Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Gyno Girl Presents: Sex, Drugs & Hormones
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menopause Around the World: Women Everywhere Are Being Dismissed ft. Dr. Yewande Banire | 09 oct. 2026 | 00:50:30 | |
Menopause is biologically universal, but how women experience it, and whether they even have a word for it, depends a lot on where they live. I talk with Dr. Yewande Banire, a family nurse practitioner who cares for patients in the United States and in Lagos, Nigeria, about what women's health looks like through an international lens. Yewande shares how her own years of heavy periods and fibroid pain, and being told it was just part of being a woman, led her into this work. We talk about why women in Nigeria may not have a name for hot flashes or night sweats, how those symptoms can be mistaken for malaria or typhoid, and what limited access to hormone therapy looks like in practice. We also get into the role a husband's permission can play, early ovarian insufficiency in women under 40, and what birth control pills can offer when hormone therapy isn't available. Yewande closes with a message for patients and for clinicians. What You'll Learn
Get in Touch with Dr. Banire Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| Brown Girls' Disease: A Guide to Sexual Health and Empowerment | 02 oct. 2026 | 00:37:31 | |
Seven years ago, I started keeping notes on patient stories I kept coming back to, including a woman who hadn't been able to have sex in seven years, and a 68-year-old cancer survivor who wanted her life back. Somewhere along the way, I ended up writing about myself too, including something I've never told you before. Those stories became my new book, Brown Girls' Disease?, out October 6th. The title comes from a term I once heard used in a hospital to dismiss South Asian women with vaginismus, and I'm reclaiming it. Culture, religion, and ethnicity do shape how we experience sex, but they're context, not a diagnosis, and this book is for anyone who's ever been dismissed, not just South Asian women. Highlights:
Book Tour Dates (as mentioned in this episode)
Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| The Neuroscience of Desire, Dopamine, and Orgasm ft. Dr. Jim Pfaus | 25 sept. 2026 | 01:09:34 | |
Dr. Jim Pfaus is a behavioral neuroscientist who has spent decades watching rats have sex to understand what's happening in the brain during desire, arousal, and orgasm. I talk with Jim about what that research can teach us about our own desire, and just how much of it comes down to the brain rather than any one hormone. We tend to assume females have little say in when sex happens, but Jim's research shows the opposite in female rats. They have complete control over whether it happens at all. He also shares a study on partner preference: when a male rat has to wait for one specific female instead of getting instant, easy access to her, he'll seek her out over other females afterward. When there's no wait, that preference never forms. We also get into what dopamine and serotonin are doing during arousal and orgasm, why SSRIs can shut down desire and what can sometimes be adjusted, and the real relationship between testosterone and estrogen in both men's and women's bodies. Jim also explains what might be happening in the brain when GLP-1 medications affect libido, the inverted U-shaped curve behind arousal and performance, how early experiences condition what turns us on for life, why pain responses in conditions like PGAD and vestibulodynia are so hard to fully unlearn, and what his research suggests about psychedelics and sexual connection. What You'll Learn:
Get in touch with Jim: Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| Why You Stopped Wanting Sex (And What To Do About It) ft. Dr. Lori Brotto | 18 sept. 2026 | 00:50:21 | |
A lot of women notice their desire for sex fading over time and assume something is wrong with them, but there's often a real reason for it, and they're not the only ones going through it. I sat down with Dr. Lori Brotto, one of the most recognized researchers in women's sexual health, to talk about why desire changes and what actually helps bring it back. We discuss the difference between spontaneous and responsive desire, how to tell low desire apart from asexuality, and how sensate focus works in sex therapy. Lori also introduces eSense, her mindfulness and CBT based digital platform built to close the access gap for women who can't reach a sex therapist, and shares surprising research on how an AI-powered navigator stacks up against a human one. What You'll Learn
Get in Touch with Lori: Website eSense website Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| Beyond the Pink: Breast Cancer Survivorship, Sexual Health, and Thriving After Treatment | Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky | 11 sept. 2026 | 00:50:35 | |
We talk a lot about screening and treatment in the breast cancer space. What we do not talk about nearly enough is what happens after. What happens to a woman's fertility, her vagina, her relationships, her body image, her mental health, her cardiovascular health, and her sense of self when treatment ends and everyone expects her to simply be grateful to be alive. Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky is a board certified medical oncologist specializing in breast and gynecologic cancers, head of breast and gynecologic medical oncology at Valley Health System, and author of the new book Beyond the Pink: Navigating Life, Health, and Breast Cancer. Her work has long focused on young women with cancer, sexual health, and survivorship. And this book is her answer to a question medicine has not been asking loudly enough: how do we help women not just survive but thrive? We cover a lot of ground. Hormone therapy after breast cancer, including the nuanced conversations around hormone receptor positive versus negative disease, vaginal estrogen, testosterone, and Duavee. Bone health, body composition, sarcopenia, and the emerging data on GLP-1 medications and breast cancer recurrence risk. The difference between a local and distant recurrence and what ongoing screening actually looks like years after treatment. We also discuss the racial disparities in breast cancer care that begin with clinical trial enrollment and run all the way through treatment decisions, drug access, and who gets believed when they report pain. The medical distrust that Black women carry into the oncology office for very good reason. And what it means to practice truly patient centered care when the healthcare system was not designed to make that easy. Survivorship does not begin when treatment ends. It begins at diagnosis. And you are more than your breast cancer. Highlights:
Get in Touch with Dr. Teplinsky: Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| Your Gut, Your Hormones, and What Happens in Perimenopause | Dr. Kumkum Patel | 04 sept. 2026 | 00:48:19 | |
Many of the women I see in my practice are dealing with gut issues that connect directly to their hormones, and this week I finally got to dig into all of it with someone who truly lives at that intersection. Dr. Kumkum Patel is a board certified gastroenterologist who did a subfellowship in neurogastroenterology and motility and now runs her own private practice focused on IBS and the gut brain connection. Before she was a doctor she was a patient, and her personal journey through infertility, postpartum depression, and pelvic floor dysfunction as a first year fellow is what shaped everything about how she practices today. We start with the gut brain connection, what the enteric nervous system actually is, why the gut is sometimes called the second brain, and how 70 to 80% of our happy hormones are made right there in the gut. From there we get into how stress, whether from childhood trauma, a stressful job, or the hormonal chaos of perimenopause, disrupts that entire system and shows up as bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and IBS. We talk about the estrobiome, the specific gut bacteria responsible for regulating estrogen, and what happens when that balance is off. We cover why perimenopause causes constipation from three different directions at once, why leaky gut is a real phenomenon even if the wellness industry has run away with the term, and what actually works when it comes to treating IBS. We also had a lot of fun with a rapid fire myth busting round at the end covering everything from gut cleanses to probiotics to how often you should actually be pooping. This is the gut health conversation midlife women have been waiting for. Highlights:
Get in Touch with Dr. Patel: Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| The Menopause Experience for Women of Color: What Midlife Really Looks Like | Dr. Kudzai Dombo | 28 août 2026 | 00:52:16 | |
Dr. Kudzai Dombo is a board certified OBGYN, educator, and one of the leading voices in elevating conversations around women of color and their healthcare journey. We start with the SWAN study, a 25-year longitudinal multiracial, multi-ethnic cohort study that enrolled over 3,300 women between the ages of 42 and 52. It remains one of the most important sources of information we have on how menopause affects women differently across racial and ethnic groups. What it found is striking: Black women are more likely to experience worse vasomotor symptoms, their hot flashes last on average 10 years compared to 6.5 for white women, and they tend to enter menopause about 1.2 years earlier. Hispanic women also enter the menopausal transition earlier, with symptoms lasting on average about 9 years. These are not small differences. We talk about why these disparities exist, including the concept of weathering, the chronic stress load carried by Black women navigating systemic racism that accelerates biological aging, and what allostatic load actually means in the body. We get into social determinants of health, what they are, how they shape who gets equitable care and who does not, and why implicit bias is not a character flaw but a phenomenon every clinician needs to examine continuously. We also get personal. Dr. Dombo shares what it felt like to be on the other side of the system she works within, and we talk honestly about what patients can do when they feel dismissed, and what clinicians can do before they even walk into the room. This is a conversation about science, equity, and advocacy. And it is one every woman and every clinician needs to hear. Key Takeaways
Get in Touch with Dr. Dombo: Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| The Hidden Heart Disease Risk No One Is Talking About in the South Asian Community | Dr. Ambreen Mohamed | 21 août 2026 | 00:58:02 | |
South Asians represent about a quarter of the world's population but account for over 60 percent of the world's heart disease. The highest rates of diabetes and metabolic syndrome. And yet most women in the community have no idea this could be coming for them. This week I spoke with Dr. Ambreen Mohamed, a cardiologist with a passion for improving cardiovascular health, particularly in South Asian communities. This is a conversation I have wanted to have for a long time, and it is personal. I lost my mother to a massive heart attack over a year ago, and like so many women in our community, her symptoms did not look like what we are taught to recognize. We talk about why women's heart attack symptoms are so often dismissed, why the research was built on men for decades, and why what we call atypical is actually just different. We get into the genetics that make South Asians uniquely vulnerable, including lipoprotein A, APOB, insulin resistance, visceral fat distribution, and why someone can look healthy on the outside and have significant cardiovascular risk on the inside. We talk about the cultural pressures that make South Asian women put everyone else first, and how chronic stress compounds an already elevated risk. We also cover what good prevention actually looks like. What to ask your doctor. What markers to check beyond a standard cholesterol panel. How pregnancy history, PMOS, preeclampsia, and early menopause all factor into cardiovascular risk assessment. And what is coming down the pipeline in cardiology that gives Dr. Mohamed genuine excitement. This is not a doom and gloom conversation. It is an empowering one. Because knowing your risk is the first step to doing something about it. South Asians make up about 25 percent of the world's population but account for over 60 percent of global heart disease, with the highest rates of diabetes and metabolic syndrome of any ethnicity. What you'll learn:
Connect with Dr. Mohamed: | |||
| Beyond the Prescription: How to Become a More Empowered Patient | Dr. Lucy McBride | 14 août 2026 | 00:45:40 | |
Have you ever left a doctor's appointment feeling like you were treated as a diagnosis rather than a person? Where the 15 minutes were up before you could even get to the real question? Dr. Lucy McBride is a primary care physician, co-founder of the Ackerly McBride Group in Washington DC, and author of the new book Beyond the Prescription. For over 25 years she has practiced what she calls evidence-based, relationship-centered medicine, and her weekly Substack newsletter Are You OK? now reaches over 41,000 readers. This is not just a book about the medical system. It is about you. Lucy's argument is that self-awareness is a superpower, and that the most powerful thing you can bring to a doctor's appointment is a clear, honest understanding of your own story, your stressors, your history, and the narratives you tell yourself about what you deserve. We talk about why medicine is very good at treating disease but less good at treating the person who has it. We get into the concept of the clinical gaze, what gets lost when a clinician reduces you to your labs or your organ system, and how communication on both sides of the exam table can transform the patient and doctor relationship. Lucy also walks through the patient personality types she writes about in the book, from the people pleaser to the optimizer to the internet warrior, and why recognizing which one you are is the first step to getting better care. We also have a frank conversation about the parts of this that are hard. Health agency is not equally accessible to everyone. Implicit bias is real. Trust has been broken in many communities for very good reason. And putting the onus on the patient to be more empowered while the system remains broken is genuinely a big ask. Lucy does not shy away from any of that. This is a must listen for patients who feel dismissed and for clinicians who want to do better. What you will learn:
The biggest takeaway from this episode is: Trust but verify. Go into a new clinical relationship with openness and the benefit of the doubt rather than assuming the worst. And for clinicians: patients who come in with questions and articles are not trying to undermine you. They are doing the best they can in a system that has not served them. Meet them there. Get in Touch with Dr. McBride: Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| Pelvic Venous Disease & PGAD: A Wild Journey to Finding Answers | April Patterson | 07 août 2026 | 01:03:20 | |
April Patterson was one of my earliest guests, and her first episode on persistent genital arousal disorder remains one of the most listened to episodes on this podcast. April is a pelvic floor physical therapist who specializes in PGAD. She has also lived it. After spinal surgery addressed her original PGAD symptoms nearly a decade ago, new symptoms kept building. Left lower quadrant pain, bladder pain, GI symptoms, clitoral changes, leg symptoms that did not match any nerve pathway. She was dismissed, she was told everything looked fine, and she kept pushing anyway. What they eventually found was pelvic venous disease. And it explained so much of what April dealing with. In this episode:
If you have been told everything looks normal and you are still in pain, please share this episode. These are the conversations that change the trajectory for women who have been searching for years. | |||
| Why Women Get Dismissed in Healthcare and What We Can Do About It | Dr. Sameena Rahman | 31 juil. 2026 | 00:27:12 | |
After more than two decades as a board certified OBGYN and over a decade as a specialist in sexual medicine and menopause, I have come to believe that one of the biggest obstacles in women's healthcare is not the absence of treatments or research. It is dismissal. This is not just something I see in my patients. I have lived it too. I share a story from my own birth experience that I have not talked about much publicly, and it changed how I think about what it means to navigate a system that was not built to listen to women. If it happened to me, someone who worked inside that system every day, I think about what it means for women who do not have the same access or the same voice. That is also what led me to write Brown Girls' Disease. The women who struggle most in this system are almost always the ones who have been told the longest that nothing is wrong, and I wrote this book for them. We talk about what is in it, who it is for, and why the title means so much more than it might seem at first. My mission has always been simple. I want women to feel seen, heard, and believed. This episode is about why that still matters so much. Highlights:
About the Book: Brown Girls' Disease: A Guide to Sexual Health and Empowerment Through a South Asian Lens by Dr. Sameena Rahman is available for pre-order now on Amazon, releasing October 6th. The book covers foundations of sexual health, the intersection of culture, religion, and colonization with sexual dysfunction, medical bias and implicit bias, trauma and mental health, and conditions including vaginismus, persistent genital arousal disorder, libido and arousal concerns, vulvodynia, perimenopause, menopause, and postpartum sexual health. Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| Obesity Is Not a Willpower Problem: GLP-1s, Myths, and Menopause with Dr. Angela Fitch | 24 juil. 2026 | 01:02:33 | |
Obesity may be the most misunderstood chronic disease in medicine. For decades we told people to eat less and move more, but the science says our weight is regulated by biology we don't control, in the same brain region that runs our reproductive cycles. Dr. Angela Fitch, past president of the Obesity Medicine Association and one of the country's leading experts in obesity medicine, joins me to separate what's real from what's myth in the world of GLP-1s. Angela's fascination with metabolism started back in her chemical engineering days and carried her through residency, ten years of primary care, and eventually board certification in obesity medicine, where she's spent the past fifteen years building non-stigmatizing, comprehensive care for patients, including her current clinic, Knownwell. We start with the question I hear constantly: why does obesity carry so much stigma when we treat it as a chronic disease like diabetes or hypertension? Angela traces it all the way back to Hippocrates prescribing treatment for "gluttony and sloth," through insurance systems that carved out obesity treatment as cosmetic, to the willpower myth that still shapes how patients are treated in exam rooms today. The science behind why weight loss is so hard is more interesting than most people realize, and Angela is one of the few people in this field who can explain it without making you feel like you're being lectured. We get into how these medications work, what they do in your brain, and why the conversation around them has become so loud. We also answer the questions that come up most frequently in my office and online, around muscle loss, microdosing, and whether compounded versions are safe, and Angela is refreshingly direct about all of it. For the women in perimenopause and menopause who feel like their bodies stopped responding to everything that used to work, this episode puts language to what you're experiencing and gives you something real to bring to your next appointment. Highlights:
Get in Touch with Dr. Fitch: Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| Seven Gynecologists Refused Her Before She Got Help | Mathilde Olstad on Vulvovaginal Pain | 17 juil. 2026 | 00:51:11 | |
At 25, Mathilde Olstad's life was on track: a new relationship, a finance degree nearly finished, a career about to launch. Then pain during sex appeared out of nowhere, Then pain during sex appeared out of nowhere, and it didn't go away. What followed was years of dismissal, dead ends, expensive alternative treatments, and being refused by seven gynecologists before she could access specialized care. Instead of staying silent, she turned her experience into The World's Tightest Community, a podcast reaching thousands of women living with vulvovaginal pain. In this episode, Dr. Sameena Rahman sits down with Mathilde Olstad, creator and host of The World's Tightest Community, a podcast dedicated to vulvovaginal health, chronic pelvic pain, and breaking the silence around conditions like vulvodynia, vestibulodynia, and vaginismus. Mathilde shares her story from the beginning: the sudden onset of burning vestibular pain at 25, a GP who told her everything looked fine, a year and a half of waiting, and the excruciating speculum exam where the shock on her providers' faces told her everything about how unprepared the system was for patients like her. She describes the desperate search that followed, from mainstream treatments to $1,500 herbal prescriptions, and the profound loneliness of never seeing anyone else who had walked this road. The conversation goes global: why the latest research in vulvovaginal pain isn't crossing the Atlantic, what it took for Mathilde to access Norway's public vulvar clinic after seven gynecologists refused to take her on, and why so many complex pain patients become what clinicians call "heartsink patients." Dr. Rahman and Mathilde also dig into the visual language of these conditions, why "you are not alone" rings hollow when you can't see a single face, and how a Reddit community became the spark for a podcast that now reaches patients and clinicians around the world. Mathilde shares her story from the beginning: the sudden onset of burning when having sex she went to her GP who told her everything looked fine, a year and a half of waiting, and the excruciating speculum exam where the shock on her providers' faces told her everything about how unprepared the system was for patients like her. She describes the desperate search that followed, from mainstream treatments to $1,500 herbal prescriptions, and the profound loneliness of never seeing anyone else who had walked this road. Our conversation goes global: why the latest research in vulvovaginal pain isn't crossing the Atlantic, what it took for Mathilde to access Norway's public vulvar clinic, and why so many complex pain patients become what clinicians call "heartsink patients." We also dig into the visual language of these conditions, why "you are not alone" rings hollow when you can't see a single face, and how a Reddit community became the spark for a podcast that now reaches patients and clinicians around the world. It takes courage to keep telling a story like this one. Every time a woman does, it reaches someone who thought she was the only one. If you know someone dealing with this, please share it! I also want the clinicians listening to hear this with an open mind, not shame. So many of us were never taught about these conditions. But not having the answer is never a reason to make a patient feel like she's the problem. What she needs from us is empathy, curiosity, and honesty about what we don't know. Highlights:
Resources- Get in Touch with Mathilde: Website Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| The SSRI Side Effect Hurting Women's Sex Lives | Dr. Laurie Mintz & Dr. Suzette Johnson | 10 juil. 2026 | 00:42:35 | |
Millions of women take SSRIs for anxiety and depression and many times no one tells about the sexual side effects, let alone that there's a solution. When it happened to a sex therapist and an OB-GYN themselves, they refused to accept "just add Wellbutrin" as the only answer. Dr. Laurie Mintz and Dr. Suzette Johnson join Dr. Rahman to share the deeply personal stories behind their new venture and why no woman should have to choose between her mental health and her sexual health. What started as a friendship between "sisters from another mother" became a mission after both women personally experienced SSRI-induced orgasm dysfunction and discovered how well a compounded topical cream made with sildenafil and L-arginine worked for them. Now, in partnership with Mojo, they've launched something no one else is offering: the cream plus a short course covering the biological and psychological sides of orgasm dysfunction mindfulness, vibrators, erotica, and the science of why your body responds the way it does. The conversation also dives deep into the orgasm gap: why women orgasm 22–33% less often than men in heterosexual encounters, what the research on bisexual women reveals about whose "fault" that really is (hint: it's not women's bodies), and the brand-new concept of the orgasm pursuit gap why women need to start actively pursuing their own pleasure without pressure. This is midlife reinvention, medical advocacy, and orgasm equality all in one conversation. Highlights:
Remember: I'm here to educate so you can advocate for yourself. This podcast is for education, not medical advice please see your own doctor or clinician for your individual care. Please make sure to share this episode with women who would find it helpful. Most of this information is still new to many women and the more it gets shared the more women we are helping! Get in Touch with Dr. Mintz & Dr. Johnson:: Dr. Mintz- Website Dr. Johnson: Get in Touch with Dr. Rahman: | |||
| Why Your Gut Changes During Menopause (And What To Do About It) | Cynthia Thurlow | 03 juil. 2026 | 00:46:21 | |
One of the things that hasn't gotten a lot of attention in the menopause space is the gut. It's one of those symptoms that you may have not even thought was related to this stage in life. You may find that you have diarrhea, constipation, and less tolerance with certain foods. Or like my guest Cynthia Thurlow, one bout of food poisoning can turn your gut upside down and have lasting effects for years. Cynthia is a nurse practitioner and metabolic health expert who explains why the gut matters in midlife and also gives us education on what is actually going on. How estrogen and progesterone directly impact your gut bacteria, motility, and inflammation. And while there are many modalities to treating it, some with good intentions moving from pharmaceutical drugs to vitamins isn't really giving the relief that many women are looking for. We get into the gut-brain connection, why fiber might be causing bloating, and how to start with the basics to getting your gut health on a good path. Highlights
If you're experiencing digestive changes during perimenopause or menopause, this episode is for you. Understanding your gut is the first step to feeling better. If you found this helpful, please subscribe so you don't miss future conversations about what real midlife health looks like. Note: We experienced some audio technical difficulties during this recording. We've worked to enhance the sound quality as much as possible. Thank you for your patience and for listening. Get in tough with Cynthia: Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| Perimenopause: Anger, Anxiety, Sleep Issues, and the Invisible Symptoms with Dr. Amy Jean Voedisch | 26 juin 2026 | 01:02:47 | |
Perimenopause is typically attributed to the hallmark symptoms—hot flashes and irregular bleeding. But that represents only a fraction of the clinical picture. The reality encompasses a range of symptoms that often emerge gradually and go unrecognized as perimenopausal. Dr. Amy Jean Voedisch is a gynecologist whose clinical approach mirrors mine. We practice evidence-based medicine through extended patient visits that allow for precision diagnosis and individualized treatment plans. Sleep is one of the foundational pillars Amy emphasizes. It's become central to her practice, and addressing sleep disturbance often requires specialty consultation with a sleep medicine specialist. We also discuss hormone therapy. While it can be an effective therapeutic tool, it's not a panacea and won't serve as a singular solution for all perimenopausal symptoms. This conversation is about what real perimenopause treatment looks like. Episode Highlights
If you're in your 40s and something feels off, this episode is for you. Perimenopause is something you just have to tolerate and there are doctors who care and want to help. Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss future conversations about what real women's health care looks like. Get in Touch with Dr. Voedisch: Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| From Commands to Purpose: How Gen Z Needs to Be Led | Calle Foster | 19 juin 2026 | 00:46:16 | |
Gen Z gets a bad rap for being lazy, but they're actually the most entrepreneurial generation we've ever had. Calle Foster, a leadership coach who spent 12 years in corporate learning and development, explains why that stereotype is costing you as a leader. The real issue? It's how we're leading them. Gen Z was raised in a very different world than previous generations, and that context shaped how they show up at work. When leaders come at them with command and control, they shut down. They internalize it as their fault. They need guides, not controllers. Calle talks about what Gen Z actually responds to: psychological safety, questions instead of orders, and understanding the why behind the work. She also addresses generational trauma—how silence about bodies, fertility, and mental health gets passed down through families and how we can break that cycle. We also dig into how this applies to medicine and residency training, parenting Gen Z kids, and building teams where multiple generations actually respect each other instead of denigrating one another. Highlights:
If you're a parent, a manager, or an attending working with Gen Z, this episode is for you. The way you lead and communicate shapes how the next generation shows up. My goal is to give you tools to understand your body, your hormones, your relationships—and how to build teams and families where people feel safe enough to actually speak. If you've found this conversation helpful, please subscribe so you don't miss future episodes. And if you're in a leadership position, consider where you might shift from command and control to coaching. Get in touch with Calle: Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| Why AI is Medicine's Future (Not Its Replacement) | Dr. Ami Bhatt | 12 juin 2026 | 00:54:00 | |
AI is making people in medicine nervous. Doctors worry it's going to replace them. But Dr. Ami Bhatt, Chief Innovation Officer at the American College of Cardiology and Chair of the FDA Digital Health Advisory Committee, has a different take. She explains what collaborative intelligence actually means and why clinicians shouldn't be scared. We talk about how wearables are giving women the data they need to advocate for themselves when doctors dismiss them. We also get into the bias that's built into AI algorithms and what it means when the technology learns your preferences. Women are adopting AI faster than men. Data is validating symptoms doctors ignore. And understanding how AI works is becoming essential to being a good clinician. This episode is about how technology and medicine can actually work together. Dr. Bhatt and I discuss what the reality of what clinicians face: in 20 minutes with a patient, you're trying to absorb electronic health records, current guidelines, recent research, their life circumstances, and now wearable data. It's impossible for one brain to hold all of that. That's where collaborative intelligence comes in. AI organizes the information so you can use your judgment. It's not thinking for you, it's giving you back time. On the patient side, wearables aren't just gadgets. They're validation. When you feel something is wrong and your data backs it up, that's power. Especially important for women who get dismissed or told it's anxiety when it's actually a real health issue. But there's a catch: algorithms have bias built into them. They learn from your search history, your preferences, what you've looked at before. Understanding those limits is what makes the difference between using AI well and being led in the wrong direction. Highlights
I hope this episode helps you understand that AI isn't coming to replace your doctor or your nursing team. It's a tool to help them help you better. If you're a clinician listening, don't be afraid to understand how technology works. If you're a patient, trust your body and use the data you have to advocate for yourself. If you've found this episode helpful, please subscribe so you don't miss future conversations about technology, health, and what it means to take care of yourself. Get in Touch with Dr. Bhatt: Website Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| Women's Sexual Health Innovation with Sabrina Johnson, CEO of Dari Bioscience | 05 juin 2026 | 00:52:49 | |
For decades, men had Viagra. Women were told to relax and have a glass of wine. That imbalance in pharmaceutical innovation is finally changing, but it hasn't been easy. In this episode, I talk with Sabrina Johnson, the founder and CEO of Dare Bioscience the only publicly traded pharmaceutical company focused entirely on women's healthcare. We discuss why the pharmaceutical industry has historically avoided investing in women's sexual health, the stigma and sexism that surrounds female arousal and pleasure, and what it actually takes to develop and bring products to market. Sabrina walks us through the development of Dare to Play, a topical cream for sexual arousal that's coming soon, the science behind how it works, and the extensive clinical trials required to prove safety and efficacy. We also discuss other products in development a probiotic for vaginal health and a once-a-month vaginal ring for menopause with estradiol and progesterone. This is about changing what's possible for women's health. From regulatory hurdles to cultural stigma, the barriers to innovating in women's sexual health are real. In this conversation, we explore how companies can create real world solutions that actually work for women's lives, the importance of rigorous clinical testing, and why investing in women's health matters. We dive into the science, the business side, and how you can support this work. Highlights:
I hope this episode inspires you to think differently about women's health innovation and what's possible when we demand better. If you believe in the work DARE is doing, you can support it. You don't have to donate you can become an investor with as little as $250. All the information on how to do that will be below. Get in touch with Sabrina: Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| Anxiety, OCD, and ADHD in Kids with Dr. John Parkhurst | 29 mai 2026 | 00:59:02 | |
Kids' mental health looks different now than it did a decade ago. More kids are struggling with anxiety, OCD, and ADHD, and parents are often unsure whether what they're seeing is normal or something that needs professional help. In this episode, Dr. John Parkhurst, a child psychologist at Northwestern, helps us understand what's really happening with kids right now. He explains why anxiety spikes during puberty, how to recognize the difference between typical worry and an anxiety disorder, and what sets anxiety apart from OCD. We also talk about ADHD, executive function, and the treatment options that actually work from therapy to medication to combined approaches. As a child psychologist with expertise in anxiety disorders, he's worked in this field for over a decade and conducts research on how to help primary care physicians better identify and treat mental health challenges in kids. In this episode, we get into the specifics of what anxiety actually looks like, how it differs from OCD, and why the distinction matters for treatment. We also discuss ADHD, the role of hormones during puberty, and what the research shows about which treatments work best. Highlights
If you're seeing signs of anxiety, OCD, or ADHD in your child, remember that these are treatable conditions. Cognitive behavioral therapy and medication are evidence-based options that work. Talk to your pediatrician or seek out a child psychologist who can help you figure out the right approach for your child. Understanding what your child is experiencing is the first step. If you've found this episode helpful, please subscribe so you don't miss upcoming conversations that matter to you and your family. Get in Touch with John: Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| Trauma, Lost Desire, and ART: A Breakthrough Therapy with Brooke Bralove | 22 mai 2026 | 01:06:52 | |
Trauma shows up in unexpected ways. Chronic pelvic pain. Lost desire. The inability to tolerate a pelvic exam. These aren't always about what happened last week sometimes they're about what happened decades ago. In this episode, I talk with Brooke Bralove, a psychotherapist and sex therapist, about Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) a treatment that works differently than traditional talk therapy. Instead of processing trauma over years, ART can resolve it in 1-5 sessions using rapid eye movement and image replacement. Brooke walks through what actually happens in an ART session and shares patient stories showing how the therapy works on pelvic pain, OCD, and birth trauma. We also talk about desire in long-term relationships and what it takes to rebuild intimacy when spontaneous desire is no longer part of the picture. Highlights
I hope you enjoyed this episode. As we keep learning more about trauma and midlife, we find that we're all dealing with some kind of struggle. By continuing this show, it's my way of helping you learn and find answers. My goal is to help more women in midlife and women with sexual dysfunction. If you've been enjoying this podcast, please subscribe so that more people can find us. Get in Touch with Brooke: Website Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| Teaching Anatomical Language, AI in Medicine, and Why Three OB-GYNs Stopped Delivering Babies with Dr. Meredith McClure and Dr. Ashley Fuller | 15 mai 2026 | 00:53:46 | |
Women's health is a team sport. That's something we've all learned the hard way—not in residency, but years later when we realized how much we weren't taught about vulvovaginal health. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Meredith McClure from Dallas and Dr. Ashley Fuller from Seattle. They co-host the Labialogic podcast and both specialize in treating the conditions that most doctors either miss or dismiss—lichen sclerosus, desquamative inflammatory vaginitis, recurrent BV and yeast infections that won't go away. All three of us left obstetrics years ago and now run gynecology-only practices. And we've all come to the same conclusion: what we learned in training wasn't enough. We were taught not to examine the clitoris. We weren't taught proper vulvar anatomy. We weren't taught how to diagnose or treat the complex cases that show up in our offices every single day. We talk about why there's no one-size-fits-all approach to recurrent infections. We discuss the tests that doctors over-rely on for BV diagnosis that aren't actually accurate. And we share some of the worst medical gaslighting stories we've heard—like telling a PGAD patient "you've been through childbirth, how bad could this be?" We also discuss AI in medicine, why private equity is a problem, and how teaching women proper anatomical language changes outcomes. Highlights:
We hope that this episode gave you information that can help you understand that there are clinicians out there that want to help and find answers to your vulvovaginal health concerns. I appreciate everyone who is part of this community, and if you haven't already done so, I would appreciate you subscribing as it helps more women find the show so that they can get the information that they are looking for. Connect with Dr. Fuller: Website Connect with Dr. McIntire Website Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| Endometriosis, Pelvic Floor PT, and the Medical Gaslighting That Keeps Women in Pain with Jandra Mueller | 08 mai 2026 | 00:54:46 | |
Endometriosis is often talked about as a pelvic disease, but it's actually a systemic inflammatory condition that affects the entire body. And the way we diagnose and treat it is still failing too many patients. In this episode, I sit down with Jandra Mueller, a pelvic floor physical therapist in San Diego and the incoming educational chair for the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health. Jandra specializes in treating patients with endometriosis and has a unique perspective both as a clinician and as someone who went through the diagnostic odyssey herself. Her own experience getting diagnosed drove her to focus on this work. She spent years dealing with symptoms that kept getting dismissed and saw multiple specialists who couldn't figure out what was wrong. Even as a pelvic floor PT working in a hospital-based women's health center with access to specialists, it took years to get the right diagnosis. We discuss why the new guidelines for diagnosing endometriosis are a step forward but still fall short. We talk about the pelvic pentad the association between endometriosis, hypermobility, mast cell activation syndrome, pelvic floor dysfunction, and vestibulodynia. And we get into why fibrotic endometriosis is often overlooked during surgery and what that means for patients who continue to have symptoms after excision. Highlights
If you're experiencing symptoms that aren't improving with treatment, don't stop advocating. Finding the right endometriosis specialist matters not all surgeons have the same level of training. Consider working with a pelvic floor physical therapist who understands endometriosis and can look at your whole body, not just your pelvis. Make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss upcoming episodes. Get in Touch with Dr. Mueller: Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| Perimenopause, Mental Load, and Why We're Not Going Away with Beth Crosby (Garbage Mom) | 01 mai 2026 | 00:52:06 | |
This week we welcome Beth Crosby, aka Garbage Mom, to the show. Beth is an actress, comedian, and content creator. She started creating content during the pandemic as an outlet to connect with other women and share in the perimenopause transition. She now has over 250k subscribers and is the creator of Perimenapalooza™. We talk about her symptoms of perimenopause and how anxiety was one of the worst. We also chat about being in an industry that works last minute and isn't conducive to women being mothers. She shares how she had undiagnosed celiac disease that was causing a lot of issues and dealt with medical gaslighting from doctors until she finally got the right tests to discover what was going on. She also shares why, even though she knew how raw and honest she wanted to be, it's scary to really put everything out there online. And she shares some amazing attention she's getting from her idols—Alanis Morissette commented on her post about Perimenapalooza. She's hilarious, vulnerable, and completely unfiltered about what it's really like navigating perimenopause while trying to keep your career, marriage, and sanity intact. Highlights
If you're experiencing symptoms that don't feel right, don't accept "it's just your period" or "this is normal" as an answer. Keep pushing until you find the help you need. Talk to your provider about what's actually happening. If they dismiss you, find someone who will listen. Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss upcoming episodes. Connect with Beth: Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| Understanding Orgasms: Science, Solutions, and Why Doctors Don't Ask with Dr. Lauren Streicher | 24 avr. 2026 | 01:01:06 | |
We start with a frustrating reality: 70% of OB-GYNs never ask patients about orgasm. And when women finally get the courage to bring it up themselves, the answer is usually "I'm so sorry, this just happens when you age." I ask Dr. Streicher to break down what an orgasm actually is and why arousal has to happen first. We discuss the different types of orgasms clitoral, cervical, and the controversial G-spot. Dr. Streicher shares the fascinating Maria Bonaparte research from the 1920s that discovered the 2.5 centimeter rule and why anatomical distance matters for orgasm during intercourse. We dive into primary versus acquired orgasmic dysfunction. For women who've never had an orgasm, nine out of ten times they just need education and a map to their clitoris. For women who used to have orgasms and can't anymore, SSRIs are often the culprit not hormones. We discuss solutions including Viagra, topical sildenafil, CBD, and why local estrogen on the clitoris matters. Dr. Streicher walks me through the history of vibrators and why they become necessary as women age and nerve endings become less sensitive. We talk about how to bring up using a vibrator with a partner and why it's a tool to make something possible, not just a toy for fun. We also discuss the FDA's removal of the box warning from local vaginal estrogen and what that means for women who were told they couldn't use it. Highlights
If you're experiencing difficulty with orgasm or sexual function, don't accept "this just happens with age" as an answer. There are real solutions available, from addressing SSRI side effects to using local estrogen to exploring vibrators as medical tools. Talk to your provider about what's actually happening. If they don't have answers, find someone who specializes in sexual medicine. Connect with Dr. Streicher: Get in Touch with Me: Mentioned in this episode: GSM Collective The GSM Collective - Chicago Boutique concierge gynecology practice Led by Dr. Sameena Rahman, specialist in sexual medicine & menopause Unrushed appointments in a beautiful, private setting Personalized care for women's health, hormones, and pelvic floor issues Multiple membership options available Ready for personalized women's healthcare? Visit our Chicago office today. | |||
| Pelvic Venous Disorders, Chronic Pain, and the Pelvic Floor with Dr. Julie Baron | 17 avr. 2026 | 00:53:58 | |
Why do so many women with chronic pelvic pain get told "this is just motherhood" or "it'll get better when you go through menopause"? What if the heaviness, the aching, the constant discomfort isn't something you have to live with? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Julie Baron, a pelvic floor physical therapist and director of Pelvic Health and Performance Center in Bellevue, Washington. Dr. Baron blew our minds at ISSWSH this year with her groundbreaking lecture on pelvic venous disorders a condition that's massively underdiagnosed and often dismissed as "just in your head." Dr. Baron shares her own lived experience with pelvic venous disease. For years, she couldn't sit or stand for more than 10 minutes without needing to lie down. She saw urologists, gynecologists, GI docs, colorectal specialists, and pelvic PTs and everyone told her she was normal. She was working as a pelvic floor PT herself, helping other people with pelvic pain while feeling like a fraud because she couldn't solve her own. She finally diagnosed herself, pushed her way into getting the imaging no one wanted to order, and finally felt validated after the report came back showing renal vein obstruction, iliac obstruction, gonadal vein reflux, and 12-millimeter varicose veins across her uterus. After gonadal vein embolization and sclerotherapy, her life changed completely. We discuss the classic presentation of pelvic venous disorderschronic non-cyclical ache or heaviness that gets worse throughout the day, urinary urgency, postcoital pain, and varicose veins. We talk about why pregnancy is one of the biggest risk factors and how hypermobility disorders, MCAS, and POTS all connect. Dr. Baron explains the imaging process and why a normal ultrasound doesn't always mean you're fine. She also explains the five functions of the pelvic floor and how pelvic venous disease impacts everything from bladder support to sexual function. We get into the sump pump concept, why belly breathing can actually make things worse for this patient population, and how compression shorts can be life-changing. Dr. Baron shares her protocol for helping patients optimize venous return through breathing, positioning, and nervous system regulation. If you're experiencing chronic pelvic pain and feel like you're being dismissed or told it's normal, talk to your provider about pelvic venous disease. While it's frustrating, don't stop advocating for yourself even if you're told everything is normal. You know your body, and if something feels off, keep pushing for answers. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss episodes like this one. Episode Mentioned: Get in Touch with Dr. Baron: Website Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| Labiaplasty, Anatomy, Overdoing It, Traveling for Surgery & Prevention with Dr. Dahlia Rice | 10 avr. 2026 | 00:51:31 | |
Why are women always apologizing for their bodies? Should you feel guilty about wanting plastic surgery in midlife? And what actually happens during a labiaplasty? In this Between Two Labia episode a subseries of the podcast filmed in my office I sit down with Dr. Dahlia Rice a board-certified plastic surgeon and owner of DMR Aesthetics Chicago. Dr. Rice started her career doing autopsies and teaching human anatomy before becoming one of only 1,400 female board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. There's a misconception that labiaplasty is only cosmetic women trying to mimic unrealistic porn aesthetics. But the reality is that many are functional. Some women can't wear jeans or bike comfortably because of an elongated labia minora. Dr. Rice emphasizes finding a surgeon who does these procedures regularly and understands the anatomy. Being too aggressive can damage the clitoral arousal tissue that sits right behind the labia. Recovery sounds intimidating, but while there's significant swelling that Dr. Rice calls "Frankenpussy," the area heals quickly. You'll need to elevate your hips as much as possible during the first week and use lots of ice, but it's not as horrible as you might think. We also discuss medical tourism. A good deal on plastic surgery abroad sounds appealing, but Dr. Rice explains what happens when complications arise and you're back home with no one willing to help. The US has more expensive procedures because of stringent training and regulations, but when things go wrong overseas, you can fall through the cracks. Insurance won't cover it, and finding a surgeon to fix someone else's work becomes a challenge. Dr. Rice and I talk about why representation matters in plastic surgery. Only 20% of plastic surgeons in the US are female, even though over 90% of patients are women. We discuss how cultural understanding affects outcomes from knowing the right placement for eyelid creases in Asian patients to understanding how different cultures communicate about complications. Highlights
If you're considering any aesthetic procedures in midlife, take time to find a surgeon who understands the anatomy and does these procedures regularly. Ask to see their work, understand the recovery process, and set realistic expectations about outcomes. What other topics would you like to see from me? Who would you like me interview next? DM on Instagram. Get in Touch with Dr. Rice: Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| Fertility Myths, Egg Freezing, and The Lucky Egg with Dr. Lucky Sekhon | 03 avr. 2026 | 01:02:06 | |
Is age 35 really a fertility cliff? Should everyone freeze their eggs? And why does your doctor speak in such vague terms when you ask about your chances? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Lucky Sekhon, a double board-certified reproductive endocrinologist in New York City and author of the bestselling book The Lucky Egg. Dr. Sekhon has spent years watching patients walk into her clinic overwhelmed by information that is not always true or grounded in science. This is what inspired her to write a book that could close the massive knowledge gap around fertility. Dr. Sekhon gives the actual numbers most fertility doctors won't commit to and explains why doctors who speak in absolutes are a red flag. How men have a biological clock too. Advanced paternal age can also bring on mutation risks and can affect pregnancy outcomes like preeclampsia. We talk about how many women end up with unwanted pregnancies due to thinking they are not able to get pregnant anymore because their cycles are no longer consistent. We also touch on vaginismus and how common it is in the South Asian community, where women often delay seeking help because of cultural stigma and family pressure. This is physical, not just psychological Dr. Sekhon will share something that confirms this is not in patients' heads. And the shocking fact that one in four female physicians will struggle with infertility, and it's an independent risk factor beyond just delayed childbearing. This is an episode you don't want to miss, especially if you're in the thick of making decisions around your fertility or you're a clinician in the field looking to better support your patients. Highlights
If you're making decisions about egg freezing or navigating fertility challenges, make sure to pick Dr. Sekhon's book The Lucky Egg for the evidence-based information you need. Visit theluckyegg.com to use the egg freezing calculator and access more resources. Make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss upcoming episodes. Get in Touch with Dr. Sekhon: Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| How We Treat Pelvic Pain, Painful Sex, and Sexual Dysfunction | 27 mars 2026 | 00:30:57 | |
Comprehensive sexual health care requires time and a team approach. I'm joined by two of my team members Karen Badley, my nurse practitioner, and Grace Prete, our pelvic floor physical therapist. We talk about why complex conditions like pelvic pain, painful sex, and hormonal changes don't fit into 10-minute appointments. You can't address someone's full picture when insurance only reimburses for quick visits. We discuss why multidisciplinary care matters, why pelvic floor therapy sessions need real time, and why treating hormonal health alongside aesthetics makes a difference. This conversation is about what patients deserve and why the traditional insurance model makes that impossible. We talk about treating the whole person, not just symptoms. Last year, I transitioned to a concierge model after over a decade of taking insurance because this is how medicine should be practiced. Highlights
f you're struggling with sexual health issues, pelvic pain, or hormonal changes and feel like your appointments are too rushed, consider seeking comprehensive care. Check out our practice at https://www.thegsmcollective.com/ to learn more about our concierge model. Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss upcoming episodes. Connect with Dr. Rahman: Website - https://www.thegsmcollective.com/about-us Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gynogirl/ Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCmFnlujKDsDE3uIUMrbcByQ Substack - https://gynogirl.substack.com/p/welcome-to-vagilante-nation?just_subscribed=true | |||
| Functional Strength Training, Nutrition, and Midlife Reset with Katalin Rodriguez-Ogren | 20 mars 2026 | 00:39:06 | |
Katalin Rodriguez Ogren is a certified badass. She's owned POW Gym in Chicago's West Loop for 25 years, she's a lifelong martial artist who played the female ninjas in Mortal Kombat 2, and she just wrote a book on nutrition for menopause after her GP handed her marriage counseling referrals instead of addressing her hormones. When Katalin started experiencing severe skin issues during menopause, her GP dismissed her concerns about hormones and instead gave her marriage counseling referrals. That experience led her to write a book about nutrition strategies for menopause. We discuss functional strength training and why it's different from typical gym workouts, how estrogen decline affects protein synthesis, and why most women aren't getting enough protein. Katalin explains why midlife is a reset rather than a decline, how to support strength training with proper nutrition, and why small wins compound into big wins. Highlights
Midlife is a reset, not a decline. If you're feeling dismissed by doctors or struggling with where to start, consider prioritizing protein at your meals and finding movement that builds functional strength. Small changes compound over time. Katalin's book Nutrition for Women Navigating Menopause: The Power of Addition: An Anti-Diet Strategy is available on Amazon if you want practical strategies for reorganizing your nutrition. Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss upcoming episodes. Get in Touch with Katalin: Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| Postpartum to Perimenopause: Bounce-Back Culture, Body Shame, and Normal Anatomy with Dr. Shieva Ghofrany | 13 mars 2026 | 00:42:22 | |
Welcome to Between Two Labia, a new series filmed in my office in front of my 8-foot vulva. When colleagues come to town, I sit down with them to talk about the things you want to ask but think you shouldn't. These are the conversations I have with friends and colleagues that you wouldn't normally get to listen to. Dr. Shieva Ghofrany is my first guest, and you'll see these episodes pop up from time to time between regular podcast episodes. We discuss the weird limbo between having a baby and hitting perimenopause, why bounce-back culture is toxic, why every vulva and labia looks different (and that's completely normal), and much more. Shieva talks about how going through her own health challenges made her a more empathetic doctor. And of course, we cover the basics: you NEVER and we mean never have to apologize for your body. We don't care how you come for your appointments. Get in Touch with Dr. Shieva Ghofrany Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| The New Rules of Women's Health: Research Bias, Systemic Failures, and Becoming the CEO of Your Healthcare with Meghan Rabbitt | 06 mars 2026 | 00:49:57 | |
Women were were excluded from federally funded medical research until 1993. Health journalist Meghan Rabbitt interviewed over 100 female experts to create a manifesto for women's healthcare everything from why we're still learning anatomy named after dead men to why your gynecologic history affects your heart disease risk decades later. Meghan is a health journalist who's been translating complex medical topics into accessible language for 25 years. She's spent her career asking doctors the questions patients want answered and helping women understand their bodies better. When Maria Shriver asked her to write a manifesto about women's healthcare, even with all that experience, she was shocked by what she learned. Women weren't included in federally funded medical research until 1993. Autoimmune diseases disproportionately affect women, but we still don't know why. Heart disease kills more women than all cancers combined, yet awareness is declining. We talk about what it means to become the CEO of your own healthcare and why that mindset matters. Meghan shares practical strategies for making the most of short doctor visits and navigating the flood of health information online. We discuss why shame keeps women from getting care, why we need to stop normalizing pain, and how perimenopause can be a window of opportunity instead of something to fear. The conversation covers everything from why your pregnancy complications matter for heart health decades later to why medical devices are still designed without women's bodies in mind. Highlights
Start thinking of yourself as the CEO of your own healthcare. That means educating yourself, showing up to appointments with a prioritized list of what matters most to you, and stopping the apologizing. Your body isn't something to be ashamed of. Your symptoms aren't an inconvenience. If you're a woman of color facing additional barriers in the healthcare system, bring someone with you to appointments who can advocate alongside you. Make sure to subscribe to the podcast and share this episode with any woman who needs permission to stop normalizing pain and start demanding better care. Get in Touch with Meghan: Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| ISSWSH 2026 Recap: Testosterone, Research Funding, and Women's Sexual Pleasure with Dr. Tami Rowen | 27 févr. 2026 | 00:48:58 | |
Sexual medicine is underfunded, misunderstood, and often dismissed. But it's also one of the most collaborative fields in healthcare. Dr. Tami Rowen recaps this year's ISSWSH conference and what it revealed about where the field is heading. Dr. Rowen is the current president elect of ISSWSH and has been instrumental in shaping sexual medicine education and research. We recorded this right after the 2026 ISSWSH conference in Long Beach, which had almost 600 attendeesone of our biggest conferences yet. We discuss the standout research from the meeting, including award winning work on sexual function after gender-affirming hysterectomy and why most top abstracts focused on sexual pleasure rather than prevention. We talk about the reality of research funding in sexual medicine, why industry support creates conflicts of interest that look bigger than they are, and how lack of NIH funding means we have almost no treatment options for conditions like vulvodynia. We also dive into testosterone therapy why it's controversial, what the data actually shows versus what social media claims, and why Dr. Rowen doesn't treat hormone levels but rather treats individuals with specific goals. We discuss body image after breast cancer surgery, lymphedema's impact on sexual function, and why technoference is contributing to the lowest rates of sex we've ever seen. Highlights
If you're a clinician interested in sexual medicine, consider attending the ISSWSH Fall Course for foundational education and the annual meeting for cutting-edge research. If you're a patient navigating any issues and not currently getting help, know that there are practitioners out there who want to help you. Subscribe to the podcast and share this episode with anyone who wants to learn more about sexual medicine, menopause, or women's health education. Get in Touch with Dr. Rowen Get in Touch with Me: Mentioned in this episode: GSM Collective The GSM Collective - Chicago Boutique concierge gynecology practice Led by Dr. Sameena Rahman, specialist in sexual medicine & menopause Unrushed appointments in a beautiful, private setting Personalized care for women's health, hormones, and pelvic floor issues Multiple membership options available Ready for personalized women's healthcare? Visit our Chicago office today. | |||
| What Is Sex Therapy? Pleasure, Shame, and Sexual Wellness with Dr. Shannon Chavez | 20 févr. 2026 | 00:45:59 | |
Most people think sex therapy means Masters and Johnson-style homework or uncomfortable demonstrations. Dr. Shannon Chavez explains what it actually is—and why sexual concerns are rarely about sex at all. They're about intimacy, attachment, and learning to feel safe in your own body. Dr. Chavez has spent her career helping individuals and couples navigate sexual shame, intimacy disorders, and compulsive behaviors through a trauma informed, non-pathologizing framework. We discuss how shame is learned, not inherent, and why the opposite of shame is acceptance. We talk about how she approaches vaginismus and pelvic pain patients in therapy, why pain can live in the body even after the physical issue is resolved, and how mental rehearsal and visualization help people reclaim pleasure. We also discuss compulsive sexual behaviors not as addiction in the traditional sense, but as intimacy disorders rooted in early trauma and attachment. Dr. Chavez explains why the sex negative addiction model has done more harm than good, how porn is designed to overconsume just like doom scrolling, and why education around healthy sexuality is more effective than abstinence only approaches. We cover pleasure literacy, the difference between healthy desire and compulsive use, and why sex should feel like play, not another item on your to-do list. Highlights
If you've been struggling with sexual shame, pain, or compulsive behaviors, know that you're not broken. These are things many people navigate at different points in our lives, and reaching out for help doesn't mean years of therapy sometimes it's just getting permission or validation from someone who understands. Get in Touch with Dr. Chavez: Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| Global Women's Health: Maternal Mortality, Menopause, and Cultural Barriers with Dr. Sadia Malick | 13 févr. 2026 | 00:31:16 | |
Dr. Sadia Malick has practiced medicine across four countries. She's delivered babies in the UK's best hospitals and in the mountains of Pakistan where women have nothing. She's founded a charity that's saved 8,000 mothers' lives. And she's spent her career caring for women who are told their suffering is just "the age of despair." Dr. Malick has spent her life caring for women across the UK, Pakistan, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. She founded a charity that trains midwives on clean, sanitary practices and provides lifesaving interventions to pregnant women in rural Pakistan. We discuss why 50% of global maternal deaths happen in just four countries, and how evidence based measures can save lives. We also talk about how menopause presents differently across cultures and populations, the cultural barriers women face when seeking care, and why conversations about hormones and aging remain deeply stigmatized in many regions. While symptoms may vary, what's universal is how much work we still have to do whether it's PCOS and insulin resistance, young cancer survivors entering menopause without follow up care, or ensuring every woman understands why vaginal estrogen matters. This conversation is about cultural humility, global health disparities, and why education about perimenopause needs to start in schools, not at age 40. Highlights:
Get in Touch with Dr. Malick: Get in Touch with Me: Mentioned in this episode: GSM Collective The GSM Collective - Chicago Boutique concierge gynecology practice Led by Dr. Sameena Rahman, specialist in sexual medicine & menopause Unrushed appointments in a beautiful, private setting Personalized care for women's health, hormones, and pelvic floor issues Multiple membership options available Ready for personalized women's healthcare? Visit our Chicago office today. | |||
| POTS, MCAS, and the Overlooked Venous System with Dr. Alexis Cutchins | 06 févr. 2026 | 01:05:25 | |
Your dizziness when you stand up is real. Your pelvic pain is real. Your fatigue is real. And there's actually a connection between all of it that most doctors were never taught to look for. If you've ever been told your dizziness, palpitations, or pelvic pain is "just anxiety," this episode is for you. Dr.Dr. Alexis Cutchins is a cardiologist treating POTS and MCAS—she's willing to say 'I don't know, let's figure it out' instead of dismissing patients. We discuss what POTS actually is, how to diagnose it why 80% of her POTS patients have venous insufficiency, and how treating the veins can sometimes cure the POTS. We also talk about the connection between POTS, mast cell activation syndrome, hypermobility, and pelvic venous disease conditions that often travel together and are frequently dismissed. Dr. Alexis Cutchins explains why the venous system is a "lost organ system" that no one really learns about in med school,how left iliac vein compression (May-Thurner syndrome) can cause everything from pelvic pain to back pain and headaches Plus, we discuss women's cardiovascular health, microvascular disease, coronary vasospasm, and why women's heart attack symptoms can look completely different including neck tightness from allergies that's actually cardiac ischemia. Highlights:
If you've been dismissed for POTS, MCAS, pelvic pain, or any constellation of symptoms that don't fit into a neat diagnostic box, this episode validates what you've been experiencing. These conditions are real. They're treatable. And more doctors are finally starting to listen. Make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss upcoming episodes on related topics, and share this with anyone who needs to hear that their symptoms matter. Get in Touch with Dr. Cutchins: Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| Menopause, Healthcare Access, and the Myth of Having It All with Dr. Sharon Malone | 30 janv. 2026 | 00:53:20 | |
Can you really "have it all"? Dr. Sharon Malone OB-GYN, New York Times bestselling author of Grown Woman Talk, and Chief Medical Advisor at Alloy Health joins me for an honest conversation about what it really takes to balance medicine, motherhood, and everything in between. Dr. Malone and I talk about the things we don't usually say out loud. How do you balance being a great doctor, a present parent, and a supportive partner when society tells you to excel at all three simultaneously? Dr. Malone practiced medicine before and after the Women's Health Initiative, so she has a unique perspective on how hormone therapy went from being standard care to being feared and how that fear disproportionately affected women of color. We discuss why only 1% of Black women who are eligible for hormone therapy are actually on it, despite suffering the longest and most severe menopausal symptoms. We also talk about her work with Alloy Health, her new podcast The Second Opinion, and why she believes menopause is inevitable but suffering is not. Plus, we get into the uncomfortable truth about medical racism, implicit bias, and why your gut feeling matters more than your doctor's ego. Highlights
Dr. Malone's book Grown Woman Talk is everything you need to know about navigating midlife with confidence and information. And remember: trust your gut. If something feels off, keep advocating until someone listens. I have an incredible lineup of guests coming up, so make sure you subscribe and leave a review so you never miss episodes like this one! Links: Get in touch with Dr. Malone: Get in Touch with Me: Mentioned in this episode: GSM Collective The GSM Collective - Chicago Boutique concierge gynecology practice Led by Dr. Sameena Rahman, specialist in sexual medicine & menopause Unrushed appointments in a beautiful, private setting Personalized care for women's health, hormones, and pelvic floor issues Multiple membership options available Ready for personalized women's healthcare? Visit our Chicago office today. | |||
| Are You Getting All Your Options? The Truth About Hysterectomies with Dr. Kameelah Phillips | 23 janv. 2026 | 00:59:23 | |
Hysterectomy is one of the most common surgeries for women 600,000 are performed every year in the United States. But are women truly getting all their options? Board certified OBGYN Dr. Kameelah Phillips joins me to discuss her groundbreaking book The Empowered Hysterectomy and why understanding the full history and context of this surgery is essential for every woman. In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Dr. Kameelah Phillips to discuss hysterectomies from every angle the good, the bad, and the historically traumatic. Dr. Phillips, author of The Empowered Hysterectomy, shares why she wrote a book that isn't anti-hysterectomy, but rather pro-information and pro-choice. From her origin story working at Planned Parenthood at age 15, to understanding the disturbing history of gynecology built on the experimentation of enslaved women, to counseling patients through one of the most significant decisions of their lives this episode covers it all. We also discuss the importance of true informed consent, the impact on sexual function, and why women of color are disproportionately offered hysterectomies over other treatment options. Highlights
If you're considering a hysterectomy or have been told you need one, get Dr. Kameelah Phillips' book The Empowered Hysterectomy to ensure you have all the information you need to make the best decision for YOUR body. And remember you deserve time, information, and advocacy. Don't settle for less. I have an incredible lineup of guests coming up, so make sure you subscribe and leave a review so you never miss episodes like this one! Get in Touch with Dr. Phillips: Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| Estrogen Matters: Fighting Decades of Fear with Dr. Avrum Bluming | 16 janv. 2026 | 00:59:18 | |
The FDA told him no in 1992. They said giving estrogen to breast cancer survivors would put women at "unacceptable risk." He did the study anyway. Dr. Avrum Bluming is a medical oncologist, emeritus clinical professor of medicine at USC, former senior investigator for the National Cancer Institute, and co-author of Estrogen Matters. He's been fighting estrogen fear for over 30 years long before it was safe or popular to do so. His origin story starts with his wife. At 45, she developed breast cancer. The chemotherapy he gave her threw her into premature menopause. She couldn't sleep. She had hot flashes, night sweats, painful urination, palpitations. She couldn't remember what she'd read two pages back. And he an oncologist who had induced menopause in countless breast cancer patients—had been sympathetic but didn't know how to help them until he saw what was happening with his wife. So he started a study in 1992 to give estrogen to breast cancer survivors. The FDA denied him twice. He did it anyway. By 1997, he presented his data to 8,500 oncologists from around the world. The National Cancer Institute said it was "irresponsible" to study this. The audience challenged them. Dr. Bluming's data showed no increased risk of recurrence. We talk about the Women's Health Initiative, how the media misinterpreted the data, why the estrogen alone actually decreased breast cancer by 23% and breast cancer death by 40%, and why the box warning that just came off in November 2025 never should have been there in the first place. There are now 26 studies in the English literature on giving estrogen to breast cancer survivors. Only one showed increased risk. Four showed decreased risk. Twenty-five showed no difference. Highlights:
If you've been denied estrogen or hormone therapy, share this episode with your provider. Share Estrogen Matters with its 555 references. Share the data. At this point, there's overwhelming evidence showing HRT is safe and beneficial for most women. But some clinicians are still using outdated information from 2002. You deserve care based on current science, not decades-old fear. Get in Touch with Dr. Bluming: Get in Touch with Me: Mentioned in this episode: GSM Collective The GSM Collective - Chicago Boutique concierge gynecology practice Led by Dr. Sameena Rahman, specialist in sexual medicine & menopause Unrushed appointments in a beautiful, private setting Personalized care for women's health, hormones, and pelvic floor issues Multiple membership options available Ready for personalized women's healthcare? Visit our Chicago office today. | |||
| 80 Million Women Over 40, But Most Still Don't Know Their Options: Dr. Kelly Casperson | 09 janv. 2026 | 00:58:04 | |
There are 80 million women over 40 in America. Only 4,100 menopause certified clinicians. The gap is real. And my guest is working on changing that. Dr. Kelly Casperson is a urologist, sexual medicine physician, and bestselling author of The Menopause Moment and You Are Not Broken. She's been leading the charge on women's health advocacy from serving on the FDA panel that removed the box warning on estrogen to pushing for testosterone deregulation. She has a large following, but as Kelly says: it's just a drop in the bucket. HThere are 80 million women over 40 in America. Only 4,100 menopause certified clinicians. The gap is real. And my guest is working on changing that. Dr. Kelly Casperson is a urologist, sexual medicine physician, and bestselling author of The Menopause Moment and You Are Not Broken. She's been leading the charge on women's health advocacy from serving on the FDA panel that removed the box warning on estrogen to pushing for testosterone deregulation. She has a large following, but as Kelly says: it's just a drop in the bucket. We talk about the women who aren't on social media, who aren't listening to podcasts, who don't know their options exist. How we need to reach people in the community churches, community centers, libraries. We discuss why grassroots education matters, why testosterone is locked behind 1980s doping laws. We discuss why grassroots education matters, why testosterone is locked behind 1980s doping laws, and Kelly shares the real reason for menopause. This is a conversation about what's changing in women's health and what still needs to change. Highlights:
Don't be afraid to start conversations with friends and loved ones about menopause, hormones, and the options available. You might be the only person in their life talking about this and that conversation could change be life changing. Get in Touch with Dr. Casperson: Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| PMDD and Perimenopause: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment | 02 janv. 2026 | 00:47:04 | |
What happens when your family stages an intervention because they've been avoiding you 10 days every month? I'm sharing the story of a patient who had a complete breakdown at Christmas dinner. She snapped at her husband, her kids, her mom, her in-laws—everyone. A few hours later, her family told her: "We love you, but for 10 days every month, we actively avoid you." She came to me asking: Am I bipolar? Am I manic? What's happening to me? This is PMDD premenstrual dysphoric disorder. And when it collides with perimenopause, it becomes a perfect storm. This is not just PMS. This isn't you being dramatic. It's a real biochemical thing happening in your brain an abnormal response to normal hormonal changes. I discuss the science of PMDD: how GABA receptors respond to progesterone metabolites, why some brains are change sensitive, and why the hormonal volatility of perimenopause (erratic estrogen, declining progesterone, unpredictable timing) makes everything exponentially worse. I explain treatment options from luteal-phase SSRIs to Yaz to Duavee for refractory cases, and why tracking your symptoms for at least two cycles is critical for diagnosis. Highlights:
If you've ever felt like your brain gets hijacked on a schedule, if you've felt completely out of control, this episode is for you. Track your symptoms. Find a clinician who takes cyclic mood symptoms seriously. You don't have to live like this. Please share this episode with someone you know might be experiencing this or a clinician you think would benefit from it. Resource: Get in Touch with Me: Mentioned in this episode: GSM Collective The GSM Collective - Chicago Boutique concierge gynecology practice Led by Dr. Sameena Rahman, specialist in sexual medicine & menopause Unrushed appointments in a beautiful, private setting Personalized care for women's health, hormones, and pelvic floor issues Multiple membership options available Ready for personalized women's healthcare? Visit our Chicago office today. | |||
| 2025 Women's Health Year in Review: From FDA Changes to Menopause Breakthroughs | 26 déc. 2025 | 00:44:06 | |
What does it mean when 6,000 women a day enter menopause but there are only 4,100 certified clinicians to treat them? In this year end solo episode, I'm reflecting on 2025 in women's health. It was a year that felt heavy at the start personally for me after losing my mother, and globally with so much suffering and injustice. But even in all of that, women's health moved forward in meaningful ways. Not perfectly. Not fast enough. But enough that it deserves reflection. I'm covering the moments that shifted conversations this year from the FDA removing the black box warning on estrogen to new cervical cancer screening guidelines allowing self-collection HPV tests. From Addyi finally being approved for women under 65 to the release of comprehensive GSM guidelines that make genitourinary syndrome everyone's business, not just gynecologists'. And I'm getting personal about why I launched a concierge practice this year, what it taught me about the broken healthcare system, and why sexual health cannot be practiced in 10-minute appointments. Highlights:
Thank you for being here for another year of Gyno Girl Presents: Sex, Drugs & Hormones. Your support, your messages, and your stories are what keep me going you are my why. If this year-in-review resonated with you, please share it with someone who needs to hear that they're not broken, not dramatic, and not asking for too much. And keep following the show in 2026 we've got incredible conversations lined up. Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| What Ozempic Does to Your Sex Drive (Nobody's Talking About This) | 19 déc. 2025 | 00:36:00 | |
What happens when a medication designed to help you lose weight also changes what brings you pleasure? In this solo episode, I'm doing a deep dive into what nobody's discussing about GLP-1 medications (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound) and what they do to your sex life. These medications have been absolutely transformational for metabolic disease, obesity, and cardiovascular health. But they don't just work on your gut and pancreas they work centrally in your brain, in your reward pathways, in your pleasure centers. I'm sharing stories from my practice: the glamorous patient who suddenly didn't want to shop anymore. The wine connoisseur who lost interest in drinking. The foodies who can't stand restaurants. And yes, the patients whose sexual desire completely disappeared because their brain stopped experiencing reward the same way. Highlights:
If you're on a GLP-1 medication or considering starting one, ask your doctor about how it might affect what brings you pleasure including sex. With great power comes great responsibility, and sexual health is health. Period. Get in Touch with Me: Mentioned in this episode: GSM Collective The GSM Collective - Chicago Boutique concierge gynecology practice Led by Dr. Sameena Rahman, specialist in sexual medicine & menopause Unrushed appointments in a beautiful, private setting Personalized care for women's health, hormones, and pelvic floor issues Multiple membership options available Ready for personalized women's healthcare? Visit our Chicago office today. | |||
| Lichen Sclerosis: A Patient's Story from Misdiagnosis to Treatment Success | 12 déc. 2025 | 00:39:08 | |
One of my brave patients shares her story with lichen sclerosis from being dismissed and told it was "all in her head" to finding proper treatment and relief. I'll never forget the day Jess walked into my office. By the time she found me, she'd already been dismissed by multiple doctors including specialists at what was supposed to be one of Chicago's premier women's health centers. They told her the severe pain and skin changes she was experiencing were "all in her head." Two different physicians suggested she needed a therapist, not medical treatment. Her depression history was weaponized against her, used as proof that she was just being hysterical. But Jess wasn't hysterical. She had advanced lichen sclerosis, and her vulvar skin was literally fusing together. Had she not found proper treatment, she would never have been able to have penetrative sex again. Even worse, without treatment, her risk of vulvar cancer would have climbed from 1% to 3-5%. Yet nobody had explained any of this to her. She'd been handed a tube of clobetasol and essentially told to figure it out herself which she did, on YouTube, learning the proper application technique that her doctors never bothered to teach her. In this episode, Jess bravely shares her journey living with lichen sclerosis—from the devastating experience of being gaslit by female physicians to finding relief through injectable steroids and surgical lysis of adhesions. We talk about how her symptoms worsened when she entered menopause in her mid-40s (common with autoimmune conditions), the complete loss of libido that left her sobbing when a doctor said "it's never coming back," and the body changes that made her feel like a "potato." But this conversation is about more than just lichen sclerosis. It's about the failures of our healthcare system, the importance of advocating for yourself even when you're furious and exhausted, and learning to accept yourself exactly where you're at. Jess's story will resonate with anyone who's ever been dismissed, anyone struggling with vulvar health issues, and anyone navigating the chaos of menopause while trying to hold onto their sense of self-worth. Highlights: Why most gynecologists miss lichen sclerosis (hint: they're not actually looking at your vulva). The proper way to apply clobetasol that doctors don't teach. How vaginismus became a catch-all diagnosis for any woman with painful sex. The We Do Not Care Club movement and redefining your value at midlife. What it means when influencers are the face of menopause marketing. If you've been dismissed or told your vulvar symptoms are "all in your head," this episode validates your experience and shows you're not alone. And if you're a clinician, this is your wake-up call we can no longer dismiss women's symptoms as psychological when real physical disease is staring us in the face. Please share this with someone who needs to hear that their symptoms are real and treatment is available. Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| Trauma, PTSD, Childbirth Trauma, and Sexual Dysfunction with Erika Kelley | 05 déc. 2025 | 00:49:32 | |
Have you ever wondered why trauma seems to "live" in the body? Or why so many women struggle with sexual dysfunction after difficult childbirth experiences that they're told they should just be "grateful" for? Join me as we explore the profound connection between trauma and sexual health with Erika Kelley, an award-winning clinical psychologist who specializes in women's sexual medicine and trauma treatment. Erika Kelley is revolutionizing how we understand and treat the intersection of PTSD and sexual dysfunction. Winner of the prestigious Irwin Goldstein Award at ISSWSH for her groundbreaking research on childbirth-related PTSD, Erika shares insights from her years of experience helping women reclaim their bodies and sexuality after trauma. Together, we discuss the often overlooked reality of "smiling PTSD" the postpartum trauma that women hide behind societal pressure to appear only joyful after childbirth. Erika explains how trauma becomes physically embedded in the body through the fight-flight-freeze response, creating real physiological changes that impact everything from pelvic floor function to sexual desire. She also shares the evidence based psychotherapies that are proven to help, including Prolonged Exposure Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy, and how these treatments can be integrated with pelvic floor physical therapy and sexual medicine approaches for comprehensive care. Erika's commitment to building trust with marginalized communities through community-based participatory research demonstrates how we can address healthcare disparities while advancing trauma care. Her work with Black women and perinatal mental health is paving the way for more inclusive and effective treatment. This episode is essential listening for anyone who has experienced trauma, healthcare providers who work with trauma survivors, and anyone interested in understanding how our bodies truly do "keep the score." By listening, you'll gain crucial knowledge about recognizing trauma symptoms, accessing appropriate treatment, and advocating for yourself or your patients. TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, traumatic childbirth experiences, medical trauma, PTSD symptoms, and obstetric complications. Please listen with care and reach out for support if needed. Highlights
If this episode resonated with you, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify it helps other women find this life changing information. Share this episode with someone who needs to hear that their trauma is real and treatment is available. Get in touch with Erika: Website Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| Episode 100: A Major Win for Women's Health & Answers to Your Top Questions | 28 nov. 2025 | 00:35:57 | |
It's our 100th episode! I celebrate this milestone with Karen Bradley, NP, discussing the biggest wins, most common questions, and key themes from nearly two years of podcasting about women's sexual health and menopause. We dive into the FDA's recent decision to remove the boxed warning from vaginal estrogen a huge victory for women's health advocacy. This warning has prevented countless women from getting treatment for painful sex, recurrent UTIs, and other symptoms of genitourinary syndrome of menopause. I share a powerful story of a patient with breast cancer history who was denied hormone therapy by her oncology team, only to have them completely reverse course once the boxed warning was removed. The conversation covers the most frequently asked questions from listeners: Is it perimenopause or just stress? (It's both.) Why is my libido gone? (Biology, psychology, and life circumstances all play a role.) Why do I keep getting UTIs after sex? (Often it's vestibulodynia or changes in the vaginal microbiome from estrogen deficiency.) How do I talk to my partner about sex? (Communication is key, and sometimes you need a sex therapist to help.) We also discuss the reality of midlife weight gain, the role of GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Zepbound, and why building muscle matters more than endless cardio. This episode is a celebration of how far we've come and a reminder that you don't have to suffer through menopause. Highlights:
Thank you for being here for 100 episodes. Honestly, there have been times I've wanted to stop, but then I get a DM from someone saying they heard something on the podcast that changed their care, or a patient tells me they finally found answers here. That's what keeps me going. The biggest way you can help me keep doing this work is simple: share this show with someone who needs it and hit subscribe. When you share an episode with a friend who's struggling, a family member who's been dismissed by doctors, or post about it on social media, you're helping me reach more women who deserve better care. Thank you for listening, for learning, and for advocating alongside me. Here's to the next 100. Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| Why Stress Management Actually Changes Your Biology | Dr. Noor Al-Humaidhi | 21 nov. 2025 | 00:37:39 | |
Dr. Noor Al-Humaidhi is a general practitioner from New Hampshire who discovered a massive gap in midlife women's healthcare. After experiencing perimenopausal symptoms herself and realizing how little she understood about the connection between hormones and chronic disease, she started Lifestyles by Dr. Noor a multidisciplinary practice focused on prevention, metabolic health, and helping women stop suffering through menopause. We discuss why stress management isn't just "woo woo" but creates measurable biological changes in blood sugar and cardiovascular health, how continuous glucose monitors reveal the real-time impact of stress on your body, and why women in the Middle East face unique barriers to hormone therapy access. Dr. Noor shares her approach to building a practice with dietitians, mind-body therapists, and weightlifting programs because hormones alone aren't the answer it's about addressing sleep, muscle, nutrition, and stress together. The conversation covers why sleep is so under treated in perimenopausal women, the cultural differences in how menopause is experienced across the world, and why there's such a high tolerance for women's suffering. Dr. Noor explains why she refuses to give up on helping women access care, even when hormone therapy isn't available in their countries. Highlights:
You're part of a growing community of women who refuse to accept suffering as inevitable. If you found value in this conversation, subscribe and help us spread the message that midlife women deserve comprehensive, compassionate care. Get in Touch with Dr. Noor: Get in Touch with Me: Mentioned in this episode: GSM Collective The GSM Collective - Chicago Boutique concierge gynecology practice Led by Dr. Sameena Rahman, specialist in sexual medicine & menopause Unrushed appointments in a beautiful, private setting Personalized care for women's health, hormones, and pelvic floor issues Multiple membership options available Ready for personalized women's healthcare? Visit our Chicago office today. | |||
| Take Back Your Health: Longevity Medicine and Starting Early to Optimize Your Menopause Transition | Dr. Jila Senemar | 14 nov. 2025 | 00:32:02 | |
Dr. Jila Senemar is a board-certified OB-GYN in Miami who's integrating longevity medicine with menopause care. After nearly two decades in traditional practice, part of her work is catching women in their 30s and 40s before chronic disease develops. We discuss why your standard annual labs are missing the markers that actually predict heart disease and diabetes, how to finally break free from the cardio-only mentality that's keeping you from building muscle, and why eating more protein feels impossible when you've been trained to restrict food your entire life. Dr. Senemar reveals the advanced testing she runs on every patient and explains why most women are being managed reactively instead of proactively. We cover transitioning out of insurance medicine to actually spend time with patients, why strength training won't make you bulky, and when peptides and longevity treatments fit into your health plan. Plus, we talk about what it means to optimize your health span, not just your lifespan. Highlights:
This show has grown over nearly two years thanks to viewers and listeners like you. While menopause and sexual health have become more mainstream, too many women still aren't getting the help or education they need. I'm working to change that. If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe to the show and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Get in Touch with Dr. Senemar: Get in Touch with Me: | |||
| Dr. Arthur Burnett, The Viagra Pioneer, on How Men's Sexual Health Problems Affect Their Partners | 07 nov. 2025 | 00:31:01 | |
Dr. Arthur "Bud" Burnett is a legend in urology whose pioneering work on nitric oxide helped make Viagra possible. As a Professor at Johns Hopkins and author of "The Manhood Prescription," he brings nearly 40 years of research to understanding how men's sexual health impacts their partners. We discuss why erectile dysfunction in male partners directly affects female sexual dysfunction, the treatments for Peyronie's disease that most couples don't know exist, and why testosterone replacement is straightforward for men but controversial for women. Dr. Burnett explains his holistic approach beyond just prescribing pills and shares insights on helping prostate cancer survivors recover sexual function. The conversation covers healthcare disparities in men's sexual health and how implicit bias affects treatment outcomes. Dr. Burnett emphasizes that sexual health is a right and encourages advocating for comprehensive care. Highlights:
Get in Touch with Dr. Burnett: Website Get in Touch with Me: Mentioned in this episode: GSM Collective The GSM Collective - Chicago Boutique concierge gynecology practice Led by Dr. Sameena Rahman, specialist in sexual medicine & menopause Unrushed appointments in a beautiful, private setting Personalized care for women's health, hormones, and pelvic floor issues Multiple membership options available Ready for personalized women's healthcare? Visit our Chicago office today. | |||
| Understudied and Dismissed: Women's Heart Health and the Work Being Done to Change It | 31 oct. 2025 | 00:30:43 | |
Last week was the Menopause Society meeting in Orlando, and while I couldn't attend in person due to getting sick, I spent the weekend watching all the sessions remotely from bed. What struck me most were the cardiovascular sessions. Recording this on the eve of my mother's one-year death anniversary from a massive heart attack, I want to talk about the real changes that happen when estrogen leaves the chat and why cardiovascular disease awareness among women has actually dropped from 65% to 44% in recent years. I talk through the key cardiovascular takeaways including why white coat hypertension isn't benign, how the 2025 American Heart Association guidelines changed what's considered normal blood pressure, and why perimenopause is a time of accelerated cardiovascular risk when cholesterol and blood pressure can spike suddenly. The most fascinating session covered invisible heart disease: INOCA (ischemia with no obstructive coronary arteries) and microvascular dysfunction. This is when women have chest pain, get full cardiac workups showing wide-open arteries, yet still have reduced blood flow to the heart through tiny vessels that don't show up on standard angiograms. I discuss mental stress ischemia, a hidden killer where emotional stress causes measurable damage and reduced perfusion to the heart even when exercise stress tests are normal. How many women were told they had panic attacks when they actually had coronary microvascular dysfunction? The mind-heart connection is real, and the sympathetic nervous system surge during high stress can constrict small vessels cutting off microcirculation. I share practical steps including finding preventative cardiologists, getting CT angiograms if you have family history, understanding your blood pressure parameters, and why stress reduction isn't just self-care, it's cardiovascular medicine. Highlights:
If this episode helped you understand cardiovascular risks in menopause and why symptoms like chest pain deserve thorough evaluation beyond standard testing, please share it with women who need this information. Subscribe and leave a review to help more people discover these critical discussions about heart health in midlife. Resources: Get in Touch with Me: | |||