Episode 4: Gurrl, You Sexy (The Menstrual Cycle)

Today I had the pleasure of interviewing Beth Swift who is a Phd Candidate at the University of Oxford in Oxford England. She is in her final year of her DPhil/Phd program or doctorate program in womens reproductive health and her research looks at contributions to PCOS, endometriosis, and fibrosis. She’s been able to work with residents of the Cyprus, a small island in the Middle East, to gather data and present the first health statistic on this population.

Puberty Part 2 finishes out puberty to talk about  • How chromosomes don't necessarily dictate your future • The most common reason puberty is delayed or irregular • Why teenagers have every right to be raging monsters  We start out with Pobodys Nerfect from the last episode Puberty Part 1  Then we finish out with Pobodys Nerfect from todays episode Puberty Part 2  Ep. 9 Pobody's Nerfect:  ~00:06:19: I'm talking about C-AIS and say that "don't have androgens" I correct myself later, but just to be absolutely clear, Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome is characterized by having androgens, but not having the ability to register that they are present.  ~00:45:00: I'm describing puberty and the parts of emotions and the brain and I'm strictly referring to androgens, puberty is different for sexes and so are the hormones, females are having estrogen drive the sexual attractive same as males have androgens. I'm simply staying on the topic of Jimmy being my example whom I've chosen to be a male with androgens for the sake of an example.  References:  Puberty Part 2 includes 31 citations which can be found at this link: https://www.whatthesht.com/general-5

WTS* is back!! Season 2 episode 8 is all about puberty and the hormonal changes that happen and what that does to a person externally.  Puberty is complex, so in order to do it justice I broke this topic into two different episodes:  For part 1 today we’re going to cover the stages of puberty within these stages whats similar for everyone what different for girls and boys And then if you want to hear mine and Christophers personal puberty stories considering joining WTS* patron page, otherwise we'll see you in part 2.  Pobody Nerfect:  Quick reminder that this will be vocalized on the next episode of the podcast for those that prefer to hear it.  18:58  I have a spoonerism mixup here, I swap the first letters of the two hormones released from the hypothalamus and say "LSH and FH" it is actually FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone).  28:55 I say "premature ejaculation" when I am referring to "wet dreams," I meant to say "involuntary ejaculation" as I had stated previously. Involuntary ejaculation refers to when there is no stimulation in order to achieve an orgasm and it can arise from, in this instance, an erotic dream when the person is asleep. Premature ejaculation is when an ejaculation/orgasm happens much faster than anticipated or intended occurring just before or shortly after beginning sexual intercourse or manual stimulation.  Reference Link: https://www.whatthesht.com/general-5 Episode 8 reference list was so long that I couldn't fit just the references within the characters allowed in my show notes.

As promised this weeks episode is an interview of one of my graduate student instructors (or GSI) from UC Berkeley. Alina studies mating behaviors in frogs and how chemicals that run off into their environment change not only their behavior but their physiology changing males to female frogs. Since I know some of my listeners like to just get into the details of research I've added time stamps to topics so you can skip ahead or backtrack to different topics.  Topics include: • Alina the early years (00:02:02)  • How she got into graduate school (00:20:13)  • Alina's research with frogs and mating behavior (00:47:33)  • A brief chat about my interest in research (1:19:11)  • Why nuns are more likely to get breast cancer (1:27:48) • Fun shit fact (1:33:08)  If you have any questions for myself or for Alina drop a voice note at anchor.com, a comment or DM on instagram or send me a question on the website. Like, subscribe and rate WTS* for a chance to win some supplements from FNX Fitness.  If you an undergraduate student and want more information about the conferences Alina mentioned check them out here: ABRCMS: https://www.abrcms.org SACNAS: https://www.sacnas.org For more information on toxic shock syndrome: https://www.webmd.com/women/guide/understanding-toxic-shock-syndrome-basics References: Perry, C., Kench, P., O’Leary, M., Morgan, K., & Januchowski-Hartley, F. (2015). Linking reef ecology to island building: Parrotfish identified as major producers of island-building sediment in the Maldives. Geology, 43(6), 503-506. doi:10.1130/g36623.1 Pobodies Nerfect 00:08:27  I talk about the lumpsucker fish, this is not the correct fish name. The fish in question is the “hagfish.” 00:12:40 I mention the women that did the x-rays to get the DNA helix structure, her name is Rosalind Franklin. 00:47:41 I incorrectly say Tyrell, the name of the professor that runs Alina's lab is Tyrone Hayes.

In Episode 6 of WTS we talk about a recent study that came out where researchers where able to make contact with lucid dreamers while they were actively dreaming; topics include:  • What is sleep?  • What is dreaming?  • How do we measure sleep?  • What happened in the study and where this could lead future research? References:  Ferreira, B. (2021, February 18). Scientists achieve real-time communication with lucid dreamers in breakthrough. Retrieved February 22, 2021, from https://www.vice.com/en/article/4admym/scientists-achieve-real-time-communication-with-lucid-dreamers-in-breakthrough Konkoly, K. R., Appel, K., Chabani, E., Mangiaruga, A., Gott, J., Mallett, R., . . . Paller, K. A. (2021). Real-time dialogue between experimenters and dreamers during rem sleep. Current Biology. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2021.01.026 For more about the hypnogogic state: https://www.healthline.com/health/hypnagogia Walker, M. P. (2018). Why we sleep: The new science of sleep and dreams. London: Penguin Books. https://nypost.com/2017/09/25/your-office-coffee-cup-likely-is-covered-in-poop/ UC Berkeley Courses The Psychology of Sleep taught by Matthew Walker Ph.D, PSY133 Pobody's Nerfect 11:58 I say "Limbic system" what I mean is lymphatic system which is why in the brain with the glia its dubbed glymphatic system. 25:46  I say adrenaline, this incorrect. Adrenaline is a trademark for a synthetic version of epinephrine or norepinephrine which is what I actually mean to say.  31:58 I am speaking about participants in the study and I say there are three, this is misleading. There are three groups of participants, that include those I listed, but they had several participants around the world varying between 1 and 30 per study done in each lab.  32:34 I mention the definition of narcolepsy is different than what I had learned, but here is a direct excerpt from the study by Konkoly et al., "We have recently shown that patients with narcolepsy had many advantages for lucid dreaming research. First, 78% of these patients were lucid dreamers, achieving an average of 8 lucid dreams per month without any specific training. Furthermore, narcolepsy, by definition, is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and abnormal transitions between wakefulness and REM sleep including rapid entry into REM sleep. These unique features allow collection of lucid REM sleep episodes in only a few day- time naps in a sleep lab. Of note, the overall structure of sleep is conserved in narcolepsy. Although some EEG features have been identified during narcoleptics’ REM sleep (e.g., increased alpha power), none of these features were sufficient to differentiate REM sleep in narcolepsy from REM sleep in healthy controls" (2021). [Bolding and underline is added by myself].  45:29  I talk about neuroplasticity and how it is like muscles, which is technically true, but I want to clarify that neuroplasticy has ebbs and flows throughout childhood and teen years and then in adulthood there are specific areas of the brain that still have the ability to grow new neurons. This is still a hotly debated area of research whether adult neuroplasticity truly exists.   48:22 I talk about how I think it was an epidemiologist that said that poop is in your coffee cup, it was a microbiologist. 

In episode 5 of WTS* we go over the HPA-axis. Topics include (but are not limited to) • what are hormones • The three classes: monoamines, peptides/proteins, and steroids • The anterior and posterior pituitary • The HPA axis and producing cortisol • The prefrontal cortex and the amygdala and how you can train your reactions • Today’s FSF is the “Poop Bus” References: A. G. Watts. (2007). Anatomy of the HPA Axis (pg. 13-29). Nelson, R. J., & Kriegsfeld, L. J. (2018). An introduction to behavioral endocrinology. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates. Hill, S. E. (2019). This is your brain on birth control: The surprising science of women, hormones, and the law of unintended consequences. NY, NY: Avery. UC Berkeley Courses Hormones and Behavior taught by Lance Kriegsfeld Ph.D, IBC143B Biological Clocks taught by Lance Kriegsfeld Ph.D, IBC143B Neurobiology of Stress taught by Daniela Kaufer Ph.D, IB139 Alex Honnold the solo climber https://nautil.us/issue/39/sport/the-strange-brain-of-the-worlds-greatest-solo-climber Pobody’s Nerfect 26:05 — I say “inhibitory feedback” which is a technically incorrect. Inhibitory feedback is not a thing, in these events it’s considered negative feedback which ends up causing inhibitory signals to whatever axis or pathway its acting on. 42:29 — I say voluntary actions which is misleading. What I mean is in terms of methodical actions of your own volition. For example, to pick up a cup is voluntary, but you don’t really think about picking up the cup, this is not a prefrontal cortex (PFC) situation. However, to decide to quit a job would be something that your PFC would have been largely involved in and ultimately the master and commander of that action. 44:01 — I say “activation signals” with the amygdala to the hypothalamus its really “excitatory” and that creates activation.

In episode 4 of WTS* we talk about the menstrual cycle and periods for women, topics include– • The hormones of the menstrual cycle • The different phases of the cycle • Why your so sexy during high estrogen • What the hell a corpus luteum is • Tracking your cycle • My first period • Using a menstrual cup • And as always a fun shit fact References Hill, S. E. (2019). This is your brain on birth control: The surprising science of women, hormones, and the law of unintended consequences. NY, NY: Avery. Briden, L. (2018). Period repair manual: Natural treatment for better hormones and better periods. Miller, G., Tybur, J. M., & Jordan, B. D. (2007). Ovulatory cycle effects on tip earnings by lap dancers: Economic evidence for human estrus?☆. Evolution and Human Behavior, 28(6), 375-381. doi:10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2007.06.002 Courses Taken were information is used from UC Berkeley Biological Clocks taught by Lance Kriegsfeld, IBC143B Human Biological Variation taught by Leslea J. Hlusko, IB25AC If you are wanting more resources for taking control of your period health I recommend  • Period Repair Manual by Lara Briden • This is Your Brain on Birth Control by Sarah E. Hill Pobodys Nerfect: Today's whoops Around 00:32:05 I keep saying days 8-21, that is incorrect, its days 14/15-21, right after ovulation the beginning of the luteal phase.  At 8:14 I say that the pituitary gland is a neuroendocrine gland, and this is technically incorrect. The neuroendocrine cells that feed into the pituitary gland originate in the hypothalamus, they are hypothalamic neurons that release hormones into what is called the median eminence– this is a small private circulation between the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary that these neurons have access to and this is where they release their hormones. The pituitary cells inside the anterior pituitary then make and release LH and FSH (and many other hormones) into the bloodstream for circulation through the body.

Today is short and sweet, I'm going solo and were talking about the basics of macronutrients–       • Lipids (triglycerides)       • Carbohydrates (glucose)       • Protein (amino acids)  and micronutrients       • water and fat soluble vitamins      • minerals and trace minerals Our FSF is about Elvis Presleys last bowel movement.  Todays cover art of glycogen storage was actually drawn by me as notes for my biochemistry course.  References:  Elvis– https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/elvis-addiction-was-the-perfect-prescription-for-an-early-death

This episode of WTS* is brought to you by– a question my sister asked me: “Why don’t you drink while you're in school?” In Ep. II I try to cover common questions and topics about alcohol (below), do a little bit of myth busting, and of course, share a FSF (fun shit fact). What is alcohol? How is alcohol metabolized? Why do I feel like shit* when I have a hanger? Why do I always have to pee? Should I eat while drinking or not? Why and how does alcohol affect memory? References for todays episode: Alcohol Metabolism Cederbaum, A. (2012, November). Alcohol metabolism. Retrieved January 10, 2021, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3484320/#!po=22.0000 “In Depth: Alcohol.” The Science of Nutrition, by Janice Thompson et al., Pearson Benjamin Cummings, 2011, pp. 155–165. Hangovers Minnick, Fred. “In Search of a Cure for the Dreaded Hangover.” Scientific American, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2014, www.scientificamerican.com/article/in-search-of-a-cure-for-the-dreaded-hangover/. Study about drinking and memory Smith C, Smith D. Ingestion of ethanol just prior to sleep onset impairs memory for procedural but not declarative tasks. Sleep. 2003 Mar 15;26(2):185-91. PMID: 12683478. Rodent study about no sleep  Everson CA, Bergmann BM, Rechtschaffen A. Sleep deprivation in the rat: III. Total sleep deprivation. Sleep. 1989 Feb;12(1):13-21. doi: 10.1093/sleep/12.1.13. PMID: 2928622. ********** Pobody's Nerfect: Today’s Corrections At 00:29:30 Correction about aldosterone, I said it was made in the brain, that is incorrect. Aldoesterone is a hormone that participates in fluid retention system but it is made in and released from the adrenal gland (the little triangle lumps that sit on top of your kidneys), it then circulates in the blood and when your kidneys bind this hormone, aldosterone in combination with two other hormones are a signal to retain fluid. But this is not the hormone that alcohol suppresses– alcohol actually suppresses the production of the hormone called vasopressin (or ADH) which is released from your brain. And this is what makes is so you have to urinate constantly. The full mechanism for blood pressure and fluid retention is below (if you care to know). Kidney senses low BP/Na+ levels and secretes renin into blood —> (angiotensinogen secreted regularly by liver) —> renin cleaves and coverts angiotensinogen —> angiotensin I —> lung releases ACE —> coverts angiotensin I —> AngII (now biologically active) —> AngII stimulates adrenal cortex to synthesize and secrete mineralocorticoid aldosterone —> AngII + aldosterone —> ↑Na+ retention/↓K+ retention in the kidneys —> AngII —> goes to brain and hypothalmus synthesizes ADH —> pituitary gland secretes ADH (vasopressin) —> AngII + aldosterone + ADH —> ↑H2O Retention + global vasoconstriction At 00:45:24 I mention a study that I thought was conducted in the 1960-1970s the study was actually published in 1989 (citation above) At 00:45:52 Christopher flushes a toilet, sorry guys. At 00:46:18 The audio sudden swaps, one of my microphones stopped recording but the other kept going to I had to swap audio files, hopefully I’ll stop running into hiccups. At 00:56:00 I say that it was 20% recall (compared to the original recall test done the same day of learning) of the group that drinks alcohol on day 1, the amount of information lost as reported in the study was actually 50%, basically they were only able to recall half as much as they did on the day they learned, and those that drink on night 3 instead were only able to recall 40% as well as day 1 recall.

In the first episode of WTS* we're coming in hot with the topic of, well, shit. Because why not let you get to know myself and my cohost (today) all too well. I hope you enjoy and welcome.  Topics Include:  Who am I (Ariel) the creator of What the Sh*t Fun Shit Fact (FSF), Some things that contribute to a good or bad bowl movement.  To send in a question email [email protected] or submit a comment my website whatthesht.com or leave me a voice note. I'd love to answer your questions.  References for today's episodes are below:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groom_of_the_Stool https://www.vox.com/2015/1/22/7871579/poop-feces