Not So Private Parts

Recurrent BV? Yeah, same. In this episode, host Valerie Elser gets real about her year-long battle with bacterial vaginosis and she’s not alone. Joined by her mum (and Gynecologist) Dr. Denise Poulos, this mother-daughter duo dives into the often-ignored world of BV: what it is, why it happens, and why so many people are dealing with it (hint: up to 80% will experience it at some point). Together,...

In this eye-opening episode, cohost Eleny Bunn shares her personal journey with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), offering candid insights into her diagnosis and what’s been helping her manage it. Her and Val are joined by reproductive psychologist Dr. Nicole Doghor, who brings expert perspective to this complex and often misunderstood condition. Premenstrual disorders impact 20 to 40% of wo...

What happens when you give guys the mic and let them ask anything they've ever wondered about vaginas, periods, sex, and more?  In this candid, no-holds-barred episode, 19-year-old cohost Spencer McFarlane takes on anonymous questions submitted by men and boys -- from "Is discharge normal?" to "Why do vaginas smell different?" to "How do I make sure sex is good for bo...

In this episode, Val and cohost Kristina Rosengren are joined by reproductive psychiatrist Dr. Sindhu Vangala for an open and compassionate conversation about postpartum depression.  Together, they explore the emotional and psychological challenges many new parents face, breaking down stigma and offering both clinical insight and personal anecdotes. From signs and symptoms to support systems and t...

In this episode, the girl and her gyno-mom are discussing something that might be a bit more uncomfortable than most topics but is incredibly important: Hemorrhoids. They’ll break down what hemorrhoids really are, why they develop, and what can be done to prevent them from getting worse. They’ll also share some easy lifestyle changes that can make a big difference in reducing the risk. To help und...

In the second part of our series on urinary incontinence, we explore the medical options available to improve its impact on daily life. From behavioral changes and medications to Botox treatments for overactive bladder, pessary usage, nerve stimulation, and even surgical options — we cover a range of effective solutions. Dr. Denise Poulos, a trusted expert with over 30 years of experience in the u...

A Crash Course on Female Reproductive Hormones Estrogen, Androgens, Testosterone, Oh My! Do you feel a bit jipped when you look back at your middle school introduction into women's health?  Well, so does Val and her cohost for this episode, Georgia Brindley. Luckily, in this episode they are joined by adolescent gynecologist, Dr. Abby Drucker, who gives a crash course on the main players in f...

Val sits down with Dr. Poulos to tackle the often-overlooked topic of incontinence. Together, they explore what incontinence is, breaking down the difference between urge and stress incontinence, and offering a clear understanding of how they impact daily life. Dr. Poulos shares expert insights on the potential causes of incontinence, from lifestyle factors to medical conditions. This is part one...

Val is honored to have the opportunity to sit down with Melanie Verwoerd, an author, podcaster, and advocate for supporting women and the medical community to better understand hysterectomies, among many other impressive accomplishments. In this conversation, they explore Melanie’s personal journey, from the shocking discovery during a routine gynecological checkup of a potentially cancerous growt...

The Pelvic Floor plays an important role in our bodies. It's an incredible collection of muscles & ligaments that support our bladder, uterus, & rectum. It plays a role in sexual function, in childbirth, in supporting our daily and lifelong activities of peeing and pooping! It turns out there's even physical therapists specifically trained to support those who may need to work on...

Maybe you had a brief lesson on the menstrual cycle in middle school or high school. But how much do you actually remember? In this episode, Val is joined by the incredible women's health physician's assistant, Kavi Rajendran, to discuss the science behind the menstrual cycle. Follicular, Ovulation, Luteal? You may have heard of these, but what's happening in your body throughout ea...

In this episode, the girl and her gyno-mom meet up with Dr. Traci Kurtzer. Dr. Kurtzer is an amazing physician and community advocate. She works at Northwestern in the Center of Sexual Medicine and Menopause and is the Medical Director of Trauma Informed Care and Education at Northwestern. She joins the ladies to discuss a very important topic: Trauma Informed Care. They cover what trauma entails...

It's estimated that 180 million people worldwide are affected by Endometriosis, yet on average, there is an 8 year gap between people presenting with symptoms and being diagnosed. Join the girl and her gyno-mom, and their special guest, endometriosis advocate, Amy Corfeli, as they discuss: What is endometriosis? Common symptoms and co-conditions The diagnosis process The impact on being dismi...

Have you ever rushed to the bathroom with the urge to pee only to find that there's only a few measly trickles?  or have you sat down on the toilet to find that your pee is burning and irritating as it comes out? You may have a bladder infection. Also referred to as a Urinary Tract Infection or a UTI. If you've ever experienced this, you're not alone. It's estimated that around...

The girl and her gyno-mom are back for a second Season.  Join Dr. Denise Poulos, a gynecologist based in the Chicagoland area, and her daughter Val, as they continue the conversation surrounding women's reproductive health. The duo will be walking through topics such as: Urinary Tract Infections, Yeast Infections, Endometriosis, Hysterectomy, Trauma Informed Care, Pelvic Floor Health and that...

The girl and her gyno-mom have finished up Season 1 of Not So Private Parts.  WoooHooo! Dr. Poulos and her daughter, Val, are thrilled at the opportunity to get their women’s health project off the ground. Join them in this episode, in which the mother-daughter duo look back at the topics covered in each episode of the inaugural season of Not So Private Parts. They speak to their biggest learnings...

Val and her gyno-mom (Dr. Denise Poulos) are joined again by the brilliant reproductive endocrinologist, Dr. Victoria Snegovskikh. The ladies discuss: What makes couples infertile?  Is infertility on the rise and why? Is infertility just a women’s issue? Is there such a thing as the right lube to use whilst trying to get pregnant? Dr. Victoria breaks down various fertility treatments such as ferti...

In our previous Menopause episode, we dove down into the depths of menopausal symptoms, touching on hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings, etc. Luckily, in today’s episode we march straight back up, discussing various forms of menopausal management that can support women through this transition and help dampen the adverse side effect of menopause. Dr. Polous explains menopausal hormone therapy...

Val is joined by Dr. Victoria Snegovskikh, a reproductive endocrinologist & infertility specialist based in Chicago, who has been working in the space for over 20 years supporting couples to achieve their family building dreams. Dr. Victoria breaks down what being “fertile” actually means and how fertility changes as we age. Here’s a word from Val about this episode: “As a woman in my late twe...

Pause…..and let’s have a chat about Menopause. Did you know that ⅓ of a woman's life is postmenopausal. Yet sometimes it feels like any learnings or conversations about this stage of a woman's life is kept quiet. Join us in this episode in which Dr. Denise Polous and her daughter, Valerie Elser, discuss an often stigmatized topic: perimenopause and menopause. The mother-daughter duo dive...

Listen in with Val and her mom, gynecologist Dr. Denise Elser-Poulos, as they discuss a phenomena all too familiar to many women (80% of women to be exact): Painful Periods Hear as listeners describe what painful periods feel like for them and ask their questions regarding what causes painful periods and what can be done to minimize the pain. The two will walk through primary and secondary dysmeno...

Join Gyno-Mom, Dr. Denise Elser Poulos and her daughter, Val, for a mini-episode all about getting to know the mother-daughter duo behind Not So Private Parts. You’ll be able to hear about Dr. D’s path toward becoming a women’s health physician, what excites her most about the field of urogynecology, and what topics she’s most excited to break myths about on the show. Val candidly dives into what...

Gyno-Mom, Dr. Denise Elser Poulos, and her daughter, Val, discuss a topic that Dr. D is very excited about: Heavy Menstrual Flow. It turns out heavy menstrual flow is quite common, affecting about 1 in 5 females. The mother-daughter duo delve into how to tell what amount of bleeding is right for you and how much is too much. What the symptoms are that go along with a heavy period and what are the...

Gyno-mom, Dr. Poulos, and her daughter, Val, discuss the two most commonly used forms of reversible birth control, the pill and the intrauterine device (or IUD for short). They go over the basics behind these two birth control types touching on the science behind them, the hormones involved, the many benefits of birth control, common side effects, and how to talk with your doctor about which birth...

Gyno-mom, Dr. Poulos, and her daughter, Val, discuss a huge host of birth control options available for women: from vaginal rings, injectable birth control, the birth control implant, natural cycle planning, condoms, sterilization, and Plan B. They’ll dive into the details behind each form of birth control in the hope that hearing about all the options will demystify the wide array of birth contro...