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A Complete Guide to Navigating Perimenopause
Perimenopause affects all women, yet many of us navigate it feeling isolated and uninformed. If these symptoms are affecting your quality of life, work
performance, or relationships, it’s time for a conversation.
Meet Shawn Shanahan: A Board-Certified Women’s Health NP, Sonographer, and Certified Menopause Expert
Shawn Shanahan, Advanced
Practice RN-Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (Board Certified), Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, Wholistic Health Educator, Certified Geriatric Care Professional, Certified Menopause
Practitioner.
Meet Marci Mangold, PA-C: Compassionate Women’s Healthcare Provider at Kalispell OB/GYN
Meet Marci Mangold, PA-C
Women caring for women — with compassion, experience, and heart.
With over 20 years of medical experience, Marci Mangold, PA-C, brings deep clinical expertise and personal empathy to her role at Kalispell OB/GYN. A Montana native, Marci is passionate about empowering women through all stages of life — from wellness exams and menopause management to infertility care and chronic condition treatment.
Read MoreBeyond Birth Control – Understanding Modern IUDs
We will dispel the most common myths surrounding IUDs and walk you through what actually happens during a consultation and insertion at our Kalispell OB/GYN clinic. Whether you’re considering an IUD for contraception or other medical benefits, understanding the facts can help you make an informed decision about your healthcare options.
Read MoreAre Your Pee Pipes Piddling?
by Shawn Shanahan, APRN-WHNP / Kalispell OB/GYN A leaky bladder is not a laughing matter, or is it? For one thing, laughing all too often leads to leakage. So does coughing, sneezing, exercising, or changing positions. Unprovoked bladder leakage may just incline one to stay home and become a recluse. Sometimes it feels like just…
Read MoreConsent & Condoms – Oh My!
Written by Austin Rusher, WHNP / Kalispell OB-GYN {Original Article posted 406 Woman } Being a girl is hard. Being a woman is also hard. Figuring out who we are, what we like, what we do not like, what our boundaries are etc. is an entire process that changes as we mature and grow as…
Read MoreTired of heavy periods? Uterine Ablation May Be The Answer
Written by Marci Mangold, PA-C / Original Article published: 406 Woman Magazine Do you dread that certain “time of the month?” Feel like you’re preparing for battle, stock-piling supplies before the bleeding starts, or maybe “Aunt Flo” just comes on a little too strong and is more than you can handle any longer? Be encouraged…
Read MoreKaycee McIntosh – Kalispell ObGyn
Written by Mary Wallace / Photos by ACE Photography / 406 Woman Magazine profile} Please meet Kaycee McIntosh – Physician’s Assistant, Medical Aesthetician, wife, daughter, mom to three boys, and wilderness survival podcast host Kaycee is a part of the medical team offering patient-centered, personalized care to meet the unique health needs of women at…
Read MoreMenopause and Hormone Therapy – Why All The Confusion?
Gwen Jonas, MD, discusses the perimenopausal transition and menopause, defining menopause as a period of 12 months without menstruation due to decreased ovarian function and hormone production. Symptoms affect 75% of women, including vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats) and mood changes, and can last 7-10 years. Menopause also brings symptomless risks like bone weakening and increased heart disease risk due to poorer cholesterol profiles and insulin resistance. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is presented as an effective treatment for many, addressing misconceptions about its safety based on updated research. HRT benefits include symptom relief and reduced risks of bone fractures, diabetes, and possibly heart disease in women starting it within ten years of menopause before age 60. Various HRT delivery methods and the importance of discussing risks, like blood clots and stroke with a healthcare provider, are highlighted. “Bioidentical” hormones are clarified, and continuous use of HRT beyond 65 is considered if symptoms persist, emphasizing individualized treatment decisions.
Read MoreMenopause
Written by Marci Mangold, PA-C Did you know that only half of women aged 50 continue to have intercourse, and by age 70, only 27 percent are sexually active? According to a study at Johns Hopkins, this is a natural effect of aging, and it is not surprising that the older we get the less…
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