Women’s Healthcast

Health and Aging: Protect Your Pelvic Floor

For the last few months, the Women’s Healthcast has been taking a look at health and aging, covering everything from perimenopause [https://womenshealthcast.podbean.com/e/aging-perimenopause/] to sex [https://womenshealthcast.podbean.com/e/aging-sex/] to heart health [https://womenshealthcast.podbean.com/e/aging-heart/]. In our second-to-last episode of the Health and Aging series, we’ll focus on an all-important but sometimes under-appreciated group of muscles in the body: the pelvic floor. This complex basket of muscles and connective tissue sits under the pelvis, supporting our organs and helping manage important bodily functions like going to the bathroom, having sex, giving birth, even standing and sitting. Repeated stress, pregnancy and birth, hormone changes, and more can all affect how well our pelvic floor functions.   Maureen Sheetz [https://www.obgyn.wisc.edu/directory/profile/2044109096] is a nurse practitioner in the Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery in the University of Wisconsin Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Maureen joined this episode of the Women’s Healthcast to talk about how to tell if you’re experiencing common pelvic floor issues like incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, the range of treatment options available for these conditions, and how to protect our pelvic floor health as we age.   Have a suggestion for a future episode? Let us know what health issues you'd like to learn about here! https://forms.gle/XaoArBtnxfHxA4Up7 [https://forms.gle/XaoArBtnxfHxA4Up7]

Health and Aging: Heart Health

Cardiovascular disease – things like heart disease and high blood pressure – can have huge impacts on our overall health. For women in particular, life events like pregnancy and menopause can raise our risk of cardiovascular disease.  Dr. Anupama Joseph [https://www.medicine.wisc.edu/directory/joseph_anupama] joined this episode of the Women’s Healthcast to talk about heart health and aging. Dr. Joseph is an assistant professor of cardiovascular medicine in the University of Wisconsin Department of Medicine. She talked about how to recognize common signs and symptoms of cardiovascular disease and what we need to know about improving our heart health.  Let us know what aging-related topics you want to know more about in this survey: https://forms.gle/XaoArBtnxfHxA4Up7 [https://forms.gle/XaoArBtnxfHxA4Up7]

Health and Aging: Let’s Talk About Sex, Part 2

A lot about our lives can change as we get older, and that includes our sex lives. Our last episode covered some of the physical changes that can impact sex as we age. For this episode, Madelyn Esposito [https://www.uwhealth.org/providers/madelyn-g-esposito-lpc] joins the Women’s Healthcast to talk about the mental and emotional aspects of sex and aging.  Madelyn is a licensed sex therapist and program manager of UW Health’s Sexual Health Clinic. She answered questions about what sex therapy is, common changes to mental and emotional health that impact sex, and what she wishes more people knew about sex and aging.  Let us know what aging-related topics you want to know more about in this survey: https://forms.gle/XaoArBtnxfHxA4Up7 [https://forms.gle/XaoArBtnxfHxA4Up7]

Health and Aging: Let's Talk About Sex, Part 1

For the next few months, the Women’s Healthcast will dive into all aspects of aging and women’s health, through conversations with experts in the UW Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and beyond.  A lot about our lives can change as we get older, and that includes our sex lives. Two guest experts joined this episode of the Women’s Healthcast to talk about some of the physical changes related to age that can impact sexual function – and to tear down the myth that sex and aging aren’t compatible. Dr. Jon Pennycuff [https://www.obgyn.wisc.edu/directory/profile/52462724] is a urogynecologist and assistant professor in the UW Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Dr. Javier Santiago [https://urology.wisc.edu/blog/staff/santiago-md-javier/] is a urologist and assistant professor in the UW Department of Urology. We talk about common changes in sexual function for female and male bodies, as well as their recommendations for improving sexual health.   Let us know what aging-related topics you want to know more about in this survey: https://forms.gle/XaoArBtnxfHxA4Up7 [https://forms.gle/XaoArBtnxfHxA4Up7]

Health and Aging: Gynecologic Cancer

For the next few months, the Women’s Healthcast will dive into all aspects of aging and women’s health, through conversations with experts in the UW Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and beyond.  Since September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, Dr. Catherine Zhang [https://www.obgyn.wisc.edu/directory/profile/44147503] joined the Women’s Healthcast to help us learn about how our gynecologic cancer risk changes with age. She talked about common types of gynecologic cancer, signs and symptoms to look out for, the most up-to-date screening recommendations, and ways to reduce your risk of gynecologic cancer.   Let us know what aging-related topics you want to know more about in this survey: https://forms.gle/XaoArBtnxfHxA4Up7 [https://forms.gle/XaoArBtnxfHxA4Up7]