Urethral bulking is a procedure designed to help women who experience stress urinary incontinence, which happens when the muscles supporting the urethra aren’t as strong as they used to be. This weakness can cause leaks when there’s extra pressure on your bladder, like when you cough or lift something heavy.
That frustrating, burning sensation when you pee is something so many women know all too well. Your first thought is almost certainly that it is just another urinary tract infection, or perhaps it is a vaginal infection caused by yeast, bacteria or trichomoniasis. But if the antibiotics aren’t helping, what if your painful urination is something more, like interstitial cystitis?
Summer is in full swing, but when you are navigating the unpredictable waves of perimenopause or menopause, the soaring outdoor temperatures can make hot flashes and night sweats feel absolutely unbearable. While we cannot change the seasonal weather, we can definitely change how we handle the heat. I have put together a list of eight of my absolute favorite, highly rated products that provide fast, practical relief so you can cool down quickly and finally enjoy your summer in comfort.
Endometriosis is not just a “bad period”. It is a complex inflammatory condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows in other areas of the pelvic cavity. Even though this tissue is in the wrong place, it still responds to your monthly hormonal cycle, causing significant inflammation, internal scarring, and adhesions that can make your organs stick together. This is why the pain can feel so multifaceted, presenting as a constellation of symptoms that can shift throughout your cycle, and often overlaps with other conditions.
Few routine medical appointments cause as much collective anxiety as the annual woman’s wellness exam, specifically when it is time for a Pap smear. But demystifying exactly what happens on that exam table, and why the screening test is so important, can help transform an anxiety-inducing chore into a powerful, straightforward act of self-care.
Getting an intrauterine device (IUD) is one of those topics that comes with a lot of noise. If you search for it online, you will run into a wild mix of horror stories about the pain and glowing reviews from women who say it changed their lives. Let’s cut through the noise and talk about exactly what an IUD is, how it works, what your choices are, and what the insertion procedure looks like step by step. We are also going to talk very honestly about pain management, because those concerns are very real, have been ignored for too long and you deserve to know your options.
Overactive Bladder, or OAB, is a clinical condition where the bladder muscle contracts involuntarily, even when it isn’t full. It creates a sudden, overwhelming urge to urinate that can be incredibly difficult to ignore. It is estimated that one in three women, or over thirty million adults in the United States live with OAB symptoms, though the real number is likely much higher because so many people assume it’s just a normal part of getting older.
It is so important that we talk about the mental health aspect of perimenopause, because, honestly, the physical symptoms are almost easier to deal with than the feeling that you’re losing your mind. When estrogen starts to disappear, it takes a huge chunk of our serotonin and dopamine with it. Those are the “feel-good” chemicals that keep us stable, patient, and focused. Without them, you aren’t just “moody”. You’re dealing with a legitimate biochemical shift that can trigger deep depression or a level of anxiety that feels like a constant humming motor under your skin.
As a urogynecologist, I often take care of women who are dealing with various symptoms that come with the menopausal transition. Symptoms such as vaginal dryness, increased UTIs, and general discomfort “down there”, are even known collectively as Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM). One of the best options out there to help manage these symptoms is vaginal estrogen. Safe, effective and different from systemic estrogen. So let’s break down what it is, how it can help, and why it might be a great choice for you.
Writing about breast cancer feels personal for so many of us because it is a diagnosis that has touched almost every family in some way. We’ve seen the ribbons, and heard the stories, but when it happens to you or a loved one, it hits differently. Understanding what is actually happening in the body and what can be done about it can take some of the power back from the fear of the unknown.
