By Iris Farrou
09 Feb, 2021
Menstruation
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It’s not a secret that menstrual cycles causes all sorts of changes to our bodies, our moods, our hair, etc, but our cycle also brings about changes to our skin. You may be surprised to find out it’s not only during menstruation and the frequent breakout that accompanies it that our hormones are at work. In fact, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone work hard throughout our menstrual cycle to ensure that they are causing changes to our skin. You can check the best laser hair removal in Las Vegas, NV and know where to go to get a glow up.
Shark Week
During our periods, and especially on the first day, all our hormones are at their lowest levels. You may have noticed not only the breakouts but also the lack of moisture—this is due to the low sebum production. It is ideal to consume more water to help your skin retain hydration, and to use a moisturizer or serum high in hyaluronic acid. Increased pain sensitivity is also noticed during that time, so try to avoid procedures that would be painful (like waxing). For the Top 7 Benefits of CoolSculpting, and the way it benefits the skin, it is best to check out this link!
Venus Week
After menstruation ends, our skin begins the process of producing estrogen anew. You have probably noticed that in the days after your period your skin glows more and may feel more youthful or plump. The increased levels of estrogen mean that collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid are created, leading to stronger elastic cells. If you want to help your skin with this turnover process, you can consider exfoliating. It is generally suggested that you use gentle and natural exfoliants and lessen the amount of makeup so that you give your skin a chance to breathe. Lowering your sugar and carb intake during this week will also help your skin glow even more!
Minerva Phase
After ovulation, female bodies pump up the levels of progesterone—the hormone responsible for “watching after” potential pregnancies. This surge leads to more sebum production, swelling of your skin and compression of pores. This is the phase when more oil is likely to be trapped in our skin pores, thus causing the dreaded breakout to commence. You may also feel more bloated during this time, as our metabolism tends to slow down. As far as your skincare routine goes in this phase, you want to ensure that you are using products that help with the excess oil: cleanse with a gentle toner, add a clay mask to your routine, or use spot-on acne treatment for potential blemishes.
Takeaway
Being cognizant of the hormonal changes during your menstrual cycle can certainly help you take better care of your skin, and possibly lessen the personal guilt that comes with blemishes or dry skin! However, there may always be other conditions that cause skin problems so always check with your doctor before drastically changing your skincare routine, or if you are on any medications that might affect it.
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By Iris Farrou
19 Jan, 2021
Women's Health
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We often hear about the effects gluten intolerance, or even over-consumption of gluten, can have on our health, especially the ways in which gluten can disrupt healthy digestion. What may be less known, however, is how gluten affects our sex drive and therefore may be impacting our overall sexual health. Problems with your libido might be especially present if you are suffering from undiagnosed celiac disease and may not be following the recommended diet.
What is celiac disease?
Celiac disease is an immune disease the destroys the small intestine; you cannot eat gluten if you have celiac disease, because your body’s reaction will be to destroy the small intestine. However, each person may show different symptoms: some people’s digestive system is suffering, while others may be irritable and depressed.
What can celiac disease do to your libido?
Digestion
Celiac can cause bloating, gas, fatigue, and even depression. Though the mental aspect of how celiac may be affecting you is not to be overlooked, as chronic fatigue and depression can certainly have a negative effect on our sex drive, the physical aspect can be just as important. It is worth considering how much stress feeling uncomfortable due to digestive problems can add to your sex life.
Gluten and Hormones
Despite the physical effects of celiac disease, it is important to remember that gluten consumption may also lead to hormonal abnormalities. This is especially true when celiac disease causes malabsorption. Malabsorption can then lead to nutritional deficiencies, which in turn affect your hormones. As a result, your sexual desire—and in some cases performance—may suffer the consequences.
Gluten-Free Diet
If you suspect you may have undiagnosed celiac disease, it is suggested that you book an appointment with your physician to get a diagnosis. As with any medical issue, a self-diagnosis is not the best solution. However, reducing the amount of gluten in your day-to- day life may help with your digestion and possible hormonal imbalances, especially if you may just simply be intolerant to gluten.
It is recommended that you always get a proper diagnosis in collaboration with your doctor, or your primary physician, as a low sex drive may not necessarily be caused by gluten consumption; if there are any other underlying issues, a medical examination will help you resolve them, and it will lead you to a healthy diet that is appropriate for your body’s needs.
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By Iris Farrou
06 Jan, 2021
Menstruation
Best gyns in Buffalo, Best OB practices in Buffalo, Best OBGYN Groups in Buffalo, Buffalo OB-GYN, Buffalo OBGYN, Chouchani MD, missed period, Normal menstruation cycle, WNY OB-GYN, WNY OBGYN
Irregular or missed periods happen for many reasons besides pregnancy. While most women have a period every 28 days, a healthy cycle can range from 21 to 35 days. So, it’s helpful to keep in mind that normal is relative to each person. There are many other reasons that can cause irregular or missed periods.
Most people have some amount of stress in their daily lives—let’s face it, in a pandemic, who isn’t experiencing some stress? Even with tactics to manage stress (working out, meditation, therapy, healthy eating, etc.), stress can cause physical symptoms, including altering your period. Significant stress can disrupt your hormonal balance, which may lead to delayed, irregular, heavy, or even missed periods.
- Weight loss/Too much exercise
While losing weight is usually good, losing weight too quickly can also affect your hormones. The loss of a hormone in fatty tissue called leptin can lead to the loss of other hormones, including estrogen, which may cause your period to be irregular.
- Low body weight/Eating disorders
Women with eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia, may also experience missed or irregular periods. In fact, women may stop ovulating if they weigh 10% below the normal range for their height. Gaining weight usually triggers the body to return to normal ovulation, but eating disorders are serious. Seeking medical help is imperative.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Affecting about 5% to 10% of women, PCOS is a medical condition caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones. With an imbalance of estrogen, your period could come more or less frequently than normal.
Going on or off birth control may affect your cycle right away or even months later. Birth control pills contain hormones, estrogen and progestin, which stop your ovaries from releasing eggs. In fact, low-estrogen birth control pills, IUDs, and shots can even trigger a light or non-existent period. It may take up to three months for a period to return to normal after a women goes off birth control.
In addition to causing weight gain or weight loss, thyroid disorders can affect hormones, leading to irregular or missed periods. The thyroid regulates the body’s metabolism, which can alter hormone levels.
If you experience an irregular period with other symptoms (fever, severe pain, unusually heavy bleeding, etc.), you should contact your doctor right away. Otherwise, keeping a log of your period can help your doctor diagnose the issue.
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There is no doubt, this year’s holiday season will be somewhat different. Many families will choose smaller events with only the people in their bubbles. Even with less pressure and tension from serving and hosting large groups, the stress and isolation due to the pandemic is weighing on most people. The good news is that smaller gatherings can be more intimate and encourage healthier holiday food options.
Healthy eating tips for this holiday season:
Break from tradition: Instead of feeling like you need to hit on every tradition and make every single dish that you usually have at your parties, this is a great excuse to try something new. Consider a themed holiday dinner (think French countryside, Tapas, or even Harry Potter) and opt for healthier dishes that include grilled meats and vegetables. Building a meal around a soup, stew, or chili main course could also be fun. Not only do soups warm up a cold body, but they can also be quicker and healthier than traditional plated meals.
Include the kids: While kids love decorating sweets and cookies, also include the kids in making healthy dishes like a Christmas tree crudités or crudités wreath. Be sure to include more kid friendly veggies like broccoli, tomatoes or carrots. If veggies aren’t your family’s thing, try a fruit Christmas tree or Grinch kabobs.
Don’t go overboard: Unless you’re planning to make cookies or cakes as gifts for family and friends, limit the amount of sweets coming into the house. Pick a few favorites, but don’t get carried away. Odds are you will have less people coming over, so there’s no reason to make a never-ending array of cookies and cakes. If desserts are a key aspect of your holiday celebrations, look for ways to lighten things up with healthier recipes or by choosing to make mini versions of your favorites like these mini cheesecakes.
Go vegetarian: In addition to helping the environment, eating vegetarian is often healthier than meat-based diets. Consider integrating one vegetarian meal on a major holiday this winter. This list includes classics from broccoli-cheddar casserole to butternut squash and spinach lasagna—so the options are endless.
Integrate exercise: Hopefully you’ve already found a groove for integrating some exercise into your weekly routines. Exercise is so important because it releases endorphins, which will boost your mood and well-being. Never under estimate the power of exercise. It’s never too late to get started. Make it a point to integrate 20+ minutes of exercise on days where you will be eating more than usual. This can include many at-home activities such as walking and workout videos (yoga, aerobics, etc.). The key is to work in exercises with some consistency, even if it’s just a couple of times a week.
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More often than not, lactation is associated with pregnancy, breastfeeding, and the mother’s body preparing to care for the newborn baby. Though many times the mother’s body will produce milk on its own, sometimes the mother needs to receive additional help to produce enough milk for breastfeeding. Additionally, it is also possible to receive extended hormonal treatment for induced lactation. A small percentage of women can also begin lactating without any association to pregnancy—a condition known as galactorrhea where excessive milk is produced.
Natural Lactation
The mother’s body prepares to lactate in the final months of pregnancy, and it does so through three main hormones: estrogen, progesterone and placental lactogen. Especially at the time of delivery, the hormone prolactin levels increase to such an extent so as to initiate milk production, while at the same time the levels of estrogen and progesterone decrease. According to the CDC, the American Association of Pediatrics suggests that infants should be continuously breastfed during the first six months of their lives, while other foods are gradually introduced. It is also recommended that breastfeeding continues at intervals until about two years of age, but most infants are neither exclusively breastfed nor do they continue to breastfeed for as long as recommended.
Induced Lactation
Many mothers need to replicate the body’s process of milk production to either enhance the lactation process, or to recreate it because they are coming into motherhood without pregnancy. This is most common with mothers who wish to breastfeed their adopted baby. To achieve induced lactation hormone therapy is the first required step: supplemental estrogen or progesterone may be prescribed to mimic pregnancy, and it can last for months. A few months before the expected breastfeeding date, hormone therapy will cease and you will begin the process of pumping your breasts to encourage the release of prolactin. This is a lengthy process, and the pumping gradually increases in time and intensity. It is likely that in the case of induced lactation time may not be on your side, in which case other medications may be prescribed. However, what remains integral for the milk supply necessary for breastfeeding is the process of pumping.
Galactorrhea
A number of women begin lactating without any association to pregnancy, a condition known as galactorrhea. The most common symptom is one or both breasts producing excessive milk, while other symptoms may include random leaking from the nipples, enlargement of breast tissue, irregular periods, low sex drive, acne and headaches. In some cases the cause of this may be hard to find, but the general rule is that it happens due to hormone imbalances, or as a side effect of medications. Since the most common reason for milk production is increased levels of the hormone prolactin, galactorrhea may happen due to medications, underlying medical conditions, a tumor, or overstimulation of the nipples. As with any condition with various causes, how it can be treated depends on what is causing it and it is up to your healthcare provider to conduct the appropriate tests to pinpoint the cause.
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Menstruation and general health are intricately connected, and the patterns of a woman’s period can provide us with important information about their well-being. From the duration of the menstrual cycle, to its intensity and blood color, we can usually understand if our bodies are healthy or if something is off and requires further investigation. Though the absence or presence of periods is what usually alerts us to possible problems, the menstrual blood color can be an indicator of possible problems, as health conditions and hormonal changes affect the color and texture of period blood.
Different Colors of Menstrual Blood:
Bright Red
- We usually associate red blood with a normal period flow, and most of the times this is the case. Menstrual blood that is red is fresh blood, and at the start of the period it is this color; for some it remains red, while for others it turns brown in the later days of their period. However, bright red blood in between periods or when you do not expect it might indicate the presence of an STI or be cause for concern for other health issues associated with your uterine lining or cervix. Particular attention should be paid if that is combined with a heavy flow and longer periods, abnormal weight loss and pain in the lower back.
Dark Red or Brown
- Darker blood is not an immediate cause for concern, as many myths will have us believe. In reality, it is oxidized blood—or old blood—that has been in the uterus longer. It may appear at the beginning of a period as a remnant of the previous cycle, or at the end of a period as blood that had time to oxidize. The older the blood that is being discharged, the darker it will be: even if it appears closer to black, there is no cause for concern. If you are, however, experiencing abnormal symptoms on your own body, consult your doctor.
Black
- Like dark red or brown, black blood is old blood that has remained in the uterus a long time and has oxidized. As discussed above, it is no cause for concern as the sole symptom, though sometimes it may be a sign of a blockage inside the vagina. If that is the case, other symptoms of a blockage may include itching or swelling in the vaginal area, difficulty urinating, fever and foul-smelling discharge.
Remember that it is normal for your period blood to change colors in the duration of your period, as it does not always start from fresh blood. There may be old blood and uterine lining that needs to be shed, and that also usually results in blood clots or other discharge. If you suspect that the color of your period blood may be indicating a health issue for you, or you are experiencing concerning health symptoms during your period, always consult your healthcare provider or a health expert.
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The vast amount of online resources on healthy eating and living can be overwhelming. On average, women need between 1,600 and 2,400 calories per day. However, there is so much more involved than simply targeting a number. Healthy eating involves some basic principles for food selection.
- Whole foods: Choose whole ingredients over pre-made food, as processed foods contain added sugars. This means, opt for proteins, fruits, and veggies that are in their natural state. For example choose an apple over applesauce or apple juice. Consider adding honey and nuts to plain oatmeal instead of pre-packaged honey nut oatmeal. Remember, every choice adds up.
- Lean protein: Chicken, turkey, fish, eggs, beans, and tofu are great sources of protein with low calories. Avoid fattier meats such beef and bacon.
- Whole grains: Whenever possible choose brown rice over white rice and wheat bread over white bread. While white bread and rice may taste smoother, they lost many nutrients during the refining process.
In theory, this all sounds super easy. Of course, everyone knows chicken is healthier than beef, and we should all eat our veggies! However, so many people rely on packaged foods for convenience. Many women have families to also think about, so fast and convenient is important. Thus, we’ve put together a roundup of the best online resources to help you get started.
Meal prep: While it may sound like a ton of work, meal prepping doesn’t need to be an all-day affair. Check out 25 Healthy Meal Preps and Skinnytaste for numerous recipes to get started on meal prepping. Remember, even meal prepping just one meal per day (yogurt parfaits or overnight oats for breakfast, or hearty soup for lunch) will save you time and calories.
Time-saving dinners: Yes, it’s so very tempting to pick up Panera, Chipotle, or even Buffalo’s favorite, Mighty Taco, on your way home. It’s quick and your entire family will eat it. Eating out once a week isn’t too bad, but anymore than once and the calories will add up. Consider quick and healthy weeknight meals by opting for pre-cut proteins such as ground turkey and chicken breast tenderloins. Additionally, Buffalo-area grocery stores, such as Wegman’s and Dash’s, offer many options for pre-cut fruit and veggies. For fast dinner ideas, check out Cooking Light, Taste of Home, and Olive.
Helpful Apps: Even with making some changes in your diet with a focus on whole foods, lean protein, and whole grains, it may still be hard to find your ideal body weight. There are so many online resources and phone apps, but our favorites are MyFitnessPal and iTrackbites (similar to the Weight Watchers concept). Both are free (though you can update for a reasonable fee for a premium) and are easy to use. In addition, you can download the app to have quick access to log food on your phone.
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There are different schools of thought on how often you should visit your OBGYN, and though one side recommends that you pay your doctor a visit once a year, the other side suggests that such frequency may not be necessary. The common ground, however, is that the frequency of OBGYN visits should depend on your overall health, as well as your personal history with gynecological health matters. It also varies among women, as every woman has different needs, and of course depends on age as well.
Age
Here are some recommendations based on age that may help you determine how often you should see your OBGYN, and for what services:
- Younger than 21: Start building a relationship with your OBGYN to feel comfortable asking them any questions.
- 21-29: You should receive a General Women’s Wellness Exam that includes a Pap smear and a pelvic exam once a year.
- 30-65: It is suggested to have a pelvic exam every year, and a Pap smear every other year unless otherwise suggested by your doctor. You should also have an HPV test done at least every 5 years.
- 65 and older: As long as you have had no history of precancerous cells or cervical cancer, you do not need to have Pap smears done. If you have undergone hysterectomy you also do not need a Pap test unless you have had a reproductive cancer in the past.
Other Factors
Though a Pap smear or a pelvic exam may not be necessary every year, keep in mind that the frequency of your OBGYN visits depends on other health factors as well. For example, if you are noticing that your gynecological health is out of the ordinary—such as excessive bleeding, or too little bleeding, abnormal pain, vaginal pain or discomfort, changes in menstrual cycle—you should consult your doctor and schedule a visit even if you are not due for one.
You should also reconsider the frequency of your visits to your OBGYN if it is suggested by your primary physician, if your overall health needs attention, and depending on how sexually active you are. If you are not having a Pap smear and have no other worrisome symptoms, some schools of though suggest that having a pelvic exam done may not be necessary. However, you should remember that a pelvic exam, along with other tests, can detect ovarian cancer early and provides a screening for sexually transmitted infections.
Preventive Reasons
In addition to the age factor and other reasons you may, or may not, need to visit your OBGYN you should be aware of the following, which are preventive services:
- Anemia screening
- Contraception and prenatal care
- STIs and HIV screening
- Diabetes Screening
- UTI screening
- Breast Cancer genetic test and mammography
- Osteoporosis screening
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If you have heard the word “circumcision,” you would most probably know it is done in the newborn period of a boy’s life. It is not unlikely that older boys or adult men undergo this procedure for personal, cultural, or medical reasons. Circumcisions are undoubtedly a controversial issue and, in the majority of the Western World, the decision rests with the parents of the newborn boy. Most commonly, it is a procedure performed in the United States, Canada, the Middle East, Australia, and Africa. It is less common in Asia, Europe, and South America. Parents may choose to circumcise their son for a number of reasons, such as religious beliefs, hygienic concerns, or the belief that it benefits the boy’s health at all stages of his life.
Before making this decision, it is important to know some facts about circumcision and be aware of both the advantages and the potential risks. Overall, it seems that the advantages of male baby circumcision outweigh the negative effects—as the American Academy of Pediatrics Supports. Though it is an ancient religious procedure, it has been thoroughly researched and studied by medical professionals across the globe.
What is it?
Circumcisions are a surgical procedure that refers to the removal of the skin that covers the tip of the penis (also known as foreskin).
What are the advantages?
Some of the health benefits of circumcision include:
- Easier hygiene: the removal of the foreskin makes it easier to wash the penis. Although it enhances good genital hygiene, boys should be taught how to properly clean themselves regardless.
- Decreased risk of urinary tract infections: though the risk of UTIs in males is generally low, UTIs are more common in uncircumcised males.
- Decreased risk of contracting HIV and other sexual transmitted infections. Remember circumcision is not a preventative for STIs, but it does lower the risks of one.
- Prevention of penile problems: the foreskin on an uncircumcised penis can be difficult or impossible to retract, also referred to as phimosis. This can lead to inflammation of the head of the penis, something that circumcision helps prevent against.
- Lower risk of penile cancer: although this is a rare type of cancer, it is less common among circumcised men. In addition, the risks of cervical cancer are lower among the female partners of circumcised men.
What are some risks?
Serious complications associated with circumcision are extremely low, around 0.2%, and mostly associated with circumcisions occurring outside a hospital. Minor complications are about 3%. All risks are minimal when the procedure is carried out by a trained medical professional in a sterile setting.
Some rare complications may include:
- Bleeding at the time of the procedure
- Infection
- Pain
- Deformity to the penis, usually appearing at a later age
Remember you are not medically or legally required to circumcise your baby. If you choose to do it, consult with your doctor and make sure you are comfortable in your decision, as well as
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Cancer is a terrifying word. It seems beyond our control, but the truth is that there are ways to reduce your risk of developing the disease. This October, as we reflect on breast cancer awareness, prevention, and research, familiarize yourself with those factors that can increase your risk of breast cancer, and those that, for now, are simply myths.
Fact: Exercise can reduce your breast cancer risk, as well as improve your overall health and wellness.
Myth: Though there have been concerns that parabens found in some body care products and cosmetics may increase the likelihood of cancer, research conducted to date has not concluded that exposure to parabens is a breast cancer risk factor. More research needs to be done on this topic, but for now, science has not been able to prove that parabens increase cancer risk.
Fact: Maintaining a healthy weight can reduce your breast cancer risk. It is especially important for breast cancer survivors to maintain a healthy weight as part of their continual recovery and prevention plan.
Myth: Though media reports have tried to link plastics to cancer over the past several years, there has been no scientific proof that exposure to plastics and Bisphenol A (BPA) can increase cancer risk. Despite reports that drinking water from a plastic bottle can increase the likelihood of breast cancer, it has not yet been scientifically proven.
Fact: In some studies, long-term or high levels of exposure to tobacco smoke have indicated increased risks of breast cancer, among other risk factors.
Myth: Secondhand smoke on the other hand, has not been definitively proven to increase the risk of breast cancer.
Fact: Limiting your consumption of alcohol can reduce your breast cancer risk.
Myth: There is also currently no data to support the theory that organic foods lower the risk of breast cancer.
Fact: Eating a healthy diet full of natural fruits and vegetables, healthy grains, good fats such as olive oil, chicken, fish, beans, and only limited amounts of red meat, can reduce the risk of breast cancer.
Other factors that are not known to increase the risk of breast cancer include:
- Abortion and miscarriage
- Exposure to certain types of pesticides and industrial chemicals
- Frequent use of bras with underwire
- Breast implants
- High consumption levels of caffeine
- Frequent use of cell phones
- Hair dyes and relaxers
- Frequent migraine headaches
- Breast trauma
Other factors under study that have not yet been intrinsically linked to increased breast cancer risk, but have also not been cleared from suspicion, include:
- Use of antibiotics
- Use of aspirin
- Birthweight
- Breast size
- Whether or not a woman was breastfed as an infant
- Use of fertility drugs
- Dairy products
- Dietary fat
- Soy
- Folic acid
- Multivitamins
- Levels of Vitamin D
- Meat consumption
- Frequency of skin moles
- High stress levels
With awareness of known risk factors and a commitment to leading a healthy lifestyle, you can put yourself in the best position to remain cancer free. Understand, however, that while these factors can increase or reduce your risk of cancer, there is no complete prevention strategy yet known. As women age, their risk of cancer inherently increases, but by living a healthy lifestyle, you can improve your chances of remaining cancer free as long as possible.
At Western New York OB-Gyn we are committed to helping our patients achieve optimal health and helping them discern between myths and facts. If you haven’t seen your doctor in more than a year, call today. We are currently accepting new patients at all of our locations.
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It’s not a secret that menstrual cycles causes all sorts of changes to our bodies, our moods, our hair, etc, but our cycle also brings about changes to our skin. You may be surprised to find out it’s not only during menstruation and the frequent breakout that accompanies it that our hormones are at work. In fact, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone work hard throughout our menstrual cycle to ensure that they are causing changes to our skin. You can check the best laser hair removal in Las Vegas, NV and know where to go to get a glow up.
