How Overturning Roe v. Wade Impacts People and Safe States
The possibility of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade—on top of the many states that have already criminalized abortion—sadly means that the future may be as marred for us as the past was for those who first fought for these rights.
Breaking the Bias: 3 Harsh Realities of Gender Bias in Healthcare
Here’s the reality: Gender and power significantly matter in healthcare. It shouldn’t matter (imagine all the people missing out on care because of it!), and my hope is that we continue to work to create a future where all that matters in health care is what you need. 👉 Before I continue, I want to […]
Need an Alternative to Pads and Tampons? Consider These 5 Sustainable and Reusable Products
Want to have a more comfortable period? Here are five safe alternatives to pads and tampons to make your cycle more sustainable and cost-effective.
New Year, New Strategies: Balance (and Maintain) Health and Life Goals
Happy New Year! We’ve transitioned to another year, and I hope you’ve taken some time to both reflect on and commend yourself for everything you endured and worked hard for in 2021. I certainly have, and I won’t stop here. To keep myself focused on my New Year’s (and beyond) resolutions, I’ll continue to reflect […]
Use the ‘Great Resignation’ to Change Your Relationship with Work
When American society paused (or attempted to pause), the work-from-home (WFH) phenomenon acted like a stopgap for a leaking dam. With a severe health crisis mercilessly ravaging the globe, millions of us were forced to find safety in our homes. To keep businesses afloat amid the resulting economic collapse, many eligible employers relied on WFH […]
End of the Year Reflection: Finding Balance to End and Begin Again
After a harrowing 2020, most of us approached 2021 with the mindset that our circumstances would be better or, at least, different — whether we anticipated new career transitions, living arrangements, perspective, workout regimes, or simply less anxiety about our seemingly crumbling society. Now, 2021 has come and is nearly gone. As we face the […]
Now What? 4 Key Steps to Take After a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Learning about and navigating your breast cancer diagnosis is overwhelming and may spur a myriad of complex feelings to face and cope with. I truly believe mental and physical health go hand-in-hand, and it’s important now more than ever to maintain them as much as you can.
The More You Know: Early Breast Cancer Detection and Treatment
Think you know the risks associated with breast cancer? Let’s take a closer look at the impact of early detection and access to treatment!
Breast Cancer Awareness — Unique Journeys of the Disease
Each year, about 255,000 women get breast cancer and 42,000 women die from the disease. But because of the lack of access to screening services throughout 2020, American women will likely be diagnosed with an estimated 281,550 new cases of invasive breast cancer.
Don’t Wait to Schedule Your Next Mammogram—Here’s Why They’re Important
In the second blog of my #BreastCancerAwareness series, we’re talking about mammograms — A.K.A. the best way to screen for breast cancer — and how a mammogram can save your life. Plus, if you need a mammogram but aren’t insured, keep reading!
The Importance of Screenings — A Physician’s Breast Cancer Journey
Life sure knows how to throw us curve balls — and I happen to be writing this as I recover from a major one. I didn’t expect to have to share this update, but here goes nothing: I recently had a preventative mastectomy.
Why You’re So Tired — 6 Ways Your Health Impacts Your Exhaustion
Do you feel tired and sluggish? Read this article to learn if the culprit behind your fatigue is one of these six common health issues.
UTI’s: They’re Not As Simple As Bacteria and Antibiotics
While bacteria causes most Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) infections, there’s much more you should know about root causes, prevention and treatment — especially without antibiotics.
Sexual Transmitted Infections and Diseases: The More You Know, the Safer You Can Be
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), also called sexually transmitted infections (STIs), affect people of all ages, backgrounds, and from all walks of life. In the U.S. alone there are approximately 20 million new cases each year, half of which occur among people between 15 to 24 years. If you’re sexually active with one or more people, […]
Is Vagina Discharge Normal? Yes! But It Can Be Abnormal, Too — Here’s How to Tell
Vaginal discharge is a normal and necessary function for your body, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. Here’s a breakdown of what’s normal and abnormal.
I #ChoosetoChallenge — How I Support Villages As a Women’s Health Advocate to Forge a Gender-Equal World
Happy Women’s History Month! What a time to identify as a woman! On August 18, 1920, a proportion of American women were enfranchised and given all the rights and responsibilities of citizenship through the 19th Amendment — and we’ve continued to raise hell for gender equality since. We’ve come a long way, but not far […]
Let Science Lead COVID-19 Decisions
More than 500,000 people have died in America from COVID-19, and the number of positive cases nears 30 million — more than any other country worldwide. Globally, cases exceed 100 million, and there’ve been almost 3 million deaths. These numbers should alarm us all, and the traumatic experience we’ve shared in the last year shows […]
Important Screenings You Need Before Age 30
The CheckUp by SingleCare recently published an article about the seven medical tests you need when you turn 30, and I contributed to the topic to discuss HIV and STI screening, pelvic exams and more. Is the Big 3-0 knocking on your door? That means you’ve got quite a few things to consider, not the […]
Am I Getting Enough Sun?
We all know that sunshine is good for us. But what we aren’t always clear about is just how much sunshine we need and at what point our time in the sun starts being bad for our bodies. Sunshine, when absorbed through our skin, jumpstarts the production of vitamin D, which in turn supports the […]
Does Melatonin Affect Birth Control?
As I recently shared in POPSUGAR’s Healthy Living blog, If You’re on the Pill and You Regularly Take Melatonin, Read This Important Warning, (and restated in SleepReview Mag) melatonin use for those taking birth control pills can impact the natural cycles of your body, including hormonal and circadian rhythms. Ingesting external melatonin could impact ovulation, […]
Plan B — How It Works and the Potential Side Effects
You know what the morning-after pill is, but do you know how it works and what it does to your body to prevent pregnancy before it happens? Probably not, and that’s okay because you’re about to find out. Recently, I was featured in a Shape magazine article, “The Potential Side Effects of Plan B,” where […]
Your Expert Guide to Doctors Visits During COVID-19
When my kids were small, they tumbled through life. Sure, I cringed each time they toppled over, skinned a knee or bonked a head but I knew every small injury would lead to greater skill-mastery or emotional development. Of course, I never let them do anything seriously dangerous – we kept the knives safely stowed […]
High Blood Pressure and Birth Control – Your Options
The blog, Which Birth Control is Safest for High Blood Pressure? published on Romper covers birth control selections for those with high blood pressure. As a contributor to this piece, I’m happy to share that hypertension does not prevent you from using birth control. High blood pressure and birth control – can they coexist? They […]
Now is not the time to get pregnant, Denver health expert warns
DENVER (KDVR) – Chief Healthcare Officer at Stride Community Health Center, Dr. Savita Ginde, suggests waiting on pregnancy until effects of Covid-19 are better known. Read the full article Meet Dr. Savita Ginde Dr. Savita Ginde is an advocate and thought leader for reproductive health and served as Chief Medical Officer of Planned Parenthood of the […]
Why are my cramps so bad? 5 signs it may be more than period pain.
Women often chalk up menstrual cramping to a normal part of life with a uterus. And usually, they’re right. But some painful period symptoms are caused by underlying health issues. Every once in a while a patient asks me “why are my cramps so bad?” The answer varies, but what I want everyone to know […]
When does birth control start working?
When it comes to contraception, the pill remains the best thing since — well, the condom. By taking birth control regularly, you can take family planning into your own hands, whether you’d like to postpone parenthood or skip it all together. One common question I hear from my patients is “when does birth control start […]
Should I shave before going to the gynecologist? (and other gyno questions answered)
You likely have many questions about your visit to the gynecologist, including “should I shave before going to the gynecologist?” As a women’s health doctor, I understand the trepidation… you’re probably not used to stripping naked in front of a near-stranger. Even after years of visits, the experience can leave you feeling self-conscious. Not to […]
How hormones affect anxiety & vice versa, according to experts
Considering the links between hormones and anxiety during a recent interview for a Bustle article brought me (almost immediately) back to my teenage days. I couldn’t help but recall the overwhelming feeling of stress that would accompany challenging emotional urges. Of course, as a teenager, my body was producing higher levels of estrogen, progesterone and […]
How does emergency contraception work?
It’s happened to all of us. We’re in the heat of the moment, only to realize that the condom broke. Or, it dawns on us that we forgot to take birth control that morning. Whatever the reason, having a backup plan can be essential. By answering the question, “how does emergency birth control work?” you’ll […]
Barrier methods of contraception — types, pros & cons, and the best one for you
I’ve often heard it said that the best camera is the camera you have. What use is the fanciest of image-capturing devices if you don’t have it at the ready when that perfect moment flits by? Often, the best camera is simply your phone camera — because it’s right there in your pocket. I like […]
6 women’s health secrets that will change your world
The glamorized image of a flat-abbed woman who can briskly jog off her menstrual cramps and waxes “it all” has become the paradigm of women’s health in popular culture. While there are certainly women who experience this narrow version of vitality, many others wonder why they don’t. As a women’s health specialist, I believe in […]
