Breast Cancer, Diet & Healthy Living-Putting All the Pieces Together
October is breast cancer awareness month. Breast cancer is diagnosed in over 220,000 women each year in the US. With one in eight or 12.3% of women being diagnosed, what can we do to prevent breast cancer or at the very least reduce our risk? We have all heard the saying, “we are what we […]
No Two Snowflakes Are Alike
Recently, a patient of mine tearfully confided in me that her boyfriend told her she had plus-size lips compared to “others he’d seen online,” and that she really needed a more sexy-looking cooch. (He wasn’t talking about her mouth here ladies, he was talking about the appearance of her vagina.) Here’s a concept for […]
Heavy Periods with Clots After 40 — What to Know and When to Seek Help
After age 40, periods often become heavier and less predictable as hormones shift toward menopause. This is commonly due to perimenopause, but heavier bleeding and clots can also signal anemia, fibroids or polyps, thyroid problems, or medication/device effects. Track changes and see a clinician if bleeding is very heavy or symptoms worsen. What’s Going On? […]
Postpartum Depression, More Common Than You Think
There is nothing glamorous about postpartum depression….just ask Hayden Panettiere, Brooke Shields, Marie Osmond, Gwyneth Paltrow or Courtney Cox bringing to light their experiences of severe postpartum depression. I thought it would be helpful to discuss this scary topic and how easy it is to become a victim of it. It shouldn’t take shocking news […]
Questions You Should Be Asking Your Gynecologist
When should I consider egg freezing? The discussion of fertility and family planning should take a front seat in your early 30s. We know that fertility declines significantly in your mid-30’s and declines even more closer to 40. If you are single and you’re not even thinking about future fertility, it may be time […]
Rainbow V: The Medical Community Needs to Step It Up for LGBT Community
My first priority is giving my patients not only the best care possible, but the respect and compassion that women need and deserve. I reach out to my LGBT community because they are in the minority, the underdogs in receiving medical care and gainful employment. The National Survey of American Growth suggests that 1.1 […]
Secrets to Healthy Aging- What I try to do!
I’ve been thinking about how to age well — not just get older, but stay healthy, active, and happy. Here’s what I’ve learned and what I try to do in my own life. First, take stock of your health. I go to regular checkups (and I don’t skip the dentist or eye doctor). Routine […]
Screening tests for women in their 40’s
Pap smears can be done every 3 years if you have a history of normal screening. Women 30 to 65 will have a pap smear along with HPV test every 3 years. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection and affects 75 – 80% of men and women, causing genital warts and cervical cancer. […]
Calcium-The Basics
Calcium is an essential mineral critical for bone and tooth structure, muscle contraction, nerve signaling, blood clotting, and cellular signaling. The “hype” about calcium is partly justified: strong evidence supports its role in preventing osteoporosis and fractures when part of an overall bone-healthy strategy (adequate vitamin D, protein, weight-bearing exercise). Benefits for cardiovascular outcomes are […]
Self-Breast Exams
You should learn to know what your “normal” breast tissue feels like so you can detect something “abnormal”. Breast tissue can be intimidating in the beginning but once you are familiar with your own breast tissue and all its normal lumps and bumps, you will be able to find abnormal changes if they occur. The […]