Determinants of Her Health

Allie Felker
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

Exploring the systmes affecting women's health and how we can shape them

  1. Oct 1

    Pelvic Floor Health with Ingrid Harm-Ernandes

    In this episode, I talk with Ingrid Harm-Ernandes, pelvic floor physical therapist and author of The Musculoskeletal Mystery: How to Solve Your Pelvic Floor Symptoms. We explore the pelvic floor and why dysfunction can cause symptoms far beyond urinary incontinence and sexual pain, including pain that can extend from the lower back to the knees. Ingrid explains the difference between weak and overactive pelvic floor muscles, and why some people experience both tightness and weakness. We also discuss painful sex, the importance of identifying its underlying cause, and why Ingrid has banned the word “Kegel” from her practice. Proper pelvic floor contraction and relaxation are more nuanced than many people realize. Finally, we zoom out to examine systemic barriers to pelvic floor physical therapy, including limited insurance coverage, and how expanding access to care could improve outcomes for patients. Ingrid’s book helps women better understand and describe their symptoms so they can advocate for appropriate care. Learn more about the bipartisan legislation to increase access to pelvic floor therapy here: https://www.apta.org/article/2025/06/24/apta-champions-return-bill-expand-access-pelvic-health-physical-therapy Find Ingrid on Instagram: @harmernandes LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ingrid-harm-ernandes-5057773b/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ingrid.harmernandes.71/   and the book: “The Musculoskeletal Mystery: How to solve your pelvic floor symptoms” https://desertharvest.com/shop/the-musculoskeletal-mystery-how-to-solve-your-pelvic-floor-symptoms Ms. Harm-Ernandes has been a physical therapist for over 40 years and began specializing in Women’s Health 30 years ago. She was the Co-Director and a mentor for the Duke Women’s Health Physical Therapy Residency Program, mentor for new pelvic PTs, and participated in PFDN research. She is board certified in Women’s Health (WCS) and served on committees for both the APTA and AUGS. She published “Assessment of the Pelvic Floor and Associated Musculoskeletal System”, in the FPMRS journal in December 2021. In 2021 she published her book, “The Musculoskeletal Mystery: How to solve your pelvic floor symptoms”. Ingrid also served on committees for both the APTA and AUGS and is a member of the Medical Advisory Committee of the National Menopause Foundation. In addition to national and international speaking engagements, Ingrid has been featured in magazines, podcasts, webinars, on WRAL news, and is “The Pelvic Detective” on YouTube.

  2. Sep 17

    Menopause in the Workplace - Gina Thomas and Dr. Sarah Berg

    Menopause can have a significant impact on women’s careers, yet many women feel unsupported or misunderstood in the workplace. Symptoms like brain fog, mood changes, and rage can be met with judgment rather than understanding. Dr. Sarah Berg, a board-certified OBGYN and menopause-certified practitioner, created Selfority to educate and empower women around menopause and women’s health. Gina Thomas, a healthcare professional with more than 40 years of experience, shares her firsthand perspective on navigating menopause and the healthcare system. Together, they discuss the unique challenges of perimenopause, why symptoms can vary so widely, and how brain fog can affect women’s confidence and ability to advance professionally. We also explore the financial cost of menopause in the workplace, estimated at $26.6 billion annually in the U.S. Creating better outcomes requires more education, research, and policy change. And menopause education isn’t just for women experiencing it. It’s for all of us. To learn more, you can visit the Selfority website: www.selfority.com Also check out Dr. Berg’s menopause courses: www.selfority.com/menopause-course You can also follow Selfority on LinkedIn and Instagram @selfority You can find Gina Thomas on Instagram @gkthomas10 and on LinkedIn and Facebook as Gina Thomas Dr. Sarah Berg, MD, FACOG, MSCP is a board-certified OB-GYN with more than a decade of clinical practice. She is among a small number of OG-GYNs in the U.S. who also hold practitioner certification from The Menopause Society. After years of spending time in the clinical environment seeing capable women quietly assume they were managing menopause alone, she founded Selfority to close the information gap her patients kept describing. Through Selfority, Dr. Berg translates evidence-based, clinical-grade guidance into clear, actionable education women can use in life, the workplace, and the exam room to get back to feeling better. Gina Thomas, MBA, BSN, RN is a passionate healthcare executive who has served in a number of leadership roles across for profit and non for profit healthcare companies. She most recently served as the Chief Development and Public Relations Officer at Nobis. Gina has witnessed too many personal healthcare debacles and tragedies due to ‘fragmentation’ and lack of trusted information. She is on a mission to fix ‘what’s wrong’ in healthcare through the eyes of a patient, using a forensic approach and as a patient advocate. Today her primary focus is on women’s health as her way to ‘pay it forward’ and give back to friends and family. Grounded from a clinical perspective based on over 40 years of healthcare, operational, consulting, and development expertise, Gina desires to serves as a ‘health coach’ to those navigating how to each their best health.Learn more about Gina through her Linktree. https://www.instagram.com/gkthomas10?utm_source=qr

  3. Sep 3

    Inequity in Medicine - Dr. Teni Brown

    In this episode, I chat with Dr. Teni Brown, a board-certified urogynaecologist, pelvic reconstructive surgeon, and researcher. We discuss overactive bladder, a condition affecting roughly one in three women, and the impact it can have on quality of life. Dr. Brown shares why she is passionate about breaking the stigma surrounding pelvic health and educating women about their pelvic floors. We also dive into her research published in JAMA Network Open, which uncovered a significant racial disparity in overactive bladder treatment: non-Hispanic Black patients were nearly six times more likely to receive anticholinergic medications over the safer beta-3 agonist alternative. We explore the potential reasons behind this disparity, including medication costs, physician education, and access to newer treatments. Dr. Brown also shares an exciting policy victory in Illinois, where beta-3 agonists were added to the Medicaid preferred drug list in 2025. This conversation highlights the importance of pelvic health education, equitable access to medications, and improving quality of life for women. You can find Dr. Brown on Instagram @teni_brown_md Dr. Teni Brown is a board certified Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive surgeon and scientist at an academic medical center. Her clinical interests include management of pelvic floor disorders including urinary incontinence and vaginal prolapse. Her research focuses on using patient- centered and equity-based approaches to build patients, community, and research collaborations to develop and sustain multi-level interventions to address inequities in care for pelvic floor disorders. Here is a list of the two drug classes: Anticholinergics: Oxybutynin (Ditropan), tolterodine (Detrol), solifenacin (Vesicare), darifenacin (Enablex), fesoterodine (Toviaz), and trospium (Sanctura) Beta 3 agonists: Mirabegron (Myrbetriq) and Vibegron (Gemtesa)

  4. Aug 20

    Before a Breath Documentary Recap

    In this episode, I recap ProPublica’s documentary Before a Breath, which explores the stillbirth crisis in the United States. After my son Hank was stillborn in 2020, I became an advocate for stillbirth prevention and served as Policy Director for PUSH for Empowered Pregnancy, where I worked to advance legislation and raise awareness. The conversation around stillbirth is beginning to change. Prevention efforts, research, and increased public health attention are creating opportunities to improve care for families and reduce preventable stillbirths. Sharing stories and supporting prevention organizations can help ensure that no family has to experience this loss in silence. Follow the Determinants of Her Health Podcast on Instagram @determinants.pod Learn more about stillbirth prevention: www.pushpregnancy.org Learn more about Count the Kicks:countthekicks.org Watch the Before a Breath Documentary: www.propublica.org/article/before-a-breath-stillbirth-documentary

  5. Aug 6

    Lipedema - Andrea Giancontieri

    Andrea Giancanteri, founder and CEO of The Whiny GYNie, joins me to discuss lipedema, a chronic connective tissue disease that affects millions of women yet remains widely misunderstood. Andrea shares how both she and her mother spent years searching for answers before finally receiving a diagnosis, highlighting the challenges many women face when healthcare providers mistake lipedema for obesity or simple weight gain. Lipedema is a hereditary, hormone-mediated disease that causes painful, disproportionate fat accumulation, inflammation, and swelling, most commonly in the legs and arms. Unlike obesity, lipedema fat does not respond to diet and exercise in the same way and often progresses during periods of hormonal change such as puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. Andrea explains how the lack of physician awareness leaves many women feeling dismissed, blamed, and untreated for years. Andrea also shares her experience undergoing lipedema reduction surgery and discusses current treatment options, including compression therapy, manual lymphatic drainage, low-impact exercise, and GLP-1 medications. We explore emerging research into the condition, its connection to other disorders, and why increasing awareness is essential to improving diagnosis and access to care. Beyond her personal journey, Andrea has become a passionate advocate for legislative change. She discusses her work expanding insurance coverage for lipedema treatment, offers practical advice for individuals interested in policy advocacy, and reminds listeners that meaningful change often begins with simply sharing your story. If you think you may have lipedema, Andrea recommends seeking out providers with experience treating the condition and utilizing trusted resources from organizations like the Lipedema Foundation and Cleveland Clinic. Andrea Giancontieri is the Founder and CEO of The Whiny GYNie LLC, a women’s health advocacy and education platform dedicated to helping people navigate perimenopause, menopause, and the often-overlooked health conditions that disproportionately affect women. Diagnosed with Stage 3 lipedema in 2016, Andrea has spent years navigating the challenges of diagnosis, treatment, surgery, and long-term disease management. Through The Whiny GYNie, she combines her personal experience with a passion for patient advocacy, empowering individuals to ask better questions, seek evidence-based care, and advocate for themselves within the healthcare system. Andrea is a frequent speaker, writer, and women’s health advocate focused on increasing awareness of lipedema, menopause, and the gaps that continue to exist in women’s healthcare. Resources: https://www.lipedema.org https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17175-lipedema https://thewhinygynie.com/ Coming soon: https://1in9women.com/ Find Andrea on Instagram and TikTok @the_whiny_gynie

  6. Jul 23

    Breast Health - Lisa Malia Norman

    More than half of women have dense breast tissue, yet many are never told what that means for their breast cancer risk or screening options. In this episode, Lisa Malia, founder of For the Love of Cups, explains why dense breast tissue is both an independent risk factor for breast cancer and a challenge for detecting cancer on a mammogram. We discuss the barriers many women face after receiving a dense breast tissue notification, including inconsistent insurance coverage, delays in follow-up care, and a lack of patient education. Lisa also shares how her own breast cancer diagnosis inspired her advocacy for policies and healthcare systems that improve access to supplemental screening. Whether you're preparing for your first mammogram or looking to better understand your breast cancer risk, this episode provides practical information to help you advocate for your health and navigate the next steps after screening. Please share this with a friend to help raise awareness on supplemental screening for dense breast tissue.  Lisa Malia Norman is a women’s health and wellness leader and educator, breast cancer survivor, mama, and nonprofit CEO ending disparities and delay of care in breast cancer screening for women with dense breast tissue. She is the Founder of Evoke Feminine Leadership Institute and an embodied leadership coach, helping people connect to their innate wisdom, trust their intuition and embody their sacred purpose so they can step into matriarchal leadership to access a life of deep satisfaction, clarity and unapologetic joy. She earned a Master of Science in Midwifery and practiced for many years as a Midwife supporting women during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. After her breast cancer diagnosis in 2014 Lisa expanded her services and shifted her focus toward breast density notification policies, access to care and a more holistic approach to supporting people facing breast cancer. You can find Lisa on Instagram: @lisamalia.evoke and on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisamalianorman/ and learn more through these resources: The Clear Pathways Program Breast Health Resources: https://www.breastdensitysummit.org/clear-pathways-resources-research The Breast Density Summit: https://www.breastdensitysummit.org/summit-registration

  7. Jul 16

    Perimenopause with Dr Lillian Medhus

    In this episode, Dr. Lillian Medhus explains perimenopause and why this transition into menopause can feel as significant as puberty. We discuss the hormonal changes behind common symptoms like sleep disturbances, anxiety, brain fog, hot flashes, heavier periods, and the often-overlooked feeling of simply "not feeling like yourself." Dr. Medhus shares why comprehensive hormone evaluation is important, the differences between natural and synthetic hormone therapies, and how lifestyle factors such as sleep, nutrition, and exercise can support women through this stage of life. We also explore the larger systemic challenges surrounding perimenopause, including limited research, gaps in medical education, and why improving provider knowledge is essential for better women's health care. Dr. Lillian Medhus is a Doctor of Nursing Practice, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. She is the owner & lead NP at Aspire Women’s Wellness, a boutique women’s health practice focused on conditions that are overlooked & undertreated. She provides holistic women’s healthcare for those struggling with hormonal conditions such as perimenopause, endometriosis, PMOS, and sexual dysfunction. She blends functional & conventional medicine to help women thrive. She has extensive post-graduate training in trauma-informed care, hormone management, functional medicine, and sexual dysfunction. Her own health journey guides her work as she strives to provide the care that she needed! Follow Aspire Women’s Wellness on Instagram: @aspirewomenswellness and online: www.aspirewomenswellness.com Resources: www.menopause.org Let’s Talk Menopause | Symptoms | Education | Advocacy Menopause Symptom Tracker | ACOG www.isswsh.org NMF_MenopauseSymptomChecklist_FINAL_fillableform_6-3-23.pdf Books: Estrogen Matters The New Perimenopause

  8. Jul 9

    PMDD with Phoebe Williams

    In this episode, Phoebe Williams, founder of the PMDD Project, shares her journey to being diagnosed with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) and discusses why so many people struggle to receive an accurate diagnosis.  We discuss how PMDD can affect mood, identity, relationships, and daily life, as well as the importance of symptom tracking, finding knowledgeable healthcare providers, and exploring treatment options. Phoebe also highlights the urgent need for greater awareness, research, and education so fewer people suffer without answers. Resources: The PMDD Project: https://thepmddproject.org/ Instagram: @thepmddproject The PMDD Project Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@the-pmdd-project  The PMDD Project Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CcCRdx1R3dGA0NIxhziEc?si=e4060aad1e594b88  International Association for Premenstrual Disorders (IAPMD): https://www.iapmd.org/

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Exploring the systmes affecting women's health and how we can shape them

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