Fempower Health | A Women's Health Podcast

By Georgie KovacsHealth & Fitness Education

Fempower Health | A Women's Health Podcast episodes

April 05, 2021Fertility Treatments: Navigating the Exorbitant Costs | Barb Collura of RESOLVE
Infertility treatments are costly. Even with companies offering coverage, those trying to build families need to prepare for the financial obligations ahead. Barb Collura, the President/CEO of Resolve: The National Infertility Association, walks us through what you need to do to prepare.
In this episode, Barb covers:
What RESOLVE does to support those building their families
Types of insurance coverage to support fertility treatments
How you can impact your company's coverage and State Mandates
Alternative ways to pay for the cost of fertility treatments

Resources
National Infertility Awareness Week
Information on Insurance Coverage
Resolve's Facebook Group
Find Support
State mandates
Resources and episodes on Fertility and Trying to Conceive

🎧 Loved the episode? Here's how you can take action:

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 Barb Collura and RESOLVE
Barbara is a nationally recognized expert on infertility and the family building journey, with a special emphasis on the personal experience of those struggling to build their family. She has worked with The WHO on infertility definitions and clinical guidelines, worked with ACOG on their clinical definitions for infertility, and served on the Advisory Council of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at NIH. Barbara is an expert on public policy issues facing the infertility community that impact both patient access and clinical care. She has been a guest on the TODAY Show, MSNBC, Fox & Friends, and Nightline. She is routinely quoted in major media outlets on a variety of topics related to infertility. In 2014, Barbara received the Distinguished Service Award from the ASRM. Barbara is passionate about RESOLVE's mission as the organization was a source of support and information during her own battle with infertility. She can be reached directly at [email protected].

**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**
47 min
March 29, 2021How to Talk to Your Doctor | Christie VanHorne
Patients and doctors must collaborate for a successful office visit and ongoing relationship. Public health expert, Christie VanHorne, shares important tips for both patients and doctors on how to successfully navigate the conversation that neither were trained on how to do.
In this episode, Christie covers:
The history behind why women tend to be dismissed
How to find a doctor to meet your needs
How to prepare for and optimize your doctor appointments
Lessons for both patients and doctors
What you can do if you have a bad appointment

NOTE: I made a reference to 2 types of HPV. To clarify, there are multiple HPV types but 2 that indicate a high risk of cervical cancer.
Resources:
Courses for patients, parents, and professionals
Find a Doctor

🎧 Loved the episode? Here's how you can take action:

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 Christie VanHorne
Christie is the President of CVH Consulting and founder of How to Talk to Your Doctor, a project that aims to address health literacy with patients and health professionals. As a consultant, Christie develops health curriculum, leads train-the-trainers for nonprofit and healthcare professionals, and facilitates community coalitions and working groups to improve health outcomes.

With 20 years of experience in the health sector, two masters (Education / Public Health), service in the Peace Corps, and appearances on numerous health-focused podcasts, Christie is passionate about bringing her expertise where it is most needed. Christie has consulted for organizations such as the Hemophilia Federation of America, Temple University, National Environmental Health Association, Malcolm X College, Multiple Sclerosis Association, United Way, and Planned Parenthood. She lives in the beautiful Hudson Valley, NY with her husband and two dogs.

**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**
35 min
March 08, 2021Endometriosis: Lessons from a Patient and Advocate | Melissa Boudreau
Endometriosis impacts 1 in 10 women and takes an average of 7-10 years to diagnose. Given it is Endometriosis Awareness Month, I thought this was the perfect time to hear from Melissa Boudreau.
As an advocate for women’s health, Melissa Boudreau, uses her free time to increase awareness about endometriosis, through her podcast, The Cycle.
Melissa shares:
Her endometriosis story
Suggestions for finding the right doctor for you
Themes she's learned through her advocacy work and podcast
Tools to support you in your journey

Resources:
Nancy's Nook
Endometropolis
I Care Better
Body Belief by Aimee Raupp
Gluten free apple cider donuts recipe
Recommended Books on Chronic and Autoimmune Diseases

Resources and episodes on Endometriosis

Resources and episodes on Autoimmune & Chronic Disease

🎧 Loved the episode? Here's how you can take action:

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 Melissa Boudreau
Melissa Boudreau grew up in Detroit, MI, and is a lover of Detroit, the Caribbean, NYC, and Michigan. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Management from Ashford University and a Master of Arts in Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communications from Michigan State University. Melissa is considered an expert in social media marketing, print media and certified in YouTube and Google AdWords through the Michigan State New Media Driver’s License.

Melissa and her husband, Bryan, reside in Royal Oak, MI, and together enjoy traveling, Detroit Lions football, and of course, going to the movies.

**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**
48 min
March 01, 2021When Intimacy Hurts: Solutions for Chronic Vulvar Pain | Dr Jill Krapf
Listen as Dr. Jill Krapf shares insights about vulvodynia, a condition that affects millions of women with chronic vulvar pain.
Episode Summary
In this enlightening episode of the Fempower Health Podcast, host Georgie Kovacs sits down with Dr. Jill Krapf to discuss the complexities of vulvodynia, a condition affecting millions of women worldwide. Dr. Krapf explains the various aspects of vulvar pain, offering deep insights into its causes, symptoms, and possible treatments. Learn as she sheds light on a topic that’s often covered in mystery and misdiagnosis and empowers women with knowledge on how to address this condition.
Key Takeaways
What is vulvodynia, how common is it, and how to raise awareness among patients and healthcare providers
Challenges in diagnosing vulvodynia and stories of women who visit multiple healthcare providers without receiving proper care
Vulvodynia treatment and management options such as hormonal, physical, and nerve-related therapies
The importance of improving women’s outcomes through education about sexual health symptoms, intimacy concerns, and vulva pain
Ways to encourage dialogue between patients and healthcare professionals
How to access vulvodynia specialists and other experts for individualized treatment
Ways to make the most of available healthcare resources and develop a vulvodynia self-care plan

“When a woman comes to me and she says, 'I have burning, irritation, rawness, discomfort in this area, mainly with insertion, with intimacy, with sex,' but also, she may have discomfort at other times too—maybe inserting a tampon is uncomfortable, or maybe it's completely unprovoked, meaning you don't even have to touch the area, but just wearing tight clothing or simply sitting can be painful. These symptoms indicate a complexity that requires a thorough examination and personalized approach to treatment.” - Dr. Jill Krapf
Related to this episode:
Resources on Sexual Health
Learn more about Dr. Jill Krapf and follow her on Instagram
Learn about Centers for Vulvovaginal Disorders - Offers comprehensive information and resources on vulvar pain.
Check out International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health (ISSWSH) - Provides educational resources for providers and patients.

🎧 Loved the episode? Here's how you can take action:

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**

Guest Bio
Dr. Jill Krapf is a board-certified Obstetrician Gynecologist specializing in female sexual pain disorders at The Center for Vulvovaginal Disorders in Washington, D.C and Florida. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at The George Washington University. Dr. Krapf is active in research and has published chapters and peer-reviewed articles on vulvodynia and vulvar lichen sclerosus. She is Associate Editor for the medical journal Sexual Medicine, as well as for the textbook Female Sexual Pain Disorders, 2nd Edition. She is a Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH), serving on the Education Committee and the Social Media Committee. She shares educational content on her Instagram page @jillkrapfmd.

**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**
51 min
February 22, 2021 Birth Control: Could It Be? Phexxi - An Innovative non-Hormonal Option | Saundra Pelletier
This episode is the third in a three-episode series on birth control. In Season 1, experts shared interesting views on how one should view birth control to support their health and lifestyle needs, so I wanted to dig further. The series covers an MD view as well as a period expert's perspective. This is the last episode of the series, we have from Saundra Pelletier about an innovative, hormone-free birth control.
Saundra sits at the head of Evofem Biosciences, a female- forward company revolutionizing women’s healthcare with game-changing products, including Phexxi, the first – and highly anticipated – hormone-free, prescription, on-demand female contraceptive gel.
If you liked this episode and you're feeling generous, don't forget to leave a review on iTunes!
In this episode, Saundra shares:
Why Phexxi was developed
How Phexxi works
What women who have used Phexxi have to say
Check out the following referenced in this episode:
Interview with Dr Sophia Yen, co-founder of Pandia Health
Interview with Dr Lara Briden, The Period Revolutionary
Interview with Nicole Jardim, The Period Girl
Dr Lara Briden's book, Period Repair Manual
Nicole Jardim's book, Fix Your Period
And be sure to:
Follow Fempower Health on Instagram for updates and tips.
Follow the podcast and tell your friends!
Shop the Fempower Health store, which has many products discussed on the podcast.
Sponsors:
ReceptivaDx the sponsor of all of Season 2. Provide code FEMPOWER-HEALTH for $75 off.
Gemmist. Provide code FEMPOWER for 15% off
More About Saundra Pelletier
Saundra Pelletier is a mother, daughter, CEO and trailblazer. Undoubtedly and unapologetically, Saundra is one of the most dynamic women in today’s healthcare industry. She sits at the head of Evofem Biosciences, a female- forward company revolutionizing women’s healthcare with game-changing products, including Phexxi, the first – and highly anticipated – hormone-free, prescription, on-demand female contraceptive gel.
At her core, Saundra is a passionate advocate for women’s wellness and empowerment. She is a leader in the boardroom and beyond, using her experience, voice and vision for real, progressive change for women. Saundra is a force of energy that blends substance and excitement with straight talk and strong opinions. Never mind being a breast cancer survivor who fought the illness as she remained solidly at the helm of Evofem, securing $400+ million and achieving FDA approval. All while raising a son as a single mother.
Disclaimer:
“Do not use Phexxi if you have problems with your urinary tract or a history of repeated UTIs. Vaginal burning, itching, infection, and discharge, UTIs, genital area discomfort, bacterial vaginosis, or pain while urinating may occur. For more information about Phexxi, talk to your doctor and see product information at Phexxi.com.”
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/fempowerhealth)
30 min
February 15, 2021 The Birth Control Controversy: The Period Expert Perspective | Nicole Jardim
This episode is the second in a three-episode series on birth control. In Season 1, experts shared interesting views on how one should view birth control to support their health and lifestyle needs, so I wanted to dig further. The series covers an MD view as well as an innovation in birth control.
In this second episode of the series, we hear from Nicole Jardim, a Certified Women’s Health Coach, writer, speaker, mentor, and the creator of Fix Your Period, a series of programs that empower women to reclaim their hormone health.
In this episode, Nicole Jardim responds with her perspectives on birth control and statements made during my interview with Dr Sophia Yen.
Is it OK to not have your period?
Could birth control mask symptoms?
How do you choose the right birth control for you?
If you liked this episode and you're feeling generous, don't forget to leave a review on iTunes!
Check out the following referenced in this episode:
Interview with Dr Sophia Yen
Interview with Dr Lara Briden
Nicole's book, Fix Your Period
Dr Lara Briden's book, Period Repair Manual
Lisa Hendrickson-Jack's book, The Fifth Vital Sign
How Healing Works
And be sure to:
Follow Fempower Health on Instagram for updates and tips.
Subscribe to the podcast and tell your friends!
More about Nicole Jardim
Nicole's Fix Your Period program empowers women to reclaim their hormone health using a method that combines evidence-based information with simplicity and sass. Her work has impacted the lives of tens of thousands of women around the world in effectively addressing a wide variety of period problems, including PMS, irregular periods, PCOS, painful & heavy periods, missing periods and many more.
Nicole is the author of Fix Your Period: 6 Weeks to Banish Bloating, Conquer Cramps, Manage Moodiness, and Ignite Lasting Hormone Balance, and the co-author of The Happy Balance, a recipe book filled with over 80 hormone balancing recipes. Finally, she’s the co-host of The Period Party, a top-rated podcast on iTunes—be sure to tune into that if you want to learn more about how to fix your period—and has been called on as a women’s health expert for sites such as The Guardian, Well+Good, mindbodygreen.
27 min
February 08, 2021 The Birth Control Controversy: An MD Perspective | Dr Sophia Yen
This episode is part of a three-episode series on birth control. In Season 1, experts shared interesting views on how one should view birth control to support their health and lifestyle needs, so I wanted to dig further. The series covers alternate views as well as an innovation in birth control. In this first episode of the series, we hear from Dr Sophia Yen, Co-Founder of PandiaHealth.com, birth control delivery.
In this episode, Dr Yen covers:
Whether adolescents are put on the pill too early or not
How the pill may or many not impact your health including fertility, cancer, PCOS
Hormone variations across birth control pills
The Pill vs. IUD
How to decide what is right for you
If you liked this episode and you're feeling generous, don't forget to leave a review on iTunes!
Check out the following referenced in this episode:
Interview with Dr Lara Briden
Dr Lara Briden's book, Period Repair Manual
Dr Beverly Strassman, who studies the Dogon tribe
How Healing Works
And be sure to.....
Follow Fempower Health on Instagram for updates and tips.
Subscribe to the podcast and tell your friends!
More about Dr. Sophia Yen
Sophia Yen, M.D., M.P.H. is the CEO and Co-Founder of PandiaHealth.com, birth control delivery. She has a passion for making women’s lives easier and preventing unplanned pregnancies and co-founded Pandia Health because she believes no one should suffer from “pill anxiety” - the fear of running out of birth control and the stress of having to obtain birth control each month.
Educating the public about cutting-edge, evidence-based medicine, she has spoken at SXSW, TEDxBerkeley, TEDxSiliconValleyWomen, high schools, Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula and lectured physicians and students at various academic institutions from Stanford Medical School to UCLA Internal Medicine to UC Riverside to MIT and more.
54 min
February 01, 2021Preventing the Most Preventable Cancer | Dr. Miriam Cremer
Dr Miriam Cremer is founder of Basic Health International, which exists to eliminate cervical cancer on a global level through cutting edge research for the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer in low resource settings. Dr. Cremer, founded Basic Health after seeing first hand the devastating impact of this devastating yet preventable cancer can have on women.
In this episode, Dr. Cremer covers:

What cervical cancer is

What causes cervical cancer and how you can prevent it

How the HPV vaccine can help (and she addresses fears about it)

Why women of color and immigrants are most impacted

The future of testing and how it can transform the transgender population

"It's very rare to find a cancer where you have a precursor, you have a vaccine for it, and you have a place you can reach. An organ you can get at and treat right away. We have all these tools. Why is it that women are dying of cervical cancer?" - Dr Miriam Cremer

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

As mentioned on the podcast:

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC)

HPV screening tests coming soon: cobas and Onclarity

Research for transgender men

WHO this year has called for elimination of cervical cancer

And be sure to.....

Follow Fempower Health on Instagram for updates and tips.

Check out these Fempower Health Podcast Playlists for your favorite topics.

**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.

May contain affiliate links
36 min
January 25, 2021Could Your Unresolved Symptoms Be a Thyroid Condition? | Denise Roguz
It's Thyroid Awareness Month. Whether you know you have a thyroid condition or have symptoms you can't seem to find the right answers to resolve them, this episode is for you.
Denise Roguz is the co-founder, owner, and operator of ThyroidChange. It is a collaborative network, health information website, and social media campaign. It unites an international community of medical professionals and patients under the same innovative vision: patients need personalized thyroid care for optimal wellness.
Her passion stemming from her own 17 years journey to get diagnosed and treated for her condition shines through in this episode which promises to open your eyes, educate you, and empower you on your journey.
"TSH is not the only test. It's one piece of the puzzle of maybe how or why your thyroid is working, but it's not the only one. So the question is, how do I know how my doctor is interpreting the labs?" - Denise Roguz
In this episode we cover:
Why thyroid conditions are hard to diagnose
What tests your doctor should order - it's more than TSH
Types of thyroid conditions
What to expect once you are diagnosed

Resources
Talk to your doctor printable PDF
Recommended Books on Chronic and Autoimmune Diseases

Resources and episodes on Thyroid Disease

🎧 Loved the episode? Here's how you can take action:

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**

**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**
31 min
January 22, 2021Season 2 Trailer | Here's What's Ahead
Welcome to the Fempower Health Podcast Season 2, where I interview experts answering your health questions.

The Problem:
How are doctors supposed to effectively guide women when clinical trial funding is limited for women's health, existing data is limited, and many trials are run on men? Women are left dealing with symptom they grin and bear and/or spend years searching for answers.

The Solution:
I interview top experts in their field to educate and empower women on their health journey. We cover periods, pregnancy, menopause, infertility, endometriosis, sexual health and more.

Take a listen to this trailer to preview what's coming in Season 2.

If you liked this podcast and you're feeling generous, don't forget to leave a review on iTunes!
Follow Fempower Health on Instagram for updates and tips.
Subscribe to the podcast.
7 min

About Fempower Health | A Women's Health Podcast

From the publisher's feed

Fempower Health is where systems thinking meets women's health. Hosted by Georgie Kovacs, a healthcare strategist with 20+ years in the industry, each episode features conversations with leading researchers, clinicians, and innovators working to fix what's broken in women's healthcare. We cover hormone health, fertility, perimenopause, menopause, endometriosis, autoimmune disease, mental health, and sexual wellness, grounded in current research and real clinical practice. This isn't another wellness show. It's an evidence-based look at the systems, research, and policy shaping care for women, so you understand not just what's happening, but why.