On Health for Women

Have you wondered if you or someone you know has Long COVID? It's VERY possible!As of 2023, the CDC estimates that 1 in 5 people, as many as 1 in 3 college students, and a preponderance of menopausal women who have had COVID still experience symptoms more than 3 months—or more—after being infected. Long COVID continues to impact the everyday lives of countless "long haulers" globally. On today’s episode, I'm joined by journalist Fiona Lowenstein, an early and prominent voice in the Long COVID patient movement, who wrote the New York Times article that first blew the lid open on Long COVID.Fiona's story sheds light on the often-overlooked experiences of long haulers, highlights the need for greater awareness and understanding of the condition, and provides hope that healing can happen over time.We discuss:Fiona's experience as part of the first wave of people who got sick with COVID in NYC and how little the medical community knew how to help themThe major gap between what COVID long-haulers are experiencing and medical testing Medical gaslighting, racism, homophobia, and how these systemic biases affect many people's abilities to get helpThe similarities between Long COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome and the realities of post-viral illnesses The effects of Long COVID from mental health challenges to neurological issues, chronic fatigue, POTS, and more.How Fiona's started their online peer support group and how this group helps other COVID long-haulersWhat Fiona wishes people who don’t have Long COVID knew about living with the illness and the change they wish to see in the medical communityIf you or a loved one is dealing with Long COVID or another invisible illness, I hope that this podcast offers hope, empowerment, and support. Please send this to someone who needs reassurance that they are not alone, or a friend, to help them better understand the realities of chronic invisible disease.Thank you for taking the time to tune in to your body, yourself, and this podcast! Please share the love by sending this to someone in your life who could benefit from the kinds of things we talk about in this space. Make sure to follow your host on Instagram @dr.avivaromm and go to avivaromm.com to join the conversation. Follow Fiona at @fi_lowenstein, check out the Mutual Aid Book Exchange, grab a copy of her book and learn more about The Body Politic at www.fionalowenstein.com

If your teen daughter is struggling with period pain and you're looking for answers - or you're a teen here for yourself - this episode is for you.Period pain, or what’s medically known as dysmenorrhea, has become such a normalized part of the menstrual experience, so much so that regularly taking ibuprofen to numb the discomfort and skipping out on important life obligations is something we’ve come to blindly accept as "normal" - which we owe ourselves more than to believe. Our periods should not be painful!So too, when it comes to our teenage daughters. But if that's the case, what level of discomfort is actually considered "normal?" And when is it time to search for possible underlying causes?On today’s episode of On Health, I’ll be addressing period pain in our teens, the key role our 'hormonal ecosystem' plays and what it means when I say that our menstrual cycle is a 6th Vital Sign. We'll explore conventional and integrative practices to help relieve menstrual pain, how to reframe the way our daughters view their periods from a monthly curse to a useful indicator of overall systemic wellness, and more.After all, given that we have about 400 periods in our lifetime, learning how we can influence and support ourselves throughout our menstrual cycles at an early age can set us up for decades of greater ease and health! In this episode, I talk about:The menstrual cycle as the 6th vital sign and why it’s an important indicator of overall healthThe difference between primary and secondary dysmenorrheaWhy period pain should never be dismissed, especially when it interferes with your lifeProactive lifestyle and dietary approaches to address the root causes of menstrual painHow to determine when it’s appropriate to take NSAIDS like ibuprofen and other medicationsMy herbal and supplement recommendations for menstrual discomfort, including whether there's a role for cannabis in period pain in teensThank you so much for taking the time to tune in to your body, yourself, and this podcast! Please share the love by sending this to someone in your life who could benefit from the kinds of things we talk about in this space. Make sure to follow your host on Instagram @dr.avivaromm and go to avivaromm.com to join the conversation. And remember, you can call in a question, too! Just dial (413) 889-4549 and leave your message!

Imagine opening an email that contains a revelation that rocks your world to the core, forcing you to completely rethink your origin and your identity- this is exactly what happened to my guest on today's On Health Podcast episode, Dani Shapiro.Every family has secrets. Some are buried and never spoken about, some are maturely disclosed, and others are inconveniently discovered. These discoveries have the ability to shake us to the core and shatter our entire world, especially when related to something as serious as our identity. With the most recent advancements in at-home genetic testing kits like 23andMe and Ancestry.com, these earth-shaking stories are becoming the norm, and the reality of anonymous sperm donors and shady fertility clinics of the past are finally being exposed, creating a painful realization for those coming to learn the truth about who they really are.My guest today is no stranger to this particular kind of pain. With 11 critically acclaimed books under her belt and a hit podcast, Dani Shapiro has dedicated her entire adult life to the exploration of family secrets, weaving personal experience into her work and shining a light on what's been left in the dark. After a test result from a random at-home ancestry.com kit revealed the truth about her father, her entire world was turned upside down at the age of 54, and today, she’s sharing her story.Join us as we discuss:The truth of my own family secret and how it affected me as a young girlHow increased access to DNA tests and ancestry kits is unraveling some deep mysteries and secrets for many but few were even looking forThe history of assisted reproductive medicine and the shame around male infertility, especially in the 60sDani's insights on healing and forgiveness, both how they can happen and when it just seems they can’t happenHealing the mother wound - even and especially if we have a rocky relationship with our own mothersAnonymous sperm donors and how it may be essential to our health to know where we come fromThe ultimate question- do family secrets need to be brought to light or can they remain secrets?and so much more!Thank you so much for taking the time to tune in to your body, yourself, and this podcast! Please share the love by sending this to someone in your life who could benefit from the kinds of things we talk about in this space. Make sure to follow your host on Instagram @dr.avivaromm and go to avivaromm.com to join the conversation. Follow Dani @daniwriter and grab a copy of her books at danishapiro.com

TRIGGER WARNING: Miscarriage and pregnancy loss. Both physically and emotionally, there is very little that can prepare a woman for something 1 in 4 of us will experience in our lifetime: miscarriage. Early pregnancy loss is a complex topic that has consistently been high on the list of what many healthcare providers, journalists, and female podcasters consider to be taboo to dive deeply into - or even discuss at all, for fear of being perceived as negative. And in this post-Roe era, it’s all the more complicated as women are being denied not just abortion services - but miscarriage support - even sometimes in emergencies. With the complexities of the current reproductive health landscape, I felt now would be a timely and appropriate moment to share an episode from 2020, where I walk you through the miscarriage process from start to finish. In today’s climate, with strict abortion laws and difficulty accessing the medications needed for at-home miscarriage, it’s all the more important that we, as women, have the knowledge about what to expect and how to safely miscarry, should we or someone we love choose or be forced to, either at home or otherwise.  Join me as I discuss: The signs and symptoms of early pregnancy loss and the different types of miscarriage The options for miscarriage care including watch and wait, medications, and surgical procedures  What to expect in a miscarriage Tips and best practices for an optimal at-home miscarriage experience Herbal recommendations for when the miscarriage begins - Find more information in the accompanying article, here!   How to determine when medical care and attention is needed Miscarriage aftercare and when you can try again If you are living in a state with strict abortion laws where it’s difficult to access the medications needed for a medication miscarriage approach at home, be sure to check out my podcast interview with Imani Wilson-Shabazz of Plan C, an organization dedicated to helping women easily and affordably access the medications used to manage both an abortion and a miscarriage.  I hope that this episode provides you with all you need to know to fell less alone and to know miscarriage isn't your fault, and how to make an informed decision about the miscarriage options that work best for you and your individual situation without shame, how to feel more empowered about this common experience, and how speak up for yourself if necessary to get the care you need. Thank you so much for taking the time to tune in to your body, yourself, and this podcast! Please share the love by sending this to someone in your life who could benefit from the kinds of things we talk about in this space. Make sure to follow your host on Instagram @dr.avivaromm and go to avivaromm.com to join the conversation. 

From chronic fatigue to Lyme’s disease to COVID to autoimmune conditions, "invisible" illnesses and those who suffer from them are often disbelieved. It's often a struggle to receive a diagnosis, and more often than not, sufferers do not receive the adequate care they need. Lack of knowledge and understanding from medical providers may lead women to remain silent and hide their suffering, live with persistent symptoms, as well as facing isolation, depression, and anxiety. So where does one even start if suffering from an invisible illness and how does one begin the journey towards reclaiming your own life? Tune into today’s episode of On Health to find outMy guest today, Meghan O'Rourke, is the author of the New York Times bestseller and absolute must-read, The Invisible Kingdom: Re-Imagining Chronic Illness. In her twenties, Meghan began suffering from mysterious symptoms ranging from crushing fatigue to rashes to strange neurologic symptoms. The decade long search for a diagnosis led her down a long path of discoveries about conventional, integrative alternative medicine - and herself! Her book and wisdom is a healing balm for anyone struggling with or who loves someone with chronic disease.In this episode, we discuss:What an invisible illness is, and some of the most common known conditions for which women are most commonly dismissedMeghan's journey of seeking a diagnosis and treatment for a constellation of symptoms while redefining her sense of self as someone with an invisible illness.Medical gaslighting, self-gaslighting, and gender as obstacles to women receiving proper medical careThe role online groups and alternative medicine played in finally getting a diagnosisWhy it's so important to deeply trust her your body and learn to discern is -- and isn'tt -- working for you from medical interactions to conventional and alternative therapiesNon-negotiables for living well, and navigating work and motherhood, with a chronic conditionThe impact of long-COVID on raising awareness and changing the cultural and medical narrative about chronic, invisible illnessesHow to advocate for yourself in conventional medicine and integrative wellnessMany of you listening will find yourself in Meghan story. I hope this interview and her book give you a feeling of being less alone and remind you of the need for compassion for yourself or those in your life.Thank you so much for taking the time to tune in to your body, yourself, and this podcast! Please share the love by sending this to someone in your life who could benefit from the kinds of things we talk about in this space. Make sure to follow your host on Instagram @dr.avivaromm and go to avivaromm.com to join the conversation. Follow Megan @meghanor and grab a copy of her book at meghanorourke.com.

An estimated 6,000 women in the U.S. reach menopause every single day—that’s over 2 million each year! And an average of 27 million women between the ages of 45 and 64 experience menopausal symptoms. All this to say, you are not alone if you experience vaginal dryness and/or pain during sex. My goal today is to help you feel comfortable in your body and in your life by sharing what you need to know about the causes of these symptoms, what you can do to soothe and heal your vagina, and how you can make sex comfortable again.    Vaginal dryness also affects women in their 20s and 30s, so even if you're not in menopause, have a listen because you're sure to learn something about your body now—and something for your future self!   In this episode, I talk about: What happens to our hormones leading up to and during menopause and why these changes can lead to vaginal dryness and, in turn, painful sex How to know whether your vaginal symptoms or pain with sex are due to menopausal changes or to another condition Effective, easy, and practical tips that you can use for vaginal dryness and painful sex The differences between lubes, moisturizers, and oils, when and how to use each, and why hyaluronic acid may be a great option My recommendations for herbal remedies and the pros and cons of a variety of supplements The hormonal approaches currently available and which option may be the right choice for your treatment The surprising and sexy tip to help heal vaginal dryness and pain during sex I truly believe this is a phase of our lives that is meant to be filled with empowerment, self-love, and, when desired, self-pleasure.     And remember, you too, can call me at (413) 889-4549 and leave a voicemail with your women’s health-related questions, which may just get featured in a future episode!  Thank you so much for taking the time to tune in to your body, yourself, and this podcast! Please share the love by sending this to someone in your life who could benefit from the kinds of things we talk about in this space. Make sure to follow your host on Instagram @dr.avivaromm and go to avivaromm.com to join the conversation. 

As thoughtful consumers, we try to make the best decisions for ourselves and our families. And the bottom line is that we shouldn't have to twice about the possibility that the everyday products we use, from the cookware in our homes to our cosmetics, could pose any level of danger to our health and wellbeing. We should be able to have confidence in the brands that make these products, as well as in the role of the powers that be — specifically the FDA — in ensuring their safety. However, there are unfortunate realities behind many of these everyday goods; PFAS, better known as "forever chemicals,” being one of them.In today’s episode of On Health, I address the threat of PFAS to our wellbeing as women, and to our children as I talk about the recent controversy that was brought to light from behind the shadows of some very misleading marketing by Thinx, a popular period underwear company. I dive into the long-term impact these chemicals can have on our health, the toxicity of labels like "organic" and "natural" in products that clearly contain PFAS, what products to be aware of, how to limit your exposure, and the importance of advocating for real, systemic change to keep ourselves, our families, and future generations as safe and healthy as possible.Join me as I discuss:The definition and history of PFAS and why they are classified as "forever chemicals"Where menstrual products fall under the FDA's regulatory category and what this ultimately means for their safetyHow much PFAS exposure we are getting from menstrual products and the health risks associated with thisTips and best practices to reduce exposure to PFAS when it comes to both menstrual products and everyday livingWhy the issue of these chemicals present in our products requires systemic change and what needs to be done moving forwardThank you so much for taking the time to tune in to your body, yourself, and this podcast! Please share the love by sending this to someone in your life who could benefit from the kinds of things we talk about in this space. Make sure to follow your host on Instagram @dr.avivaromm and go to avivaromm.com to join the conversation.Resources:For PFAS-free options for menstrual underwear, check out guides from Better Goods and MamavationThe Green Science Policy Institute has lists of PFAS-free consumer products—from rain gear to car seats.The Environmental Working Group’s database can help you to identify cosmetics and body products that do not contain PFAS.Additional Reading:Are Your Menstrual Products Hazardous To Your Health? https://avivaromm.com/menstrual-products/Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDC) Impacting Your Hormone Balance https://avivaromm.com/hormone-disruptors/The Toxins That Could be Tanking Your Thyroid https://avivaromm.com/thyroid-toxins/For an in-depth discussion of the role of endocrine disruptors on our reproductive health - and what you can do - get your copy of my bestselling book, Hormone Intelligence

Sensitivity to light, sounds, and sometimes smells, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes hours spent in darkened rooms. If you suffer from migraines, then you're all too familiar with these symptoms, which may affect you infrequently or as often as several times each week. Migraines are three times more common among women than men, and are worse prematurely and in menopause when women may experience them for the first time. But it's not just the numbers that are different, women are perceived and treated differently.Today I'm sharing the rich and relevant conversation I had with Dr. Joanna Kempner, an associate professor in the Department of Sociology at Rutgers, who is doing important work on gender politics and pain, specifically the striking difference between how men and women with pain are treated by doctors.In this episode, we explore the historical emergence of the 'migraine personality,' hysteria, and further disparities in pain treatment for women of color. We explore the societal factors that lead women to feel guilty for speaking up about their pain, whether it be chronic pain caused by a condition like migraine or acute pain for example, with a heart attack, and the ways that the stigma of pain affects pain research and the implications of this for the current and future treatment of women's pain.Joanna and I discuss:The historical context for the diagnosis previously called ‘hysteria’The stigma women who have migraines might experienceHow people who suffer from migraines take on stereotypesWhat happens when a migraine is not recognized as a disabilityHow the pharmaceutical industry plays on women’s guiltyWhy the medical community so often disbelieve womenThe patient-blaming language of medication overuseThe irrationality of the opioid crisisHow and why women of color remain invisible in medical research and have their pain treated differentlyTune in to learn why these disparities in pain treatment still exist, how they are affecting our care, and how we can address this in our own lives.Thank you so much for taking the time to tune in to your body, yourself, and this podcast! Please share the love by sending this to someone in your life who could benefit from the kinds of things we talk about in this space. Make sure to follow your host on Instagram @dr.avivaromm and go to avivaromm.com to join the conversation. Check out Joanna’s incredible work and grab a copy of her book Not Tonight: Migraine and the Politics of Gender and Health at www.joannakempner.com

Motherhood is a lifelong role, during which there will be no shortage of opportunities to worry. Even before you give birth, your mama-bear radar is engaged, and you’re suddenly motivated to do all you can to protect this precious being growing inside of you. So as hard as it is to manage these worries while we're pregnant, it's also an ideal time to start developing inner practices to help us cope with these worries, both in order to protect ourselves and our little ones. On today’s first official Let’s Chat About That episode of On Health, I’ll be addressing some of these worries head on by answering a voicemail from an expecting mama who is concerned about immunity during pregnancy, currently dealing with the very real feelings of anxiety and fear about getting sick during this time. My goal today is to ease some of these overwhelming worries by providing you with the honest facts so that you can make the most informed decisions to keep yourself and baby healthy now and for the long run. On this episode, I discuss:The likelihood of developing respiratory illness while pregnantNon-respiratory infections to be aware of: herpes, toxoplasmosis, and ListeriaWhat you need to know about the cold, the flu, COVID, and RSV while pregnant, including prevention and what to do about common respiratory symptoms and feverUniversal symptoms that tell you it's time to get medical careHow to minimize exposure and boost immunity safely in pregnancyI hope this episode brings you the peace of mind, reassurance, and ease to carry you through your pregnancy and into your journey through motherhood. I look forward to connecting with you and answering more of your women’s health-related questions in future episodes of this series! Remember, you can call me at (413) 889-4549 and leave a voicemail for a chance to be featured on the next one!Thank you so much for taking the time to tune in to your body, yourself, and this podcast! Please share the love by sending this to someone in your life who could benefit from the kinds of things we talk about in this space. Make sure to follow your host on Instagram @dr.avivaromm and go to avivaromm.com to join the conversation.

Content Warning: In this episode, we will be talking about maternal mortality, infant mortality, and the impact of racism on maternal health.60% of all maternal deaths are fully preventable, and the complications women experience are not inherent to black or brown bodies. Yet Black and Brown women have been blamed for their "bad outcomes" instead of recognizing that these deaths all too often have to do with failures in the obstetric system. In the US today, a Black woman is 12 times more likely to die of childbirth than a white woman, despite socioeconomic factors.Today on the On Health podcast, I am having a very real and much-needed discussion on the racial disparities in the business of birth, the demand for change, how we can better celebrate Black birthing people, and more, with Kimberly Seals Allers. She is an award-winning journalist, five-time author, international speaker, strategist, and advocate for maternal and infant health. A former senior editor at ESSENCE and writer at FORTUNE magazine, she is also a leading voice on the racial and socio-cultural complexities of birth, breastfeeding, and motherhood. Additionally, she is the founder of Irth, a new "Yelp-like" app for Black and Brown parents to address bias and racism in maternity and infant care. Kimberly also created Birthright, a podcast about joy and healing in Black birth that centres on positive Black birth stories.In this episode, we discuss:How weathering - the phenomenon of being exposed to ongoing racism - impacts Black pregnant and birthing women Kimberly's journey into breastfeeding and birth activism - and how it's a family affair for her The Irth app and how Kimberly is challenging medical bias and shining a light on much needed provider and birth space accountability Black birthing joy and how it is possible to hold both the reality of these statistics and the celebration for Black birthing people How we can push for change despite generations of struggle And so much more! Tune in for an incredibly raw conversation and a very real look into a black woman’s reality as an expecting mother and beyond. Your eyes will be further opened to the injustice that continues to exist in this country and you will feel more inspired than ever to do what you can to take action as an advocate.Thank you so much for taking the time to tune in to your body, yourself, and this podcast! Please share the love by sending this to someone in your life who could benefit from the kinds of things we talk about in this space. Make sure to follow your host on Instagram @dr.avivaromm and go to avivaromm.com to join the conversation. Follow Kimberly @iamksealsallers, get your copy of The Big Letdown: How Medicine, Big Business, and Feminism Undermine Breastfeeding, listen to the Birthright Podcast and check out the Irth App at www.kimberlysealsallers.com