Ova spent time with ladies at an all-women’s campus in MN. You will be happy to hear that the campus provides free tampons and pads in all bathrooms. We discussed birth control--selecting the right one, insurance coverage and parental consent.

we continue our conversation with the wonderful physical therapist Beth Stegora from HCMC. We discuss when to seek out a pelvic floor physical therapist, how to find one and what to expect at your first appointment.

Do you pee a little when you sneeze or get sudden urges to pee? How did it feel to have sex after having a baby? Your pelvic floor plays a significant role in sex, urination and bowel movements. We had the opportunity to connect with the wonderful physical therapist, Beth Stegora from Hennepin County Medical Center to learn more about the pelvic floor. In this episode we learn about the pelvic floor and common issues women might experience with the pelvic floor. 

Women looking to treat their fibroids often are often given surgical recommendations such as a hysterectomy. Today we are discussing a non-surgical procedure to treat fibroids called Uterine Fibroids Embolization (UFE) with Dr. Cumming from CDI Vascular Care and Rose McKinney.

Do you know how to do a kegel correctly? Watch this video to find out. Physical therapist Beth Stegora from HCMC gives us tips for how to strengthen our pelvic floor at home.

Wondering which menstrual cup to try? Thinking about replacing your old menstrual cup? Well, Ova worked with 30 women to review the LENA Cup, a newish menstrual cup. 80% of the women who were already using a menstrual cup preferred LENA to their current brand and 90% of the first time users said they would continue to use LENA. Watch the video to learn more. 

After 10 years of using a menstrual cup, here are my thoughts on why some use and don't use them:

The menstrual disc collects fluid like a menstrual cup, but can be worn during intercourse. This product has been around for quite sometime, but there is a resurgence. These are more disposable than the menstrual cup, but are a comfortable alternative to tampons.

When you think back to your last Pap smear or pelvic exam what comes to mind? The frigid, sterile environment? The paper gown? The pinch from the cervical brush? Ova interviewed 43 women about their experiences with Pap smears and pelvic exams. Several themes emerged from these interviews that can help all practitioners improve patient care.

Natalia Hals lived with debilitating abdominal pain for years before she found out she had endometriosis. Doctors suggested pain medication and hormones to mask her symptoms. This year, Natalia found a doctor in Atlanta that specializes in endometriosis and underwent surgery. Learn about Natalia's experience. 

The LENA Cup is a new menstrual cup and one of the few cups produced in the US. After five months of using this cup, I give it two thumbs up. Here are three main reasons I prefer the LENA Cup to the other brands I’ve tried.

Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed at a later stage. The symptoms are more subtle and are often dismissed as period or menopause issues. We connected with two cancer researchers to learn more about innovations in ovarian cancer. Thank you so much Dr. Song and PhD candidate Erica Schnettler from the University of Minnesota for helping us better understand reproductive cancers.

Two cancer researchers from the University of Minnesota, Dr. Song and PhD student Erica Schnettler sat down with Ova to discuss cervical cancer. Good news! The HPV vaccination is decreasing the incidents for cervical cancer in the US.

Every year 98,000 women are diagnosed with gynecological cancer in the US. Ova connected with two cancer researchers from the University of Minnesota Dr. Song and PhD student Erica Schnettler to learn more about these cancers. We focus on uterine cancer in this episode.

I have a love-hate relationship with my Intrauterine Device (IUD). A few years ago, I decided to switch from the Nuva Ring to a long acting reversible contraceptive. Here's my story.