period! - by Yumi Stynes and Dr. Melissa Kang

Scarleteen.com

Your Changing Body - KidsHealth.org

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All About IUDs

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 16:43:21 -0500

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.

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Health Equity in Endometrial Cancer

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 09:10:43 -0500

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.

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Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 09:29:04 -0500

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

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Fourth Trimester: Policy Impacts on Postpartum Health

Wed, 08 May 2024 15:00:43 -0500

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.

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Fourth Trimester: Heart Health After Pregnancy

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 12:05:35 -0500

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

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Fourth Trimester: Postpartum Mental Health

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 09:55:49 -0500

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 Development Study - https://hbcdstudy.org

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Fourth Trimester: Pregnancy Prevention

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 15:17:57 -0500

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

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Fourth Trimester: Breastfeeding

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 11:26:22 -0500

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.

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Fourth Trimester: Perineal Tears

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 09:35:15 -0500

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.

RESOURCES:

Pelvic Floor Health Guide – American Urogynecologic Society

Third and Fourth-Degree Perineal Tears – American Urogynecologic Society

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Fourth Trimester: Physical Recovery

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 09:15:02 -0500

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.

RESOURCES:

National Maternal Mental Health Hotline

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Introducing the 4th Trimester Mini-Series

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 13:10:38 -0500

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

Contraceptive Coercion

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 14:40:39 -0500

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.

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REPLAY: Promoting Pelvic Floor Health

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 09:05:52 -0500

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

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Health Equity Innovations

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 09:12:12 -0500

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.

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E-Visits for Contraception

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 10:53:09 -0500

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.

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Palliative Care and Advance Care Planning

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 13:24:35 -0500

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

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Perineal Tears: Cause and Recovery

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 11:25:50 -0500

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

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Over-the-Counter Birth Control

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 08:27:32 -0500

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 coming. Here's what to know about cost and coverage - National Public Radio

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What’s Next in Menopause Management?

Wed, 10 May 2023 09:52:47 -0500

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

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Equity and Access in Fertility Care

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 12:28:28 -0500

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. impacted their treatment journey.

IVF – American Society for Reproductive Medicine

ICSI – American Society for Reproductive Medicine

Coverage and Use of Fertility Services in the U.S. – Kaiser Family Foundation

Resolve.org

Building Families Alliance Wisconsin

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Back to Basics: Pregnancy Prevention

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 15:47:42 -0500

There’s a lot to consider when choosing the right birth control -- what will work with your lifestyle? What are your goals? Are there other health issues you should consider before starting a method? Where can you go to find the right birth control for you?

On this Back to Basics episode of the Women’s Healthcast, guest experts Dr. Ryan Luellwitz and Dr. Paula Cody answer all our common birth control questions: what kinds of birth control are available, how they work, and how someone can figure out what might be a good method for them.

Resources for more information:

Birth Control - Bedsider.org

Birth Control - Center for Young Women's Health

Birth Control - Planned Parenthood

Birth Control - Young Men's Health

Title X Clinics Locator - US Dept of Health and Human Services

Women's Healthcast: Emergency Contraception

Women's Healthcast: The State of Abortion Rights in 2022

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Back to Basics: STIs and Safer Sex

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 10:06:33 -0500

Sexually transmitted infections (or STIs) are incredibly common – over half of people in the U.S. will have an STI at some point in their life. Despite being so common, we still approach STIs with a lot of stigma and shame, and maybe even avoid talking about them at all!

On this Back to Basics episode of the Women’s Healthcast, guest experts Dr. Ryan Luellwitz and Dr. Paula Cody talk about safe sex, preventing or avoiding STIs, and how to find testing and treatment if you think you may have an STI.

RESOURCES:

Planned Parenthood - What are STIs?

Bedsider - Sexually Transmitted Infections

Center for Young Women's Health - STIs

Young Men's Health - Sexually Transmitted Infections

U.S. CDC - Sexually Transmitted Diseases

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Back to Basics: Consent and Bodily Autonomy

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 16:46:44 -0500

Understanding bodily autonomy and consent can be crucial tools for navigating healthy relationships of all kinds, including romantic relationships. But helping young people build a strong sense of self and understand boundaries and autonomy should start when kids are as young as possible, well before romantic relationships are on the horizon.

On this Back to Basics episode of the Women’s Healthcast, guest experts Dr. Ryan Luellwitz and Dr. Paula Cody define bodily autonomy, share some low-stakes examples of how young kids can understand and exercise their autonomy, and clear up some common questions about consent.

RESOURCES:

Tea Consent (Blue Seat Studios - YouTube)

How Do You Know if Someone Wants to Have Sex with You? (Planned Parenthood - YouTube)

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Back to Basics: Sex, Gender, Sexuality

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 18:11:09 -0500

Our understanding of gender identity, gender expression, sexuality, and sexual orientation has expanded so much over time. On this Back to Basics episode of the Women’s Healthcast, guest experts Dr. Ryan Luellwitz and Dr. Paula Cody make sure we have a solid foundation to understand the nuances of biological sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, and more.

They also offer resources for young people, parents, and other supportive adults to learn more about gender identity and expression, and answer questions shared by young people in Wisconsin.

Resources shared in the episode:

Gender Identity Workbook for Kids

Gender Quest Workbook: A guide for teens and young adults

Genderspectrum.org

Genderdiversity.org

The Gender Creative Child

The Transgender Child

The Transgender Teen

Scarleteen.com

Transstudent.org (Gender Unicorn)

World Professional Association for Transgender Health Standards of Care

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Back to Basics Bonus: Period Products

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 15:00:11 -0500

Just about half the world’s population has had or will have a period at some point. But despite how common menstruation is, there can still be some confusion or even stigma around period products like pads, tampons, menstrual cups, and more. And that’s not even getting into the huge industry around so-called feminine hygiene products that can often do more harm than good.

On this bonus episode of the Women’s Healthcast Back to Basics series, Dr. Paula Cody and Dr. Ryan Luellwitz walk us through the period aisle, help us understand the differences between the products available, and offer some considerations that can help us figure out which products are the right choice for us. And while we’re in this aisle, we talk about the multi-billion-dollar feminine hygiene industry and why we can pass on all those products.

For a deeper dive into feminine hygiene products and how to care for vulvas and vaginas, listen to the Women's Healthcast interview with Dr. Laura Jacques: Vulvar Health, Care, and Cleaning.

The American College of Ob-Gyns has a guide for choosing and using period products.

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Back to Basics: Menstrual Cycle and Periods

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 12:15:34 -0500

Welcome to Back to Basics, a new series from the Women’s Healthcast answering some of the most common questions about sexual and reproductive health.

Guest experts Dr. Ryan Luellwitz and Dr. Paula Cody will bring us back to the basics of anatomy, gender, sexuality, the menstrual cycle, safe sex, sexually transmitted infections, birth control, bodily autonomy, and so much more.

In our second episode, Dr. Luellwitz and Dr. Cody answer some of our most common questions about periods and the menstrual cycle: what’s the average age when people might get their first period, why do we experience cramps, or acne, or emotional changes around our periods, and when to talk to a doctor if pain or heavy bleeding is disrupting your daily life.

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Back to Basics: Anatomy and Puberty

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 12:49:35 -0500

Welcome to Back to Basics, a new series from the Women’s Healthcast! Over the next several episodes, we will answer some of the most common questions about sexual and reproductive health and provide resources for parents and supportive adults who may want to start having these conversations with the kids in their lives.

In this first episode, we tackle the basics of anatomy and puberty: Why is it so important to learn and use correct anatomical terms when we are learning about bodies, development and sexual/reproductive health? When should children learn anatomically correct terms for body parts, and what are those parts? What is puberty, and when does it typically happen? There’s a lot to cover in this conversation.

Resources shared by Dr. Cody and Dr. Luellwitz:

It’s Not the Stork – Robie Harris

What Makes a Baby – Cory Silverberg

Teaching Children with Downs Syndrome about Their Bodies, Boundaries, and Sexuality – Terri Couwenhoven

Healthychildren.org

Kidshealth.org

ACOG.org

Youngwomenshealth.org

Youngmenshealthsite.org

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Back to Basics in 2023

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 15:22:25 -0500

Starting in January 2023, the Women’s Healthcast will air a Back To Basics series with the aim of answering some of the most common questions about sexual and reproductive health and providing resources for parents and supportive adults who may want to start having these conversations with the kids in their lives. Guest experts Dr. Ryan Luellwitz and Dr. Paula Cody will bring us back to the basics of anatomy, gender, sexuality, the menstrual cycle, safe sex, sexually transmitted infections, birth control, bodily autonomy, and so much more.

Dr. Luellwitz is an obstetrician-gynecologist in the UW School of Medicine and Public Health Department of Ob-Gyn with a special interest in contraception management of all types.

Dr. Cody is a pediatrician in the UW School of Medicine and Public Health Department of Pediatrics. She works with adolescents and young adults with a special interest in eating disorders, sexuality and reproductive health, menstrual disorders and high-risk behaviors.

We hope you’ll join us as we get Back to Basics in the new year. Thanks for listening to the Women’s Healthcast, from the University of Wisconsin Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Surgical Sterilization

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 16:46:44 -0500

Since the spring of 2022, ob-gyn clinics around the U.S. have reported an increase in questions about tubal ligation, also known as surgical sterilization or salpingectomy. Dr. Laura Hanks joined the Women’s Healthcast to talk about why those requests are up, and tell us more about surgical sterilization: what happens during the procedure, why people might be interested in permanent birth control, and how she helps patients make sure sterilization is right for them.

Dr. Hanks is an obstetrician-gynecologist in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn.

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Robotic-Assisted Surgery

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 17:10:05 -0500

Dr. Laura Hanks joined the Women’s Healthcast to tell us more about how robotic surgery works, what kinds of procedures in the ob-gyn world can and can’t be performed with this method, and how to weigh the risks and benefits when deciding whether robotic-assisted surgery is right for you.

Dr. Hanks is an obstetrician-gynecologist in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn.

Vasectomy: Asked and Answered

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 08:41:25 -0500

Over the last few months, Google searches about vasectomy – the procedure for male sterilization – have skyrocketed. Dr. David Paolone joined the Women's Healthcast to tell us more about how vasectomy works. He discussed what preparation and recovery for vasectomy look like, cleared up some common vasectomy myths, and talked about how he counsels patients to make sure the procedure is the right choice for them.

Dr. Paolone is a board-certified urologist in the UW School of Medicine and Public Health’s Department of Urology.

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Privacy, Security, and Cycle Tracking Apps

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 10:47:37 -0500

Lots of questions about menstrual tracking or cycle tracking apps popped up after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the constitutional right to an abortion in June 2022. Questions like: are these apps secure? Could data tracked in these apps be used to criminalize people who seek abortion care? Should people be concerned about using cycle tracking apps?

Dr. Jenna Nobles joined the Women’s Healthcast to talk about why people may be interested in using cycle tracking apps, how they work, common concerns around data security and safety, and how to evaluate whether using a cycle tracking app is the right choice for you.

Dr. Nobles is a professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for Demography and Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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Choosing Lubricants and Vaginal Moisturizers

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 11:33:54 -0500

Vaginal moisturizers, lubricants, and vaginal estrogen can be helpful tools for improving sexual wellbeing, but how many of us know how to choose the right ones? Dr. Jon Pennycuff joined the Women’s Healthcast to discuss why people use vaginal moisturizers and lubricants, the variety of available products, and what we should consider when choosing a moisturizer or lubricant. He also talked about vaginal estrogen as an option to address some issues like itching, dryness, and recurrent urinary tract infections.

Dr. Pennycuff is an assistant professor in the UW-Madison Department of Ob-Gyn’s Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery.

RESOURCES:

A Woman’s Touch Sexuality Resource Center: https://sexualityresources.com

Vulvovaginal Atrophy resources (UW-Madison Department of Family Medicine and Community Health): https://www.fammed.wisc.edu/vulvovaginal-atrophy/

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The State of Abortion Rights in 2022

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 13:13:39 -0500

We’re releasing this episode on June 1, 2022, and sometime in the next few weeks, the United States Supreme Court will issue a decision in the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. Their decision in this case could have huge effects on abortion legality and abortion access across the country.

Dr. Jenny Higgins joined the Women's Healthcast to talk about today’s landscape of abortion access in Wisconsin, what the Supreme Court decision could mean for access in our state and beyond, and what the research tells us about how limitations to abortion can affect people’s health and wellbeing.

Dr. Higgins is the director of the UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity and the UW Department of Ob-Gyn's Division of Reproductive and Population Health.

Resources mentioned by Dr. Higgins:

Abortion Finder: https://www.abortionfinder.org

Aid Access: https://aidaccess.org/en/

Center for Reproductive Rights: https://reproductiverights.org

Guttmacher Institute: https://www.guttmacher.org

If/When/How Legal Helpline: https://www.reprolegalhelpline.org

M+A Hotline: https://www.mahotline.org

National Network of Abortion Funds: https://abortionfunds.org

Plan C: https://www.plancpills.org

Planned Parenthood: https://www.plannedparenthood.org

Safe and Supported in the U.S.: https://abortionpillinfo.org

UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity: https://core.wisc.edu

Follow the UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity on social media!

https://twitter.com/WiscCORE

https://www.instagram.com/wisccore/

https://www.facebook.com/WiscCORE/

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Finding Out About Fibroids

Wed, 25 May 2022 13:35:48 -0500

Uterine fibroids are incredibly common – between 20 and 70 percent of people with uteruses will develop fibroids during their lifetimes. And while they’re often benign, they can still cause some troublesome symptoms.

Dr. Bala Bhagavath joined the Women’s Healthcast to talk about common symptoms of uterine fibroids, the broad variety of treatment options, and whether all fibroids need to be treated.

Dr. Bhagavath is the director of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.

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Effective Advocacy in Healthcare Settings

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 14:37:39 -0500

Preparing for a doctor’s visit can feel intimidating. How do we make sure all our questions are answered and our concerns are taken seriously? How many of us know how to be effective self-advocates in medical settings?

On this episode of the Women’s Healthcast, Cheryl Casey’Grant shares tips and resources to make sure we’re getting the best care. Cheryl is an outreach specialist in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn.

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Seems Sus: Health Claims and Social Media

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 09:51:04 -0500

As health misinformation grows and spreads online, more and more doctors are spending time on social media breaking down health myths. On this episode of the Women’s Healthcast, we’re joined by physician, author, and social media star Dr. Jennifer Lincoln.

When she’s not working as an ob-gyn in Oregon, Dr. Lincoln busts reproductive health myths for her millions of followers. Dr. Lincoln talks about what brought her to the social media space, why she thinks sexual and reproductive health misinformation flourishes online, and how we can critically evaluate health information we see on social media.

You can find Dr. Lincoln on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjenniferlincoln/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjenniferlincoln?lang=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXLo8y5FKb-7_bJWeRMy5-Q

Learn more about Dr. Lincoln’s book, “Let’s Talk About Down There”, and more on her website: https://www.drjenniferlincoln.com

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Healthy Pregnancy at Any Weight

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 09:42:14 -0500

On this episode, Dr. Katie Antony joins us to talk about some of the concerns or considerations for pregnant people with overweight or obesity, and how to have a healthy, safe pregnancy at any weight.

Dr. Antony is a maternal-fetal medicine physician in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Ob-Gyn, and recently earned her board certification in obesity medicine.

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Know Your STIs: Syphilis

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 12:10:28 -0500

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, rates of the sexually transmitted infection syphilis have been climbing across the country. In Wisconsin in particular, the state’s Department of Health Services recently recommended pregnant people be screened twice during pregnancy for syphilis, which can have significant affects on fetal health and development.

On this episode Dr. Ryan Luellwitz joins us to talk about signs and symptoms of syphilis, the importance of frequent testing for STIs, and how to lower your risk for encountering syphilis. Dr. Luellwitz is an obstetrician-gynecologist in the UW-Madison Department of Ob-Gyn.

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Sexual Health and Cancer Survivorship

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 14:08:03 -0500

As our ability to detect and treat cancer has improved, more people are living longer after their cancer diagnosis. For survivors of breast and gynecologic cancer, that can mean more time living with the side effects treatment can have on sexual and pelvic health.

On this episode of the Women’s Healthcast, Dr. Jon Pennycuff talks about what these side effects can include, the variety of options to address sexual health concerns for cancer survivors, and what he wishes more people knew about the connection between cancer treatment and pelvic health. Dr. Pennycuff is a fellowship-trained physician in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery.

Dr. Pennycuff recommends these resources for people with questions about sexual and pelvic health side effects after cancer treatment:

VoicesforPFD.org

UW Health Women's Integrative Sexual Health Program (Madison, WI)

A Woman's Toucn (Madison, WI)

American Society of Clinical Oncologists Breast Cancer Survivorship

International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health

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REPLAY: Understanding Your Breast Health

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 12:49:00 -0500

About one in eight U.S. women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re replaying this interview with Dr. Laura Bozzuto. Dr. Bozzuto talks about breast cancer symptoms, the latest in screening guidelines, and how to lower your breast cancer risk. Dr. Bozzuto is an ob-gyn with specialty training in breast cancer surgery.

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REPLAY: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 10:03:43 -0500

September is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Awareness Month, so we're replaying this popular interview with Dr. Laura Cooney!

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome affects between 10 and 20 percent of reproductive-aged women, and it's the most common endocrine disorder in that group. But, according to Dr. Laura Cooney, it can be hard to identify and diagnose. Dr. Cooney is a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn. She discussed the criteria for diagnosing PCOS, how it can affect fertility, and why she’s so passionate about helping PCOS patients.

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REPLAY: Cervical Cancer Prevention, Detection, Treatment

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 17:07:24 -0500

Cervical cancer is the third most common type of gynecologic cancer in the United States. Since September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, we’re replaying this popular episode featuring Dr. Sumer Wallace. Dr. Wallace is a gynecologic oncologist in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn. She talks about what causes cervical cancer, how it’s treated, and why the HPV vaccine and regular screenings are important tools to help prevent cervical cancer.

If you’re interested in supporting gynecologic cancer research in Wisconsin, please join us for the 2021 Sparkle of Hope gala on Friday, September 24! Learn more about the virtual event and how to register at sparkleofhope.org.

Have a suggestion for a future episode? Let us know what health issues you'd like to learn about here! https://forms.gle/XaoArBtnxfHxA4Up7

COVID Vaccines and Women’s Health Myths

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 15:47:06 -0500

Vaccines for COVID-19 became available in late 2020, and were immediately followed by a rash of myths and misinformation online. Many of the most pervasive myths – that the vaccine causes infertility, that it’s unsafe for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, that it can cause miscarriage – are specifically focused on women’s health and reproductive health.

Dr. Michael Beninati joins this episode of the Women’s Healthcast to put a stop to some of the most dangerous misinformation, and talk about the research that shows why these myths just aren’t true.

Some of the resources Dr. Beninati mentions for up-to-date and accurate COVID-19 and vaccine information:

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine

American Society for Reproductive Medicine

U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

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Reproductive Health Worldwide

Wed, 14 Jul 2021 14:50:18 -0500

Reproductive health care trends, norms and policies in the United States shape global reproductive health in a big way. UW Ob-Gyn Health Disparities Research Scholar Dr. Leigh Senderowicz joined the Women’s Healthcast to talk about the roots of international family planning programs, how to recognize reproductive coercion, and why we should pay attention to the way U.S. policies can affect individual health across the world.

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The Science of Clinical Trials

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 14:52:13 -0500

On this episode of the Women’s Healthcast, we speak with Dr. Elisavet Paplomata to learn more about clinical trials. We talk about why researchers do trials, why people might choose to enroll in them, safety precautions in place for trial participants, and what she’s doing to increase clinical trials available to patients at the UW Carbone Cancer Center. Dr. Paplomata is an assistant professor in the division of hematology and medical oncology in the UW School of Medicine and Public Health’s Department of Medicine.

Learn more about clinical trials:

UW Health trials: https://clinicaltrials.uwhealth.org

Clinical trials in the U.S.: https://clinicaltrials.gov

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When to Seek a Second Opinion

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 09:14:54 -0500

It's not uncommon for people to ask their doctors for second opinions, especially when facing a challenging diagnosis or intense treatment. On this episode of the Women’s Healthcast, Dr. Ellen Hartenbach discusses why people ask for second opinions, what happens after a second opinion is given, and how to approach the conversation with your own health care team. Dr. Hartenbach is a gynecologic oncologist in the UW Carbone Cancer Center.

Learn more about the UW Carbone Cancer Center and Cancer Connect second opinion services: https://www.uwhealth.org/services/cancer

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Trans Health and Ob-Gyn

Wed, 26 May 2021 11:54:59 -0500

Dr. Ruth Yemane is one of the UW-Madison Department of Ob-Gyn’s leading experts in gender affirming surgery and gynecologic care for transgender people. On this episode, we discuss Dr. Yemane’s recommendations for safe, trust-filled patient-provider relationships, and what surgical, clinical and preventive health care can look like for trans and nonbinary people.

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REPLAY: Infertility 101

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 09:45:51 -0500

In honor of Infertility Awareness Week, which is April 18-24 this year, we’re replaying one of our most popular episodes. In February 2020, we talked with Dr. Bala Bhagavath about common causes of infertility, and the range treatment options available for people interested in expanding their families. Dr. Bhagavath is a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn, and director of UW Health’s Generations Fertility Care clinic in Madison.

He is also a member of the Building Families Alliance Wisconsin steering committee. You can learn more about this group focused on fertility-friendly policy in Wisconsin and defining statewide standards for fertility care at buildingfamilieswi.org.

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 Doctor Will Tweet You Now

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 09:39:42 -0500

More and more, you can find doctors and other health care professionals talking about their expertise on social media, whether that’s answering questions on an Instagram Live, or adding a medical twist to the latest TikTok dance trend. Dr. Kenan Omurtag joined the Women's Healthcast to talk about why doctors and health professionals are increasingly moving to social platforms, and what the benefit is to health care consumers.

Dr. Omurtag is a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist in the Washington University at St Louis Department of Ob-Gyn. You can find him on Instagram @drkenanomurtagmd.

Have a suggestion for a future episode? Let us know what health issues you'd like to learn about here! https://forms.gle/XaoArBtnxfHxA4Up7

Emergency Contraception

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 13:41:23 -0500

Discussions around emergency contraception often include some myths and misunderstandings. Dr. Molly Lepic joined the women’s Healthcast to help clear up some common questions about emergency contraception, including when to use it, how it works, what types are available, and where people can find emergency contraception when they need it. Dr. Lepic is an ob-gyn in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Let us know what health issues you'd like to learn about! Email the Women's Healthcast team with your suggestions.

Vulvar Health, Care and Cleaning

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 17:01:22 -0500

Walk through any drugstore and you’ll find a whole aisle dedicated to “feminine hygiene” – wipes, cleansers, washes and more. But, do we actually need those products? Dr. Laura Jacques joined this episode of the Women's Healthcast to talk about optimal vulvar health, care, and cleaning. She discussed how to care for vulvas and vaginas, what products are safe to use, how vulvar health can change with age, and more. Dr. Jacques is a general ob-gyn physician in the UW-Madison Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Let us know what health issues you'd like to learn about! Email the Women's Healthcast team with your suggestions.

Pregnancy, Vaccines, and COVID-19

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 15:55:22 -0500

2020 was a year shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the women’s health realm, we have been especially concerned about what COVID means for pregnancy. On this episode of the Women’s Healthcast, Dr. Igor Iruretagoyena joined us to talk about COVID and pregnancy – whether pregnant people are at higher risk of severe illness with COVID, if pregnant people are eligible for vaccination, and other things to think about if you’re considering pregnancy during a pandemic. Dr. Iruretagoyena is the director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at UW Health.

Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine COVID-19 information for women and families

American College of Ob-Gyns information for patients

If you have requests or suggestions for health care topics to cover in 2021, let us know!

Promoting Pelvic Floor Health: PT, Pessaries and More

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 12:51:09 -0500

How much do you know about your pelvic floor? Angie Sergeant, nurse practitioner in the UW Health Women's Pelvic Wellness Clinic, joined the Women's Healthcast to talk about common pelvic floor questions, including risk factors for pelvic floor disorders, pelvic floor physical therapy and other interventions, and what visits to her clinic look like.

Let us know what health issues you'd like to learn about! Email the Women's Healthcast team with your suggestions.

Strengthening Your Health Literacy

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 15:40:25 -0500

Health literacy – how well we can find, understand, and apply information to help us make health decisions – affects many areas of our lives. Reading nutrition labels in the grocery store, following instructions on prescription bottles, being able to tell whether an article shared by a high school acquaintance on social media is accurate – these are just a few of the ways health literacy pops up day-to-day.

On this episode, Dr. Heidi Brown of the UW-Madison Department of Ob-Gyn and Jordan Spencer, medical student at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences talk about where to find accurate health information, resources for building health literacy skills, and how low health literacy exacerbates preexisting health disparities.

Dr. Brown and Jordan recommend MedlinePlus and the MedlinePlus Guide to Healthy Web Surfing as tools to strengthen health literacy.

Let us know what health issues you'd like to learn about! Email the Women's Healthcast team with your suggestions.

Understanding the Economics of Health

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 12:17:16 -0500

Economic policy has a significant effect on our individual health. And policies are not always equitable. Dr. Tiffany Green joined the Women's Healthcast to discuss ways systems and structures affect health: how health and economic security are cyclically linked, how COVID-19 has highlighted many structural inequities in our country, and important work she is doing in Dane County to improve Black maternal and infant health.

Dr. Green is a health economist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Dr. Green's recommended resources for understanding health policies:

Health Affairs

Dear Pandemic

Endometrial Cancer

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 10:31:17 -0500

September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month. On this episode of the Women’s Healthcast, Dr. Ryan Spencer talks about endometrial cancer, the most common gynecologic cancer in the United States.

He shares risk factors for endometrial cancer, what diagnosis and treatment look like, and ways to reduce your risk of developing this type of cancer. Dr. Spencer also discusses his research into the national disparity in funding for gynecologic cancers compared to other types of cancer.

Dr. Spencer is a gynecologic oncologist in the UW-Madison Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the UW Carbone Cancer Center.

Closing the Preterm Birth Gap

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 15:05:17 -0500

As we learned on the last Women’s Healthcast, preterm birth is fairly common. But the rate of preterm birth is elevated for Black women in the United States, with approximately 13.8% of babies born preterm, according to the March of Dimes.

Dr. Jasmine Zapata joins us on this Women’s Healthcast to talk about what being born prematurely can mean for children’s health outcomes, the significant racial gap in preterm birth rates as well as Black maternal and infant mortality, and some steps to help providers rebuild trust in the medical system for Black women.

Dr. Zapata is a newborn hospitalist with UW Health and an assistant professor in the UW-Madison Department of Pediatrics

Preterm Birth

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 16:00:41 -0500

Preterm birth is fairly common, with one in eight women going into labor prior to 37 weeks of gestation, which qualifies as preterm.

On this episode of the Women’s Healthcast, Dr. Janine Rhoades talks about what causes preterm labor, what options are available to slow or stop labor, and what people can do to reduce their risk of delivering their babies early. Dr. Rhoades is a Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist in the UW-Madison Department of Ob-Gyn.

Cultivating Curiosity in Medical Education

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 10:27:35 -0500

After giving her keynote lecture “What’s My Impact?” at the UW-Madison Department of Ob-Gyn’s Resident Research Day in early 2020, Dr. Amy Young joined the Women’s Healthcast to talk about the importance of inquiry in medicine, how she helps medical learners take their curiosity a step further, and why this spirit of lifelong learning means better care for patients.

Dr. Young is the Chief Clinical Officer of UT Health Austin, and Vice Dean of Professional Practice at Dell Medical School.

How to Manage Chronic Hypertension

Wed, 08 Jul 2020 12:25:26 -0500

Hypertension, or chronic high blood pressure, affects nearly half of U.S. adults. On this episode of the Women’s Healthcast, maternal-fetal medicine specialist Dr. Kara Hoppe and research manager Jamie LaMantia talked about what causes hypertension, how it’s often treated, and why high blood pressure can be a concern in pregnancy.

To learn more about or participate in the MyHEART study examining high blood pressure management in young adults, you can call 608-261-1880, email myheart@hip.wisc.edu, or visit myheartmychoice.org/ResearchStudy.

To learn more about or participate in the Chronic Hypertension and Pregnancy study, you can reach the research coordinators’ office at 608-417-4218.

REPLAY: Safe Spaces: Making Ob-Gyn Care LGBT-Friendly

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 12:20:10 -0500

To celebrate LGBT Pride, we’re re-airing one of our most popular episodes: Safe Spaces: Making OB-Gyn Care LGBT-Friendly.

On this episode of the Women’s Healthcast, Dr. Ruth Yemane discusses reproductive and sexual healthcare for LGBT patients. She also shares her suggestions for how health systems can work harder to make sure lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people feel safe and comfortable throughout their healthcare experiences. Dr. Yemane is an academic specialist in general ob-gyn at UW-Madison.

Is it Safe to See the Doctor? Clinical Safety and COVID-19

Wed, 20 May 2020 15:05:36 -0500

Our healthcare system mounted a rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, which included pausing or delaying some non-essential or elective care, ramping up telehealth or video visits, and limiting in-person appointments for patient safety. It’s May 20 now, and at least in Wisconsin, we’re getting ready to loosen some restrictions and bring people back into clinics.

On this episode, three doctors in the UW-Madison Department of Ob-Gyn discuss safety precautions and changes to prenatal, obstetrical, general women’s health, and gynecologic cancer care, as well as what’s happening the clinical research world.

1:00-24:48 - Dr. Makeba Williams discusses prenatal care, labor and delivery, contraceptive care and women's health screenings

24:49-37:40 - Gynecologic oncologist Dr. Lisa Barroilhet on balancing continuity of cancer care with reducing the risk of COVID-19 exposure

37:41-43:33 - Dr. David Kushner provides an overview on clinical studies opening back up, and safety precautions for participants as well as research staff

Stress, Anxiety, and COVID-19

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 15:49:30 -0500

Stress, anxiety, grief, peace, joy, fear - pick an emotion, and it's likely been part of your COVID-19 pandemic experience. On this episode of the Women's Healthcast, Dr. Julianne Zweifel talks about the broad range of emotional responses people might be having right now, what behaviors might be influencing our feelings, and her tips for managing stress and anxiety.

Dr. Zweifel is a health psychologist in the UW-Madison Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is also part of the UW Ob-Gyn Wellness Committee, a group that has been hard at work this spring pulling together a wide variety of mental and physical wellness resources. Take a look at their website to find some of the resources Dr. Zweifel mentions in this episode: https://www.obgyn.wisc.edu/wellnessresources

Best of the Women's Healthcast

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 14:54:41 -0500

For 50 episodes and more than two years, the Women’s Healthcast has brought you informative interviews with a wide variety of women’s health experts. On this episode, we look back at clips from some of your favorite interviews on birth control; common conditions like endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, pelvic floor disorders, and menopause; preventing cervical cancer; adapting health care to meet more people’s needs; and more!

COVID-19 and Pregnancy

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 12:44:23 -0500

COVID-19 – also referred to as coronavirus – has drastically changed the way many of us live our lives. This episode is intended as a quick update and overview of resources related to COVID-19, and an update on what we know about the virus and pregnancy. This update is current as of March 25, but our knowledge of COVID-19 is changing rapidly. You can watch the following sites for updates as more information about COVID-19 and pregnancy becomes available:

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding – US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/pregnancy-breastfeeding.html

Coronavirus (COVID-19), Pregnancy, and Breastfeeding: A Message for Patients - American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists https://www.acog.org/patient-resources/faqs/pregnancy/coronavirus-pregnancy-and-breastfeeding

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): What You Need to Know About its Impact on Moms and Babies – March of Dimes https://www.marchofdimes.org/complications/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-what-you-need-to-know.aspx

COVID-19 Information for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Individuals and Newborns - UW Health https://coronavirus.uwhealth.org/covid-19-information-for-pregnant-women-newborns-and-breastfeeding/

Coronavirus pregnancy FAQs – Babycenter https://www.babycenter.com/0_coronavirus-covid-19-pregnancy-faq-medical-experts-answer-yo_40007006.bc

COVID-19 – Wisconsin Department of Health Services https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/index.htm

Gynecology for Teens: What to Expect

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 12:16:54 -0500

A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that many teen girls and young women may receive unnecessary pelvic exams and Pap tests. On this episode of the Women’s Healthcast, Dr. Bridget Kelly sat down to talk about when younger people should start getting pelvic exams and Pap tests, and what she covers in visits with her adolescent patients. Dr. Kelly is a general ob-gyn in the UW department of Ob-Gyn with a special interest in pediatric and adolescent gynecology.

Body Image and Eating Disorders

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 13:23:50 -0500

February 24-March 1, 2020 is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. On this episode, UW Health pediatrician Dr. Paula Cody talks about how common eating disorders are, where fad diets fall on the disordered eating spectrum, how body image plays into disordered eating, and how we can work towards greater body acceptance as a culture.

Resources in the episode:

Health At Every Size, Dr. Cody's favorite resource for moving towards body acceptance
National Eating Disorders Association
Cody's past blog posts about eating disorders (2020, 2019, 2018)

Infertility 101

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 14:18:28 -0500

Infertility – the inability to get pregnant after one year of trying, or after six months for women over age 35 – is very common. 10 percent of women younger than 35, and about 25 percent of women between the ages of 35 and 40 have fertility challenges.

On this episode of the Women’s Healthcast, we hear from Bala Bhagavath about how he and his team figure out what’s causing infertility, and the range of treatments available. Dr. Bhagavath is a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn, and director of UW Health’s Generations Fertility Care clinic in Madison.

Ectopic Pregnancy: Fact and Fiction

Wed, 22 Jan 2020 16:26:48 -0500

An ectopic pregnancy is any pregnancy that implants and starts to grow outside the uterus. These pregnancies can be dangerous, and require immediate treatment. Dr. Ashley Jennings joined the Women's Healthcast to talk about what we know and don't know about ectopic pregnancies, and why they need to be expediently managed.

Universal Contraceptive Care

Wed, 08 Jan 2020 15:28:10 -0500

We’ve talked a lot about birth control on this podcast before – how different methods work, what to think about when choosing birth control, how new technology is changing the landscape. But it's one thing to know how birth control works and how to choose the best method, and it's another thing entirely to actually have affordable, consistent access to the full range of modern contraceptive methods.

On this episode, UW Ob-Gyn Department Chair Dr. Laurel Rice provides an overview of the benefits of birth control, and discusses why she is a passionate advocate for universal contraceptive coverage.

Women's Health 2020

Wed, 18 Dec 2019 15:36:23 -0500

What were some of the biggest policies and issues that affected women’s health in 2019? What’s on the horizon for 2020? And how can we head into an important election year as informed voters? To answer these questions, the Women’s Healthcast invited special guest Sara Finger, excecutive director of the Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health. For 15 years, she has led the organization dedicated to helping women reach their optimal health, safety and economic security.

Sara is also the host of the new podcast Wide Awake in Wisconsin, a monthly series to help listeners understand the importance of state-level policy. Every month until November 2020, she shares a peek at three key policy issues affecting women’s health, a conversation about important policy with special guests, and quick and easy opportunities to make a difference right away. You can listen on all popular podcasting platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud and more!

Vote.gov

AskLearnVote.org

Telehealth and the Future of Birth Control

Wed, 13 Nov 2019 11:19:42 -0500

Imagine if getting a birth control prescription was as easy as picking up the phone or opening an app and answering a few questions about your health. Dr. Mary Landry made that possible for some students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She joined the Women’s Healthcast to talk about how her telehealth program makes it easier for UW-Madison students to get birth control, and what similar programs and apps mean for birth control availability in an increasingly restrictive landscape.

Understanding Your Breast Health

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 11:18:55 -0500

About one in eight U.S. women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Laura Bozzuto joined the Women’s Healthcast to talk about breast cancer symptoms, the latest in screening guidelines, and how to lower your breast cancer risk. Dr. Bozzuto is an ob-gyn with specialty training in breast cancer surgery.

Miscarriage and Pregnancy Loss

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 11:19:49 -0500

Miscarriage is both fairly common (occurring in somewhere between 15 and 25% of pregnancies) and under-discussed. Since October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, Kristen Sharp joined the Women's Healthcast to talk about miscarriage and pregnancy loss.

Dr. Sharp leads the UW Health Hope After Loss clinic, where she supports patients experiencing pregnancy or infant loss, or preparing for a pregnancy following a loss. She talked about how common miscarriage and pregnancy loss are, what we understand about the causes, the complex landscape of grief following a pregnancy loss, and important advice for health care teams – as well as family and friends – supporting people through pregnancy loss.

Midwives Change Lives

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 11:31:10 -0500

This year, National Midwifery Week is September 29 through October 5. What better opportunity to learn more about the difference midwives can make in healthcare? Hannah Copp, certified nurse midwife with a clinical practice at UW Health, joined the Women’s Healthcast to talk about the broad range of care midwives provide – from birth control to prenatal, birth and postpartum care, to supporting patients through perimenopause. She also discusses how people can consider whether midwifery care is a good fit for them.

Cervical Cancer: Prevention, Detection, Treatment

Wed, 11 Sep 2019 10:02:58 -0500

Cervical cancer is the third most common gynecologic cancer in the United States, with nearly 13,000 new cases diagnosed every year. Since September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, Sumer Wallace joined the Women's Healthcast to talk about what causes cervical cancer, how it’s treated, and why the HPV vaccine and regular screenings are important tools to help prevent cervical cancer. Dr. Wallace is a gynecologic oncologist in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn.

If you’re in the Madison, Wisconsin area and would like to support gynecologic cancer research, join us on September 20 for the Sparkle of Hope gala - an exciting evening of dinner, drinks, silent auction and more to raise funds for gynecologic cancer research in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn and UW Carbone Cancer Center. Learn more at sparkleofhope.org.

Opioids and Pregnancy: Focusing on Harm Reduction

Wed, 28 Aug 2019 10:57:58 -0500

Opioid use during pregnancy is happening more and more across the country, which can lead to some complications for moms and babies. On this episode, Jackie Adams talks about opioid use disorder, safety concerns for using opioids while pregnant, and a new program she started to support pregnant people in treatment for opioids. Dr. Adams is a fellow in the UW Ob-Gyn maternal-fetal medicine program.

Rhythm Method 2.0

Wed, 14 Aug 2019 08:00:00 -0500

We use smartphones for so many things throughout the day – they can be cameras, grocery lists, work stations, more. But…can they also be birth control?

Fertility tracking, or menstrual tracking, apps are getting more and more popular – one was even recently approved by the FDA as birth control. On this episode, Dr. Eliza Bennett talks about how fertility tracking apps work, whether they’re effective as contraception, and important questions about data security to consider before using a menstrual tracking app.

Grit, Robotics, and Other Surgical Education Stories

Wed, 24 Jul 2019 11:40:20 -0500

Physicians and surgeons go through many years of training to hone their skills. But have you ever wondered what that training looks like? How do surgeons learn these extremely technical, hands-on skills in high-stakes situations?

Dr. Ken Kim, director of the gynecologic oncology fellowship and director of Robotic Surgical Education and Training at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, joined the Women's Healthcast after giving a special presentation to the UW Department of Ob-Gyn on surgical education. He discussed how to teach surgery, what makes for good surgical teaching and learning, and how surgical education keeps up in an increasingly technical field.

Diabetes and Pregnancy

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 08:54:28 -0500

Diabetes can complicate pregnancy in some very important ways, including increased risk for high blood pressure and premature birth. And, pregnancy can complicate diabetes – whether it’s Type 1, Type 2 or gestational, treatment plans for diabetes need to change when someone is pregnant. It sounds intimidating, but safe pregnancy is possible with careful management.

On this episode of the Women’s Healthcast, three guests talk about how they help people with diabetes prepare for safe and healthy pregnancies. Dr. Kara Hoppe is a maternal-fetal medicine physician in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn. April Eddy, BSN MS, is an advanced practice nurse and certified diabetes educator in the UnityPoint Health-Meriter Hospital Center for Perinatal Care. Nicolle Hovland is a childbirth educator at Meriter. They work together to offer a group prenatal care class for pregnant people with diabetes.

Safe Spaces: Making Ob-Gyn Care More LGBT-Friendly

Wed, 26 Jun 2019 09:41:03 -0500

For many LGBT people, past discrimination or concerns about discrimination from medical professionals can deter them from seeking health care. Pride Month (and every month) is a great time to look at how we make health care settings safe and inclusive spaces. On this episode of the Women’s Healthcast, Dr. Ruth Yemane discusses reproductive and sexual healthcare for LGBT patients. She also shares her suggestions for how health systems can work harder to make sure patients in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities feel safe and comfortable throughout their healthcare experiences. Dr. Yemane is an academic specialist in general ob-gyn at UW-Madison.

Does Vitamin D Affect Fertility?

Wed, 12 Jun 2019 10:25:59 -0500

Vitamin D has a lot of important jobs in the body, from promoting bone strength to supporting the immune system. And ongoing research suggests vitamin D may also play a big role in fertility and pregnancy outcomes.

Dr. Samantha Butts, reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist at the University of Pennsylvania, sat down with the Women's Healthcast to talk about why Vitamin D is important to fertility, how she incorporates this information when working with her patients, and where the research needs to go next to show how Vitamin D and reproductive health interact.

Sexual Health After Cancer

Wed, 22 May 2019 11:15:52 -0500

Cancer treatments can come with a variety of physical and emotional side effects. As awkward as it may be to talk about, that includes side effects that might change our ability to have or enjoy sex. On this episode, Joanne Rash talks about why treatments like chemotherapy and radiation can affect sexuality, some of the most common sexual health concerns she sees in her patients, and how she helps them approach intimacy in new ways. Joanne is a physician’s assistant in the UW Carbone Cancer Center. She specializes in gynecologic oncology, and co-founded the Women’s Integrative Sexual Health Clinic.

Beyond the Baby Blues

Wed, 08 May 2019 09:46:38 -0500

Most women - up to 75 percent, according to Dr. Julianne Zweifel - will experience some mood changes in the first couple weeks after having a baby. But for between 12 and 20 percent of those women, the symptoms will extend beyond the first few weeks of parenthood, edging into perinatal mood disorder territory. On this episode, Dr. Zweifel discusses common perinatal mood disorders like postpartum depression and anxiety, what we know about the causes of perinatal mood disorders, and the variety of available treatments. Dr. Zweifel is a health psychologist in the UW-Madison Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Well Woman Visits

Wed, 24 Apr 2019 11:30:50 -0500

The well woman visit – the annual check-up with a gynecologist – is not always anticipated with excitement. But this regularly-scheduled visit is a great opportunity to check in with your healthcare provider about mental and physical health concerns and get crucial cancer screenings. On this episode of the Women's Healthcast, Dr. Cynthie Wautlet walks us through what to expect during the well woman visit and explains the different recommendations around HPV and Pap tests. Dr. Wautlet is an assistant professor in the UW-Madison Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

The Power of Reproductive Justice

Thu, 11 Apr 2019 15:06:24 -0500

In early March, the UW Department of Ob-Gyn hosted the first-ever Wisconsin Contraceptive Care Summit, helping women’s health providers and advocates strengthen their contraceptive care skills through a reproductive justice lens. At the Summit, Lyanne Jordan sat down with the Women’s Healthcast to discuss why contraceptive care and maternal healthcare need to be grounded in the principles of reproductive justice. Lyanne is director of doula services at Maroon Calabash, a community-based doula program in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Learn more about Lyanne’s work supporting maternal health at https://www.marooncalabash.com/.