Women’s Healthcast

Surgical Sterilization

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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