Fempower Health | A Women's Health Podcast

Dr Mike Armour is heavily involved in research and treatment of endometriosis, and he was the invited complementary medicine expert on the endometriosis expert working group (EEWG) for the Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Gynaecologists (RANZCOG). Recently, he and his colleagues, Cecilia Ng and Mathew Leonardi, published an article You No Longer Need Surgery to be Diagnosed with Endometriosis: Here’s What’s Changed which created quite a stir on social media.

Our “meet and greet” call was powerful and luckily recorded, so we decided to publish it as an episode!

We discuss the following about endometriosis:

• Concerns about the disconnect between surgeons, patients and researchers.  
• How social media impacts our ability to discern fact from fiction
• Whether endometriosis is a progressive disease
• The holy grail for endometriosis diagnosis and why it shouldn’t be laparoscopic surgery 
• Whether laparoscopic surgery at an early age makes a difference is symptoms and recurrence as we age
• How one should prepare for doctor appointments and why this is key to optimal diagnosis and treatment

Resources:

• Check out Lessons from Implementing the Australian National Action Plan for Endometriosis

• Resources and episodes on Endometriosis

• Resources and episodes on Pelvic Health

• Resources and episodes on Women's Health-Related Pain

1. Help others discover Fempower Health:

Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.

2. Stay connected:

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.

Or join our newsletter to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.

**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024**

About Dr. Mike Armour

Dr Mike Armour completed his honours degree in biomedicine at the University of Auckland before going on to study traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture, and then completed his PhD in dysmenorrhea (period pain) in 2016 at Western Sydney University. Mike is a senior research fellow in reproductive health at NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University where he is currently running several clinical trials on endometriosis and menstrual health. 

Mike has published over 67 peer reviewed articles on various aspects of women’s health including menstrual health literacy, diagnostics, period pain, endometriosis and medicinal cannabis. Mike is also an author on several textbook chapters including a forthcoming chapter on the use of medicinal cannabis to treat endometriosis. Mike is heavily involved in research and treatment of endometriosis, and he was the invited complementary medicine expert on the endometriosis expert working group (EEWG) for the Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Gynaecologists (RANZCOG). Mike is also a World Endometriosis Society Ambassador, Chair of Endometriosis Australia’s clinical advisory committee, Chair of Endometriosis Australia’s research committee, Academic lead of the Menstrual Cycle Research Network (MCRN) at Western Sydney University and Chair of the Australasian Interdisciplinary Researchers in Endometriosis (AIRE).

**The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.**

**May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**

Dr. Cat Meyer, PsyD, LMFT is a licensed psychotherapist specializing in sex, trauma, and ketamine-assisted therapy (KAP), author, yoga teacher, and international speaker dedicated to evolving the relationship we have surrounding sexuality and our bodies. She is the host of podcasts Eat Play Sex and Erotically Wasted and the founder of SexLoveYoga.com, an online platform for education and programs on relationships, sexuality, and embodiment. 

We discuss the following about how you can define and experience your greatest pleasure.

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• How our core belief systems impact our sexuality and comfort with who we are
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• The importance of self inquiry and discernment to more consciously consent
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• How to access your pleasure, including recommended tools to support this experience
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• Defining whether pleasure equals orgasm
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• How to develop a relationship to your body and the impact of not doing so
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• The importance of being able to receive pleasure
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• How to communicate your needs, wants, and desires
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“We are still responsible for our pleasure. We are also responsible for our vulnerability and our ability to receive - receive touch or compliments or love, even. By the nature of entering into relationships, there will be moments we won’t feel safe. And that is vulnerability.” - Dr. Cat Meyer

Follow Dr Cat Meyer on Instagram

Resources:

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• Dr Cat Meyer’s Book Sex, Love, Yoga
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• Eat.Play.Sex and Erotically Wasted Podcasts
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• Un.done women’s sensual yoga experience
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• Netflix Series The Principles of Pleasure
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• Fempower Health Podcast Playlist on Sex Ed
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If you liked this episode and you're feeling generous, don't forget to leave a review on iTunes or Spotify!

And be sure to:

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• Follow Fempower Health on Instagram for updates and tips.
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• Tell 2-3 of your friends about this episode!
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**The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for information purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor. Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.**

**Contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**

Dr. Cat Meyer

Dr. Cat Meyer, PsyD, LMFT is a licensed psychotherapist specializing in sex, trauma, and ketamine-assisted therapy (KAP), author, yoga teacher, and international speaker dedicated to evolving the relationship we have surrounding sexuality and our bodies. Dr Cat is the founder of SexLoveYoga.com, an online platform integrating various schools of thought including science, tantra, yoga, psychedelic therapy, and psychology designed to help people create a deeply fulfilling, prosperous relational and sexual life. As an expert and published researcher on the topic of sexual health, Dr. Cat sees clients in her private practice office in Beverly Hills and leads workshops, lectures, and retreats internationally. Dr. Cat is the host of the podcasts Eat.Play.Sex and Erotically Wasted, co-founder of Un.done women’s sensual yoga experience.

Dr. Juan Camilo Arjona Ferreira & Dr. Kalahn Taylor-Clark of Myovant Sciences discuss the current standard of care for uterine fibroids. According to the Baird et al paper, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, by age 50, 80% of black women and 70% of white women will have uterine fibroids. While not every woman will be symptomatic, those who are will commonly experience heavy menstrual bleeding, which is often normalized and may result in delayed diagnosis. 

**Thank you to Myovant Sciences for sponsoring this episode.**

This podcast episode is intended to raise awareness and instill a sense of urgency, challenging the status quo in uterine healthcare, serving as a reminder that women can and need to advocate for themselves and their family members. We cover the following:

“Patients with fibroids already live with a significant burden to manage their symptoms. The added financial impact increases the mental effects uterine fibroids can have on a patient. There are consequences over time on their health, self esteem, and careers. It’s a substantial impact.” - Dr. Juan Camilo Arjona Ferreira

“The normalization of women's heavy periods and pain have left many people without the tools to understand when their periods are abnormal. When to seek treatment and how to get a diagnosis can be confusing, and frankly difficult to navigate” - Dr. Kalahn Taylor-Clark

Resources:

If you liked this episode leave a review:  iTunes or Spotify.  Tell 2-3 of your friends!

**The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for information purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor. Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by this episode’s guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent, nor does it constitute an endorsement by Myovant Sciences of this episode.

About Dr. Juan Camilo Arjona Ferreira

He is the Chief Medical Officer at Myovant Sciences, a healthcare company aspiring to redefine care for women and men through purpose-driven science, empowering medicines, and transformative advocacy. He leads clinical development, including Myovant’s clinical programs in prostate cancer, uterine fibroids, and endometriosis. Prior to Myovant, he was the SVP of Clinical Development at Shionogi and spent over a decade at Merck & Co. where he was Executive Director of Clinical Research in Women’s Health. Dr. Arjona Ferreira earned his MD and completed his postgraduate specialist training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Colegio Mayor del Rosario in Bogota, Colombia.

About Dr. Kalahn Taylor-Clark, PhD, MPH

She is Vice President & Head of Strategic Partnerships & Innovation at Myovant Sciences. Dr. Taylor-Clark oversees patient centered advocacy and digital innovation. Her team is responsible for driving transformative advocacy in the areas of women’s health and prostate cancer, addressing health equity, and advancing digital innovation strategies to improve patient experiences and outcomes. She holds a BA in International Relations from Tufts University, an MPH from Tufts School of Medicine, and a PhD in Health Policy from Harvard University.

According to Go Red for Women, cardiovascular disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined and yet only 44% of women recognize that cardiovascular disease is their greatest health threat. That is why we are discussing heart health.

Dr. Nanette Wenger has been at the forefront of advancing patient care for the last 60-plus years. She was among the first physicians to focus on coronary heart disease in women, and to evaluate the different risk factors, symptoms and conditions for women compared to men. She speaks about the following:

• What are the risks for and symptoms of heart problems in women?
• How do heart attacks manifest differently from men vs. women?
• How does a woman know if she has heart problems?
• How can a woman keep a healthy heart?
• What is the current state of healthcare professional awareness of how heart attacks manifest in men vs. women?
• How to advocate for yourself, especially if you feel as though you aren’t being heard?

Resources:

• American Heart Association’s Presidential Advisory
• Read the Chest Pain Guidelines
• Check out American Heart Association and Go Red for Women

• Resources and episodes on Breaking Taboos

• Resources and episodes on Pregnancy & Motherhood

• Resources and episodes on Perimenopause & Menopause and sign up for the Perimenopause and Menopause newsletter

1. Help others discover Fempower Health:

Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.

2. Stay connected:

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.

Or join our newsletter to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.

**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024**

More about Dr. Nanette Wenger 

Dr. Nanette Wenger was a co-author of the American Heart Association’s 2007 Guidelines for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Women, and she continues to promote and conduct gender-specific cardiology research. Her work includes the connection between pregnancy complications and cardiovascular disease and the possibility that certain breast cancer treatments are linked to heart failure.

Dr. Wenger earned a Bachelor of Arts from Hunter College, summa cum laude. She was one of the first women to earn her doctorate in medicine at Harvard Medical School, and in 1956, she was the first woman to be named chief resident in cardiology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. 

Together with colleagues at Grady, she led the development of a 21-day cardiac rehabilitation program for patients after myocardial infarction (heart attack), which became a model for programs across the country.

Dr. Wenger is actively practicing at Emory University School of Medicine and is a professor emeritus and serves as the director of the Cardiac Clinics and the ECG Laboratory at Grady Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Wenger has received numerous awards for her notable achievements throughout her career. Just last month, she was featured in The Hill newspaper’s special tribute, “The Century of the Woman: 100 Women Who Have Helped Shape America.” She also chaired the World Health Organization’s Expert Committee on Rehabilitation after Cardiovascular Disease and co-chaired the Guideline Panel on Cardiac Rehabilitation for the U.S. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. Dr. Wenger has had a longstanding interest in geriatric cardiology, is a past president of the Society of Geriatric Cardiology and was editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Geriatric Cardiology for more than 15 years.

**The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.**

**May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**

Dr. Alyssa Dweck, a practicing gynecologist and the Chief Medical Officer of Bonafide, speaks with Fempower Health on the following about common symptoms of perimenopause and menopause:

• What are the stages of perimenopause and menopause?
• How to know if you are in perimenopause or have another underlying condition?
• Which are the common symptoms of perimenopause?
• What are the treatments for common symptoms?
• Is it normal to bleed when you are in menopause?
• How to find a menopause expert?

Resources:

• Resources and episodes on Perimenopause & Menopause and sign up for the Perimenopause and Menopause newsletter

• How to Find the right doctor

1. Help others discover Fempower Health:

Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.

2. Stay connected:

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.

Or join our newsletter to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.

**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024**

More about Dr. Alyssa Dweck

Dr. Alyssa Dweck is a practicing gynecologist and the Chief Medical Officer of Bonafide. She is an Ob/Gyn for over 25 years with a special interest in menopausal health and training in female sexual health. Dr. Dweck is the co-author of three books - including The Complete A to Z for V - and has appeared on The Today Show and Good Day LA. She contributes regularly to multiple prints and online media outlets. She has been voted “Top Doctor” in New York Magazine and Westchester Magazine.

When she’s not helping women improve their health, Dr. Dweck enjoys time with her husband, two sons, and “girly” English Bulldog. She is an avid runner and sports car enthusiast.

**The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.**

**May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**

Pelvic floor muscles play an important role in our bodies, and we may not realize how important until we have incontinence, pain, and/or prolapse. A common concern is the root cause of a dysfunction might not be properly addressed causing issues down the line such as the need for surgery or repeat surgery.

Kim Vopni, author of Your Pelvic Floor, is a self professed pelvic health evangelist and is known as The Vagina Coach.She is a certified fitness professional who wants to end the suffering associated with pelvic floor dysfunction.

Kim speaks with Fempower Health on the following about pelvic floor health and surgery:

• Which are the 3 types of pelvic floor dysfunctions?
• What are the signs of a weak pelvic floor and how do you fix pelvic floor dysfunction?
• What are pelvic floor dysfunction treatment options and which pelvic floor dysfunctions might require surgery?
• How do you optimize pelvic floor surgery recovery time and outcomes?
• How successful is pelvic prolapse surgery, and what can you do post surgery to optimize results?
• How do you find the right pelvic floor surgeon?
• Which questions should you ask the pelvic floor surgeon?
• What if you can’t afford a pelvic floor specialist or surgeon?

Resources:

• Resources and episodes on Pelvic Health

• Resources and episodes on Pregnancy & Motherhood

• Resources and episodes on Perimenopause & Menopause and sign up for the Perimenopause and Menopause newsletter

• Follow Kim Vopni on Instagram
• Buff Muff App
• Free Pelvic Surgery Webinar
• Kim’s Book Your Pelvic Floor
• Study on lower back pain and association with pelvic floor issues
• Watch the Below the Belt film

1. Help others discover Fempower Health:

Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.

2. Stay connected:

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.

Or join our newsletter to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.

**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024**

More about Kim Vopni

Kim Vopni is a self professed pelvic health evangelist and is known as The Vagina Coach. She is a certified fitness professional who wants to end the suffering associated with pelvic floor dysfunction.

She is a published author, a passionate speaker and women’s health educator. Kim is the founder of Pelvienne Wellness Inc - a company offering pelvic health programs products and coaching for women in pregnancy, motherhood and menopause. She also co-founded, grew, and sold a company called Bellies Inc where she created the Ab System – a revolutionary birth prep and recovery system for pregnant women. Her annual event Kegels & Cocktails™ has helped hundreds gain knowledge about pelvic health and her Buff Muff app is ensuring everyone knows how to do kegels and actually does them!

Kim also certifies other fitness and movement professionals to work with women with core and pelvic floor challenges through her Core Confidence Specialist Certification.

You can find her on-line at www.vaginacoach.com and on social media @vaginacoach

**The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.**

**May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**

According to the CDC, overall, the age-adjusted prevalence of osteoporosis among adults aged 50 and over increased from 9.4% in 2007–2008 to 12.6% in 2017–2018 (See this Figure). Osteoporosis prevalence among women increased from 14.0% in 2007–2008 to 19.6% in 2017–2018. And according to this episode’s guest, Dr. Jerilynn Prior, osteoporosis is not something only older women should concern themselves with. It begins in adolescence.

Dr. Jerilynn Prior, of the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research (CeMCOR), is a Professor of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of British Columbia, with 40 years experience in women’s health.  

We discuss the following about bone health.

• What are the foundations for good bone health?
• What causes poor bone health and why is bone health important?
• What are the best vitamins & supplements for bone health? Which forms and doses of them do you need?
• How are the types of foods you eat connected to bone health?
• What causes bones to decrease during adolescence and what can you do to strengthen bones in adolescence?
• Can you reverse bone loss? And is osteoporosis hereditary?
• Your questions about collagen and medications answered!

Resources:

• Follow CeMCOR on Instagram
• CeMCOR Newsletter Signup
• Learn about Progesterone as a Bone-trophic hormone
• Learn about ABCs of Osteoporosis Prevention for Women in Midlife
• Learn about Why do I have Osteoporosis? I’m Way too Young!

• Resources and episodes on Perimenopause & Menopause and sign up for the Perimenopause and Menopause newsletter

• Resources and episodes on Hormones & Menstrual Health

1. Help others discover Fempower Health:

Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.

2. Stay connected:

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.

Or join our newsletter to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.

**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024**

More about Dr. Jerilynn Prior

Jerilynn C. Prior BA, MD, FRCPC investigates women’s menstrual cycles, population variability of ovulation and physiological associations of ovulatory disturbances within regular cycles with osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and breast cancer and endometrial cancer risks. She also studies the hormonal and experience changes in perimenopause and treatment of perimenopausal and menopausal hot flushes with progesterone. 

She is the 2019 recipient of the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Aubrey J. Tingle Prize awarded to a “BC clinician scientist whose work in health research is internationally recognized”. She is Scientific Director of the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research (CeMCOR, since 2002) with its website (www.cemcor.ca) providing practical evidence-based information through a mean of 3,000 page-views/day. She has led the British Columbia Centre of the population-based Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study (CaMos) since 1994. In addition to authoring over 200 peer-reviewed papers (H Index 65), Dr. Prior is the author of the award-winning book, Estrogen’s Storm Season: Stories of Perimenopause (2005, 2nd ed. 2018), a novel written to inform/empower women with perimenopause information.

**The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.**

**May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**

Birth control is a $65 billion industry. However, according to Reya Health, which is helping people find the right birth control for them, 75% of people who use birth control have some sort of side effect and1/3 take 5 methods and 2 years to find the right solution.  

Dallas Barnes, Founder and CEO of Reya Health and Thara Vayali, a Naturopathic Doctor and Medical Advisor, speak about the following to address this challenge.

“It does not have to be behind the gate of the physician that says, “We did not want to tell you that you weren’t actually getting a period.” We can tell people. They can handle it. Then they can make the decisions they want to make.” - Thara Vayali

“In my personal opinion, birth control should not make someone uncomfortable. There is an adjustment period. You want to be prepared for it. If you are experiencing something you are uncomfortable with, let’s have a conversation. What are you going to do about it?” - Dallas Barnes

Follow Reya Health on Instagram

Resources:

If you liked this episode and you're feeling generous, don't forget to leave a review on iTunes or Spotify!

And be sure to:

**The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for information purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor. Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.**

**Contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**

About Reya Health:

A company founded by a birth control user for other birth control users. After experiencing years of grueling trial and error trying to find a suitable contraceptive, Reya's founder and CEO set out to change the way we approach our search. Too often, birth control is seen as a "one-size-fits-all." Of course, we are not all one size. Here at Reya, we put the individual user at the center and create a personalized experience to guide them through their birth control journey. We want everyone using contraceptives (hormonal and non-hormonal) to have personalized and reliable information to make informed decisions for their unique situation.

Dallas Barnes (Founder & CEO):

Dallas is a graduate from Sauder School of Business at UBC. Before Reya, Dallas mentored and coached small businesses, working closely with Indigenous entrepreneurs and helping them form strong business plans and growth strategies. Her negative experience navigating birth control and the notorious trial and error process inspired her to create the solution that she wished she had.

Thara Vayali (Medical Advisor):

Thara is a Naturopathic Doctor with over a decade of experience in women’s reproductive health, contraceptive counseling and female hormonal management. Thara ran a holistic health clinic for 10 years and now oversees technology solutions in clinical contexts. She speaks internationally for health literacy initiatives.

Adeiyewunmi (Ade) Osinubi is a documentary filmmaker, photographer, and a fourth year medical student in Providence, Rhode Island. Her work focuses on sharing the stories of minority populations that often go untold. Her latest is Black Motherhood Through the Lens (check out the trailer), where she explores the lives of 4 black women and their experience through various phases of pregnancy (pre, during and post).

In this episode, Ade sharest the following topics through the stories of black mothers:

Did you know?

As shared by Ade, black women face a multitude of disparities from conception to postpartum and this became even more clear during the pandemic. These disparities are not due to biological differences but they are attributed to systemic bias and inequalities. According to the NIH, maternal mortality has increased during the first year of the pandemic and Black women made up 30% of maternal deaths. 

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Black women are 2x more likely to experience infertility and postpartum mood disorders and statistically less likely to receive care for these conditions. 

“Some people don’t feel comfortable opening up about postpartum because they are worried their child will be taken from them, which has historically happened to black families .” - Ade Osinubi

Follow Ade on Twitter and Instagram

Resources:

If you liked this episode and you're feeling generous, don't forget to leave a review on iTunes or Spotify!

And be sure to:

**The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for information purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor. Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.**

**Contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**

About Ade Osinubi

Adeiyewunmi (Ade) Osinubi is a documentary filmmaker, photographer, and a fourth year medical student in Providence, Rhode Island. Her work focuses on sharing the stories of minority populations that often go untold. At the age of 16, Ade traveled to Mekelle, Ethiopia to co-produce her first documentary. Since then, Ade has produced films educating the public about various health topics in an accessible way. She has written for the Washington Post and Glamour Magazine on topics related to health equity. Her work on the film was also recently recognized in Forbes amongst other places. In the future, Ade hopes to pursue a career in health journalism, using her passion for photography and film to elevate the voices of communities of color.

Guests Michela Bedard of PERIOD. and Claire Coder of Aunt Flow discuss important menstrual health issues. With 50% of the population menstruating, it is shocking to see the degree of inequities that still exist. This podcast episode is intended to raise awareness and instill a sense of urgency about menstrual health equity and why having a shared language around “normal” periods is critical.

**Thank you to Myovant Sciences for sponsoring this episode.**

We cover the following menstrual health issues:

“In the United States, eight states have passed legislation requiring middle schools and high schools, sometimes elementary schools, to offer free period products in the bathroom, not the nurse's office in the bathroom. And why that matters is if you think about what happens in the bathroom versus the nurse's office. Bathrooms are for natural bodily functions. You go to the nurse's office when you're sick.” - Claire Coder, Aunt Flow

“Policy follows culture. We're starting to see culture change. We're starting to see social media deal with menstruation and starting to see more femtech companies pop up. We're seeing Claire's Aunt Flow company be successful. We're seeing hundreds of PERIOD. chapters being formed every year. But the policy implications haven't really caught up yet. They're just starting to.” - Michela Bedard, PERIOD.

Resources:

Spotify Podcast Playlist on Women’s Health Foundations and Menstrual Health

Learn about Menstrual Hygiene Day

**The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for information purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor. Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by this episode’s guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent, nor does it constitute an endorsement by Myovant Sciences of this episode.

About Michela Bedard

Michela Bedard, Executive Director of PERIOD., is committed to building a better future. She believes that every person deserves dignity and the chance to be seen for their full humanity. 

Michela brings nearly two decades of experience in program management, fundraising and advocacy within non-profit, corporate, political and civic organizations. From big-picture creativity to day-to-day operations, Michela produces strategic partnerships and develops robust networks to strengthen organizations and movements seeking to tackle systemic inequality. 

In addition to her work with PERIOD., Michela currently serves as Chair of the Board of Rahab’s Sisters, a Portland non-profit serving marginalized women or those whose gender makes them vulnerable. She also serves on the Governing Board of the Episcopal Bishop of Oregon Foundation, the Oregon Alliance for Gun Safety, and on committees within Portland Public Schools.

Michela holds a master’s degree in Public Administration and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California. 

About Claire Coder

Claire Coder (Forbes 30under30) is the founder and CEO of Aunt Flow. On a mission to make the world better for people with periods, Aunt Flow stocks organizations with tampons and pads. Coder launched her first company at age 16, designed a bag for Vera Bradley that sold out in 24 hours, and has her own line of GIFs. The 24-year-old Thiel Fellow has been featured in TeenVogue, Forbes, and starred in TLC’s Girl Starter Season 1. When she is not jamming out to Macklemore, she is teaching Zumba classes.