GETTYLaura Corio, M.D., is an
ob-gyn in private practice
in New York City. She is
an attending physician
at Mount Sinai Hospital, assistant clinical
professor at Hofstra Medical School and
author of The Change Before the Change:
Everything You Need to Know to Stay
Healthy in the Decade Before Menopause.
To ask her a question, send an email to
[email protected].I’m glad you saw your doctor to
have your heavy periods evaluated; I
always advise women to do so. Since
your doctor says you’re hea lt hy, I ca n
suggest several ways to make your
menstrual f low more manageable.
First, tr y increasing your inta ke
of citrus fruit, cherries, broccoli
and bel l peppers. They contain
vitamin C and biof lavonoids, nutri-
ents shown to reduce menstrual
bleeding. And since a study pub-
lished in Phytotherapy Research
found that ginger eased menstrual
bleeding by up to 84%, I adv ise add-
ing^1 ⁄ 2 to^3 ⁄ 4 tsp. of powdered ginger
to teas, smoothies and other dishes,
or cooking with fresh ginger daily.
These steps should be taken all
mont h, not just during your period,
and you should notice a difference
in two to three cycles. But if your
bleeding worsens, I advise seeing
your doctor for further evaluation.A
Q:Occasionally, I have an issue
with vaginal odor, and I read that
using “detox pearls” can help alle-
viate the problem. Should I give
them a try?
A: Plenty of reviews and videos
online attest to t he benef its of reg u lar
vaginal or “womb” detoxes, but I don’t
recommend them. Your vagina, cer-
vix and uterus all do a fine job cleans-
ing themselves via natural secretions.
These “detox pearls”—small cloth-
covered bags about twice the size
of a pea—are filled with herbs like
angelica, motherwort and borneo and
are inserted into the vagina. While
there are plenty of claims that they
can eliminate odor and even prevent
f ibroids and cer v ica l poly ps by help-
ing your body remove a buildup of
unnamed toxins, there’s no scientific
evidence they work. Plus, the products
could irritate tissues, alter vaginal pH
and disrupt microorganisms such as
bacteria and yeast—all of which can
trigger infections. What’s more, some
websites advise leaving the pearls in
place for days, which can raise the risk
of toxic shock syndrome, a potentially
life-threatening infection.
Thankfully, there are natural and
safe remedies for when you experience
odor. First, I suggest you try a product
such as Monistat Stay Fresh Gel (at
drugstores). It contains polycarbo-
phil, an ingredient that was shown to
decrease vaginal odor in a study in the
journal Current Therapeutic Research.
You may also want to increase your
intake of fermented foods like kefir,
kimchi, sauerkraut and yogurt (they
contain probiotic bacteria that can
colonize the vagina to crowd out
odor-causing organisms), and take
a daily probiotic supplement. But if
your odor worsens or you develop
itching or unusual discharge, see your
doctor to rule out problems such as
bacterial vaginosis or other infections.
Q:I’m 54 and lately I’ve been expe-
riencing urinar y leaks. My sister
does Pilates and swears it’s mini-
mized her leaking. Can it really help?A: Pilates exercises such as lunges,
squats and hovers activate pelvic f loor
muscles that are crucial for control-
ling urinary leaks; in fact, research in
the American Journal of Obstetrics &
Gynecology found that these moves
activated the muscles more effectively
than Kegel exercises. And in a Mayo
Clinic study, women in a 12-week
Pilates program improved urinary
incontinence symptoms (such as fre-
quenc y and severit y of lea ks) by 4 4%.
So while I still recommend Kegels—
which are proven to lessen leaks by
boosting pelvic f loor strength—mat
Pilates classes are worth considering.
But ask your instructor which
exercises are right for you since some
Pilates moves can actually put pres-
sure on pelvic f loor muscles, negat-
ing their benefits. If your leaks don’t
lessen within a month of incorporat-
ing Pilates, your doctor should be able
to recommend more options.Put FIRST to
work for you!98 First for women 8/26/19
love
Will this workout
help stop my leaks?Should I consider a
“down there” de tox?
private health
Expert answers to your most
intimate health questionsMy doctor says
my heavy periods
are in the normal
range and not due to
a serious problem.
Still, is there a natural
way to lighten
my flow?Q