Okay, we can’t actually provide on demand content. But we can provide content you’d like to see more of.

As we’re looking to the topics we’ll cover for the remainder of the year we appreciate your feedback. We’ve heard from a few of you that you’d like to hear more about neurodivergence in women and the action oriented practical topics like expiration dates for makeup and food.

We hear you and are planning to include those topics and more. We’d love to hear from more of you, please share your thoughts in this week’s survey at the bottom.

- Maggie Ruvoldt & Stephanie Majercik

The Tasting Menu

Not Your Typical Mid-Year Healthcare Checklist
Period Products and Exercise
Symptoms or Signs? A Perimenopause Journey

Not Your Typical Mid-Year Healthcare Checklist

We’ve shared with you reminders on getting in all your healthcare appointments and screenings. Of course June is the perfect time to check in on your progress.

Our wellness is much more than annual checkups and screenings. So here’s a different kind of checklist for your overall wellness:

If you’re using a Health Savings Account or a Flexible Savings Account (FSA), take the time to submit for any reimbursements. It will spare you scrambling at the end of the year to find receipts or use up “use it or lose it” benefits.
Review your prescription medications and check if any refills are needed that require appointments with your healthcare provider.
Reflect on your mental health and well-being. Consider if you're experiencing any symptoms of stress, anxiety, or depression.
Research wellness programs or resources offered through your employer or insurance provider. These programs can provide valuable tools and incentives for maintaining and improving your health.
Make sure your emergency contact information is accurate and up to date with your healthcare providers. This information is crucial for timely communication in case of emergencies.
Do a financial wellness check in. If you have a financial advisor, have you met recently? If you don’t have one, check to see if your employer retirement benefit plan offers a free consultation.
Schedule time off. Many of us have plans for time away from work in the coming months. Consider a staycation or any way to unplug, if you don’t have travel plans

Exercise and Your Period - Finding the Right Products

Picture this, you’re on your period and after a day or two of cramps, soreness, and fatigue, you have a burst of energy and are ready to hit the gym. No one wants to leak – even if you’re sporting dark bottoms to hide period stains – leaks are uncomfortable and can make you feel self-conscious.

And, more than just avoiding leaks, you want whatever you’re using to be comfortable for whatever way you’re moving your body – like avoiding chafing, odors, etc. All that in mind, picking the right product to keep you comfortable in all senses is critical when exercising at the gym.

High-Intensity Workouts

So you’re hoping to crank out a couple miles on a run, sit on the bike, swim, or a HIIT class in your period exercise outing. For workouts where you’re moving a lot, products like tampons, menstrual cups, or period pants are some of your better options. Generally discreet, these products allow you to move in whatever way you need with a lower-risk of leaks. But be cognizant of your flow and make sure you’re using the right size product.

Timing of your workout is another consideration – tampons have a lower usage time than say a menstrual cup, so depending on how recently you changed your tampon you may want to consider an alternative.

Low-Intensity Workouts

If you’re more of a walk around the block, yoga, or weight-lifting workout person, any of the products above are still great. Or if you’re not a fan of tampons or products you need to insert, pads are probably your best option (but most experts recommend the ones with wings). Given that pads may move around a lot more, they’re best suited towards lower intensity workouts, where you have to worry less about them falling out of place or too much sweating (pads are designed to absorb moisture and if you’re in a heavy sweat-sesh…you can imagine how much that might end up absorbing).

All that to say, the best product for you is the one that makes YOU feel the most comfortable and at ease. And with a lot of workouts and finding the exact right product for you comes with some trial and error, so test out different methods, try different brands of your go-to product, and determine what serves you best. If you’re looking for some ideas, CNN put together a great article from athletes listing their go-to products for their time of the month.

Symptoms or Signs? A Perimenopause Journey

Perimenopause is a natural and inevitable transition in our lives. Over anywhere from 4 to 7 years estrogen and progesterone gradually decline causing myriad symptoms.

Hmmm… Wait a second… Is “symptoms” the right word?

We associate the word symptoms with illness or disease. They mean something is wrong.

It is important to understand that perimenopause is a normal and necessary part of a woman's journey. You didn’t describe the symptoms of puberty, for example.

This view of perimenopause is likely because society still associates a stigma around aging, particularly for women. In fact women report confidence issues at work during this phase of life.

So let’s call them signs rather than symptoms. Why? Because our mental and emotional health is a contributing factor to how we approach this time in our lives.

Some of the signs of perimenopause include changes in mood and emotional well-being. Many women report feeling more anxious, irritable, or easily overwhelmed. Fatigue and difficulty concentrating are also common, making it challenging to perform daily tasks or focus on work.

While these symptoms may be disruptive, they are temporary and gradually diminish as a woman moves into menopause.

Perimenopause can be seen as a time of transition and growth. It can be an opportunity for women to reflect on their lives, prioritize self-care, and embrace the changes that come with age. Many women report feeling a sense of liberation and empowerment and embrace the freedom this stage in our lives can bring.

Medical Term of the Week

Maybe you signed up for a Healthcare Savings Account (HSA) with your benefits for 2023. Do you really understand all the benefits of these accounts? They are highly complex and beneficial.

An HSA is available to people who have a high-deductible health plan (HDHP).

Interestingly, HSAs are not tied to your specific employers. You own it. Unlike your FSA, you don’t lose it.

Contributions to an HSA can be made by you, your employer, or both, and the funds roll over from year to year. HSAs offer the potential for tax deductions on contributions, tax-free growth of funds, and tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses. These accounts can be used for a broader range of healthcare expenses, including copayments, deductibles, prescription medications, and some non-prescription items.

One notable advantage of HSAs is that the funds can be invested, allowing for potential growth over time. Additionally, HSAs can be used as a long-term savings tool for future healthcare expenses in retirement.

The Latest

To end the motherhood penalty, first we have to understand it. (From Fortune)

It’s hard enough to get good info. Social media platforms censoring women’s health topics is adding to the problem (From Yahoo Finance)

Boredom may be good for your mental health (From Women’s Health)

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