How Hypothyroidism Impacts Pregnancy Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland doesn’t make enough of certain critical hormones. While many people can manage by supplementing with synthetic thyroid hormone, the condition can also impact other bodily aspects, like pregnancy. Hypothyroidism can occur at any point in a person’s life and can develop because of various causes. For some women, the hormonal imbalance happens during pregnancy or even postpartum. Pregnant women with the condition need to learn to manage thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which is critical for overall health. Norma ..read more

Is PMS Or Pregnancy At Play? Each month the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) occur 1-2 weeks before the start of the period and stop once menses begin. However, when a woman is trying to conceive (TTC), the symptoms of early pregnancy and PMS can easily mimic one another. Differentiating between the 2 is important so a woman can know if a monthly period or baby is on the way. Moody and crampy with PMS Women report a wide range of PMS symptoms, including emotional and physical complaints. Some individuals experience PMS every month, while others suffer less often. Physical symptom ..read more

Getting Pregnant With Uterine Growths Fibroids and polyps are 2 different types of uterine growths. Fibroids are growths consisting of fibrous connective tissue and muscle cells. Fibroids can range in size and are usually noncancerous. Uterine polyps are growths that develop from excess endometrial cells. The growths attach to the endometrial lining and branch out into the uterus. Left untreated, both fibroids and polyps may decrease the chance of pregnancy. Symptoms of fibroids and polyps Some common symptoms of fibroids include heavy and painful periods, bloating, lower back pain, abn ..read more

Supportive Care During Menopause Women go through many different reproductive life stages, including menstruation, pregnancy, and perimenopause. Menopause is a stage in a woman’s life that marks the complete cessation of menses. Women who are menopausal do not get a period and can no longer conceive. Hot flashes and vaginal dryness are common symptoms of menopause. Visiting the OB/GYN is still encouraged during and after this life stage to manage symptoms and keep up to date with other routine health screenings. Is it hot in here? Every woman going through menopause will experience vari ..read more

Decreased Estrogen And Brittle Bones Osteoporosis is a disease that causes the bones to break or fracture easily. Menopausal women are at a higher risk due to a decrease in estrogen levels. To improve bone mass and density, lifestyle changes and dietary improvements may help. Making healthy lifestyle changes For people living with osteoporosis, incorporating lifestyle and diet changes is essential to reduce risk. Lifestyle changes include eating healthy, exercising, reducing alcohol and caffeine, and quitting smoking. Dietary changes can also help prevent this common condition from occu ..read more

Transitioning To Menopause Most people have heard of menopause, but perimenopause is less well-known. Also referred to as the menopause transition, perimenopause is a natural process that occurs right before menopause happens. Menopause is the time when a woman stops getting periods. A woman’s body goes through significant changes during perimenopause, including reduced estrogen levels, irregular menstrual cycles, and lowered fertility. Symptoms of perimenopause, such as hot flashes, can be bothersome if not well managed. Affecting hormone levels Estrogen is an essential hormone for the ..read more

Blocked Tubes Causing Infertility? When the fallopian tubes are blocked, fertilization is unable to occur as the sperm and egg cannot meet. The fallopian tubes get blocked for various reasons, such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), endometriosis, and fibroids. Healthcare providers can perform a hysterosalpingogram (HSG) to understand the reason for blocked fallopian tubes. Visualizing the tubes HSG is an x-ray procedure that uses a special dye to visualize the fallopian tubes and uterus and identify problems contributing to infertility. Once t ..read more

A Diabetes Diagnosis During Pregnancy Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. A woman with GDM will have hyperglycemia, which means too much sugar is present in the blood due to insufficient insulin production. Gestational diabetes is usually diagnosed between the 24th-28th weeks of pregnancy but can occur in any trimester. This disease can negatively impact mom and baby, so knowing the risk factors to prevent GDM is important. Getting to know the risk factors There are many risk factors that can put a woman at risk of developing gestation ..read more