HEALTH MATTERS ADVERTORIAL
Should I be concerned about my daughter’s irregular cycles? Most girls starting to have menstrual cycles have a lot of irregularity in their first two or three years. The scientific reason behind this has to do with immaturity of the pituitary-ovarian axis. In other words, the brain and the ovaries have not yet learned to interpret hormonal signals correctly. Most young women will grow out of this as they get to be 14-16 years old. Unfortunately, many girls, as well as their mothers, are told that they need to be on hormonal suppression therapy (oral or injectable contraceptives) before their brain has even had a chance to figure things out. Not only does this fail to solve the problem of hormone imbalance, but it also can cause side effects that can last into adulthood. As an OBGYN that specializes in hormone imbalances, I often see young women with their mothers around the age of 18 who have left their pediatricians and are looking for options for their irregular cycles. Many have been on some type of birth control for years because they were told by their pediatrician that it was the only real treatment for their irregular periods. Very few of them have had any workup for hormone imbalance, and many of them have already switched medications several times due to significant side effects including weight gain, fatigue, nausea and depression.
HEALTH MATTERS By MICHELLE McKISSACK HEALTHY SMILES February is the perfect time to help your child brush up on good oral health habits because it’s National Children's Dental Health Month. In addition to promoting a sparkling smile, the National Education Association says good oral health also impacts academic success. Reports show that students in the U.S. miss 51 million hours of school every year because of oral health problems. As a result, students who are absent miss critical instruction time — especially in early grades where reading skills are an important focus and the building blocks of future learning. And students who have experienced recent oral health pain are four times more likely to have lower grade point averages than their counterparts who have not. That's why the NEA has partnered with the American Dental Association to celebrate National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of good oral health. Parents and children are encouraged to brush their teeth for two minutes, two times per day, and read for 20 minutes as a way of building good oral health and literacy habits. Visit mouthhealthy.org for more tips on a healthy smile. AUTISM AWARENESS Autism is a disorder impacting 1 in 68 children, but there is still much that is unknown about autism. Organizers in the Mid-South are trying to lift the cloud of mystery to bring parents, teachers, and caregivers more information on autism. The 2017 Mid-South Autism Conference will take place March 30 through April 1, 2017, at the Guesthouse at Graceland. Featured guest speakers are Jed Baker, an expert in social skills training and award-winning author of nine books on autism; Carol Kranowitz, author of the book, The Out-of-Sync Child; Derek Volk, author of Chasing the Rabbit, A Dad's Life Raising a Son on the Spectrum, along with his son Dylan Volk will share their story; and Michael Tolleson, savant artist who paints museumquality paintings in 10-15 minutes, will also make a presentation. Visit midsouthautismconference.com for registration and additional information. 0 11 0
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What should parents do? There are two other choices besides hormonal contraceptives that you should consider. The first is to wait. As I stated before, the communication between the ovaries and the brain takes time to develop. Many young women also have changes in weight, activity level, and stress level that can impact the regularity of their cycles. Girls and their parents need to know that early irregular cycles are common and will usually improve within 2-3 years. For young women who have other problems besides irregular cycles such as painful periods or heavy bleeding, or for those who continue to be irregular in their mid to late teens, medical intervention may be necessary. My approach to this treatment is much different than the standard approach of high dose hormonal contraceptives. The most common cause of irregular cycles is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). It can be caused by multiple different factors and has many different symptoms, but the most common are long, irregular menstrual cycles. The key to treating PCOS is getting the proper labs for diagnosis, dietary supplementation to reduce insulin (even for women with normal body weight) and charting of menstrual cycles to evaluate ovulation and post-ovulatory hormone levels. This approach is known as NaPro tracking™ of menstrual cycles. It is a type of gynecological health model focused on treating the causes of cycle-related problems rather than covering them up with hormonal contraceptives. It works with a woman’s body to help balance hormones, cure diseases, and improve health. So for all parents whose daughters are struggling with cycle-related problems, I want you to know that you have a healthier, more natural choice than hormonal contraceptives.
Dr. Michael Podraza
Dr. Michael Podraza is originally from South Dakota. He graduated from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology with a degree in Chemistry. He attended Medical School at the University of Texas in Houston. Dr. Podraza went on to complete his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Buffalo, NY. He received training in NaPro Technology at the Pope Paul IV Institute; after which he moved to Memphis with his wife and children to become Medical Director of Saint Francis Women’s Health & Fertility. Dr. Podraza is Board Certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology.