Good afternoon!

Many new subscribers since the last newsletter. Welcome!

🎉 I’m excited to share we are nearing the final stages of planning for a new path forward for Fempower Health. The topics and content will be targeted to your specific needs, and I can’t wait to share what that will look like. Stay tuned!

This week, I cover the importance of understanding hormone changes over our lifetime and the impact of progesterone vs. estrogen. I also had the honor of sharing my views on important women’s health topics.

I’m also taking a chapter from Tim Ferris’ top 5 list - Fempower Health Finds & Favorites. Scroll to the end. Fun stuff!

🎧 This Week’s Health Beat

Inspired by my recent interview with Dr Jerilynn Prior of the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research (CeMCOR) and a popular Fempower Health guest (because she does not mess around!), I wanted to re-release this episode.

Dr. Prior illuminates the crucial roles of estrogen and progesterone beyond reproduction, impacting everything from bone health to mood. She discusses the importance of understanding hormone imbalances throughout various life stages and provides insights into the less-discussed yet significant effects of progesterone. This discussion is essential for anyone looking to deepen their knowledge of hormonal health and its pervasive influence on women's wellness.

COMING SOON: Our recent interview on why we need to stop using the blanket statement “menopause” when speaking about the life stage from our mid to late 30s and beyond.

Listen to all Fempower Health episodes on Apple Podcast, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts. And if you love the episode, I’d appreciate you sharing your feedback by writing a review. It helps ensure broader reach to the women who need it most.

🔅 It’s Pelvic Health Awareness Month 🔅

Also known as Pelvic Pain Awareness Month, it covers: Pelvic pain, Endometriosis, Pelvic organ prolapse, Urinary and/or bowel incontinence, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Interstitial Cystitis, Myofascial Pelvic Pain. 😬

These are a few learnings from the Fempower Health Podcast expert guests over the years.

• A healthy pelvic floor is crucial and pelvic floor therapists and pelvic rehabilitation specialists are the ones who can help you most.

• OB GYNs are not trained in this area and may not always think to refer you out so be proactive!

• Over the course of our lives, as our hormones change, we have babies, or may have surgery in the area between our belly button and mid-thigh (where the pelvic floor region is) our pelvic health may be impacted in different ways.

• If you are pregnant, consider seeing a pelvic PT before you deliver. It may prevent prolapse, which can happen after you deliver….even if you have a planned C-section.

• Hormone changes in perimenopause and menopause do impact the pelvic floor.

• Kegels may actually make things worse so seek an evaluation from an expert. They can work with you on cost and perhaps provide an at-home regimen.

Check out all of Fempower Health’s Pelvic Health Resources

📣 Fempower Health Speaks

Check out endometriosis patients’ stories, including mine 😉 in GoodRx’s recent article.

🥰 Fempower Health Finds & Favorites

📚 What I’m Reading: Dr Lara Briden’s new book: Metabolism Repair for Women. Interview is in June so if you have questions for her, reply to this newsletter.

💬 Quote I’m Pondering: You are responsible to people, not for people. 😮

🧐 A Challenge I Hope We Can Solve: Helping you navigate social media and health information. It’s complex. Hear what the experts, including me, have to say.

🧠 Self-Care Strategy on Bad Days: Get out of the house and move my body - usually a walk on the aqueduct trail listening to a podcast.

😬 What I’m Learning: I just started singing lessons! 🎶

🎉 What I’m Excited About: Melinda French Gates Announces Where $1 Billion in New Funds Will Go to Help Women and Girls (The Chronicle of Philanthropy)

😮 Cool Science: Scientists Create First Map of a Human Ovary: What to Know (Medscape)

👉 Have questions, thoughts or ideas to share? Reply to this newsletter.

Disclaimer

The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

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