BackTable Women's Health

BackTable Women's Health

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BackTable Women's Health episodes

  • Ep. 138 From OB/GYN Generalist to Specialist: Returning to Fellowship with Dr. Jessica Shields

    Within six months of starting general OBGYN practice, one gynecologic surgeon says she felt like “a jack of all trades and a master of none,” and a few years later she left her job to become a fellow again. On this episode of BackTable Women’s Health, Dr. Joseph Chen, a complex benign gynecologic surgeon at Kaiser Permanente East Bay, is joined by Dr. Jessica Shields, program director of the Complex Benign Gynecology Fellowship at Lahey Clinic, to discuss what it takes to return to training after years in practice. They cover why some OBGYNs choose subspecialty training over a high-volume gynecology practice, how to apply to fellowship as a practicing physician, and what changes when an attending becomes a fellow again.

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    Timestamps
    00:00 - Introduction
    03:47 - From Generalist to Fellowship Applicant
    06:26 - Subspecialty Training Versus a High-Volume Gynecology Practice
    09:49 - Applying From Practice and How Program Directors Review Applications
    13:57 - Building a Competitive Application While in Practice
    16:48 - Returning to Training as a Former Attending
    19:41 - Finding a Focus in Endometriosis and Chronic Pelvic Pain
    21:59 - Match Competitiveness and Whether Fellowship Is Necessary
    25:14 - Resident Readiness for Independent Surgery
    28:12 - Should OBGYN Residency Be Longer?
    30:13 - Perseverance and Closing Remarks

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    More about this episode
    Dr. Shields shares the case log lesson from her own interview day, the order in which she now reads applications, and how attendings without protected research time can show commitment through courses, hospital committees, and mentors. The conversation moves through life as a fellow after being an attending, the patient with pelvic pain who steered her toward endometriosis care, why the complex benign gynecology match remains competitive, and whether fellowship is needed for a gynecology-focused practice. Drs. Chen and Shields close on resident readiness for independent surgery, whether OBGYN residency should be longer, why daily repetition sets fellowship apart, and the perseverance that carried her from a missed match to the fellowship she wanted.

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    Resources
    Guntupalli SR, et al. Preparedness of Obstetrics and Gynecology Residents for Fellowship Training. Obstet Gynecol. 2015
    https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000000999

    Complex Benign Gynecology Fellowship, Lahey Clinic (Dr. Jessica Shields, Program Director)
    https://www.lahey.org/education-training/graduate/fellowships/complex-benign-gynecology

    Dr. Joseph Chen, BackTable contributor page
    https://www.backtable.com/shows/obgyn/contributors/dr-joseph-chen

    ---

    BackTable Women's Health is the go-to podcast for gynecologists, gynecologic surgeons, and other healthcare professionals focused on women’s health.

    Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty.
    ► https://www.backtable.com/app

    35 min
  • Ep. 137 Obesity Medicine in Women’s Health with Dr. Taylor Hahn

    Heart disease is still the leading cause of death in women, and for many women the OBGYN is the only doctor they see each year, so how can obesity medicine become a natural part of that visit? On this episode of BackTable Women’s Health, Dr. Nicole Faulkner is joined by Dr. Taylor Hahn, an OBGYN board certified in obesity medicine and founder of VIA Women’s Health Collective, to discuss how general OBGYNs can integrate obesity care into everyday practice. They cover how to raise the weight conversation with and without a patient’s cue, which baseline labs to order, how to counsel patients on GLP-1 medications around pregnancy, and how to build a multidisciplinary team.


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    Timestamps


    00:00 - Introduction
    02:52 - Making Time for the Weight Conversation
    05:10 - A Cardiometabolic Framework for Discussing Weight
    09:14 - Baseline Labs: Lipids, Apolipoprotein B, Lipoprotein(a), and Thyroid
    14:48 - Building a Multidisciplinary Care Team
    18:35 - Obesity Across Gynecologic Conditions
    22:36 - GLP-1 Medications Around Conception, Pregnancy, and Postpartum
    27:46 - Opportunities for OBGYNs and Removing Shame
    31:37 - Follow-Up, Monitoring, and Barriers to Lifestyle Change
    36:39 - Advice for OBGYNs New to Obesity Medicine
    40:53 - Adding Weight to the Health History Questionnaire
    42:56 - Closing Remarks


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    More about this episode


    Dr. Hahn explains why she frames the conversation around cardiometabolic health rather than the number on the scale, and why she adds apolipoprotein B, lipoprotein(a), and more complete thyroid testing to her baseline workup. The conversation moves through the ways obesity intersects with abnormal uterine bleeding, polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS, formerly PCOS), fertility, and perimenopause; how to counsel patients who conceive while taking a GLP-1 medication, plan a washout before conception, and restart therapy postpartum; and what follow-up looks like during titration and maintenance. The discussion closes on removing shame from the conversation, adding a weight question to the intake form, and the reminder that OBGYNs do not need a second board certification to make a meaningful difference.


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    Resources
    Guideline on the Management of Dyslipidemia. Circulation. 2026
    https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001423

    Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, the new name for polycystic ovary syndrome: a multistep global consensus process. Lancet. 2026
    https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(26)00717-8

    VIA Women’s Health Collective (Dr. Taylor Hahn)
    https://www.viawomenshealth.com

    Dr. Nicole Faulkner, BackTable contributor page
    https://www.backtable.com/shows/obgyn/contributors/dr-nicole-faulkner


    ---


    BackTable Women's Health is the go-to podcast for gynecologists, gynecologic surgeons, and other healthcare professionals focused on women’s health.


    Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty.


    ► https://www.backtable.com/app

    46 min
  • Ep. 136 Managing Adnexal Masses in GYN Practice with Dr. Mona Guo and Dr. Marcia Ciccone

    It is 4:50 on a Friday, and an ultrasound report lands in your inbox: six centimeter complex right ovarian mass, neoplasm cannot be excluded. What happens next? On this episode of BackTable Women’s Health, Dr. Mona Guo and Dr. Marcia Ciccone team up to discuss how general obstetrician gynecologists should evaluate, follow, and operate on adnexal masses and when to refer to gynecologic oncology. They walk through reading the imaging yourself, understanding what “complex” means on a report, ultrasound features and O-RADS, tumor marker selection, and when an MRI adds value beyond ultrasound.


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    ---


    Timestamps


    00:00 - Introduction
    02:57 - Incidental Ultrasound Report on a Friday Afternoon
    05:57 - Ultrasound Features, ACOG Bulletins and O-RADS
    08:44 - Red Flag Findings and Urgent Evaluation
    10:58 - Tumor Marker Selection and the Limits of CA 125
    14:31 - Markers by Age, Tumor Type and New Assays in Development
    19:38 - When MRI Adds Value
    23:15 - Surveillance Versus Surgery
    27:05 - Cystectomy, Oophorectomy and the Consent Conversation
    31:10 - Preventing Rupture and Containing the Specimen
    35:42 - Closing Remarks


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    More about this episode


    The conversation separates true emergencies like torsion, hemorrhage, and abscess from imaging findings that require faster evaluation, then breaks down the tumor marker panel, including the limits of CA 125, the value of hormonal and GI markers, and how thresholds shift by age and presentation. They review evidence supporting surveillance of simple cysts under ten centimeters, surgical choices between cystectomy and oophorectomy, and the consent and extraction plans that prevent upstaging from a cyst rupture. The episode closes with practical pearls for preventing spill, managing tubo-ovarian abscess, and the value of a quick call to a colleague when the next step is unclear.


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    Resources


    ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 174: Evaluation and Management of Adnexal Masses. Obstet Gynecol. 2016
    https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000001768

    Andreotti RF, et al. O-RADS US Risk Stratification and Management System: A Consensus Guideline from the ACR Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System Committee. Radiology. 2020
    https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2019191150

    ACR Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System (O-RADS)
    https://www.acr.org/Clinical-Resources/Clinical-Tools-and-Reference/Reporting-and-Data-Systems/O-Rads

    Modesitt SC, et al. Risk of malignancy in unilocular ovarian cystic tumors less than 10 centimeters in diameter. Obstet Gynecol. 2003
    https://doi.org/10.1016/s0029-7844(03)00670-7

    Im SS, et al. Validation of referral guidelines for women with pelvic masses. Obstet Gynecol. 2005
    https://doi.org/10.1097/01.AOG.0000149159.69560.ef

    Society of Gynecologic Oncology
    https://www.sgo.org

    Moore RG, et al. Assessing the risk of ovarian malignancy algorithm for the conservative management of women with a pelvic mass. Gynecol Oncol. 2015
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygyno.2015.09.010

    Widschwendter M, Salhia B, et al. OvaPrint, A Cell-free DNA Methylation Liquid Biopsy for the Risk Assessment of High-grade Serous Ovarian Cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2023
    https://doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-23-1197

    Dr. Bodour Salhia, Keck School of Medicine of USC
    https://keck.usc.edu/faculty-search/bodour-salhia/

    Dr. Mona Guo, Keck Medicine of USC
    https://keck.usc.edu/faculty-search/xiaoyue-mona-guo

    Dr. Mona Guo, BackTable contributor page
    https://www.backtable.com/shows/obgyn/contributors/dr-mona-guo

    Dr. Marcia Ciccone, Keck Medicine of USC
    https://keck.usc.edu/faculty-search/marcia-ciccone/

    Dr. Marcia Ciccone, BackTable contributor page
    https://www.backtable.com/shows/obgyn/contributors/dr-marcia-ciccone


    ---


    BackTable Women's Health is the go-to podcast for gynecologists, gynecologic surgeons, and other healthcare professionals focused on women’s health.


    Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty.


    ► https://www.backtable.com/app

    40 min
  • Ep. 135 Building the Career You Want in OB/GYN with Dr. Chitra Akileswaran

    What does it take to design a career in medicine that truly fits your values, your life, and your goals? On this episode of BackTable Women’s Health, Dr. Nicole Faulkner welcomes Dr. Chitra Akileswaran, board-certified OBGYN and founder of Avaiyar Private Care, for a candid discussion on building a career that breaks the mold. Dr. Akileswaran traces her path from global public health and a joint MD-MBA to leadership in county health systems, digital health startups, and now direct pay practice, sharing how each chapter reflected her changing priorities.


    ---


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    https://www.backtable.com/app


    ---


    Timestamps


    00:00 - Introduction
    06:19 - Public Health and Global Work
    10:33 - Residency and Early Career Choices
    15:04 - Founding a Digital Health Company
    19:48 - Ambulatory Operations Leadership
    24:36 - Leading a County Medical Group
    29:32 - Physician Needs and Retention
    34:25 - Physician Compensation Overhaul
    41:47 - Physician Unionization and Employment
    46:25 - Pregnancy Loss and Perspective
    49:09 - Launching a Direct Pay Practice
    57:10 - Mentorship in Private Practice
    01:03:28 - Closing Remarks


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    More about this episode


    The conversation explores lessons learned leading hundreds of physicians, overhauling compensation and benefits, and navigating unionization and administrative change. Dr. Akileswaran speaks openly about personal milestones, including pregnancy loss, and how it drove her to redesign her life and practice. Topics include mentorship, apprenticeship, work-life integration, and the practical steps and mindset shifts needed to carve out a fulfilling, sustainable career in medicine.


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    Resources


    Avaiyar Private Care, Dr. Akileswaran's direct pay OBGYN practice
    https://avaiyarprivatecare.com/
    Cleo, the digital health company she co-founded
    https://hicleo.com/

    ACOG Well-Being and Physician Support Resources
    https://www.acog.org/career-support/well-being

    AMA Physician Practice Benchmark Survey: Smaller Share of Doctors in Private Practice Than Ever Before
    https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/private-practices/smaller-share-doctors-private-practice-ever

    MGMA Provider Compensation Data Reports, the benchmarking source referenced on air
    https://www.mgma.com/mgma-data-reports

    Dr. Chitra Akileswaran, UCSF OBGYN Residency Alumni Profile
    https://obgyn.ucsf.edu/residency-program/chitra-akileswaran-md-mba


    ---


    BackTable Women's Health is the go-to podcast for gynecologists, gynecologic surgeons, and other healthcare professionals focused on women’s health.


    Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty.


    ► https://www.backtable.com/app

    1 hr 5 min
  • Ep. 134 Shared Decision-Making in Overactive Bladder Care with Dr. Jannah Thompson

    Can shared decision-making and patient support change the treatment journey for overactive bladder? On this episode of BackTable Urology, host Dr. Suzette Sutherland and OAB expert Dr. Jannah Thompson discuss how patient education, clear counseling, and ongoing follow-up improve care for patients with overactive bladder and urge incontinence. They cover practical strategies for building an effective OAB care pathway, staff training for better patient navigation, and proactive approaches that increase adherence and access to advanced therapies.


    ---


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    https://www.backtable.com/app


    ---


    This podcast is supported by


    Medtronic Pelvic Health
    https://urgencyisreal.com/


    ---


    Timestamps


    00:00 - Introduction
    04:00 - Shared Decision-Making
    06:51 - Clinic Efficiency
    10:38 - Expanding OAB Therapy Options
    12:27 - Long-Term OAB Care
    17:41 - Building an OAB Program
    18:18 - Staff Training and Follow-Up
    25:32 - OAB Navigator Implementation
    27:14 - Navigation Outcomes
    28:39 - Scaling with Staff and Epic
    30:35 - Algorithm Resources
    34:08 - Neuromodulation Advances
    38:37 - New Tibial and Battery-Free Devices
    40:56 - Quality of Life in OAB Care
    46:11 - Access and Adoption
    51:22 - Streamlining Therapy Discussions
    52:47 - Closing Remarks


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    More about this episode


    The conversation explores the diverse landscape of OAB treatment options, the evolving role of neuromodulation, and how new technologies are enabling more personalized care. Dr. Thompson shares insights on empowering staff as part of the clinical team, leveraging patient navigators to boost follow-up and advanced therapy uptake, and the importance of integrating patient preferences and lifestyle factors into every decision. They emphasize that quality of life, not just symptom control, should be central to OAB management, and discuss how to engage patients as partners throughout their treatment journey.


    ---


    Resources


    Patient navigation for overactive bladder improves access to care
    https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00192-019-04085-7


    ---


    BackTable Women's Health is the go-to podcast for gynecologists, gynecologic surgeons, and other healthcare professionals focused on women’s health.


    Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty.


    ► https://www.backtable.com/app

    57 min
  • Ep. 133 Advances in Endometriosis: Diagnosis & Management with Dr. Hugh Taylor

    Advances in endometriosis research are reshaping how clinicians diagnose, understand, and treat this complex multisystem condition. On this episode of BackTable Women’s Health, Dr. Nicole Faulkner welcomes Dr. Hugh Taylor for an in-depth discussion of the systemic nature of endometriosis, including its metabolic, psychological, and cardiovascular effects, as well as central pain sensitization and bowel and bladder symptoms. They also explore how animal models and biomarkers like microRNAs are deepening our understanding of these connections.


    ---


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    ---


    Timestamps


    00:00 - Introduction
    03:26 - Endometriosis Beyond the Pelvis
    05:17 - Understanding Systemic Symptoms
    10:35 - Why Diagnosis Takes Years
    12:54 - Key Clues to Endometriosis
    14:35 - Emerging Noninvasive Diagnostics
    18:13 - Pain Versus Disease Stage
    19:33 - Precision Medicine Approaches
    24:04 - Treatment Strategies and Follow-Up
    27:17 - GnRH Antagonists and Add-Back Therapy
    29:45 - Danazol and Surgical Options
    34:26 - Future of Immune-Based Therapies
    37:49 - Fertility Counseling and Egg Freezing
    40:17 - Wrap-Up and Key Takeaways


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    More about this episode


    Given that many patients wait years for a diagnosis, Dr. Taylor emphasizes the importance of presumptive clinical diagnosis and selective imaging to expedite treatment. He highlights emerging biomarkers that may offer more noninvasive diagnostic options and help clarify pain mechanisms. The conversation reviews current management strategies, including continuous oral contraceptives, the challenge of progestin resistance, and the promise of blood-based tests to predict treatment response. They also discuss GnRH antagonists, Danazol, surgery for refractory cases, and future directions such as immune-based therapies targeting the inflammation and immune dysfunction at the root of endometriosis.


    ---


    Resources
    Clinical evaluation of the oral gonadotropin-releasing hormone-antagonist elagolix for the management of endometriosis-associated pain: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31434540/


    Circulating microRNAs as potential biomarkers for endometriosis: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25772772/


    ---
    BackTable Women's Health is the go-to podcast for gynecologists, gynecologic surgeons, and other healthcare professionals focused on women’s health.


    Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty.


    ► https://www.backtable.com/app

    43 min
  • Ep. 132 Gynecologic Cancer Surveillance: Best Practices & Updates with Dr. Ritu Salani

    Does catching cancer earlier with surveillance always translate to better outcomes for gynecologic cancer patients? On this episode of BackTable Women’s Health, hosts Dr. Mona Guo and Dr. Marcia Ciccone interview Dr. Ritu Salani, Professor of OBGYN at UCLA and lead author of the updated SGO surveillance clinical practice statements. They discuss how post–curative-intent surveillance has evolved amid limited prospective evidence, review the latest guidelines, and highlight the real-world challenges of balancing early detection, patient safety, and cost.


    ---


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    https://www.backtable.com/app


    ---


    Timestamps


    00:00 - Introduction
    03:05 - Evolving Guidelines and Consensus
    10:02 - Lead-Time Bias and Cost Considerations
    12:05 - Maintenance Therapy and Surveillance Nuances
    14:44 - Ovarian and Endometrial Cancer: Imaging vs Exam
    20:24 - Key Takeaways from the TOTEM Trial
    24:04 - Future Tools, Lifestyle Counseling, and Shared Care
    27:21 - Cytology, HPV Testing, and Post-Radiation Surveillance
    31:13 - Hormone Therapy Considerations
    34:37 - ctDNA and MRD Testing
    37:39 - Emerging Technologies and Limitations
    43:22 - Rapid Fire Takeaways
    45:33 - Closing Thoughts


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    More about this episode


    The conversation explores practice variability, the lack of clear survival benefits from routine imaging and tumor markers, and the risks of cascade testing and lead-time bias. Dr. Salani reviews the TOTEM trial data for endometrial cancer, the importance of symptom review and pelvic exams (especially for lower genital tract cancers), and the reduced role of cytology, even in cervical cancer after radiation. They also discuss shared-care models, lifestyle counseling, hormone therapy considerations, and the promise and limitations of emerging technologies like ctDNA and MRD testing during maintenance therapy.


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    Resources


    TOTEM Trial
    https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/jco.22.00471


    2010 Ovarian Cancer CA-125 Trial
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20888993/


    Society of Gynecologic Oncology Clinical Practice Statement on Surveillance
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41308226/


    ---


    BackTable Women's Health is the go-to podcast for gynecologists, gynecologic surgeons, and other healthcare professionals focused on women’s health.


    Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty.


    ► https://www.backtable.com/app

    49 min
  • Ep. 131 Cliteracy for Clinicians: A Clinical Guide to Sexual Health & Clitoral Anatomy with Dr. Christine Vaccaro

    Are we addressing sexual health in clinical practice? On this episode of BackTable Women’s Health, host Dr. Nicole Faulkner is joined by Dr. Christine Vaccaro, a double board-certified urogynecologist and sexual medicine specialist, to discuss the evaluation and care of women’s sexual health concerns. They highlight the importance of open conversations, patient empowerment, and a multidisciplinary approach to support well-being and improve quality of life.


    ---


    Get the BackTable app
    https://www.backtable.com/app


    ---


    Timestamps


    00:00 - Introduction
    04:01 - What Is Sexual Medicine
    07:58 - Understanding Libido, Arousal, and GSM
    15:54 - Clinic Visit Structure and Patient Counseling
    19:17 - Clitoral Exam, Adhesions, and Anatomy Education
    28:17 - Addressing Stigma, Patient Education, and Myths
    32:03 - Tools for Patient Empowerment: Apps and Self-Examination
    39:55 - In-Office Procedures, Pain Mapping, and Hormonal Considerations
    46:37 - Managing Complex Cases and Multidisciplinary Collaboration
    53:47 - Closing Remarks


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    More about this episode


    The conversation explores practical strategies for evaluating and managing issues such as libido, arousal, orgasm, and sexual pain, with a focus on genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) and clitoral anatomy. Dr. Vaccaro shares her approach to assessing clitoral adhesions, pelvic pain, and hormonal changes, as well as effective ways to educate patients about anatomy and self-examination. They discuss the importance of reducing stigma, addressing misconceptions, and using a multidisciplinary approach to improve patient outcomes. The episode also highlights the role of clinician training, patient-centered counseling, and collaborative care in supporting women’s sexual health across the lifespan.


    ---


    Resources


    International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health: https://www.isswsh.org/


    Female Orgasmic Disorder: Current Understanding and Clinical Management: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42314165/


    OMGyes: https://www.omgyes.com/join


    You Are Not Broken by Dr. Kelly Casperson: https://kellycaspersonmd.com/you-are-not-broken-book/


    Retrospective Study of the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Clitoral Adhesions: Women's Health Providers Should Routinely Examine the Glans Clitoris - https://academic.oup.com/smoa/article/6/2/115/6956478?login=false


    Clitoral Adhesiolysis: Technique and Patient Selection - https://www.vjsm.info/videos/all/clitoral-adhesiolysis-technique-and-patient-selection


    Female Orgasmic Disorder: Current Understanding and Clinical Management - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42314165/


    ---


    BackTable Women's Health is the go-to podcast for gynecologists, gynecologic surgeons, and other healthcare professionals focused on women’s health.


    Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty.


    ► https://www.backtable.com/app

    56 min
  • Ep. 130 Recurrent UTI: Diagnostics & Management Strategies with Dr. Glenn Werneburg

    What should you do differently when a UTI becomes a recurring problem? In this episode of the Backtable Podcast, host Dr. Anjali Kapur is joined by physician-scientist Dr. Glenn Werneburg to discuss the latest approaches to recurrent urinary tract infections, including key updates from the 2025 AUA, CUA, and SUFU guidelines. They use real clinical cases to explore diagnosis, prevention, antibiotic selection, and the management of complex patients.


    ---


    Get the BackTable app
    https://www.backtable.com/app


    ---


    Timestamps


    00:00 - Introduction
    04:05 - Case One: Recurrent UTIs
    05:19 - Workup Basics
    08:50 - Non-Antibiotic Prevention
    11:42 - Antibiotic Prophylaxis Options
    15:16 - Case Two: Asymptomatic Bacteriuria
    19:14 - Case Three: Complex Patients
    19:58 - Male vs. Female UTIs
    21:22 - Neurogenic Bladder Workup
    22:52 - Elderly Patients and ID Consults
    25:01 - Case Four: Transplant ESBL
    25:23 - Machine Learning for Antibiotics
    29:49 - Catheter Biofilms
    31:55 - Embedded Bladder Reservoirs
    35:23 - Recurrent UTI Vaccine
    36:23 - Future of Recurrent UTIs
    39:04 - Wrap Up


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    More about this episode


    The doctors define recurrent UTI and outline the standard workup, including history, physical and pelvic exam, urinalysis, urine culture, and antibiotic sensitivities. They also review occasions where additional testing may be warranted. The discussion covers interpretation of urinalysis, non-antibiotic prevention options, and antibiotic prophylaxis strategies, with consideration of antibiotic resistance and microbiome disruption. They address asymptomatic bacteriuria and when treatment is indicated, along with management considerations for men, patients with neurogenic bladder or CIC, and elderly patients. Dr. Werneburg also discusses his work with machine learning tools to predict antibiotic susceptibility earlier, catheter biofilms, the concept of embedded bladder bacteria reservoirs, and his multidisciplinary complex UTI clinic.


    ---


    Resources


    Recurrent Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections in Women: AUA/CUA/SUFU Guideline (2025)
    https://www.auanet.org/guidelines-and-quality/guidelines/recurrent-uti


    ---


    BackTable Women's Health is the go-to podcast for gynecologists, gynecologic surgeons, and other healthcare professionals focused on women’s health.


    Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty.


    ► https://www.backtable.com/app

    42 min
  • Ep. 129 Clinical Hypnotherapy Applications in Women's Health with Dr. Sonia Gupte

    Have you ever wondered what role the mind could play in treating women’s health conditions? On this episode of BackTable Women’s Health, host Dr. Nicole Faulkner interviews Dr. Sonia Gupte, a family medicine physician and board-certified clinical hypnotherapist, about how clinical hypnotherapy can help patients access the subconscious, resolve emotional barriers, and rewire patterns that affect both body and mind. Dr. Gupte discusses the use of hypnotherapy for a range of women’s health concerns including PMS, postpartum depression, hot flashes, infertility, and chronic pelvic pain, highlighting the potential for more holistic care.


    ---


    Get the BackTable app
    https://www.backtable.com/app


    ---


    Timestamps


    00:00 - Introduction
    04:40 - Discovering Hypnotherapy
    08:59 - What a Session Looks Like
    13:02 - Remote Sessions and Results
    17:27 - Follow-Up and Maintenance
    20:13 - Women's Health Examples
    28:05 - Talking to Patients
    30:47 - Hypnosis vs. Therapy
    33:07 - Pap Smear Trauma Case
    37:28 - Breathwork Reset Tool
    42:42 - Uncovering Repressed Trauma
    46:17 - Burnout and Stress
    49:12 - Barriers to Success
    53:21 - Call To Action
    54:58 - Live Demo Plans
    55:50 - Closing Remarks


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    More about this episode


    Dr. Gupte shares how her mother’s experience with cancer, depression, and a suicide attempt inspired her to explore hypnotherapy and ultimately bring it into her medical practice. She describes what a typical hypnotherapy session involves, including relaxation, guided visualization, identifying emotional roots, and using protocols to help patients “reboot” their mental patterns. The discussion also covers practical aspects of integrating hypnotherapy into women’s health care, such as determining treatment frequency, offering remote sessions, setting patient expectations, and addressing common barriers to success.


    ---


    Resources


    Within: Finding Yourself, Fixing What's Broken, & Finally Reclaiming True Health https://enso-nia.com/about-sonia/


    ---


    BackTable Women's Health is the go-to podcast for gynecologists, gynecologic surgeons, and other healthcare professionals focused on women’s health.


    Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty.


    ► https://www.backtable.com/app

    59 min

About BackTable Women's Health

From the publisher's feed

The go-to podcast for OBGYNs, gynecologic surgeons, and healthcare professionals focused on women's health. Tune in every week for practical, physician-led conversations on common and complex clinical…

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