Dr. Lori Gore-Green | Women's Health Professional

Dr. Lori Gore-Green's Portfolio of Experience as a Women's Health Professional

Great Books To Read About Women’s Health

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One of the greatest joys in life is sitting down and reading a good book. Books offer vast amounts of knowledge and wisdom and have the ability to transport you to entirely different worlds than our own and it’s as if there’s an unending supply of them. There are so many books that it can be a challenge even deciding which ones to read. One topic, women’s health, has plenty of awesome choices to choose from, but here are a few of the best.

Come As You Are – Emily Nagoski

While sex is a wonderful thing, women sometimes struggle to truly find themselves sexually. That’s where Emily Nagoski comes in, sharing interesting research in easy to understand terms that can help you view your sexuality in a new light and ultimately becoming more comfortable in your own skin. You may think you know a lot about sex, but this book will make you realize you were wrong and lead you to an all-around better sex life.

The Emotionally Healthy Woman – Geri Scazzero

There are times in our lives where we often feel stuck and unsure of how to find the happiness we deserve. According to author Geri Scazzero, the answer lies in quitting. Quit the things that make you unhappy and you can begin rediscovering yourself and ultimately become an emotionally healthy woman. For Gerri, this began when she quit the church her husband pastored and realized she had to do what was right for her. The book also has an accompanying video series and is recommended to be used for both personal reflection or group discussion.

Rushing Woman’s Syndrome – Dr. Libby Weaver

We all understand how busy the world can be today. Most of us are constantly overwhelmed, trying harder and harder to keep up with everything going on and ensuring we check off every box on our never-ending to-do list. In Rushing Woman’s Syndrome, Dr. Libby Weaver discusses how leading these fast-paced, stressful lives can have harmful effects on women of all ages. Dr. Weaver is a nutritional biochemist and in this book, she discusses areas of the body such as the Nervous system, the Adrenal Glands, the Reproductive system, the digestive system, and last but not least, our emotions.

Postpartum Fitness Tips

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A common question among new mothers is how long after giving birth can they get back into their pre-pregnancy fitness routine? While you may think you’ll be able to quickly get back to the way you lived before being pregnant after you give birth, you may want to think again. After giving birth you may suffer from bad posture, general fatigue, and an achy body amongst other things. This means doing many common activities you did before pregnancy, such as exercising, may be difficult to adjust to for a bit. The pregnant body takes around 40 weeks to form, and in some cases, it can take almost as long as that to get completely back to your pre-pregnancy body. At the end of the day, your doctor will let you know when you’re okay to start working out again, but when you do begin it’s important you approach it safely. Here are a few tips to help you out in postpartum fitness.

 

Ease Into It

It’s important that you take your time when getting back into your fitness routine. Pushing yourself too much so soon after birth can actually threaten your overall recovery. Many doctors will recommend that you avoid exerting yourself for about 2 weeks after giving birth. After that, a good way to start is by taking a 5-minute walk and seeing how you feel.  As long as you feel okay and there isn’t any bleeding or aching, you’re likely fine to take a slightly longer walk the next day and continue slowly building how long your walks are over time. After you build this up for about 2 weeks, you can move into gentle upper-body stretching or even take a postpartum exercise class. 

 

Be Careful If Breastfeeding

Not every mother breastfeeds but if you are and you want to get back into fitness, it’s important you’re even more careful than usual. Weight loss shouldn’t be as much of a concern the first few weeks after giving birth until you’ve built up a stable milk supply. Some of the weight will naturally disappear during the first few days due to your body relishing the extra fluids it needed while pregnant. It’s also important you eat correctly if working out and breastfeeding, as breastfeeding mothers need an additional 500 calories a day than non-breastfeeding mothers.

 

Get Plenty of Rest

Getting rest and not overexerting yourself is more important than ever after having a baby. It’s easy to become sleep-deprived after having a baby, especially if your baby is waking up multiple times throughout the night, not letting you get a full night’s sleep. If this is the case, it’s important that you’re careful about overworking yourself. Exercise does have the potential to provide you with more energy but if your body is already lacking then it’s more likely it will just add to your exhaustion.

Food You Should Eat To Increase Fertility

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While making a baby is rather straightforward, that doesn’t mean people don’t struggle with actually getting pregnant. A percentage of women in the United States struggle with getting pregnant all of the time, so and while that percentage seems small, the number is still rather large. Luckily, there exist several ways in which women can work on boosting their fertility when they’re trying to conceive. One of the easiest things to do is adjusting your diet, so here are foods you’ll want to try eating if you’re trying to get pregnant.

Healthy Sources of Fat

While eating too much fatty foods can be detrimental to your healthy, there are plenty of healthy fatty foods that are great for boosting your chances of pregnancy. In particular, you’ll want monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat, which is commonly found in nuts, seeds, avocados and smaller, oily fish such as anchovies. 

No Skim Milk

Dairy products typically aren’t the best thing to consume when you’re thinking of getting pregnant, but skim milk and other low-fat dairy products are especially harmful. A little bit of dairy here or there isn’t the worst, especially if it’s something you really enjoy, but be sure to always partake in the full-fat kind.

Get Plenty of Iron

Getting enough iron is always good for you and has been shown to help increase your odds of getting pregnant. You’ll want to make sure you partake in foods such as tomatoes, spinach, beans and much more if you’re looking for something high in iron.

Try Complex Carbs

You’ll want to eat plenty of complex carbohydrates that take time to be digested, such as whole fruits, beans and non-starchy vegetables. These foods are important, as having a high or mismanaged blood sugar has typically been associated with not being able to get pregnant. It’s also important that you don’t cut out carbs all together, because this will make the body think it’s not getting enough food, which will trigger survival mode.

What Every Woman Should Know About Postpartum Depression

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Whether or not a woman plans on having a child or not, it’s important to understand what postpartum depression is and how it works. It can affect many women, including yourself and the women you care about. There is a lot of misinformation surrounding postpartum, which is why it’s imperative to know the facts from myth to better help the women who are affected by it. 

What is Postpartum Depression?

Not to be confused with “mommy blues”, which can last two to three days, postpartum depression affects women who have just gone through childbirth and are experiencing an emotional emptiness longer than two weeks. This kind of depression can make it harder for mothers to care for their children and not feel connected to them. It should not be taken lightly and is a very serious mental illness that involves the brain, affects your behavior, and physical health. Whether mild or severe, postpartum depression affects one in nine new mothers. 

The Causes of Postpartum Depression

The biggest trigger for postpartum may be hormonal changes. Levels of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone are the highest when a woman is pregnant. These hormone levels drop significantly back to normal within the first 24 hours of giving birth, which can lead to depression. Women who have a history of depression are also at risk for postpartum. 

Symptoms to Be Aware Of 

There are many symptoms a woman can display that are signs of postpartum depression. Although symptoms vary from one woman to another, common symptoms are sadness, loss of hope, despair, frequent crying, feeling unable to care for the baby, loss of ability to do basic chores, inability to bond with the baby, loss of memory, and trouble focusing. When a woman is showing the symptoms of postpartum, only a doctor is able to give a diagnosis. 

Treatment Options

When diagnosed with postpartum depression, there are two main treatment options available. The first is taking medication to cope with postpartum. Antidepressants directly affect the brain by altering the chemicals that regulate mood. A doctor may also suggest hormone therapy to help regulate estrogen levels. The second treatment option is going to a psychiatrist, psychologist, or mental health professional for counseling. This option helps women suffering from postpartum depression make sense of toxic thoughts and give them the strategies they need to cope.

4 Myths About Women’s Health and the Facts You Should Know

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Women’s health has been surrounded by confounding myths since the field’s beginnings. Misinformation about women’s health and many aspects that affect a woman’s health can be found nearly anywhere. While women have access to a wealth of knowledge regarding their health, it’s important to wade through the information available and ensure you have the correct information to make informed decisions based on the truth. Below are a few of the most common myths and a few facts to help you towards the reality behind them. 

Myth: Breast Cancer Is the Leading Cause of Death Among Women

It seems that a woman’s biggest health fear is breast cancer, however more women die each year from cardiovascular diseases than all cancers combined. While breast cancer isn’t the leading cause of death in women, it is essential to remain vigilant and perform regular exams and visit a physician. 

Myth: Osteoporosis Prevention Should Begin During Menopause

Bone loss increases significantly during menopause, but women should take precautions far sooner. Adopting a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D as soon as possible will ensure your bones are as healthy and strong as possible before you reach menopause. Performing weight-bearing exercises such as resistance training, bicycling, sports, and more help increase skeletal health as well. 

Myth: A Nursing Mother Cannot Become Pregnant

Breastfeeding only delays ovulation. Each woman is different and will therefore begin to ovulate at different times. Most women do not ovulate in the early months of breastfeeding and may begin ovulating in later months. If you do not wish to become pregnant again at that time, consult your doctor about using birth control again or practice safe sex. 

Myth: You Can Contract an STD From Toilet Seats

This myth has been around for ages. STDs are transmitted through sexual contact which includes skin-to-skin contact or the exchange of bodily fluids. Most of the bacteria or viruses that cause STDs cannot survive outside of the body for long, so it would be nearly impossible for a woman to contract a STD in this manner.

4 Signs Women Should Talk to Their Doctor About Painful Sex

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Sex might feel like a topic you rarely bring up, especially with a doctor, but it’s perfectly normal. Pain during sex might not be something you want to talk about at all, but sometimes it’s necessary and never something you should be ashamed of. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, three out of four women will experience pain during sex during their lives. The problem is common, especially during menopause, but there are signs you should talk to a doctor if they occur. 

Lube Doesn’t Help

When sex gets uncomfortable, lubricants are typically the first line of defense. Vaginal dryness is a common cause of uncomfortable sex, so if lubricants aren’t helping, there may be  different underlying cause, such as hormonal changes, medications, or stress, that your doctor is best suited to identify. 

Pain is Accompanied By Bleeding

For some women, bleeding after sex is not uncommon for women who still get their periods. However, if the spotting or bleeding happens simultaneously with the pain, it can mean something more serious. Sexually transmitted diseases or vaginal trauma due to intense dryness can cause bleeding, so it’s best if you check in with a doctor to discover the cause and a solution.

Painful Urination

If burning or itching occurs when you urinate you may have a yeast infection or a common bacterial infection called bacterial vaginosis. While some infections can be treated with over the counter solutions, it’s always a good idea to consult a doctor first, especially if the infection requires a round of antibiotics. 

Intense or Long-Lasting Pain

It can be tough to know when to contact a doctor, especially when pain is your only symptom. If you experience consistent discomfort or intense pain, it’s definitely time to talk to a physician. If your pain is also accompanied by trauma such as cuts or abnormal discharge, consult a doctor immediately. No matter your concern, it’s 100% okay to bring up your questions or concerns with a doctor at any time during the process. 

3 Myths about Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

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When you are diagnosed with a medical condition that will affect your life, one of the very first things you will do is research it. However, not everything you read online or hear from friends and family are true. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) has a few myths surrounding it. PCOS causes and hormonal imbalance and metabolism problems in women of reproductive age. Women diagnosed with PCOS can experince irregular menstrual cycle, acne, thinning hair, and weight gain. Today, we will be looking at the most popular myths associated with Polycystic ovary syndrome.

Myth #1: You are the reason PCOS happened.

The exact cause of PCOS is unknown, but one thing is for sure, you are not to blame. It is believed that genetics is some of the cause of why a woman may have PCOS. PCOS produces more androgens, make hormones, which can make it difficult for women to have regular periods or ovulate all together. Women with PCOS also produce an excess of estrogen, female hormones that can cause a build-up of the lining of the uterus which may cause uterine cancer. Other scientists believe that insulin can play a role in the body’s androgen production. It is also noted that women that have mothers and sisters who have PCOS are most likely to have PCOS too.

Myth #2: If you lose weight, you can lose PCOS.

As of right now, there is no cure for PCOS. Women who are overweight and obese can balance their hormone levels by losing weight, but it isn’t a cure. Many treatment options for PCOS focuses on managing symptoms rather than making the issue disappear altogether. Treatments for PCOS usually encourage lifestyle changes such as eating healthy and exercising regularly.

A great treatment option is taking birth control pills. The bills will help to regulate your menstrual cycle as well as reduce your androgen levels. There are also fertility medications that you can take that will help to stimulate ovulation when you want to get pregnant.

Myth #3: PCOS is a rare condition.

You will be surprised to know that about five to 10 percent of U.S. women have PCOS. Meaning that this condition affects about 5 million women, making it one of the most common hormonal endocrine disorders among women of reproductive age.

Unforealty, not a lot of women know that they have this condition. According to the PCOS Foundation, less than half of all women with PCOS are diagnosed correctly. There are millions of women out there who may be unaware that they have this condition.

 

What You Need to Know About Ovarian Cysts

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During the time that you are menstruating, there’s a possibility you may develop an ovarian cyst and not even realize it. But before you start to worry, realize that ovarian cysts are usually harmless. In some cases, however, ovarian cysts can cause pelvic pain and lead to more serious complications. To be more knowledgable on the matter here’s everything you need to know about this common cyst.

Ovarian cysts form relatively easily.

Under normal circumstances, one of your ovaries will wrap an egg in a follicle and release the egg into the fallopian tube every month. The follicle will typically dissipate and absorb into the body. In the case that the follicle does not release the egg, it can become bigger and develop further into a follicle cyst. Another type of cyst, a , can form after the follicle combusts and releases the egg. Theses cysts, however, can bleed and cause women pain in the pelvic area. These types of cysts are relatively small (1 to 2 millimeters) and will typically resolve itself in a few weeks.

A dermoid cyst can be more serious, but they are not common.

A starts to form when the cells in an ovary start to divide but haven’t been fertilized. This type of cyst isn’t as common a the cysts mentioned above, but they can grow relatively large, up to four inches. Due to how big these cysts can get, they often have to be surgically removed.

Normal ovarian cysts often do not display any symptoms.

Ovarian cysts usually don’t trigger any symptoms and will often go away on their own. A corpus luteum cyst may result in some minor bleeding, but follicle cysts won’t change your menstrual cycle.

However, there are severe symptoms of ovarian cysts, such as fever, nausea, and vomiting, which are usually the result of infection. If this is the case, see a doctor immediately.

Ovarian cysts can be found during a routine gyno visit.

Women typically find out if they have an ovarian cyst during a routine gyno visit, during a pelvic exam, or during an ultrasound. Women who are experiencing pelvic pain will usually make an appointment with their doctor anyway, and they will most likely find the root of the problem.

Surgery is only necessary in some cases.

If your ovarian cyst has not gone after three menstrual cycles, is bigger than 4 inches, or there is suspicion of a tumor, you may need to get surgery. If you are at risk for “twisting”, which is when the blood supply to the ovary gets cut off, you will also need to undergo surgery.

Common Causes of Menstrual Irregularities

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No two menstrual cycles are alike. Every woman’s body is different, therefore every woman will experience their own different cycle. Although women often share similar period symptoms, each cycle is unique. However, sometimes a cycle can be so different that it can be irregular. There are many causes for menstrual irregularities every woman should be made aware of:

 

Pregnancy

The most common cause of menstrual irregularities is pregnancy. Pregnancy puts a woman’s period to a halt for nine months after conception. There may be a bit of light spotting, but this is a common sign a woman may be pregnant. Other symptoms are nausea, breast soreness, and fatigue.

 

Birth Control

Another way to cause menstrual irregularities is by taking birth control. Hormonal birth control pills and hormone-containing intrauterine devices (IUDs) can cause irregular bleeding during a woman’s cycle. An IUD can also cause very heavy bleeding.

 

Perimenopause

As a woman get older, her body begins to go through major changes. When her period stops due to her age, this is called menopause. The time between their period coming to a stop and entering menopause is called perimenopause. This can cause them to have a very irregular period, sometimes going months without bleeding. Women can also experience hot flashes, mood changes, difficulty sleeping, and vaginal dryness.

 

Being Overweight

It’s important for men and women to stay healthy. Being overweight can cause many health issues. For women, it can lead to menstrual irregularities. When a woman is overweight, their obesity impacts hormone and insulin levels and interferes with your menstrual cycle.

 

Eating Disorders and Extreme Weightloss

It’s important for your body to find a healthy balance. Obesity isn’t the only weight issue that can lead to an unhealthy menstrual cycle. If a woman has an eating disorder or is experiencing extreme and rapid weight loss, it can interfere with their body producing the hormones needed for ovulation. 

 

Stress

Mental health can have a major impact on the body. For women, stress can be a major factor when dealing with menstrual irregularities. Research has found that stress can interfere with a woman’s menstrual cycle by temporarily obstructing the part of the brain in charge of controlling the hormones responsible for regulating your cycle.

The Facts About Exercising During Menstruation

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Getting your period is no picnic, but there are some surprising things we can do to relieve the symptoms. While you might want to simply curl up on the couch for an entire day, it may be more beneficial to exercise. Symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, fatigue, and headaches can all be relieved to some extent by exercise. The next time your time of the month hits, take these facts into account before you commit to the couch.

Mood Improvement
Exercise produces endorphins, which are hormones that improve your mood. Menstruation is enough to bring anyone’s mood down regardless of the hormonal imbalances that occur to alter your mood. Any irritability, sadness, or other unhappy feelings can be counterbalanced with a good bout of exercise.

Fatigue Reduction
Fatigue is a common symptom of menstruation. The hormonal changes can increase those feelings during your period. It might seem counterintuitive, but exercise can combat those feelings of fatigue and give you a feeling of refreshment as well as accomplishment.

Relieves Menstrual Pain
A recent study discovered that women who exercised regularly for at least days a week reported less menstrual pain than those who did not exercise at all. Exercise during and before your period can also help to relieve some pain. The even better news? You do not have to participate in high intensity workouts to receive the same benefits. A walk or other lower intensity exercise can help as well.

Tips for Success
While exercise is without a doubt beneficial to you in so many ways during your period, there are ways to make it even more beneficial.

Stretching — Incorporating stretching whether it’s simple exercises, pilates, or yoga, can help tense muscles extend and provide relief.

Hydration — Not much can make your body feel worse when on your period than dehydration. Stay hydrated to avoid tense muscles, bloating, or headaches.

Sleep — Getting enough sleep will help you body recover not only from the exercise but also from any fatigue you may be feeling.

Eat Well — Fuel your body to fight fatigue and to give it enough energy to exercise safely. Eating a healthy meal can also combat menstrual symptoms such as bloating.

Behaviors to Avoid

Don’t Overdo It — Overexercising can lead to injuries, excessive fatigue, and even more muscle tension than you were previously experiencing. Keep the workouts to a manageable intensity for the best results.
Don’t Ignore Your Body — Are you knees aching? Can you barely catch your breath? It may be time to adjust your intensity or give yourself a few minutes for a break. Your body will give you clues as to whether you’re pushing too hard, too fast. Make sure to listen to those signals.
Don’t Forget Rest Days — Regardless of whether you’re on your menstrual cycle, your body needs time to recover. Give your body a break so you don’t excessively fatigue yourself. Give your body the time to heal so it can become stronger and respond to your needs more efficiently.