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Aviva Romm, MDAviva Romm, MD

Bridging Traditional Wisdom & Modern Medicine for Women and Children

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Muse. Intelligent Women’s Health. Inspired by Your Needs.

Welcome to Muse. Women's Health, where we believe that your body knows best and we're just here to remind you what she's saying! 

Muse. is an invitation to reimagine and reclaim your body, cycles, hormones, reproductive health, and more—to be your most powerful you at every stage. The no BS answers you're looking for do exist, are rooted in tradition, backed by science, and are loaded up for you here –  with a whole lot of empathy – and no judgment. 

I'm Dr Aviva, a Yale trained MD, a midwife, author, teacher, mom, and women's health and pediatrics expert, I'm so very glad you're here.

Bestselling book: New York Times • Wall Street
Journal • #1 Globe and Mail • USA Today and more...

Women's hormone health needs a refresh, and that starts here! 

Your hormones are far more than just a balancing act.  From period pain to endometriosis, PCOS to fertility problems, miserable menopause symptoms and more a new approach to your hormones starts here. Your hormones are natural, feeling miserable is not. 

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Your Body, Your Rules.

One of the most powerful decisions you can make is to decide how you want to feel. For real solutions that help you take back your health, or simply to reconnect with the power of the feminine, browse these featured articles and podcasts to get started on your journey.

Prenatal Vitamins: Do You Need One and How to Choose

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immunity in pregnancy

On Supporting Optimal Immunity In Pregnancy

Kimberly Seals Allers

On the Big Letdown: A Conversation About Birth & Breastfeeding with Kimberly Seals Allers

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Alcohol and Women’s Health from Fertility to Menopause

alcohol and hormones

How Alcohol Affects Our Hormones and Menstrual Cycles

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We are often taught to ignore our symptoms. We're We are often taught to ignore our symptoms. We're given the Pill to stop the irregular periods, Tylenol to mask the cramps, and we're told that being irritable or anxious every month is normal and to just live with it or to take an antidepressant.⁠
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What we're not told is how to ask the bigger questions- "What is my body telling me? Why am I having these symptoms?"⁠
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Your body is always giving you information - and sometimes she does this by sending up 'signal flares' to get your attention. While sometimes medications can make all the difference - suppressing symptoms without asking these important questions not only teaches us to ignore our body further, but we're missing out on a powerful 6th Vital Sign - which can also provide us with clues to what in our personal or larger ecosystems might be contributing to symptoms we experience.⁠
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Part of reclaiming our health is learning to listen to our body's messages so that we can better serve her needs. As we do, we also have an opportunity to repair aspects of our total health landscape, our health terrain, as well as owning body literacy and body confidence.⁠
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It may at times require being a warrior for your own health—a bit defiant and non-conformist, having a fierce belief in the power of your own body, being willing to break taboos, and speaking up for yourself and against the medical authority when you know that a symptom needs more than a medical 'band-aid.'⁠
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I welcome you to sit down with your beautiful body to listen. What does she have to say? What is she asking for? How can you tap into your inner warrior to provide for her? Listening to and believing in your own wisdom and your own ability to heal is an important step to empowered health ❤️.⁠
⁠
What is your body telling you? What steps can you take this week to give her what she needs? I'd love to hear in the comments 💕.⁠
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P.S.- Want to learn more about your 6th Vital Sign - and understand your hormonal symptoms? My book, Hormone Intelligence, is the guidebook for tapping into your inner healer. Learn more at the link in bio ✨.
We mammals are powerful creatures - not only can w We mammals are powerful creatures - not only can we birth our babies in all types of environments, circumstances, and positions - our body enables us to stop labor in order to protect our young at birth.⁠
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Fear activates adrenaline, putting our body into a fight or flight response, which inhibits oxytocin release, inhibiting labor. This response stops labor in mammals so we can get away from predators if we perceive a threat!⁠
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To birth, we, too require safety in our birth environment.⁠
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Numerous studies show that modern obstetrics environments may interrupt our sense of safety even while for some providing a sense of medical safety. In fact, modern medicine isn't always increasing our safety - the US is one of only two countries in the world where maternal mortality is going up and it's linked to our medical system.⁠
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But there are ways to increase your deep, primal sense of safety in whatever environment you birth.⁠
Here's how:⁠
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✨Choose your place of birth and support team carefully.⁠
✨Work with a doula + midwife or have a doula if you're working with an OB.⁠
✨ Have a support person who is focused on making sure you continue to feel safe so you can focus on the work of birth!⁠
✨Create a nest/safe, sacred space Create your playlist (reggae? ragas? Bach?), have scents you love, power tools (ie a birthing ball), candles or twinkle lights, etc.⁠
✨Hang mantras/ images + have special touchstones that remind you of your strength, a birthing necklace (see my website) or mama sculpture⁠
✨ Wear what makes you feel comfortable and like YOU, not like a patient (especially in the hospital).⁠
⁠
Every birthing person deserves the space and support to feel safe, 'held', and able to tap into thier power without distraction and fear! How did you create a safe and sacred birth environment? What wisdom would you share with mamas who are getting ready for their birth?⁠
Share your stories and wisdom in the comments!⁠
⁠
Mama: @wild.pregnancy_free.birth⁠
Photographer: @hannahillphotography⁠
Wondering whether alcohol has a place not just in Wondering whether alcohol has a place not just in your social calendar but in your hormonal health? It’s a question worth exploring and that’s exactly what I did in my recent 2 part podcast and article on this very issue!

Here’s the 30,000 foot view:
✨Yes, alcohol may have an impact on our hormonal health, and while in very light amounts (<1-3 glasses/week) its impact may be low, it’s not nothing, and even in that amount, may increase some risks and problems.

Here’s how....
🍷Alcohol may alter hormone levels- Some studies show that alcohol may increase estrogen and testosterone, while also possibly decreasing progesterone. 4 or more drinks at once were shown to increase total and free estradiol levels by almost 65%

🍷Alcohol affects liver function-which also disrupts hormone metabolism and thereby may increase both endogenous and synthetic estrogen levels (ie the Pill, HRT)

🍷Alcohol affects our gut + microbiome- where our estrogen metabolism also takes place, possibly also adding to hormonal imbalance and symptoms

🍷Alcohol impacts sleep and circadian rhythm- affecting your entire body’s physiological processes, including hormone levels and menstrual cycles

🍷Alcohol may affect fertility- particularly greater amounts post-ovulation, leading to a decreased likelihood of conceiving in that cycle

🍷In menopause-higher levels of alcohol consumption can worsen sleep problems, affect mood, and aggravate hot flashes.

🍷Alcohol, particularly binge drinking, disrupts blood sugar levels.

🍷Alcohol, in any amount, consumed regularly, increases risks for breast cancer.

I’m all about balance and an all-or-nothing approach doesn’t work for many of us- but if you’re having symptoms of hormonal imbalance, sleep issues, gut problems, or specific hormonal conditions, and you drink alcohol, reducing your intake may be supportive for your hormones & overall health.

In my On Health podcast episode, Alcohol and Women’s Health from Fertility to Menopause, I share how to drink healthier if you do decide to indulge + the science behind how alcohol affects female bodies.

Have you noticed any changes in your cycle or symptoms due to alcohol? Let’s chat about in the comments!
MIC DROP 🎤✨ MIC DROP 🎤✨
 

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Aviva Romm, MD

Bridging Traditional Wisdom & Modern Medicine for Women and Children

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