Description

What's Sex Got to Do With It? Women's Under-the-Radar Health Conditions

Women’s bodies are constantly evolving. From the moment of first menstruation to menopause, the body is undergoing constant evolution. Whether for better or worse, hormones and other factors play a role in how women experience daily life.

There is a lot of discussion about the common effects of hormones throughout a woman’s life cycle. Yet there are some conditions that, although men can acquire them, the predominant patient populations are women. Why do women get these conditions more than men? Some of these are well-known, while others are less common. This program will review several conditions that affect women more than men, but that we, as health professionals, are often not provided with as much information about. Learn about lesser-discussed topics that can affect a woman’s systemic health as well as their oral health. 

Learning Objectives:

• Define autoimmune conditions and the role autoimmunity plays in a woman’s life
• Explain the role of estrogen in Temporomandibular Disorders
• Review Polymyalgia Rheumatica, Raynaud's Phenomenon, and other common and uncommon health conditions
• Understand how these health conditions impact patient dental care and treatment   

Ann-Marie C. DePalma is a graduate of Forsyth School for Dental Hygienists, Northeastern University, and University of Massachusetts Boston. Her passion, dedication, and expertise inspire dental professionals through her CE programs and publications. She has experience as a clinical hygienist, faculty member, consultant, and software trainer, and is a fellow in several dental hygiene organizations. Beyond dentistry, Ann-Marie volunteers in several local community organizations.