Dr. Beverly Vavricka

11/24/2025

Hi perimenopause/menopause friends! I get asked this all the time. Unfortunately, hormone therapy does NOT help with that pesky menopause weight gain BUT hormone therapy doesn’t worsen the weight gain either and will make you feel much better overall! The menopause society is the best resource for your research on all things menopause. We are in this together! 💙💙

Question: Should hormone therapy be used for weight loss?

No. Hormone therapy has favorable effects on body composition but typically does not result in weight loss.

There is a link between adiposity and menopause symptoms. Adiposity, and particularly central adiposity, is associated with increased vasomotor symptom severity. Although weight loss via lifestyle intervention has been associated with decreased frequency and severity of vasomotor symptoms, the effect of weight loss medications on vasomotor symptoms is limited.

There is preliminary evidence that hormone therapy use may augment response to weight loss medications, but additional study is needed before this can be recommended as standard practice in clinical care.

References:
The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The Menopause Society available at https://tinyurl.com/22v85s8f
Practice Pearl: Pharmacologic Options for the Treatment of Overweight and Obesity

10/31/2025

04/11/2025

If you and your children are vaccinated the risk is low. If you or your children are not vaccinated and were in these areas it is worth reaching out. Unfortunately, measles can be dangerous for some people including developing fetuses if a non-immune expectant mother contracts the illness.

The OSDH has identified a confirmed measles case; the agency was notified on April 6, 2025, and began an investigation immediately. Through the investigation thus far, we learned the individual was in public settings while contagious, creating a potential risk to the public.

Potential measles exposure location

Business: Northwest Pediatrics of Oklahoma City

Address: Mercy Plaza Building (an outpatient clinic) 4140 W Memorial Rd., Suite 413, Oklahoma City, OK 73120

Locations of exposure risk within Mercy Plaza Building: lower level lobby, elevators, and the elevator landing and hallway on the 4th floor.

Date: April 4, 2025

Time: 10:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The OSDH worked with Northwest Pediatrics of Oklahoma City to identify individuals with a known exposure risk. The OSDH will notify these individuals directly of their exposure.

If an individual visited the location within the date and timeframe and is unvaccinated, unsure of vaccine or immune status, or has concerns, they are encouraged to provide their name and contact information on https://brnw.ch/21wRWAl confidentially. Someone from the OSDH will contact them between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., 7 days a week, for further information and guidance.

If additional public setting exposures are identified, they will be immediately posted on https://brnw.ch/21wRWAm.

02/07/2025

The Center for Women’s Health is proud to have a dedicated team of Board-Certified OB/GYNs committed to providing compassionate, expert care at every stage of life. Our doctors work to empower each patient with personalized, high-quality health services.

Learn more about our team at centerforwomen-okc.com or call (405) 755-7430 to schedule your visit!

12/12/2024

11/13/2024

We are delighted to welcome Dr. Jessica Cunningham to our team of physicians. She is an excellent addition with a longstanding history of compassionate, thoughtful care for patients. She is taking calls for appointments now with a start date of early January.

Introducing Dr. Jessica Cunningham, DO, the newest OB/GYN at the Center for Women’s Health! With a passion for helping women navigate moments of joy, comfort, and recovery, Dr. Cunningham brings over 12 years of experience and a love for Oklahoma’s community.

She’s well-versed in minimally invasive surgery, menopause management, and annual wellness care, with certifications in robotic surgery. Outside the clinic, she's an avid hiker and mom of two kids.

Book your appointment with Dr. Cunningham by calling (405) 755-7430! 👩‍⚕️

10/25/2024

No surprise here! The people make Mercy what it is. Kindness, teamwork and putting the patient first is the priority above all else. 🩷🩷🩷

Newsweek and Statista are proud to present America's Best-in-State Hospitals 2025, highlighting 700 leading hospitals at the state level to help you find trusted medical facilities no matter where you live.

09/27/2024

We've received a health alert from the Oklahoma State Department of Health regarding a significant increase in pertussis in Oklahoma. Pertussis or whooping cough can cause severe illness or even death in newborn babies. Unsuspecting, loving adults who have mild illness can pass it on to babies who are not yet vaccinated. The best way to protect newborns is for every pregnant mother to receive the TDAP after 27 weeks and for all caregivers to make sure they are up to date on the TDAP. Let's protect our babies! 💕🤰🤱

06/12/2024

📣Calling all new moms! 📣 Join us at The Lactation Club (TLC) at the Love Family Women's Center this Thursday, June 13, from 1 - 3 p.m.

Drop in and connect with other breastfeeding moms, get expert guidance from our certified lactation consultants, and even weigh your little one. It's free and offered every other Thursday - just be sure to register in advance! Sign up here: https://ow.ly/t59L50S9TwE

06/05/2024

Join us at Northwest Pediatrics to learn about newborn care at our 🍿Popcorn with Pediatricians🍿event. We have several dates available this summer! The classes are open to all expectant parents. For more information and to register, please visit our website.

https://www.nwpedsokc.com/popcorn-with-pediatricians

05/29/2024

📣This one's for the new moms! 📣 Come join The Lactation Club (TLC) at the Love Family Women's Center tomorrow, May 30 at 1 p.m.

This class is for women who have already delivered with a newborn up to 12 weeks old. The Lactation Club is facilitated by Mercy's certified lactation consultants in a casual, come-as-you-please setting to help new moms navigate their own breastfeeding experience and find support and connection with other new and breastfeeding moms. Any mom is welcome to come for expert guidance on personal breastfeeding challenges and successes. A baby scale will also be available for an infant weight check.

The class is free and offered every other Thursday; we just ask that you register in advance so we can be sure we have space and supplies for all! Sign up here and look for the "Mercy TLC" class: https://ow.ly/emZr50S09pF