Hormones. We experience their sometimes witching effects from the start of puberty, through pregnancy and the postpartum period, to the mother of all hormonal changes, menopause.
Monthly Archives: October 2013
Break through the binary
Taboo Tuesday
Think you only have two options when it comes to coping with your menstrual flow? Think again. Introducing, the menstrual cup. It may be revolutionizing how women manage and view their menstrual cycles.
Oktoberfest
October kicks-off the time of year where libations abound, commencing with Oktoberfest and culminating with New Year’s celebrations. While occasional and modest indulgences are seemingly harmless, knowing how much and how often may help prevent life-altering (and sometimes life-threatening) consequences. And yet, an unusual medical paradox exists. For centuries humans have been consuming alcohol for both secular and religious purposes, and there is some evidence that moderate consumption of alcohol may have health benefits. So wherein lies the compromise?
When pigs fly … or get the flu
It’s fall! … and flu season. Blah, blah, boring! Perhaps, but understanding why you (and your family) cannot afford to forgo the flu vaccine is the goal here. This is an enjoyable time of year and traditionally very busy. You don’t have time to be in bed with I-just-got-hit-by-a-truck body aches and fever of 103 for four days.
Muddled Mammograms
Confused about mammogram recommendations? It is not hard to understand why.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) states, “Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman is in good health,” as does the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist (ACOG).
The United States Preventative Service Task Force (USPSTF) “recommends biennial screening mammography for women aged 50 to 74 years … [and] concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the additional benefits and harms of screening mammography in women 75 years or older.” The Kaiser Permanente Care Management Institute (KPCMI) has similar recommendations.
The guideline for breast cancer screening can be a frustrating one for patients and a challenge for healthcare providers. Continue reading