Women's Health Interrupted

UBC Medicine Learning Network

Women’s Health Interrupted explores women’s health through scientific inquiry and storytelling. Spanning across four overarching and multidisciplinary themes: general health and wellness, brain health, socio-cultural determinants of health as well as politics, policy and advocacy, this podcast brings you content about women's health from every angle. Women's Health Interrupted is produced by the Women's Health Research Cluster at UBC. read less
Health & FitnessHealth & Fitness

Episodes

S2 E1: Cultivating Female Sexual Desire through Mindfulness - Dr. Lori Brotto
13-09-2023
S2 E1: Cultivating Female Sexual Desire through Mindfulness - Dr. Lori Brotto
Dr. Lori Brotto joins us in the first episode of  Season 2 to discuss cultivating female sexual health and empowerment. She addresses myths, sex research and other historical issues  that may impact why many women may experience sexual concerns today. Dr. Brotto will go over how one can cultivate sexual desire through interventions, mindfulness and female empowerment. Dr. Lori Brotto is a professor in the UBC Department of Gynecology, a registered psychologist in Vancouver, and executive director of the Women’s Health Research Institute of BC. She received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of British Columbia (UBC). Then, she trained at the University of Washington where she completed her one-year internship in the Department of Psychiatry followed by a two-year Postdoctoral Fellow in Reproductive and Sexual Medicine. Dr. Brotto is a member of the International Academy of Sex Research, the Society for Sex Therapy and Research, the Canadian Sex Research Forum, and the Canadian Psychological Association.She researches women's sexual health and develops psychoeducational interventions for women with sexual desire and arousal complaints. She studies culture and sexuality, hormones and sexual desire, cancer and sexuality, concerns about HPV and sexuality, asexuality, and more. Dr. Brotto’s latest book, Better Sex Through Mindfulness, demonstrates the benefits of mindfulness to aid with women’s sexual concerns. Through her work, she aims to be a strong advocate for empowering women to feel comfortable in their bodies. SUBJECT/HOST CREDITS:Guest: Dr. Lori BrottoHosts: Chhavi Mehra & Sarah Williscraft Editors: Negin Nia & Chhavi Mehra MUSIC CREDITS:A Way to You by Nick Petrov SPECIAL THANKS: N/AANY ADDITIONAL CREDITS/NOTES:Learn more about the UBC Women's Health Research Cluster at their website and stay up to date on the UBC Medicine Learning Network by following @ubcmedvid on all social platforms. (C)  UBC Medicine Learning Network
Field Trip EP 5: How Women’s Socio-Economic Status Correlates with IPV?
11-01-2023
Field Trip EP 5: How Women’s Socio-Economic Status Correlates with IPV?
In this episode, Dr. Siwan Anderson talks about how women’s socio-economic status strongly correlates with their health outcomes, especially Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). Dr. Anderson discusses some interesting findings in her research on how women are less likely to suffer abuse if they have access to a share of the household. Her current research looks at the women’s relationships with power in the household and how religious and cultural norms come into play in this context. Links to resources mentioned in this episode/further reading material:"Intimate Partner Violence and Female Property Rights"  Nature Human Behaviour, 2021, 5: 1021-1026. “Missing Unmarried Women” (with Debraj Ray)  Journal of the European Economic Association, 2019, 17(5): 1585-1616. “Unbundling Female Empowerment”“How Economics can Contribute to Evolutionary Perspectives on the Family” (with Chris Bidner)“Property Rights over Marital Transfers”(with Chris Bidner) Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2015, 130(3): 1421-1484.Guest bio:Dr. Siwan Anderson is a professor in the Vancouver School of Economics at the University of British Columbia. Her research area is applied development economics and much of her work centers on women in developing countries. She has worked on determinants of female autonomy, missing women, and marriage markets in various contexts. Dr. Anderson is a Research Fellow at the Bureau for Research and Economic Analysis of Development (BREAD) and the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), and a Faculty Associate at the Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) at the University of California, Berkeley. She is also a member of the Institutions, Organizations, and Growth research group of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. Dr. Anderson is the first woman to receive the John Rae Prize, awarded by the Canadian Economic Association.(C) UBC Medicine Learning Network  All Rights Reserved
Field Trip EP 3: How Migration Status Impacts Health and Healthcare of Refugees?
09-11-2022
Field Trip EP 3: How Migration Status Impacts Health and Healthcare of Refugees?
In this episode of our mini-series, we talk to Dr. Elif Sari about how the notion of “becoming sick” is related to people’s migration experiences, especially those who are part of the 2S/LGBTQIA+ community. Dr. Sari discusses how this notion is rooted in the idea of harsh working environments and discriminatory practices of healthcare. She also addressed how both of these factors contribute to the emotional and physical wellbeing of these people. Guest bio:Dr. Elif Sari is a queer feminist anthropologist, a new faculty member in the UBC Department of Anthropology, and an uninvited immigrant settler on the unceded Coast Salish territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nation. She completed her Ph.D. (2021) in anthropology at Cornell University with a concentration in feminist, gender, and sexuality studies. After graduate school, Dr. Sari spent one year at the University of Toronto, where she had a chance to work in the Queer and Trans Research Lab as the Martha LA McCain postdoctoral fellow. Currently, she is working on her first book manuscript, which is an engaged ethnography of queer and trans asylum from the Middle East to North America. She is also excited to start two new research projects, one focusing on private refugee sponsorship in Canada and one exploring the connections between migration, sexuality, and art (particularly drag).Links to resources mentioned in this episode/further reading material:Additional resources on asylum in and through Turkey: Amnesty International. 2016. “No Safe Refuge: Asylum-Seekers and Refugees Denied Effective Protection in Turkey.” https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/EUR4438252016ENGLISH.pdfBiehl, Kristen. 2015. “Governing through Uncertainty: Experiences of Being a Refugee in Turkey as a Country for Temporary Asylum.” Social Analysis 59 (1): 55–75.On LGBTQ asylum in Turkey:Durmaz, Nursel, Hakan Topateş, and Aslıcan Kalfa Topateş. 2017. “Working Life Experiences of Iranian LGBTI Migrant Workers in Denizli Province in Terms of Occupational Health and Safety.” Mesleki Sağlık ve Güvenlik Dergisi (The Journal of Occupational Health and Safety) 17(64): 37-43. HYD and ORAM. 2009. “Unsafe Haven: The Security Challenges Facing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Turkey.”https://hyd.org.tr/attachments/article/166/unsafe_haven_2011.pdfKAOS GL. 2016. “Waiting to be ‘Safe and Sound’: Turkey as LGBTI Refugees’ Way Station.” https://kaosgldernegi.org/images/library/2016multeci-raporu2016.pdf.Sarı, Elif. 2020. “Unsafe Present, Uncertain Future: LGBTI Asylum in Turkey.” In Queer and Trans Migrations: Dynamics of Illegalization, Detention, and Deportation. Eithne Luibhéid and Karma Chávez, eds. Pp. 90-105. University of Illinois Press.Please rate, review, and subscribe to our podcast on all platforms. Check out other UBC Medicine Learning Network podcasts on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.(C) 2010-2022 UBC Medicine Learning Network
Field Trip EP 2: The Impacts of Gender and Intersectionality on Health Policy
12-10-2022
Field Trip EP 2: The Impacts of Gender and Intersectionality on Health Policy
In the second episode of our mini series, we talk to Dr. Veena Sriram about the role of power structures, such as gender, in global healthcare systems and policies. She highlights the importance of interdisciplinary study between public health and social sciences to better critically analyze healthcare systems.Resources Discussed:Veena’s papers that questions were based on: Introduction to “Recontextualizing Physician Associations: Revisiting Context, Scope, Methodology”Heroes on Strike: Trends in Global Health Worker Protests During COVID-1910 best resources on power in health policy and systems in low- and middle-income countriesResource Veena gave for contextDELIVERED BY WOMEN, LED BY MEN:A GENDER AND EQUITY ANALYSIS OF THE GLOBAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL WORKFORCEhttps://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/forefront.20200630.939347/Guest Biography:Dr. Veena Sriram is an Assistant Professor with a joint appointment in the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs (SPPGA) and the School of Population and Public Health (SPPH) at the University of British Columbia. Her research sits at the intersection of global health, social science and public policy, and her interests are in understanding power and politics in health policy processes in low- and middle-income countries. She draws upon theory and methodologies from the social sciences in conducting her research, and has a particular focus on qualitative approaches. Dr. Sriram has conducted extensive research at the national and state level in India, exploring a range of health policy and system questions, including medical specialization, health workforce policy development, the functioning of national health authorities and emergency care systems. She has also contributed to expanding the application of theory and concepts to study power in health policy and systems research.(c) 2022 UBC Medicine Learning Network
Field Trip EP 1: What Does Justice Mean for Women who Seek Reparations?
14-09-2022
Field Trip EP 1: What Does Justice Mean for Women who Seek Reparations?
In the first episode of our mini-series, we talk to Dr. Ketty Anyeko about how economic barriers prevent many women from seeking justice and reparations in their lives. She discusses storytelling as a powerful tool for many women who have experienced sexual violence in Northern Uganda and the importance of listening to the community. Resources Discussed:Storytelling and Peacebuilding: Lessons from Northern Uganda‘The Cooling of Hearts’: Community Truth-Telling in Northern UgandaChild tracing: locating the paternal homes of “children born of war”Improving Accountability for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Africa Important Organizations:Water Ki GenWomen’s Advocacy NetworkGulu Women’s Economic Development and Globalization (GWEDG)  Guest Biography: Dr. Ketty Anyeko is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the Research Network on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) at the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, University of British Columbia (UBC), and the School for International Studies, at Simon Fraser University. She holds a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies from UBC and an MA in Peace Studies from Notre Dame University (USA). Dr. Anyeko’s research is centered on women’s senses of justice and reparations after wartime sexual violence in Northern Uganda. With nearly two decades’ experience in women, peace, and justice, and gender programme planning and implementation, Dr. Anyeko applies her expertise to her scholarly work around the lack of understanding of justice and reparations for the women she has worked with.
The Must-Knows of Dense Breasts & Cancer Screening
11-05-2022
The Must-Knows of Dense Breasts & Cancer Screening
Please rate, review, subscribe, and share our podcast.In this week’s episode, Rebecca sits down with researcher, Dr. Paula Gordon, and breast cancer survivor and Executive Director of Dense Breasts Canada, Jennie Dale, to break into the science behind breast cancer screening and the importance of early detection practices. We talk about why women with dense breasts are at higher risk for developing more severe forms of breast cancer and what can be done to keep them safe. Links to resources mentioned in this episode:Densebreastscanada.caMyBreastScreening.caDensebreast-info.orgYour comprehensive guide to breast screening in Canadahttps://mybreastscreening.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Guide-to-Screening-in-Canada.pdfFailing Canadian Women: The impacts of outdated and inconsistent breast screening practiceshttps://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Failing-Canadian-Women.pdfPetition linkhttps://chng.it/MCYFS7tR8z Biographies:Dr. Paula Gordon is a breast radiologist and professor at the University of British Columbia. She is also a tireless advocate for screening and ultrasound for women with dense breasts starting at age 40 -- options that are not available in most provinces. Dr. Gordon believes that too many women are denied mammograms at 40 because family doctors have not received accurate information. The work she has done in partnership with the organization Dense Breasts Canada (DBC) has been in service of getting accurate information into the hands of patients and their doctors so that women can have the best chance of catching and treating cancers early.  Jennie Dale is the Executive Director of Dense Breasts Canada (DBC). She lives in Ontario. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2014. Mammogram and tomosynthesis did not detect her cancer-it was detected by ultrasound. Inspired by the successful advocacy efforts of American organizations, "areyoudense.org" and "densebreast-info.org," Jennie co-founded DBC with Michelle DiTomaso in 2017 and has teamed up with breast cancer survivors nationwide to raise awareness of the risks of dense breasts. Together, over the past four years, they have successfully advocated for changes in policy in many Canadian provinces.(C) UBC Medicine Learning Network
Endometriosis - What We Know and Don’t Know
13-04-2022
Endometriosis - What We Know and Don’t Know
Thank you for listening. Please subscribe, rate, and review our show on your podcast platform of choice. Content Warning: Mentions of suicide/self harmIf you are experiencing thoughts of self harm and need support contact someone here: Canada:https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/Find your local crisis center: https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/looking-for-local-resources-support/   If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 9-1-1In this episode, Rebecca sits down with Lan Randhawa (they/them) and Kate Wahl (she/her) to talk about all things endometriosis. Lan is a member of the Patient Research Advisory Board for the Endometriosis Pelvic Pain Lab at UBC. Kate is a graduate researcher focused on advancing sexual and reproductive health and has co-led a study on menstrual health and endometriosis education in schools. We dive into what can be done to address some of the gaps in the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis, despite its debilitating and widespread impacts.Links to resources mentioned in this episode:Endo Act: https://endoact.ca/Pelvic Pain Clinic at BC Women’s: http://www.bcwomens.ca/our-services/gynecology/pelvic-pain-endometriosisPatient Research Advisory Board at BC Women’s (if you can’t find this then thats ok): https://yonglab.med.ubc.ca/endometriosis-patient-research-advisory-board/Endo Knows no Gendo (facebook group): https://m.facebook.com/groups/117791448846494https://endopain.endometriosis.orgBiography:Lan Randhawa is an Emergency Medical Call Taker and Dispatcher for BC Ambulance and a member of the Patient Research Advisory Board for the Endometriosis Pelvic Pain Laboratory at UBC. They are passionate about using their personal experience with Endometriosis, Adenomyosis and Pelvic Pain to further research and innovations in order to help others suffering from these diseases. Since April, they have been a part of ENDO Act Canada, where they are a part of the Advocacy and Communications team, helping them with their mission to drive policy action on Endometriosis in Canada. Since their partial hysterectomy in 2019, they have been able to enjoy living a relatively pain free life with their husband and two beautiful dogs while they anxiously await their adopted children to join their family.Kate Wahl is a graduate student researcher interested in new strategies for moving evidence into health policy and practice. She uses qualitative methods to develop and evaluate approaches for sharing research findings with stakeholders including the public, healthcare providers, and policy makers. Kate's focus is on advancing sexual and reproductive health, and she is currently investigating patient decision aids, education programs, and storytelling in this context. Recently, Kate has co-led a study of menstrual health and endometriosis education in schools and she is involved with endometriosis advocacy through the Pan-Canadian organization EndoAct.(C) UBC Medicine Learning Network
The Gendered Impacts of Drug Policy on Women
09-03-2022
The Gendered Impacts of Drug Policy on Women
Please subscribe, rate, and review our podcast on your favourite streaming platform.In this week’s episode, Rebecca and Sidney sit down to talk with Dr. Jade Boyd, of the BCCSU to discuss the gendered impacts of drug use and drug policy. They go over some of the ways in which researchers, harm reduction services, and state services could all better support women who use drugs. Dr. Boyd also highlights the intersectional nature of drug use stigma and the need to incorporate research into drug policy.Links to resources mentioned in this episode:British Columbia Centre on Substance Use:https://www.bccsu.caSister Space - Women-only overdose prevention site:https://atira.bc.ca/what-we-do/program/sisterspace/FIR Square - Harm reduction for pregnant women and women with newborns:http://www.bcwomens.ca/our-services/pregnancy-prenatal-care/pregnancy-drugs-alcoholBiography:Dr. Jade Boyd, PhD, is a Research Scientist with the BC Centre on Substance Use and Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. She draws upon qualitative, ethnographic and community-based methods to examine social, structural and environmental factors that impact people who use drugs, with particular emphasis on how gender—intersecting with race, class and sexuality, influences drug policy and practice. In her role with the BCCSU, Dr. Boyd collaborates with local and national peer-based, drug user-led groups, as well as leads a program of qualitative and community-based research activities investigating drivers of drug-related harms among women, including barriers to harm reduction and the criminalization of women who use drugs. (C) 2022 UBC Medicine Learning Network
Advocating for a National Perinatal Mental Health Strategy
09-02-2022
Advocating for a National Perinatal Mental Health Strategy
In this episode, Rebecca sits down with Jaime Charlebois and Patricia Tomasi, co-Founders of the Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative, which advocates for the treatment of all individuals during preconception, pregnancy, and the postpartum periods. We get into the topic of perinatal mental health and how advocacy platforms can be used to inform policy and to improve perinatal mental health care. Links to resources mentioned in this episode:Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative (CPMHC): https://cpmhc.ca/You Are Not Alone: An anthology of perinatal mental health stories from conception to postpartumAmazon: https://www.amazon.ca/You-Are-Not-Alone-conception/dp/1989664083Indigo: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/you-are-not-alone-an/9781989664087-item.htmlBiographies:Jaime Charlebois is the Perinatal Mood Disorder Coordinator at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital and Regional Volunteer Coordinator for Postpartum Support International. She is also the Co-Founder & Research Director of the Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative, non-profit lobbying the federal government to create a perinatal mental health strategy. Ms. Charlebois holds a Master of Science in Nursing, a Perinatal Nursing Certification from the Canadian Nurses Association, and a Perinatal Mental Health certification from Postpartum Support International. Her work experience includes 16 years of clinical nursing, seven years in higher education, and seven years in clinical leadership positions. She collaborates at the local, provincial, and national levels with multiple organizations and committeesPatricia Tomasi is a mom of two who struggled to find help for perinatal mental illness. She is a former journalist, turned fierce advocate, who went from writing about the state of maternal mental health in Canada as a reporter for HuffPost Canada to lobbying the federal government for a national perinatal mental health strategy. She is the Co-founder and Communications Director for the Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative and the Founder of the cheeky Maternal Mental Health Matters Blog. She started the private Facebook Postpartum Depression & Anxiety Support Group in 2017 where thousands of women from around the world support each other 24/7. Prior to her advocacy work, Patricia spent a decade providing communications and media relations expertise for the Ontario government, and in addition to HuffPost Canada, she worked as a reporter for CTV and CBC News in Vancouver, Toronto, Timmins, and Thunder Bay.