Women’s Health

Welcome back, beautiful Tri-state area. You’re listening to a moment of Zen right here on seven 10 WOR, the voice of New York iHeartRadio. I’m your host, Zen Sams. Up next in the going deep segment, brought to you by CO2 Lift in our expert on the microphone series. Today we’re featuring Dr. Rachel Fidino. She’s a double board-certified women’s health nurse practitioner and founder of New U Women’s Clinic, which is a top-rated facility. She also leads the Healing Hands project supporting menstrual health for underserved women. Now, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is a time dedicated to raising awareness about the impact of breast cancer and highlighting the importance of early detection and treatment. This month, we’re focusing on the recovery journey for breast cancer survivors, particularly those who face challenges in maintaining their gynecological and overall feminine health. She joins me today to chat sexual wellness and carboxy therapy for skin rejuvenation, especially your skin down there. And she’s gonna help me demystify sexual stigmas surrounding women’s health. Welcome to the show, superstar. Hi. Thank you so much for having me. I appreciate it. So excited to have you on. So let’s dive right in. But first, let me set the tone for our audience who is not familiar with CO2 Lift and CO2 Lift Pro products. These are the strongest version of Carboxy gel, and they’re only available to aesthetic and medical providers, and they deliver CO2 cutaneous over about 45 minutes to an hour in a mask format. It’s a non-invasive facial mask recommended for post-procedure care after invasive procedures such as needling, laser, major surgeries, and whatnot. Okay, Dr. Fino, can you explain the benefits of carbon dioxide therapy for skin rejuvenation, especially the skin down there, and how it fits into regenerative medicine? We’re in an era in our field right now where patients do not want downtime. They wanna find something that can, that can help get the results we’re looking for. They wanna get the results quickly, and they don’t wanna have any downtime. And so that is what compliments us so nicely into our practice is because we can use this to increase blood flow to different parts, whether it’s the face or the vagina, as well as increasing oxygen. So it’s gonna compliment any treatment procedure that we’re going to do, whether that’s a facial procedure or a vaginal procedure. And so these patients can use this in office as well as take it home to continue that therapy to continue to get the results. And so when we’re looking for other ways to compliment these treatments, once again, this is a, this is a great alternative for patients to use. I love that the presence of it, that it increases the presence of wound repair factors and growth factors, which then it’s the science, right? It helps cells turn over faster. And this reduces, of course, the appearance of aging and scars, and stretch marks, and stimulates collagen. At the end of the day, we wanna produce elastin, right, which promotes elasticity and helps retain that hydration. So now let’s chat and let’s move a little bit forward to sexual wellness. So there was a study in 2022 by gynecologists at the University of Manchester, England. Less than 10% of women, Dr. Fino could accurately label female genitalia. The clitoris is even more taboo than the vagina and arguably the most neglected human organ by medicine. And it is still inadequately depicted in most medical textbooks and barely touched upon in medical training. And this is a serious problem. I mean, women have been injured by this lack of knowledge through botched reconstruction surgeries, anti-incontinence procedures, obstetric tears and repairs, and vul. So finally, we’re at the beginning of redressing the wrongs and misinformation around this neglected organ. Now you passed key legislation for breast MRI insurance coverage in Washington State, and you’re a noted author and a national speaker on women’s health. With your extensive experience in women’s health, how do you see the role of specialty gynecological care evolving, particularly for breast cancer survivors who require more tailored non-hormonal treatments, per se? It’s really cutting-edge at this point. So passing legislation for me was just the first step and starting to get the awareness out there that women really need. So when we look for different treatment options for women who’ve had breast cancer or who are currently going through breast cancer, they’re very limited. And so whether it’s on a diagnostic spectrum of getting a breast MRI covered for that patient, or in an in office procedures such as, you know, you know, vaginal rejuvenation that we offer in our practice, we wanna compliment that with potentially like that CO2 V, uh, for the fact that a lot of women just think that I have breast cancer and I, I I no longer required to get to be hormones. And so based on that, I’m, I’m not going to be sexually active anymore. My vagina’s gonna be dry. And they start to just fall system to what the medical community has told them is, if you get breast cancer, then your sex life is going to go away. Your vagina’s gonna get dry, and there’s not a whole lot of options for us to, to prescribe for these patients. And, and that was something that I just wasn’t going to tolerate. And so in my practice, that’s quite the opposite of what we, we tell our patients. We offer several vaginal rejuvenation procedures, but we compliment, compliment that using the CO2 V for the fact that this is a non-hormonal treatment that these women can use long-term to get their sex life back, to get their vaginal moisture back, besides other potential options that this can, this can cure for a lot of these patients. And what about, let’s talk about being proactive. I mean, I’ve used the CO2 lift and, and for without a doubt, it lifts, it hydrates, it rejuvenates, and just reapplications. I mean, it helped tighten and lift at all for me down there, basically using carbon dioxide. Who would’ve thought it’s so simple, but it did enhance circulation. And when you research you, you think to yourself, wow, this is so simple. And the facts are the facts. It rushes oxygen, rich blood to tissue and regenerates these cells to improve the sensitivity and lubrication. So what you’re saying is so spot on, and I love that you are so proactive in finding these new u, modalities to really increase your patient’s comfort level, whether they’ve had cancer or dryness or premenopausal or or perimenopausal. Now, in your practice, what are the key differences you have observed between standard gynecological care and the specialized care that’s actually required for women dealing with complex conditions like breast cancer and vulva health issues? We really focus on precision medicine. And so that’s why I actually left the hospital system and I opened up my own practice because I, I had to feel safe going home at night and knowing at the end of the day that I did the best that I could for my patients. And I just felt that that’s where I had to break away from the medical community in some regard is because I, I, I wasn’t okay telling patients that I’m so sorry you have breast cancer. Uh, there’s, you know, not a whole lot I can do for you for vaginal rejuvenation at this point. And I knew that that wasn’t correct. And so how we practice it at NewU is very different where we start having those conversations that maybe patients don’t bring up and they don’t initiate on their themself just for the fact that they’ve already seen several providers before me that have just said, this is just part of the process. I was told the same thing when I was diagnosed with cancer. I had cervical cancer and was told the same thing, this is part of the process. You’ve had cervical cancer, you’re now in menopause at 32, now I’m 42, and I wasn’t gonna accept that. And so I think that for us, we have those bold conversations with patients. We allow them to be v vulnerable, and then we start talking about these, these sort of treatment options from, you know, you can start this treatment of CO2 V in the office with us today, and we can go through how it works, but then take this home and this is what you’re gonna be using daily for the next 10 days at home, and then I want you to use this once a month. And so they start noticing these benefits. and they start feeling like they’re getting control of their life because when you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, you lose control of the system. It’s one decision after another, and you just feel like you’re just following the guidance of your team, but you don’t have a lot of say in that. And so I think that that’s where we take a step back and include them in that medical decision-making and empowering them to kind of get back their vaginal rejuvenation that they might have lost. You’re so right. Cancer could be so derailing. In fact, a lot of women issues can be derailing to a woman where we feel like we’re no longer in control of our bodies, whether it’s hormonal imbalance or whatnot. So I love what you’re saying, and I love the narrative of, of what you practice. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women globally with around close to 300,000 new cases expected in the US just this year alone, which is really alarming and long-term side effects. There are many, up to 70% of breast cancer survivors experience symptoms like vaginal dryness and pain during intercourse due to these hormonal, um, these hormone-suppressing therapies, if you will. Now, Dr. Fino, breast cancer survivors, they face unique challenges when it comes to gynecological care, especially when hormone therapy isn’t an option. So how do you approach, uh, treatments for these patients? And what are some alternative therapies you find effective outside of CO2 V? We offer, uh, several different options for vaginal rejuvenation in our medical practice. We offer the OShot, I did train with Dr. Charles Reynolds on the OShot. So we perform those every single day. So o shots are very popular in our medical practice, actually went into the aesthetic field due to stem cells. And so I have a huge passion for stem cells and rejuvenation naturally with what our own body can do, what we’re designed to do. So we do a lot of OShot procedures in our practice. Uh, also we have several platforms, and so we offer Morpheus V, which is micro needing with radio frequency in the vagina form V, which is another form of radio frequency as well. And then we also offer vitone. And so between those different modalities, um, really looking at of course, vaginal atrophy or dryness along with potentially some urinary issues, urinary incontinence, as we know that asthma may get older, they’re more prone to that the size, of course, the sexual wellness that can really be achieved with all of those platforms. In addition to, uh, complimenting it with CO2 V, Without a doubt, and with over 60% of breast cancer survivors report that sexual dysfunction. I love that you’re highlighting the need for non-hormonal treatment options, especially options like the CO2 V. Now, clinical data suggests that combining carbon dioxide therapy with other modalities such as hormone therapy when it’s appropriate or pelvic floor exercises, can lead to synergistic effects and improved outcomes for women seeking comprehensive treatment for vaginal rejuvenation and sexual health issues. When you look at CO2 V, it’s often paired with other aesthetic and vaginal rejuvenation procedures. What makes the combo so effective? And how do your patients typically respond to the treatments? So twofold, when we look at CO2 lift for the face, it’s gonna compliment any of our chemical peels, lasers, microneedling, micro microneedling with radio frequency. We’re looking at downtime. So it’s gonna improve the results and help with their healing process and reduce their downtime. When we look at CO2 V, that’s a complimentary treatment to whether this patient is on hormone therapy or she’s achieving some sort of vaginal rejuvenation. And we’re pairing these together. So for example, with an OShot, as soon as I get get done with an OShot, I’m going to place the CO2 V in the vagina and help her start to heighten the results of what treatment we just performed for her, and then she’s gonna go home. We, I personally take care of 3000 hormonal patients, um, that are either in perimenopause or menopause. And so we do prescribe testosterone in my practice because that’s one thing as well is completely not discussed. And people discuss estrogen and progesterone. But testosterone is one that often women think, well, that’s a male hormone. Well, women have one 10th of testosterone as a male, but she still requires it. And so I’ll pair CO2 V as well with women who are on testosterone therapy. So we can increase sexual sensation, increase orgasm, vaginal moisture, those sort of things. So it’s a complimentary treatment, whether we’re looking at hormone replacement therapy, vaginal rejuvenation, or any facial procedure that we’re doing. Wow, you are so full of knowledge. I love this ladies, listen to her, that testosterone shot is not just for the hubbies. Now, for women who have undergone breast cancer treatment, the journey of recovery often extends, extends beyond just the physical. So let’s chat a little bit about how you support your patients emotionally and mentally as they navigate the impact of cancer on their feminine health and self-image. It could be really tough. 55% of my practice is high risk, whether that means they’re breast cancer survivor or they’re currently going through treatment because I am board-certified in cancer genetics. So what I’m looking for is do they have A-B-R-C-A gene or genetic mutation that predispose of them to developing cancer? But then that’s gonna bring in, uh, a variety of patients that see me for breast cancer treatment or a newly onset of a breast cancer diagnosis. And so it’s a journey with these patients because as they’re diagnosed, like I said, they’re just being put a bunch of decisions in front of their face and they’re starting to go through the motions. But they really, typically for breast cancer survivor, it doesn’t hit them till after they’re done with treatment. When they’re done with treatment is when it really hits them of what they just went through. And so for part of this journey, it’s, it’s allowing the patients, I would say, to hang up that armor when they walk in that’s guarding their heart and be vulnerable for us and let us go on this journey to help them, whether it’s on the aesthetic side or the vaginal rejuvenation side or whatever that may be. It’s gonna be a journey, but we’re right along next to them during that journey. And there is a book that I, um, give a lot of my patients. It’s almost a poem book, but it’s called A Hole in my Sidewalk. And it’s very short. I keep it in, um, in my office for, uh, these women because it really talks about moving in that forward fashion and knowing that we’re gonna go through a healing journey together, and we have so many options to help them just feel the best version of themself when they get on the other side. Boy, you take on a lot, my dear. What don’t you do, Dr. Fino, you are incredible, a true trailblazer in your field. We are officially out of time, but I wanna thank you for coming on, for being so transparent, inspirational, full of knowledge, and just that trusted friend because it’s one thing to be a doctor and it’s another thing to really guide your patients and hold their hand. Uh, and you definitely do take on a lot. I hope you do get some self-care time for yourself. Thank you so much for having me. Absolutely. That was our going deep segment, brought to you by CO2 lift. That was our incredible expert on the microphone, Dr. Rachel Fidino. Do check her out on her website at New u women’s clinic.com. You can check them out on the gram at New U Women’s Clinic or at Dr. Rachel Fidino. You’re listening to a moment of Zen right here on seven 10 WOR, the voice of New York iHeartRadio. We’ll be right back after this. A moment of zen is brought to you by CO2 Lift. As we age, our skin loses moisture and elasticity causing wrinkled skin. You can reverse this aging process with CO2 lift. CO2 lift utilizes the powerful benefits of carbon dioxide to lift, tighten, and regenerate your skin. This simple, painless, at-home carboxy therapy treatment is scientifically proven to reverse the aging process. You will see reduction in wrinkles, increase luminosity, and improve pigmentation, sagging skin tone, and radiance. For more information or to order CO2 lift, ask your skincare professional or go to co2lift.com.