Bringing home a new baby is often portrayed as a joyful experience, but for many parents, the postpartum period can also bring significant emotional and mental health challenges. Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common but serious medical condition that affects approximately one in five individuals following childbirth and can occur anytime during the first year postpartum.
Many women associate menopause with their late 40s or early 50s. However, emerging research suggests that symptoms related to perimenopause may begin much earlier than previously recognized, with many women in their 30s already experiencing significant changes.
Women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have a significantly increased lifetime risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D). While nutrition, physical activity, and weight management are well-recognized prevention strategies, emerging evidence highlights sleep health, particularly short sleep duration and frequent snoring, as an important modifiable risk factor.
A large longitudinal study following nearly 3,000 women with previous gestational diabetes for more than 15 years found that approximately 35–60% of women with prior gestational diabetes develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years.
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada (SOGC) has released updated clinical practice guidelines for managing endometriosis, emphasizing that care should be personalized, coordinated and focused on each patient’s goals.
Endometriosis affects many people of reproductive age and occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. It can cause pelvic pain, painful periods, pain with intercourse, bowel or bladder symptoms, fatigue and challenges with fertility.
At Orleans Family Health Clinic, we care about your health before, during, and after pregnancy—and that includes dads-to-be.
A compelling new study from the University of Toronto is changing the way we think about family health. Researchers found that a father’s weight at the time of conception can influence a child’s growth and long-term risk of obesity—and not just in small ways.
At Orleans Family Health Clinic, we know that conversations about women’s health extend far beyond physical checkups. Increasingly, research highlights the connection between burnout and depression—especially among women, who often juggle overlapping responsibilities at work, at home, and in caregiving roles.
International Women’s Day is a time to recognize the achievements of women while also reflecting on the health challenges women continue to face—many of which remain underdiagnosed, undertreated, or misunderstood.
March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, and at Orleans Family Health Clinic, we believe that awareness without access to care is incomplete. Endometriosis affects approximately 1 in 10 women and people assigned female at birth in Canada — an estimated 1 million Canadians — yet the average time from symptom onset to confirmed diagnosis remains over five years. That delay is not inevitable. With better education, earlier recognition, and a trusted primary care relationship, we can close that gap together.
At At Orleans Family Health Clinic in Ottawa, we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a special opportunity to acknowledge the countless contributions women have made to medicine, public health, research, and patient care.
Mattel’s newest addition to its Fashionista line, autistic Barbie, is being hailed as a step forward in toy inclusivity. Developed in collaboration with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), the doll features stimming hands, a slightly averted gaze to mimic some autistic people’s tendency to avoid direct eye contact, a detachable fidget spinner, noise-canceling headphones, and a tablet displaying symbol-based Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) apps.
The doll wears an A-line dress with short sleeves and flat shoes to reduce fabric-to-skin contact and promote ease of movement. Its facial features were inspired by Mattel employees in India, reflecting an effort to combine neurodiverse and cultural representation.