GynoInfo! Frank Talk with Dr. Burki

Pride House Media

Welcome to GynoInfo! - Frank Talk with Dr. Regula Burki - the ultimate podcast for empowering women with essential knowledge about their bodies, gynecology, and navigating the healthcare system confidently. Each week, Dr. Burki dives into women’s health topics, offering expert insights and practical tips to help you understand your body better, prepare for doctor’s appointments, and communicate effectively with healthcare providers. Discover what to expect during gynecological visits, the key information your doctor needs from you, and the vital questions you should ask. With GynoInfo!, you’ll gain the knowledge you need to take charge of your health, advocate for yourself, and get the care you deserve. Join us as we discuss women’s health topics in a frank, clear, relatable, and empowering way - one episode at a time! Subscribe now to GynoInfo! and start your journey to becoming your own best health advocate.

  1. 5d ago ·  Bonus

    Can PCOS Be Treated? Here’s What Works

    This episode is a re‑air and the final (and longest) episode in my 3‑part PCOS series. If you haven’t listened to the first two episodes yet, I highly recommend starting there so this one makes even more sense. In this episode, I focus on treatment — how we manage PCOS symptoms, support weight loss, and help with getting pregnant. I briefly recap what PCOS really is: a hormonal mix‑up that affects ovulation and insulin resistance. That’s what leads to irregular, heavy, or absent periods, acne, excess facial or body hair, scalp hair thinning, weight gain, and fertility challenges. Treatment depends on your goals. If you’re not trying to get pregnant, I explain how combined hormonal birth control works by quieting the ovaries, lowering testosterone, improving acne, helping regulate bleeding, and sometimes even improving insulin resistance. (Keep in mind, it prevents new hair growth but won’t remove existing hair or scars.) If you are trying to conceive, we talk about options like: Lifestyle changes and even modest weight loss (5–10%)Ovulation medications like clomiphene or letrozoleInjectable fertility treatments with ultrasound monitoringI also explain why AMH levels are often high in PCOS and why fertility success rates are generally very good with treatment. A big part of this conversation is insulin resistance. I walk through medications like: Metformin — effective, affordable, generally safe (including in pregnancy), with manageable side effectsGLP‑1 medications — more powerful for weight loss but expensive, weight often returns after stopping, and pregnancy safety is still unclear (so birth control is recommended while using them)If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by PCOS, this episode pulls everything together and walks through your real‑world options.

  2. Jul 21

    Sex After Hysterectomy, HPV vs HSV & Post‑Surgery Odor | OB‑GYN Answers

    In today’s episode of Gyno Info, I’m answering three listener questions that come up all the time in women’s health — but people are often too embarrassed to ask. First, we talk about sex after hysterectomy. When is it actually safe? What happens to sperm after the uterus is removed? And why I usually recommend waiting about 6–8 weeks (sometimes closer to two months) for the vaginal cuff to fully heal. I also share tips on positioning — like why being on top can help you control pressure — and why some sensitivity can last for months after surgery. Next, I break down the difference between HPV vs HSV. These two viruses get confused constantly. I explain what HPV does (abnormal cells, genital warts, cancer risk, Pap smears, and the HPV vaccine) versus HSV (herpes outbreaks, transmission, antivirals, and why it’s not linked to cancer). We also talk about immune clearance and some of the misinformation floating around online. Finally, I address a listener question about severe vaginal odor after hysterectomy. This is not something to ignore. It could be bacterial vaginosis (BV), retained surgical material, or hormonal changes after surgery — especially in menopause — that may require vaginal estrogen or probiotics. If something smells off, get evaluated. My goal is always to give you clear, evidence-based information so you can advocate for your body with confidence. If you find this helpful, subscribe to Gyno Info and share it with someone who needs it. You can write to us at Questions@GynoInfo.net And follow us on Instagram @gynoinfo

  3. Jul 16 ·  Bonus

    Osteoporosis Kills: What Every Woman Needs to Know After Menopause

    This is a bonus episode that is a follow up to this week’s re-airing of another episode on osteoporosis.    Osteoporosis is one of those things people ignore… until someone breaks a hip. And by then, we’re playing catch‑up. Let me say this clearly: osteoporosis is not just “getting older.” It’s real bone loss. And yes — it can absolutely shorten lives. After menopause, when your ovaries stop making estrogen, bone loss speeds up. Fast. What starts as osteopenia (which just means early bone thinning) can turn into full osteoporosis. That’s when bones get fragile enough that a simple fall — or sometimes just bending the wrong way — can cause a fracture. I see this every week. Height loss. Rounded upper backs. Vertebral compression fractures where the spine literally collapses a little. And hip fractures? Those can completely change someone’s independence. In this episode, I walk you through what’s actually happening in your bones after menopause and how we diagnose it with a DEXA scan (that’s the bone density test). I also explain why you don’t feel osteoporosis happening — it’s silent until something breaks. The good news? There is a LOT you can do. We talk about prevention starting way earlier than people think — even in the teen years. Protein matters. Calcium matters. Vitamin D matters (but more isn’t always better). Strength training and weight‑bearing exercise are huge. And balance training reduces falls, which reduces fractures. Then I break down treatment options in plain English. Some medications slow bone breakdown (like bisphosphonates and raloxifene). Some build new bone (like the daily injection anabolic medications). Some do a little of both. We talk about Prolia and why you can’t just stop it abruptly without a plan. And yes — we talk about estrogen, which is the most natural treatment for bone loss and also helps with other menopausal symptoms. My goal with this episode is simple: I don’t want you to wait for a fracture to take your bone health seriously. If you’re postmenopausal, nearing menopause, have a family history of osteoporosis, or you’re wondering whether you need a DEXA scan — this episode is for you. Your bones are your frame. Protect them. You can write to us at Questions@GynoInfo.net And follow us on:  Instagram @gynoinfo

  4. Jul 14

    Is the Placebo Effect Real? The Science Explained by Dr. Burki

    What is a placebo, and is the placebo effect real?  In this episode of Gyno Info, I answer a listener’s question and explain what placebos actually are. The word “placebo” comes from Latin and means “I shall please.” Historically, it referred to a sugar pill or inactive treatment given when no real therapy was available. Today, giving a placebo without a patient’s knowledge is considered unethical because it involves deception — and trust is essential in medicine. That said, the placebo effect itself is very real. When you believe a treatment will help, your brain can release endorphins, reduce stress, and even decrease pain processing on imaging studies. I discuss examples like fake aspirin relieving headaches and studies where patients couldn’t tell the difference between real numbing medication and salt water because they expected relief.  The placebo effect can improve symptoms like pain, anxiety, depression, insomnia, nausea, and IBS — but it cannot treat serious conditions like cancer, infections, or medical emergencies. Belief is powerful, but it does not replace evidence‑based care. I also explain the ethical uses of placebos today, including reminder pills in birth control packs and double‑blind, placebo‑controlled drug trials, which help us determine whether medications truly work.  The takeaway is simple: belief and trust matter, but honesty and real medical treatment always come first. You can write to us at Questions@GynoInfo.net And follow us on Instagram @gynoinfo

  5. Jul 14

    Why Is My Grandma Shrinking? Postmenopausal Osteoporosis Explained

    This is a re‑airing of one of the most important episodes I’ve done — because postmenopausal osteoporosis is something I see every single week in practice, and most women don’t realize it’s happening until it’s too late. If you’ve ever noticed your grandmother or mother getting shorter, developing a rounded upper back, or seeming more fragile over time, this episode explains why. After menopause — which happens on average around age 52 — estrogen levels drop, and that changes how your bones remodel. Bone resorption starts to outpace bone formation. In plain English? You lose bone faster than you build it. That’s how osteopenia progresses to osteoporosis. In this episode, I break down the difference between osteopenia vs. osteoporosis, what low‑trauma fractures really mean, and why hip fractures, wrist fractures, and vertebral compression fractures are such a big deal in older women. We talk about vertebral wedge fractures — the small spinal collapses that cause height loss, that classic “dowager’s hump,” and even reduced lung and abdominal space that can affect breathing and digestion. Osteoporosis is often called a silent disease because you don’t feel bone loss happening. Most women find out after a fracture. And unfortunately, hip fractures especially can dramatically affect independence and long‑term survival. The good news? Osteoporosis prevention is possible. In this episode I walk through: How much calcium women actually need (1,000–1,200 mg daily)Safe vitamin D dosing (600–1,000 IU — and why more isn’t always better)Why adequate protein intake matters for bone strengthThe importance of weight‑bearing and resistance exerciseMajor osteoporosis risk factorsHow we diagnose bone loss with a DEXA scanHow the FRAX score estimates 10‑year fracture riskWe also touch on estrogen and hormone therapy as part of the larger conversation around menopause and bone health — something I’ll cover more deeply in another episode. If you’re postmenopausal, approaching menopause, have a family history of osteoporosis, or are wondering whether you need a DEXA scan, this is essential information. Bone health after menopause is not cosmetic. It’s structural. It’s survival. If this episode helps you, send it to your mom, your aunt, your sister — prevention works best when we start early. You can write to us at Questions@GynoInfo.net And follow us on:  Instagram @gynoinfo

5
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7 Ratings

About

Welcome to GynoInfo! - Frank Talk with Dr. Regula Burki - the ultimate podcast for empowering women with essential knowledge about their bodies, gynecology, and navigating the healthcare system confidently. Each week, Dr. Burki dives into women’s health topics, offering expert insights and practical tips to help you understand your body better, prepare for doctor’s appointments, and communicate effectively with healthcare providers. Discover what to expect during gynecological visits, the key information your doctor needs from you, and the vital questions you should ask. With GynoInfo!, you’ll gain the knowledge you need to take charge of your health, advocate for yourself, and get the care you deserve. Join us as we discuss women’s health topics in a frank, clear, relatable, and empowering way - one episode at a time! Subscribe now to GynoInfo! and start your journey to becoming your own best health advocate.