Women’s Healthcast

Preparing for Your First Period

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.  

RESOURCES:

Pelvic Floor Health Guide – American Urogynecologic Society

Third and Fourth-Degree Perineal Tears – American Urogynecologic Society

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