Female Friday

Lot's to discuss this week in the world of women's health! On a personal front, I'm digging into epigenetics and how our environment affects our genes - and what we can do about it. And, I'm trying to hack my thyroid with temperature, exercise and herbs (I'm a bit of a science nerd!).

Here's what I'm loving this week:

Fertility Treatments & Heart Disease | A recent study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal has shown a link between unsuccessful fertility treatments and an increased risk of heart disease. Read the article for some more info because it also goes into why this may not be true. Nevertheless, some things to ponder:

• Women may have a pre-existing heart condition or have a family history
• If you're looking to become pregnant whether or not you're getting fertility treatments done, it's worthwhile to get a physical exam done as well as routine blood work
• Support your heart through diet and exercise, especially if you have a family history of heart disease

What you need to know about your fertility | I wish I could quote this article verbatim. This is a must read for all women who are hoping to get pregnant one day!

"Regular visits to the gynaecologist (Alexsia's Note: Or your ND!!!!) are essential, whether they are to ease your painful periods or to check up on your ovaries’ capability to produce healthy egg cells. But since most women only see a doctor either when they get married or start showing severe symptoms, like me, they rarely get a timely diagnosis for reproductive conditions like PCOS and endometriosis. Left unchecked, these can wreak havoc on a woman’s reproductive system and overall health."

Things not to say to a pregnant woman | We all mean well, but sometimes our comments can be taken out of context or just plain hurt. 

5 Hormones involved in exercise | How well do your know your hormones? Learn about 5 hormones involved in exercise - and if you ever want to get them tested to see how your personal hormones are performing, book an appointment!

7 Endometriosis symptoms you shouldn't ignore | 5-10% of women of reproductive age have endometriosis! The most common symptoms include: painful periods, painful sex and infertility. Click the link to find out more!