On Health for Women

Dealing with PCOS is no small matter. Symptoms like acne, hirsutism (hair growth in unwanted places like your chin, breasts, or lower belly), weight gain, alopecia (hair loss), irregular or skipped periods, and possibly even fertility problems are challenging — both physically and emotionally.Unfortunately, most women tell me that they received nothing more than a brochure from their doctor and prescription for the Pill — no further questions asked, no further guidance given.I’m here to tell you there’s a lot more we can do for PCOS. In my new book, Hormone Intelligence, I created a complete Advanced Protocol for PCOS, filled with diet and lifestyle changes that can help treat the underlying causes of PCOS. In this episode I share part of that protocol in the form of the top herbs and supplements for PCOS to address the underlying causes. For a companion article go to avivaromm.com/herbs-and-supplements-for-pcos/

As many of you know, for the past 4 years I’ve been writing a new book. It's called Hormone Intelligence and I wanted to share with you an interview about my book, with talk show host, actor and filmmaker, Ricki Lake, and documentary producer, Abby Epstein, who created The Business of Being Born, and the forthcoming Business of Birth Control.

Menstrual cycles. We have about 400 of them in our lifetime. Yet most of us know so little about how this amazing process really works, and why they’re so important to pay attention to and know how to interpret. It’s led most of us to grow up pretty much in the dark about a fact of life that if you have a uterus, you’re going to experience for 35 to 40 or so years of your life. That right there's a good reason to know more about how your menstrual cycle works.While hormones are a force of nature and we can't control it all, the more you know about your own hormones and cycles, the more you can live in harmony with - and even influence what’s happening below the surface. With this episode you have a roadmap to tell you when they’re getting back on track.For an accompanying article, go to avivaromm.com/how-your-menstrual-cycle-works/

Throughout history, the menstrual cycle has been shrouded in magic and mystery. In some ancient cultures, menstrual blood was imbued with magical powers, and menstruating women considered to have the ability to even see the future. In the middle-ages, a major religious and with it, cultural shift occurred. Menstruation and menstruating women were no longer treated with reverence. Menstruation was considered dirty; menstruating women dangerous, and menstrual blood toxic enough to make crops wither, leave men impotent, and lead to natural disasters.Vestiges of these attitudes have persisted over centuries and have led to long-held cultural shame and ignorance about periods. As a result, most of us started out on our menstrual journeys more or less in the dark - not knowing what’s normal, what we should be concerned about, or how to get that information. And we have largely internalized that periods are gross and dirty.Fortunately, it’s never too late to gain a deeper understanding of your body and menstrual cycles, and in this episode, I’m going to show you not just how to, but why it’s so important. And if you want an accompanying article, go to avivaromm.com/menstrual-cycle-vital-sign/

Pregnancy is already a time of heightened concern and sense of responsibility – after all, we know that what we do has an impact on our own health – and our baby’s development, growth, and health. Certainly, for women around the globe, COVID-19 has added multiple new layers of concern, worry, and questions on so many aspects of healthcare and mothering: whether it’s safe to get pregnant during this time, where to have your baby (i.e., home vs. hospital), whether to get the vaccine, how much should you worry, should you be around friends and family while you’re pregnant, what about after baby is born?Making such significant decisions – and one that neither midwives and medical doctors nor pregnant women have had to deal with before – is a tough position to be in, and I know it can be scary.Compared to last year this time, we know a whole lot more about this virus, how to protect ourselves, and about how to navigate pandemic life while pregnant. So let’s take a close look at what we’ve learned so far about COVID-19 in relation to childbearing and breastfeeding. We'll also some of your questions about vaccines for pregnant and nursing mamas.For an accompanying article, visit avivaromm.com/covid-19-in-pregnancy/

The PCOS gut connection is a surprising new approach to a complex condition that Despite the fact that 1 in 10 women experience PCOS, the medical model has little to offer beyond or instead of prescription medications - which can help but aren’t ‘answers.’One significant root cause that research is revealing is the connection between the microbiome and PCOS. In fact, gut health may play a much bigger role in PCOS than was ever previously considered. Join me in this episode as we explore the PCOS Gut connection. And for a companion article go to avivaromm.com/pcos-gut-connection/

Do you have high estrogen levels? The term “estrogen dominance” gets tossed around a lot in the wellness and functional medicine worlds. It’s a common blanket explanation for many common – and even sometimes more serious – hormone-related issues. But what you’ve heard about estrogen dominance may not be entirely accurate, has some dubious historical underpinnings, and often oversimplifies what’s really going on.Let’s unpack what’s meant by estrogen dominance, what’s really going on, and why it’s important to identify and understand. Then we’ll look at how to address estrogen-related issues to reverse common gynecologic symptoms from breast tenderness to menstrual migraine, heavy periods to hot flashes, and more – as well as protecting yourself against the risks of chronic excess estrogen exposure. For an accompanying article, go to avivaromm.com/high-estrogen/

Have you noticed a change in your menstrual cycle this past year or lately and wondered if it’s just you? In short, it’s not. From longer or shorter cycles, to more cramps and heavy bleeding to heightened PMS symptoms, a substantial number of women are reporting changes in their usual menstrual cycle patterns. And many are trying to understand and adapt, wondering what’s causing their cycles to suddenly take a turn for the irregular or more uncomfortable. .Let’s dive into this unexpected side effect of pandemic life, what it means, and what we can do to keep – or to get – our menstrual cycles on track. For an accompanying article, go to avivaromm.com/pandemic-period-problems/

At some point in your life, it's likely that you’ve noticed a connection between your digestive system and your hormones, probably in the form of annoying or uncomfortable premenstrual bloating, or the loose stools so many women experience like clockwork just before their period starts. But have you ever considered that acne, period pain, PMS, PCOS, endometriosis, or fibroids could be related to not just your hormones, but something going on in your gut?In this episode we're going to focus on the important role of your microbiome on your hormone balance – particularly when it comes to estrogen. You can also read the accompanying article available at avivaromm.com/estrobolome/

After being hospitalized due to postpartum complications, Brandi Frazier knew that something had to be done to help women. If she had not advocated for herself throughout her pregnancy and postpartum, she could have lost her life, a fate that has befallen to a shocking number of other African-American mothers. From these experiences she created Bee Empowered Mama, an organization that provides online resources, workshops and community to coach mamas to self advocate for themselves from the moment they find out they’re pregnant, and beyond. Join me for this inspired and inspiring conversation with Brandi.