Our Womanity Q & A with Dr. Rachel Pope – Détails, épisodes et analyse

This episode addresses a terrifying but common experience for midlife women: the cognitive changes, or "brain fog," that pop up during perimenopause and menopause. Many women fear they are experiencing early-onset dementia.

Host Dr. Rachel Pope speaks with Dr. Rita Shkullaku, a board-certified internist with a special interest in nutrition, obesity, and hormones as they relate to cognitive wellness and healthy aging.

Dr. Shkullaku confirms that brain fog—forgetfulness, concentration issues, and a blank mind—is very real. She notes that having "mild cognitive issues for eight to ten years has no small impact" on high-functioning women.

The problem stems from both:

• Direct Effects: Estrogen drops affect the brain’s ability to use the prefrontal cortex and manage stress.
• Indirect Effects: Severe sleep deprivation from night sweats and hot flashes dramatically worsens cognition.

To distinguish serious issues from hormonal brain fog, Dr. Shkullaku uses the Self-Report vs. Intervention rule: women with typical brain fog are aware of their struggle, while those with true early dementia are often unaware and brought in by family.

Management requires a holistic approach, starting with the foundation:

1. Prioritize Sleep: Address the underlying hormonal issues or anxiety that keep you awake.
2. Redistribute Responsibility: Normalize the struggle and ask partners/family for help to create time for self-care.
3. Complex Cognitive Training: Pick up a new complex activity (like a new instrument or language) to engage the brain differently.
4. Nutrition: Follow the MIND Diet (a hybrid of the Mediterranean and DASH diets).

Treatment: If medically eligible, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is a great option, primarily by eliminating sleep-disrupting symptoms. If not, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and addressing reversible causes (like iron or B12 deficiencies) are crucial.

In this episode of Perimenopause: Head to Toe, Dr. Rachel Pope sits down with Dr. Karen Connor, a seasoned physical therapist with over 20 years of experience, to discuss how perimenopause and menopause affect the pelvic floor. Dr. Connor shares her extensive expertise in pelvic health, shedding light on the changes women experience during this stage of life and how pelvic floor physical therapy can help manage and prevent complications.

Key Highlights:

• What is the Pelvic Floor? Dr. Connor explains the role of the pelvic floor muscles, their importance in overall health, and how they provide support for vital organs.
• How Perimenopause Affects the Pelvic Floor: Learn how hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause lead to tissue thinning, reduced elasticity, and muscle weakening, all of which can affect pelvic floor health.
• Pelvic Floor Exercise: Dr. Connor emphasizes the importance of pelvic floor exercises like Kegels, and why combining these with other physical therapy techniques is crucial for comprehensive pelvic health.
• Heavy Lifting and Pelvic Floor Health: Dr. Connor shares her insights on lifting heavy weights and how it can impact the pelvic floor, offering practical advice on how to protect it.
• Managing Pelvic Pain and Prolapse: From pain with penetration to prolapse, Dr. Connor discusses how pelvic floor therapy can help women manage these conditions, even if they're already experiencing symptoms.
• The Importance of Working with a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist: Dr. Connor highlights the benefits of seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist for tailored care and exercises that address the unique needs of each individual.

For Women in Perimenopause and Beyond:
Dr. Connor stresses that no matter where you are in your health journey, pelvic floor physical therapy can help manage symptoms and prevent future complications. Whether dealing with prolapse, incontinence, or pelvic pain, proper treatment can significantly improve quality of life.

About Dr. Karen Connor:
Dr. Connor is a highly experienced physical therapist, educator, and pelvic health advocate. She co-authored the book Sex in Your 60s and has served in various leadership roles within the American Physical Therapy Association. Dr. Connor currently runs a private practice, Cleveland Pelvic Wellness, alongside Dr. Jessica Jenkins, where they provide specialized pelvic floor therapy to women in Northeast Ohio.

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

• Cleveland Pelvic Wellness Website: clevelandpelvicwellness.com
• Sex in Your 60s (Book co-authored by Dr. Karen Connor)
• The Menopause Retreat - November 14th

In this powerful episode of Our Womanity, we sit down with Maisha Sullivan Ongoza, the visionary behind P.A.S.H.I. — the Pan-African Sisterhood Health Initiative. Maisha shares how this community-rooted organisation is tackling period poverty, reducing stigma around menstruation, and centering ancestral wisdom through eco-friendly, reusable menstrual products. From intergenerational teachings led by elders to engaging boys and men in the conversation, Maisha walks us through how P.A.S.H.I. is changing lives across the globe.

What We Cover:

• The origin and mission behind P.A.S.H.I
• Why menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is a public health and dignity issue
• The power of reusable pads and eco-conscious period solutions
• The importance of involving elders as hands-on teachers
• How P.A.S.H.I. is shifting cultural norms by including men and boys
• Stories of impact from Philadelphia to Africa and the Caribbean
• How you can support or replicate this model in your own community

About P.A.S.H.I:

P.A.S.H.I. empowers girls, women, and others by providing free, eco-friendly, reusable menstrual pads and education on life skills, reproductive health, and MHM. With over 47 global shipments and annual youth workshops in Philadelphia, P.A.S.H.I is restoring dignity and access one pad at a time.

Impact Snapshot:

• 47+ pad shipments to Africa & the Caribbean since 2019
  Thousands of free menstrual and hygiene kits distributed
• Annual youth workshops teaching reusable pad creation
• Hands-on guidance from elders in the community

Key Quote from Maisha:
"We’re not just handing out products—we’re rebuilding a sense of worth, reclaiming ancestral knowledge, and reminding our young people they are worthy of care, dignity, and tradition."

Resources & Links:
Website: www.pashiglobal.org
Email:  pashi.global@gmail.com
Phone: (215) 385-0214

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In this episode of Our Womanity Dr. Rachel Pope sits down with Dr. Lily Gutnik, a breast surgeon and global health advocate dedicated to advancing equitable healthcare for women.

Dr. Gutnik’s journey is deeply rooted in her experience as a first-generation immigrant. After her parents fled religious persecution in the former USSR, she grew up in the United States, where she developed a profound appreciation for education and hard work. Her global perspective—shaped by extensive travel, multilingual abilities, and cross-cultural training—has reinforced her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare.

A firm believer in innovative, cross-disciplinary collaborations, Dr. Gutnik focuses on implementing high-quality, cost-effective breast cancer care, particularly for vulnerable women. She champions a convergence science approach to address the complex root causes of health disparities, using implementation science to develop interventions that drive health equity.

For Dr. Gutnik, becoming a breast surgeon is more than a profession—it is a mission to empower women through health. Tune in as she shares her insights on building sustainable healthcare solutions, tackling systemic inequities, and the future of breast cancer care.

Featured in this episode:

• Stigma around breast cancer and mistrust in the African and African American community
• Discovering Hands Initiative empowering blind women
• Uninsured and underinsured patients still face barriers to care
• Advancing breast cancer treatment in the US – But at what cost?
• Tanzania leading the charge in education, awareness, and stigma reduction
• Tuskegee Syphilis Study

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With the changes unfolding in the U.S. under the new administration, I wanted to launch this season of Our Womanity with powerful stories of women uplifting women around the world.

In this episode, I proudly welcome Habiba Corodhia Mohamed, Founder of WADADIA.

The journey of WADADIA began with a defining moment in Habiba C. Mohamed’s life. Initially dedicated to veterinary medicine, her path took a transformative turn during a routine visit to a farmer’s home. While searching for the farmer, she noticed a small face peeking from behind a house. When she approached, she discovered a four-year-old boy—disabled, tied up, and neglected. His only “crime” was being born disabled and out of wedlock. His teenage mother had been cast out by her family, exposing a deeper issue affecting marginalized women and girls.

This encounter sparked Mohamed’s commitment to social justice, leading her to transition from veterinary work to founding WADADIA, a nonprofit focused on women’s health and empowerment. What started as a small village-level support group for sex workers has grown into a national organization, providing holistic fistula care (6,000+ cases), support for SGBV survivors (1,500+), and services for PLHIV (3,500+).

Under Mohamed’s leadership, WADADIA is dedicated to restoring dignity through psychosocial support, reproductive health advocacy, and socio-economic empowerment—ensuring that the most vulnerable have the opportunity to thrive.

Learn more about Wadadia here.

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Vulvar cancer screening refers to checking for signs of vulvar cancer in individuals who may not have symptoms. Vulvar cancer is rare, and there isn't a standard screening test specifically for it like there is for cervical cancer with Pap smears. However, early detection often relies on regular pelvic exams and self-examinations to look for any abnormalities or changes in the vulvar area. Dr. Melissa Mauskar joins me to discuss vulvar screening in this episode.

Dr. Melissa Mauskar is a Dermatologist and Associate Professor in the Departments of Dermatology and Obstetrics and Gynecology at UT Southwestern in Dallas, Texas. She is the Director of Genital Dermatology and Women's Health and is an International expert in Lichen Sclerosus and Vulvar dermatoses. Melissa is a fellow of the International Society of the Study of Vulvovaginal Diseases (ISSVD) and the Secretary General of the North American Chapter of the ISSVD. In addition to caring for patients with lichen sclerosus, she is active in clinical research and passionate about patient quality of life and health literacy initiatives.  Melissa is the Founding President of the Vulvar Dermatoses Research Consortium (VDRC), an expansive group of healthcare practitioners and trainees in North America dedicated to advancing the field of vulvar health.

Featured in this episode:

• When to see your GYN or healthcare practitioner
• Look at your vulvar once a month
• Lichen Scelorus symptoms
• Check out the vulvar poem here
• Get Dr. Melissa Mauskar’s free e-book on Lichen Scelorus here
• Listen to the Vulva poem by Dr. Pope here

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

In this insightful episode, I am joined by Dr. Cynthia Owusu, a leading expert in geriatric oncology. Together, we discuss proactive steps women can take to reduce cancer risk, the emotional toll of a breast cancer diagnosis, and the importance of early detection.

Dr. Owusu shares valuable tips for lowering the chances of developing breast cancer:

• Maintain a Healthy Body Weight: Learn how maintaining a normal weight can significantly impact your health and reduce cancer risk.
• Increase Physical Activity: Dr. Owusu explains how regular exercise is crucial not only for boosting mood but also for lowering cancer risk. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate activity most days.
• Limit Alcohol Consumption: Find out how reducing or eliminating alcohol can make a big difference in your overall health.

Dr. Owusu also dives into the emotional challenges women face post-diagnosis, including anxiety, depression, and stress, particularly around the uncertainty of treatment options like chemotherapy. However, she reassures listeners that many women diagnosed with breast cancer do not require chemotherapy.

The episode emphasizes that breast cancer is curable, especially when detected early. Dr. Owusu also sheds light on the common use of surgery and other treatments for breast cancer patients.

Dr. Cynthia Owusu is a renowned expert in geriatric oncology. She is currently the principal investigator on a $2.8M research grant from the National Institute on Minority Health and Disparities. This important study explores the impact of physical activity on functional status, body composition, and biomarkers of breast cancer prognosis among African American and socially disadvantaged breast cancer survivors. Dr. Owusu is also actively working to improve participation of all women in clinical trials to help enhance breast cancer outcomes in this vulnerable population.

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September is Perimenopause Awareness Month and October is Menopause Awareness Month!! And we are diving into all things perimenopause and menopause.

Did you know that in Costa Rica, hormone therapy for menopause is available through the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) as part of its universal healthcare services? Women who are covered by the public healthcare system can access medical consultations and treatments, including hormone therapy, for menopausal symptoms. What a wonderful resource for women.

In this episode of Our Womanity with Dr. Rachel Pope, I am joined by Dr. Gabriela Alvarado to discuss perimenopause and menopause within the Latin American culture.

Dr. Gabriela Alvarado is a physician and an associate policy researcher at RAND who focuses on maternal health and sexual and reproductive health using a reproductive justice framework. Her research includes the use of innovative qualitative and community-centered approaches to understand and address drivers of disparities in different reproductive health outcomes such as contraceptive uptake, breastfeeding, maternal morbidity and mortality, maternal mental health, postpartum depression, access to health information (and misinformation), and access to abortion. Prior to RAND, she has worked in primary health care delivery, the health nonprofit sector, state government, and as a consultant for the Pan-American Health Organization.

She obtained her medical degree from the University of Costa Rica and has a masters in public health and anthropology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Georgia State University. She completed her Ph.D. in policy analysis from the Pardee RAND Graduate School.

Featured in this episode:

• How different languages may not have a name for menopause or hot flashes
• Traditional roles for Latin American women
• Increase in various conditions once women move across the border to the US
• Lack of diversity in menopause research

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September is Perimenopause Awareness Month! And we are diving into all things perimenopause and menopause.

How do policies and laws impact women’s rights during perimenopause and menopause in the workplace? In this episode of Our Womanity with Dr. Rachel Pope, we delve into this important issue with expert guests Naomi R. Cahn, the Justice Anthony M. Kennedy Distinguished Professor of Law, and the Nancy L. Buc '69 Research Professor in Democracy and Equity at the University of Virginia School of Law. Naomi is the author of numerous books, including Fair Shake (2024). Joining the conversation is Emily Gold Waldman, Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Professor of Law at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University.

Along with Bridget J. Crawford, a University Distinguished Professor at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, who is the co-author, with Emily Gold Waldman, of Menstruation Matters (2022), among other publications, the three women recently published the book “Hot Flash How the Law Ignores Menopause and What We Can Do About It”, set out to replace the silence surrounding menopause with a deeper understanding.

Hot Flash explores the cultural stereotypes associated with menopause and examines how menopause is handled in both law and medicine. The book positions menopause as one of several key stages in a person’s reproductive life. Using U.S. legislation around pregnancy and breastfeeding as a framework, the authors propose updates to workplace policies and laws that would include menopause. Their work invites us to envision a legal landscape that promotes a more equitable future for all.

Order your copy of Hot Flash: How the Law Ignores Menopause and What We Can Do About It, available through Stanford University Press.

Featured in this episode:

• Millions of women are working during menopause, but US law isn’t clear on employees’ rights or employers’ obligations
• Menopause treatments can help with hot flashes and other symptoms – but many people aren’t aware of the latest advances 

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September is Perimenopause Awareness Month! And we are diving into all things perimenopause and menopause.

Are you experiencing increased anxiety, depression, or changes in your mental health during this transition? Dr. Danette Conklin, PhD, Director of Behavioral Health in Bariatric Surgery & Weight Management at University Hospitals, and an expert in midlife wellness for women, shares valuable tips to help you navigate these challenges.

As a healthcare professional, her primary skills include conducting behavioral health evaluations for bariatric surgery, providing behavioral health interventions for weight management, and conducting research in women’s health and healthcare disparities.

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