Painful periods are common—but that doesn’t mean they’re normal. While mild cramping can be expected, severe cycle pain that disrupts daily life often signals an underlying issue. Understanding the causes and getting a thorough evaluation can help reduce discomfort and protect your reproductive health.
In this episode of The Hormone Café, Dr. Sarah Pederson, holistic OB-GYN and founder of Vera Health and Fertility in Westminster, Colorado, sits down with Nurse Practitioner Emily, a women’s health specialist who recently experienced postpartum herself. They discuss key strategies for postpartum self-care, covering sleep, partner support, vaginal and perineal health, breast care, nutrition, exercise, sex, and returning periods. They share practical tips to help new moms recover, manage expectations, and maintain wellness for themselves and their families.
The postpartum period is a time of immense physical and emotional adjustment. Recovery doesn’t just happen automatically—it requires intentional care for your body, mind, and overall well-being. Focusing on sleep, nutrition, vaginal and breast health, exercise, and emotional support can help new parents recover safely and feel their best.
The postpartum period is often filled with joy, but it can also bring unexpected emotional challenges. While “baby blues” are common, affecting up to 80% of new mothers, postpartum anxiety and depression (PPAD) are more intense, persistent, and can impact daily functioning. Recognizing the difference, knowing prevention strategies, and understanding treatment options are key to supporting both recovery and long-term well-being.
In this episode of The Hormone Café, Dr. Sarah Pederson, holistic OB-GYN and founder of Vera Health and Fertility in Westminster, Colorado, sits down with Nurse Practitioner Emily, a women’s health specialist who recently experienced postpartum herself. They discuss one of the most important and often underdiscussed aspects of postpartum care: postpartum anxiety and depression (PPAD). They cover how to recognize the difference between typical “baby blues” and more serious mental health concerns, strategies for prevention, treatment options (both holistic and medical), and how friends and family can provide support.
In this episode of The Hormone Café, Dr. Sarah Pederson teams up with Physician Assistant Sierra Wolfe to break down one of the most overlooked areas in fertility: men’s reproductive health. With male factors contributing to 30–60% of infertility cases, understanding sperm health is essential — yet most men never get evaluated.
Male factors contribute to 30–60% of infertility cases, yet sperm health is often overlooked. Understanding how sperm quality is measured and what lifestyle changes support optimal reproductive health is essential for couples trying to conceive.
Dr. Sarah shares the four main causes she sees most often and how to prevent them: poor egg quality, hormone imbalance, uterine lining issues, and inflammation. She walks you through how each of these areas affects fertility and offers practical, science-backed ways to strengthen your body, balance your hormones, and increase your chances of a healthy pregnancy. You’ll learn why one miscarriage is reason enough to do a full workup — and how small optimizations can make a big difference in future pregnancies.
Contrary to a common myth, egg quality can be improved. While women are born with a finite number of eggs, research and clinical experience show that lifestyle, nutrition, and targeted therapies can support ovarian function, optimize egg quality, and enhance fertility at any age.
Dr. Sarah shares the four main causes she sees most often and how to prevent them: poor egg quality, hormone imbalance, uterine lining issues, and inflammation. She walks you through how each of these areas affects fertility and offers practical, science-backed ways to strengthen your body, balance your hormones, and increase your chances of a healthy pregnancy. You’ll learn why one miscarriage is reason enough to do a full workup — and how small optimizations can make a big difference in future pregnancies.
