Podcast appearances and mentions of sharon malone

On this week's episode, OB/GYN (and close friend!) Dr. Sharon Malone joins the podcast to talk about the urgent issues plaguing women's healthcare in the U.S. and how women can safely navigate a medical system that is not built for them. Plus, the group answers a listener question from a woman looking to freeze her eggs. Have a question you want answered? Write to us at imopod.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Perimenopause WTF!, brought to you by Perry—the #1 perimenopause app and safe space for connection, support, and new friendships during the menopause transition. You're not crazy, and you're definitely not alone!  Download the free Perry App on Apple or Android and join our live expert talks, receive evidence-based education, connect with other women, and simplify your perimenopause journey.Today's Episode“What Every Breast Cancer Survivor in Her Late 30s Should Know About Perimenopause, Surgical Menopause, and Treatment Options ”Tune in to this heartfelt and insightful conversation as Dr. Sharon Malone sits down with Teyonna Bowman to discuss her journey of surviving breast cancer. Together, they explore the experience from two powerful perspectives — that of the patient and the physician. This candid discussion unpacks the role of hormones, alternative options, decision-making through every stage of the journey, and the realities of treatment choices.Breast cancer is a life-altering diagnosis, but knowledge is power. This episode offers guidance, support, and info for anyone navigating this difficult path.Discover What's New at Perry!Whether you're navigating perimenopause or empowering others as a women's health professional, Perry has something for you. Explore our latest features:

In this episode, we discuss the launch of Dr. Tammy's Grown Woman Talk Series. Grown Woman Talk Series is a transformative space—both in-person and virtual—created by Dr. Tammy to empower women to reclaim their health, redefine self-care, and realign with purpose.Inspired by Dr. Sharon Malone's book, Grown Woman Talk, the series was born from Dr. Tammy's own experiences and desire to break the silence surrounding women's health—especially for women of color.Through candid conversations and expert-led sessions, the series explores:

This audio / video includes lots of images and videos of my personal life on YouTube. Please check it out there! Staying sexually active after 50 (or even after 40) has to be 100% intentional. I want to share what I do to take care of myself to ensure my overall health is optimal so that I can continue to have great sexual health - yes.. even as a grandmother to two.

Dr. Kudzai Dombo, MD, is a distinguished board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist. Dr. Dombo's initial inspiration was her father's internal medicine practice in Zimbabwe where she observed firsthand the respect and impact her father had on his patients, particularly at a time when women's voices in Zimbabwe were often marginalized. Over the last two years, she has committed to caring for women in midlife and through the menopausal transition. She works with Alloy Health as a prescribing physician and became the Director of Advocacy and Outreach. Alongside Dr. Sharon Malone, she launched Alloy Health's initiative for black women's wellness. On this episode of The Vault Dr. Dombo discusses how black women can take care of their health in midlife by learning about the higher cardiac risks and more severe menopause outcomes that they experience compared to other groups, yet Black women are the least likely to get treatment and support and are often excluded from the menopauseconversation. What are the differences in how women of color experience menopause and perimenopause? How to advocate better healthcare with my healthcare professional? Ways to include Black women in the menopause conversation? How to prevent worsened physical health outcomes during menopause? Should I use supplements during menopause? What are the mental health signs related to menopause? How to Cope with High Functioning Depression.Follow Dr. Kudzai Dombo: Dr. Kudzai Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dr.kudzai Dr. Kudzai Dombo's Website https://www.myalloy.com/expert/kudzai-dombo Alloy Health Website https://www.myalloy.com/Follow Dr. Judith:Instagram: https://instagram.com/drjudithjoseph TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjudithjoseph Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drjudithjoseph Website: https://www.drjudithjoseph.com/Sign up for my newsletter here: https://www.drjudithjoseph.com/newsletter-sign-upDisclaimer: You may want to consider your individual mental health needs with a licensed medical professional. This page is not medical advice.

How it all started. When I was a little girl, I don't recall hearing my mom or dad, talk about doctor's appointments or scheduling a doctor's visit. My first memory of seeing a doctor myself was at the age of 10 and I also remember becoming curious about weight loss too around that time. So many memories. Thinking of my family's diet and exercise plans back then, realizing neither existed, but what did exist was family members perishing way too soon of poor health or disease.It's never too late. Even now we have the power to make change. To be well and teach daughters, grandchildren and inspire others to want to live healthier, to be their best. Happy Women's History Month! From then to now. Journey with me. This show is inspired by Dr. Sharon Malone, author of; Grown Woman Talk.Be sure to follow the show and share with the women you love.Contact me to book your next event, adding a Soulful Afro Zumba Dance Party to your celebration. Contact: Tromiedancestudio to book.Follow me on Tiktok: Tinaromie1005 and IG: Tina_romieThanks for listening and as always, enjoy your moments and enjoy your time. Peace and light~ Tina Romie

Getting older does not mean sex disappears.. There are some major health benefits with having sex as we age. 50 and Over - this message is for you! Who is Vee Mindful?I am a Certified Relationship Coach with over 35 yrs of Dating, Relationship, & Marriage experience. I help the Mature Man and Woman (over 40) have healthy relationships FINALLY after years of unsuccessful attempts.

Dr. Sharon Malone's book is titled "Grown Woman Talk, Your Guide to Getting Healthy and Staying Healthy."  This is a book isn't filled with stats, charts and graphs. It's a book about taking care of oneself and getting support from family, friends and doctors that take the time to recognize you, your symptoms and guide you  in the correct direction until you get the answers that you need.Bertha, Dr. Malone's mother, was born in 1914 in rural Alabama.  Sadly Bertha died when Dr. Malone, her youngest daughter, was twelve.  Out of necessity, Bertha and close relatives had to self diagnose any and all illnesses. There wasn't really any medical services nearby. It was all based on collective knowledge from family members and maybe a midwife who could help out.  It was her family, a few things in a medicine cabinet, home remedies, etc that worked when one of her children was sick. "There was so much of an "ancestral collective of knowledge" that Bertha had access to, that we don't have today," reflects Malone.My guest's mother, Bertha lost her mother when she was 14 and Bertha and her sixteen year old sister had three younger siblings to  raise. It wasn't an easy childhood, but it didn't stop Bertha for instilling such a wealth knowledge in her own children. I highly recommend you read "Grown Woman Talk," to get the full impact of her mother's life and Dr. Malone's philosophies regarding health.Dr. Malone explains, "medicine is not the answer for everything,  but there is also a place and time for it.  Don't run to the doctor every time there's  a sniffle." "She'd like to see the pendulum come back to the middle," regarding the health field.Bertha was a maid in officers quarters of the near by Military base because she had to work. Plus Bertha took care of the work around the house including the cooking, cleaning, etc.Bertha was confident and calm but there are so many stories that Dr. Malone doesn't know about.  In the early 20th century Bertha was very practical and conscientious especially when it came to diet, health and "necessities. Dr. Malone lovingly shares stories of her mother, her work ethic and the moral grounding and how  important it was.  "I still hear her voice in my head.  When I do things I either think of them as either this will make  my mother  proud or my mother would not be  pleased with this particularly behavior."Dr. Malone only had twelve formative years with her mother, but she says "I learned enough about character and what was and wasn't important in life in that short time.  Don't ever doubt the the value and importance of mothers and the effect they have on their children. In those few years, I had enough to be really influenced by her about what kind of woman i wanted to be and what kind of mother I wanted to be."  Allison Kalsched a women's fitness specialist is one of the Co-Founders of NYMMNJ. She was so excited to share the "significance of the community of women" that came together to not only organize this first ever symposium but the respected presenters and the  250 women  that came from near and far to this event.Allison has been working exclusively with women  for about ten years on their fitness and health journey. "The story hasn't changed much, remarks Kalsched, since Dr. Malone's mother was born in the early part of the twentieth century, and everything she (Bertha) learned about women's health was through a symposium of women-the benefits of  being surrounded by women and how we can help one another."  NYMMNJ was put together by a group of women out of the necessity of getting the help they need for their midlife health and wellbeing.  Most of these women had come to Allison for training and they've been through all life changes together.Allison concurs that women some times make things too complicated and tend to put our well being on the back burner. As women age we need to work on our bodies differently than when we were younger. Taking the time  to see a doctor is important, but "we have to think about the woman's body as much more complicated and much more holistic."  Fifty percent of the women who walk in Allison's door complain of frozen shoulder or plantar fasciitis, they are the most common complaints.  Allison believes that mainly these issues of inflammation in  joints are reactions to changes in our hormones " it's all connected." NOT YOUR MOTHER'S MENOPAUSE NJ:Not Your Mother's Menopause NJ is the creation of three Maplewood/South Orange based women who recognized a need for an event such as this. April L McKenzie started the popular Facebook group Perimenopause — It's for Real (now renamed Not Your Mother's Menopause NJ) when she became increasingly frustrated at her own personal experience with finding help for her perimenopausal symptoms. Since the group's founding in 2021, almost 800 women have shared their knowledge, resources and experiences. She has just been voted in as a board member of Let's Talk Menopause, a national nonprofit, where she will grow her involvement in women's health advocacy and menopause awareness.Stacey Futterman Tauriello is the founder of 5 Point Physical Therapy and a pelvic health specialist. After 28 years practicing pelvic health, Stacey (and her patients) were going through hormonal changes that affected their lifestyle in many ways. Allison Kalschedis a women's fitness specialist who has worked in the Maplewood area for over 10 years. As she and her clients have aged together, she became increasingly interested in how the menopause transition affects every system in a woman's body. She is currently studying to become a certified menopause coach.The three of us have come together to help our community forge a path through the information overload about the menopause transition. This event took place for the very first time on January 12, 2025!  More information coming regarding a video of the day long event with all the presenters including Dr. Sharon Malone.DR. SHARON MALONE:WEBSITE:  https://www.drsharonmalone.com/pressSocial Media Links   Instagram: @smalonemd     LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grown-woman-talk    Threads: @smalonemd    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharon.malone.982PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCEAlloy Women's Health,Chief Medical Advisor · January 2021 - PresentFoxhall OB/GYN Associates, Partner · January 1995 - December 2020, Associate · July 1992 - January 1995The George Washington University School of Medicine, Associate Clinical Professor of OB/GYN · 1992 - 2018IBM,Systems Engineer · 1981 - 1984 ALLISON KALSCHED:Allison KalschedNASM Personal TrainerWomen's Fitness Specialistwww.allisonkalsched.comstay connected:FACEBOOKINSTAGRAMYouTubeHere are some links:Event websitehttps://notyourmothersmenopausenj.com/ NYMM on IGhttps://www.instagram.com/notyourmothersmenopause_/ FB group (private but large)https://www.facebook.com/groups/1125549224586395 My personal IGhttps://www.instagram.com/allisonkalsched Co-founders of NYMM IGhttps://www.instagram.com/s_futtermanhttps://www.instagram.com/almckenzie0595/  "Should Have Listened To My Mother" is an ongoing conversation about mothers/female role models and the roles they play in our lives. Jackie's guests are open and honest and answer the question, are you who you are today because of, or in spite of, your mother and so much more. You'll be amazed at what the responses are.Gina Kunadian wrote this 5 Star review on Apple Podcast:SHLTMM TESTIMONIAL GINA KUNADIAN JUNE 18, 2024“A Heartfelt and Insightful Exploration of Maternal Love”Jackie Tantillo's “Should Have Listened To My Mother” Podcast is a treasure and it's clear why it's a 2023 People's Choice Podcast Award Nominee. This show delves into the profound impact mother and maternal role models have on our lives through personal stories and reflections.Each episode offers a chance to learn how different individuals have been shaped by their mothers' actions and words. Jackie skillfully guides these conversations, revealing why guests with similar backgrounds have forged different paths.This podcast is a collection of timeless stories that highlight the powerful role of maternal figures in our society. Whether your mother influenced you positively or you thrived despite challenges, this show resonates deeply.I highly recommend “Should Have Listened To My Mother” Podcast for its insightful, heartfelt and enriching content.Gina Kunadian"Should Have Listened To My Mother" would not be possible without the generosity, sincerity and insight from my guests. In 2018/2019, in getting ready to launch my podcast, so many were willing to give their time and share their personal stories of their relationship with their mother, for better or worse and what they learned from that maternal relationship. Some of my guests include Nationally and Internationally recognized authors, Journalists, Columbia University Professors, Health Practitioners, Scientists, Artists, Attorneys, Baritone Singer, Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist, Activists, Freighter Sea Captain, Film Production Manager, Professor of Writing Montclair State University, Attorney and family advocate @CUNY Law; NYC First Responder/NYC Firefighter, Child and Adult Special Needs Activist, Property Manager, Chefs, Self Help Advocates, therapists and so many more talented and insightful women and men.Jackie has worked in the broadcasting industry for over four decades. She has interviewed many fascinating people including musicians, celebrities, authors, activists, entrepreneurs, politicians and more.A big thank you goes to Ricky Soto, NYC based Graphic Designer, who created the logo for "Should Have Listened To My Mother".Check out our website for more background information: https://www.jackietantillo.com/Or more demos of what's to come at https://soundcloud.com/jackie-tantilloLink to website and show notes: https://shltmm.simplecast.com/Or Find SHLTMM Website here: https://shltmm.simplecast.com/Listen wherever you find podcasts: https://www.facebook.com/ShouldHaveListenedToMyMotherhttps://www.facebook.com/jackietantilloInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/shouldhavelistenedtomymother/https://www.instagram.com/jackietantillo7/LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-tantillo/YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@ShouldHaveListenedToMyMother

Have you ever sat in a doctor's office feeling dismissed when explaining your symptoms? or leave an appointment with more questions and answers? This is a familiar story for so many women, especially in midlife. But what if I told you there's someone who understands the struggle and has dedicated her life to empowering women to take charge of their health?Today, we're talking to Dr. Sharon Malone, who believes that in the ever-changing healthcare landscape, it's every woman for herself. And not in a discouraging way but in a way that can ignite your power to become your own best advocate. This week, episode 35 of Pleasure in the Pause is about taking charge of your midlife health! Are you ready to awaken your sensuality and feel more empowered in your body? Access the FREE Pleasure Upgrade Bundle at https://www.pleasureinthepause.com/gift.Dr. Sharon Malone is a nationally known expert in women's health and the New York Times Bestselling author of Grown Woman Talk. She is the Chief Medical Advisor at Alloy Women's Health, a telehealth company that focuses on women over 40. Before joining Alloy, Dr. Malone was a partner at one of the oldest and most successful OB/GYN medical practices in Washington, D.C. She is board-certified by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and certified by the North American Menopause Society as a Certified National Menopause Practitioner. Throughout her professional career, she has been active in advocating for reproductive rights, reducing teen pregnancy, and eliminating health care disparities. Dr. Malone has been honored with the Health Award from the Black Women's Agenda, Inc., and was named on the 2024 Forbes 50 over 50 list.Highlights from our discussion include:The importance of knowing your personal and family health history.The need for women to be their own best advocates in the changing healthcare landscape.The impact of chronic stress, especially for marginalized groups like Black women.The role of innovative solutions like telehealth in improving access to quality healthcare.The effectiveness of hormone therapy in managing menopause symptoms and improving long-term health.The value of building a supportive community of women to navigate the challenges of midlife and beyond.The empowering message that suffering is not an inevitable part of womanhood.If you've ever felt dismissed or overwhelmed in the doctor's office, or if you're looking for ways to take control of your health during midlife, this episode is for you.If you're seeking to reclaim your pleasure and vitality, join Gabriella at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pleasureinthepause.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for this enlightening journey into the heart of female pleasure and empowerment.CONNECT WITH DR. SHARON MALONE:WebsiteInstagramUse Code GWT25 at MyAlloyCONNECT WITH GABRIELLA ESPINOSA:InstagramLinkedInGet immediate access to practical tools that help you feel more like yourself again during perimenopause and menopause with The Menopause Reset Journal today.

You're likely NOT getting this information from your doctor.  Top Menopause Doctor, Dr. Sharon Malone (OB/GYN, Certified Menopause Practitioner, Chief Medical Advisor at Alloy Women's Health, author of Grown Woman Talk) reveals the TRUTH about menopause, from its affects on physical, mental, & emotional health and avoiding the "inevitable" effects of aging, to debunking the wildest myths about sex & hormones.  Find out why waiting it out is NOT the answer, and discover the best treatments, including lifestyle hacks for a smoother ride. Fellas and folks without uteruses - this one's for YOU too! If you love a woman, you NEED to watch this. Learn how to support the women in your life through menopause! Dr. Sharon Malone also breaks down: - Menopause vs Perimenopause: What's the difference?- Early symptoms you didn't know were menopause-related!- The REAL scoop on hormone therapy: Is it safe or risky?- Why divorce rate peaks in menopausal years- Why piecemeal treatment is ineffective & a holistic approach is best- Why we weren't told about the reality of menopause symptoms- Is it a lack of libido or is it your relationship?- Shocking connection between menopause and your brain, heart, skin, & sex life!- Benefits of social connection & weight training during menopause- Why this phase of life could be the start of a HAPPIER future If you've ever wondered what's really going on inside during menopause, TUNE IN to MBB for the best rundown of what menopause actually is that you've ever heard - Unlock the secrets to surviving and thriving through this life stage! Dr. Sharon Malone's Book, GROWN WOMAN TALK: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Healthy: https://www.drsharonmalone.com/book BialikBreakdown.comYouTube.com/mayimbialik

Introducing, a new podcast co-hosted by Dr. Taz!Meet your hosts - Julie Flakstad and Dr. Taz Bhatia as they embark on the inaugural episode of The Midlife Truth Project, a unique podcast series aimed at helping women unravel the biggest, most explosive chapter in their lives. In this introductory episode, Julie and Dr. Taz share their own personal midlife stories, discuss the myriad of transitions that women face, and give us a sneak peek of the upcoming episodes featuring incredible guests like Chip Conley, Dr. Sharon Malone, Kelly Corrigan and Sara Blakely. Listen in and reflect on how midlife can be a time of both tremendous transition, deep reflection and incredible growth.Connect with Our Hosts!Julie Flakstadhttps://julieflakstad.com/ Instagram @julieflakstad Facebook @thejulieflakstad Dr. Taz BhatiaYouTube: @DrTazMDInstagram: @drtazmdWebsite: doctortaz.comOrder The Hormone Shift book HEREPractice - Centre Spring MD: https://centrespringmd.com/ Check out the next episode with Chip Conley on Audio and on YouTube available now!Thanks so much for tuning in! Before you leave, please make sure to subscribe to the show so you'll receive updates on new episodes. Also, let us know how we're doing by providing a rating and review! This series is presented by WomanessCreated by women for women, Womaness (https://womaness.com/) offers clinically and doctor tested supplements, sexual wellness, and skincare products that help you navigate hot flashes, changing skin, vaginal dryness, sleepless nights, and more—empowering you to live your life fully and age well.Just for you… Womaness is offering all our future podcast listeners 20% off any purchase of $50 or more. Use code: Midlife20 and Shop NowProduction:This show is produced by Rainbow Creative with Evy Bjorn and Matthew Jones as Executive Producers, and Nathan Wheatley as Lead Video and Audio Editor. Learn more about them at rainbowcreative.co. 

In this enlightening episode of The Midlife Truth Project, our guest Chip Conley shares his inspiring journey and insights into the often misunderstood phase of midlife. Discussing the importance of creating a roadmap for midlife, he delves into the concept of 'middle essence' and the transitions we face during this period. Chip recalls his personal experiences, including serious struggles and transformative moments, and how they led him to establish The Modern Elder Academy, the world's first midlife wisdom school. This conversation explores the cultural biases around aging, the importance of a growth mindset, and the practical steps for opening up to new possibilities. By redefining midlife as a time of growth and renewal, Chip provides valuable advice on navigating personal and professional transitions, reclaiming purpose, and cultivating wisdom. Join us as we learn how to transform midlife from a crisis into a chrysalis.About our Guest Chip ConleyChip Conley is a renowned entrepreneur, best-selling author, and dynamic speaker celebrated for his innovative approach to leadership and hospitality. His unique leadership philosophy, which combines emotional intelligence with business acumen, has served as a beacon for entrepreneurs and executives worldwide.In 2013, Chip joined Airbnb as Head of Global Hospitality and Strategy and the in-house mentor to the three Millennial founders (he became known as the “modern elder” of the company, “someone as curious as they are wise”). Inspired by his own midlife journey, experience at Airbnb, and extensive research and collaboration with thought leaders in the area of aging, Chip co-founded the Modern Elder Academy (MEA) in January 2018. Located in the serene setting of Baja California, Mexico, MEA is the world's first midlife wisdom school, offering transformative programs to help individuals navigate midlife transitions and cultivate a renewed sense of purpose.Chip is a prolific author, with several influential books to his name, including Wisdom@Work: The Making of a Modern Elder and his latest bestseller, Learning to Love Midlife: 12 Reasons Why Life Gets Better with Age. Connect with Our Hosts and Conversation Partner!Chip Conley Learning to Love Midlife: 12 Reasons Why Life Gets Better with Age: https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Love-Midlife-Reasons-Better-ebook/dp/B0C3ZNSQJ6 The Modern Elder Academy: https://www.meawisdom.com/ Instagram: @chipconley Julie Flakstadhttps://julieflakstad.com/ Instagram @julieflakstad  Facebook @thejulieflakstad Dr. Taz BhatiaYouTube: @DrTazMDInstagram: @drtazmdWebsite: doctortaz.comOrder The Hormone Shift book HEREPractice - Centre Spring MD: https://centrespringmd.com/ Tune in next Wednesday, 10/2, when we drop our next episode, called “You're Not Crazy, It's Hormones!” a discussion with celebrated OB|GYN + Chief Medical Advisor at Alloy Women's Health, Dr. Sharon Malone. Together we'll explore what's happening to our bodies in conjunction with perimenopause and menopause, why generations of women were left to suffer in silence and provide valuable insight on today's care + how women can best advocate for themselves. Available on Audio and on YouTube!Thanks so much for tuning in! Before you leave, please make sure to subscribe to the show so you'll receive updates on new episodes. Also, let us know how we're doing by providing a rating and review! This series is presented by WomanessCreated by women for women, Womaness (https://womaness.com/) offers clinically and doctor tested supplements, sexual wellness, and skincare products that help you navigate hot flashes, changing skin, vaginal dryness, sleepless nights, and more—empowering you to live your life fully and age well.Just for you… Womaness is offering all our future podcast listeners 20% off any purchase of $50 or more. Use code: Midlife20 and Shop NowProduction:This show is produced by Rainbow Creative with Evy Bjorn and Matthew Jones as Executive Producers, and Nathan Wheatley as Lead Video and Audio Editor. Learn more about them at rainbowcreative.co. 

In this episode of The Midlife Truth Project podcast, hosts Julie Flakstad and Dr. Taz Bhatia sit down with Dr. Sharon Malone to discuss perimenopause and menopause, including why generations of women were left to suffer in silence, the now infamous Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Study and the resulting controversy regarding the use of hormonal therapy (HRT) and breast cancer. In this episode, we also discuss what's happening to our bodies during the menopause transition, why women may feel like they're ‘going crazy,' common myths about HRT relative to symptom relief as well as the many long term health benefits including preventing cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and type 2 diabetes. The conversation also highlights a stark disparity in research funding, noting that less than 11% of the $45 billion in NIH research goes to women's studies. Dr. Malone emphasizes the need for equitable access to quality healthcare for all women.About our Guest, Dr. Sharon MaloneDr. Sharon Malone is on a mission to empower women to take charge of their health.As a celebrated OB|GYN for over 30+ years and Chief Medical Advisor for Alloy Women's Health, Dr. Malone brings decades of clinical and real-life experiences to her treatment of women in the menopausal transition and the post-reproductive years.Born in Mobile, Alabama, the youngest of 8 children, Dr. Malone was raised by her siblings after the death of her mother and moved multiple times, changing schools four times in four years in three different states. Dr. Malone found strength and resilience in community, in her own work ethic and in her strong belief that there are no accidents in the universe. She went on to graduate cum laude from Harvard with a degree in Psychology and Social Relations and later graduated with honors from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Upon completing her residency at The George Washington University, Dr. Malone served women across Washington DC in her OB|GYN practice.With appearances on The Michelle Obama Podcast, Oprah Winfrey's The Life You Want, Today Show and more, Dr. Malone is a New York Times bestselling author and a nationally known expert in women's health and a vocal advocate for menopause awareness and evidence-based information about hormone replacement therapy. A certified Menopause Practitioner, she believes that all women should be able to make decisions regarding their health and quality of life based on facts – not fear.An instant New York Times bestseller, her first book, Grown Woman Talk: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Healthy is now available nationwide.Connect with Our Hosts and Conversation Partner!Dr. Sharon MaloneGrown Woman Talk: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Healthyhttps://www.drsharonmalone.com/bookhttps://www.drsharonmalone.com/ Instagram: @smalonemdAlloy - New Telehealth Platform for WomenJulie Flakstadhttps://julieflakstad.com/ Instagram @julieflakstad (ALT Link for YT) https://www.instagram.com/julieflakstad/ Facebook @thejulieflakstad (ALT Link) https://www.facebook.com/thejulieflakstadDr. Taz BhatiaYouTube: @DrTazMDInstagram: @drtazmdWebsite: doctortaz.comOrder The Hormone Shift book HEREPractice - Centre Spring MD: https://centrespringmd.com/ Tune in next Wednesday, 10/9, when we drop our next episode in this special (9) part series, called “”Families Change,” with PBS host, podcaster, and author Kelly Corrigan. In this one-on-one, in-person conversation, our host, Julie Flakstad and Kelly Corrigan, go deep on changing family dynamics including how our roles as mothers evolve, the ache of learning to let go and navigating aging parents. Available on Audio and on YouTube!Thanks so much for tuning in! Before you leave, please make sure to subscribe to the show so you'll receive updates on new episodes. Also, let us know how we're doing by providing a rating and review! This series is presented by WomanessCreated by women for women, Womaness (https://womaness.com/) offers clinically and doctor tested supplements, sexual wellness, and skincare products that help you navigate hot flashes, changing skin, vaginal dryness, sleepless nights, and more—empowering you to live your life fully and age well.Just for you… Womaness is offering all our future podcast listeners 20% off any purchase of $50 or more. Use code: Midlife20 and Shop NowProduction:This show is produced by Rainbow Creative with Evy Bjorn and Matthew Jones as Executive Producers, and Nathan Wheatley as Lead Video and Audio Editor. Learn more about them at rainbowcreative.co. 

This week, join Dr. Thais Aliabadi and Mary Alice Haney as they sit down with special guest Dr. Sharon Malone, Chief Medical Advisor at Alloy Women's Health and New York Times bestselling author. In this episode, Dr. Malone shares her insights on the crucial differences between menopause and perimenopause, including why women in their 30s need to start thinking about hormone therapy. The conversation also covers the pros and cons of birth control pills versus menopausal hormone therapy, the role of testosterone in libido, and even using estrogen cream on your face. Dr. Malone also delves into the founding of Alloy Women's Health, a telehealth company revolutionizing how women access healthcare, and discusses her latest book, Grown Women Talk. Whether you're looking to better understand perimenopause, hormone therapy options, or the latest in women's health, this episode is packed with expert advice and actionable takeaways.For more resources, visit our website: SheMDpodcast.comFollow us across social media: @SheMDpodcastSponsors: Knowing your family's history of cancer is the first step to understanding your own cancer risk and may qualify you for the MyRisk Hereditary Cancer Test with RiskScore hereditary cancer test. It's easy, accurate and covered by most insurers. Learn more at https://myriad.ws/getmyriskRedefine learning with play! Get 50% off your first month on ANY crate line at KIWICO.com, promo code SHEMD.Visit https://clearstem.com/she-md and use code SHEMD at checkout for 20% off your first purchase. Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/SHEMD *Rules and restrictions may applyIf you think that you or a loved one could be struggling with an eating disorder, Equip can help you achieve lasting recovery. Visit https://Equip.health/shemd to learn more. Head to https://moonjuice.com/ and use code SHEMD at checkout for 20% off If you want to take ownership of your health, it starts with AG1. Try AG1 and get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3K2 AND 5 free AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase at drinkAG1.com/shemd.IN THIS EPISODE:[00:00] Dr. Sharon Malone shares her background and discusses the difference between menopause and perimenopause[13:12] Discussion of birth control pills versus menopausal hormone therapy[20:35] Discussion of testosterone and libido and using estrogen cream on your face[30:16] Alloy Women's Health, a telehealth company, is conceived and Dr. Malone's book, Grown Women Talk[39:50] Discussion of progesterone taken with estrogen and the Women's Health InitiativeKEY TAKEAWAYS: Is It Menopause or Perimenopause? Many women don't realize that perimenopause can happen anywhere from four to ten years before menopause. Don't think you aren't in perimenopause just because you are still having periods. Women in their 30s need to begin to educate themselves about hormone therapy. Don't Suffer in Silence: There is help for the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. Various options are available to treat symptoms, and the critical thing to remember is that if one doesn't work, try another one. Don't suffer.There is a Substantial Difference Between Oral Contraceptives and Menopausal Hormone Therapy: The amount of estrogen that is in a birth control pill is anywhere from two to three times more estrogen than that in menopausal hormone therapy. You Need to Know the Difference Between Testosterone Pellets and Testosterone Creams: Some women will have an adverse reaction if there is too much testosterone in the therapy. With a cream, you can control the amount of testosterone you receive. Try Alloy Women's Health from the Convenience of Your Own Home: Gone are the days when you waited months to speak to a doctor. With Alloy, you can book an appointment online and talk to a doctor who is an expert in women's health issues. Alloy provides continuing education and delivers prescriptions to your door. RESOURCES:Alloy Women's Health - WebsiteGrown Women Talk - BookDr. Sharon Malone - WebsiteDr. Sharon Malone - InstagramDr. Sharon Malone - XCONNECT WITH SHE MD: Mary Alice Haney - InstagramDr. Thaïs Aliabadi - InstagramSheMD Podcast - InstagramSHEMD - YouTubeSHEMD - PodcastSHEMD - WebsiteGUEST BIOGRAPHY:Dr. Sharon Malone is a DC-based OB/GYN and Certified Menopause Practitioner dedicated to empowering women to take charge of their health. As a nationally recognized expert in women's health, she is the Chief Medical Advisor at Alloy Women's Health and a New York Times Bestselling author. Dr. Malone is board-certified by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and certified by the North American Menopause Society. Her personal experiences, including her mother's untimely death from colon cancer, have driven her passion for addressing healthcare disparities and advocating for reproductive rights.QUOTES:“The one thing that I want all people to understand is that we treat you when you're symptomatic. We're not waiting for any particular milestone or marker because I think a lot of women think, Oh, well, I haven't suffered enough, or my symptoms aren't bad enough. That should not be the standard of care we use. We treat it when the symptoms are bothersome for you.” Dr. Sharon Malone“So, the things that we talk about like hot flashes, mood swings, night sweats, vaginal dryness. The list goes on and on. All of those things can happen well in advance of when you think menopause is supposed to start, and It causes a lot of consternation because we're not prepared for it and women don't know what to do.” Dr. Sharon MaloneSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sit your butt down on that exam table and refuse to leave, because no one can tell you how YOU feel. Dr. Sharon Malone, OBGYN, Certified Menopause Practitioner, and author of Grown Woman Talk, joins Biz to talk about the woeful lack of study on women's health, incorrect perceptions of medical necessities, and what on earth to do next.Get your copy of Grown Woman Talk wherever books are sold. Learn more about Dr. Sharon Malone by visiting her website, www.DrSharonMalone.com.Go to MaximumFun.org/join to support One Bad Mother in its final year!Share a personal or commercial message on the show! Details at MaximumFun.org/Jumbotron.Visit our Linktree for our website, merch, and more! https://linktr.ee/onebadmotherYou can suggest a topic or a guest for an upcoming show by sending an email to onebadmother@maximumfun.org.Show MusicSummon the Rawk, Kevin MacLeod (www.incompetech.com)Ones and Zeros, Awesome, Beehive SessionsMom Song, Adira Amram, Hot Jams For TeensTelephone, Awesome, Beehive SessionsMama Blues, Cornbread Ted and the ButterbeansMental Health Resources:Therapy for Black Girls – Therapyforblackgirls.comDr. Jessica Clemmens – https://www.askdrjess.comBLH Foundation – borislhensonfoundation.orgThe Postpartum Support International Warmline – 1-800-944-4773 (1-800-944-4PPD)The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Helpline – 1-800-662-4357 (1-800-662-HELP)Suicide Prevention Hotline: Call or chat. They are here to help anyone in crisis. Dial 988 for https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org and there is a chat option on the website.Crisis Text Line: Text from anywhere in the USA (also Canada and the UK) to text with a trained counselor. A real human being.USA text 741741Canada text 686868UK text 85258Website: https://www.crisistextline.orgNational Sexual Assault: Call 800.656.HOPE (4673) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.https://www.rainn.orgNational Domestic Violence Hotline:https://www.thehotline.org/help/Our advocates are available 24/7 at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) in more than 200 languages. All calls are free and confidential.They suggest that if you are a victim and cannot seek help, ask a friend or family member to call for you.Teletherapy Search: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/online-counseling

In yet another episode of our 2024 Sex Positive September celebration, we're discussing the ways in which our sex lives change and evolve as we get older. While the symptoms women experience during menopause and perimenopause can cause our sex lives to shift in some challenging ways, that doesn't mean you still can't embrace sexual vibrancy no matter the age. Joining me for today's conversation is the New York Times Bestselling author of "Grown Woman Talk," Dr. Sharon Malone. Dr. Malone is a nationally known expert in women's health, serving as the Chief Medical Advisor at Alloy Women's Health, a telehealth company that focuses on women over 40. Dr. Malone and I chatted about all things menopause & sex, including how to combat some of the various symptoms that can make the idea of having sex less than appealing. We also discuss the importance of continued OBGYN visits even as you reach the end of your reproductive years, plus all the reasons why grown womanhood is something to look forward to, not to fear. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves. Resources & Announcements Grab your copy of Sisterhood Heals.   Where to Find Dr. Malone Grab your copy of ‘Grown Woman Talk' Instagram Website   Stay Connected Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Take the info from the podcast to the next level by joining us in the Therapy for Black Girls Sister Circle community.therapyforblackgirls.com Grab your copy of our guided affirmation and other TBG Merch at therapyforblackgirls.com/shop. The hashtag for the podcast is #TBGinSession.   Make sure to follow us on social media: Twitter: @therapy4bgirls Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls Facebook: @therapyforblackgirls   Our Production Team Executive Producers: Dennison Bradford & Maya Cole Howard Senior Producer: Ellice Ellis Associate Producer: Zariah TaylorSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Sameena Rahman is a board-certified OB/GYN, sex-med gynecologist, menopause specialist, and founder of the Center for Gynecology and Cosmetics. After years of practicing obstetrics and gynecology in a variety of large academic settings and locations, Dr Rahman opened a practice to ensure patients have their best quality of life. Additionally, she hosts the podcast Gyno Girl Presents: Sex, Drugs & Hormones. With the prestigious designation of ISSWSH Fellow (IF) from the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health, Dr. Rahman is at the forefront of innovative approaches to sexual pain and dysfunction. She is an active member of the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM) and holds the Certified Menopause Physician (NCMP) credential from the North American Menopause Society, where she specializes in menopause management for midlife individuals.In this episode, Nada sits down with Dr. Rahman to discuss her Gyno Girl persona and platform. From her early career in obstetrics to her specialty in menopause, Dr. Rahman is passionate about saving lives and sharing knowledge with her patients and online communities. The conversation covers sexual pain, UTIs, pelvic floor issues, and offers a slew of resources to help women navigate the suffering associated with hormones and aging. From books and podcasts to YouTube and Instagram, Gyno Girl wants to connect you to accurate information so you can start living your best middle third. Check out the recommended resources: Estrogen Matters by Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris, Grown Women Talk by Sharon Malone, The New Menopause by Dr. Mary Claire Haver, Menopause.org, ISSWSH, Dr. Kelly Casperson's podcast, Dr. Lauren Streicher's podcast, and the NYT article. Follow Gyno Girl's podcast, YouTube, and Instagram.Please follow us at @thisislibertyroad on Instagram; we want to share and connect with you and hear your thoughts and comments. Please rate and review this podcast. It helps to know if these conversations inspire and equip you to consider your possibilities and lean into your future with intention. This episode is brought to you by our friends at NativePath. To begin your bone health journey, go to getnativepath.com/LIBERTY for a special 45% off discount for being a Liberty Road listener. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mimi Ison has never followed a traditional timeline. She started adult ballet at 40, took an unpaid internship at 42, and jumped into the boxing ring for training at 50. Who says there's one way to grow older? Certainly not Mimi—and now in her early sixties, she's one of the most profound, do-it-your-way pro-aging influencers out there. Mimi started her online presence by accident, you could say. Overwhelmed by the loss of her mother and long hours as a creative director, she left work and started blogging about middle age. A couple of years into this, her Instagram account @heymiddleage took off. At 61, she's on a mission to change our feelings about aging by challenging limiting beliefs. You can find her crushing age stereotypes through dynamic physical activities like shuffle dancing, weight training, jump rope, step, boxing, and mobility training. In this episode, Nada chats with Mimi about everything—our changing bodies and lives, what we're all capable of as we grow older, how we can invest in our future selves, and more. Mimi takes us back to her early days on social media and how she got into creating her viral videos on exercise. Plus, she offers a few inspiring tips to get us moving–even if it's just a little bit each day.Check out Mimi's website and the three books currently on her night stand: Burn Book by Kara Swisher, How to Be Old by Lyn Slater, and Grown Women Talk by Sharon Malone. Follow Mimi on Instagram: @heymiddleagePlease follow us at @thisislibertyroad on Instagram; we want to share and connect with you and hear your thoughts and comments. Please rate and review this podcast. It helps to know if these conversations inspire and equip you to consider your possibilities and lean into your future with intention.This episode is brought to you by our friends at NativePath. To begin your bone health journey, go to getnativepath.com/LIBERTY for a special 45% off discount for being a Liberty Road listener. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Women, girls, and people assigned female at birth make up more than half of the world's population. Yet, many of them say they don't feel supported, heard, or cared for in the doctor's office — even in spaces designed specifically for their care like obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Sharon Malone, veteran OB/GYN, is on a mission to change that. On this week's episode of Well, Now, we speak with Dr. Malone on how to advocate for the care you deserve at every stage of life. It's the subject of her new book Grown Woman Talk: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Healthy. If you liked this episode, check out: How Doulas Make Childbirth Safer for Everyone Well, Now is hosted by Dr. Kavita Patel and registered dietitian nutritionist Maya Feller. Editing and podcast production by Vic Whitley-Berry with editorial oversight by Alicia Montgomery. Production assistance from Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to wellnow@slate.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Women, girls, and people assigned female at birth make up more than half of the world's population. Yet, many of them say they don't feel supported, heard, or cared for in the doctor's office — even in spaces designed specifically for their care like obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Sharon Malone, veteran OB/GYN, is on a mission to change that. On this week's episode of Well, Now, we speak with Dr. Malone on how to advocate for the care you deserve at every stage of life. It's the subject of her new book Grown Woman Talk: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Healthy. If you liked this episode, check out: How Doulas Make Childbirth Safer for Everyone Well, Now is hosted by Dr. Kavita Patel and registered dietitian nutritionist Maya Feller. Editing and podcast production by Vic Whitley-Berry with editorial oversight by Alicia Montgomery. Production assistance from Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to wellnow@slate.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Women, girls, and people assigned female at birth make up more than half of the world's population. Yet, many of them say they don't feel supported, heard, or cared for in the doctor's office — even in spaces designed specifically for their care like obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Sharon Malone, veteran OB/GYN, is on a mission to change that. On this week's episode of Well, Now, we speak with Dr. Malone on how to advocate for the care you deserve at every stage of life. It's the subject of her new book Grown Woman Talk: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Healthy. If you liked this episode, check out: How Doulas Make Childbirth Safer for Everyone Well, Now is hosted by Dr. Kavita Patel and registered dietitian nutritionist Maya Feller. Editing and podcast production by Vic Whitley-Berry with editorial oversight by Alicia Montgomery. Production assistance from Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to wellnow@slate.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Women, girls, and people assigned female at birth make up more than half of the world's population. Yet, many of them say they don't feel supported, heard, or cared for in the doctor's office — even in spaces designed specifically for their care like obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Sharon Malone, veteran OB/GYN, is on a mission to change that. On this week's episode of Well, Now, we speak with Dr. Malone on how to advocate for the care you deserve at every stage of life. It's the subject of her new book Grown Woman Talk: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Healthy. If you liked this episode, check out: How Doulas Make Childbirth Safer for Everyone Well, Now is hosted by Dr. Kavita Patel and registered dietitian nutritionist Maya Feller. Editing and podcast production by Vic Whitley-Berry with editorial oversight by Alicia Montgomery. Production assistance from Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to wellnow@slate.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Women, girls, and people assigned female at birth make up more than half of the world's population. Yet, many of them say they don't feel supported, heard, or cared for in the doctor's office — even in spaces designed specifically for their care like obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Sharon Malone, veteran OB/GYN, is on a mission to change that. On this week's episode of Well, Now, we speak with Dr. Malone on how to advocate for the care you deserve at every stage of life. It's the subject of her new book Grown Woman Talk: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Healthy. If you liked this episode, check out: How Doulas Make Childbirth Safer for Everyone Well, Now is hosted by Dr. Kavita Patel and registered dietitian nutritionist Maya Feller. Editing and podcast production by Vic Whitley-Berry with editorial oversight by Alicia Montgomery. Production assistance from Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to wellnow@slate.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Women, girls, and people assigned female at birth make up more than half of the world's population. Yet, many of them say they don't feel supported, heard, or cared for in the doctor's office — even in spaces designed specifically for their care like obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Sharon Malone, veteran OB/GYN, is on a mission to change that. On this week's episode of Well, Now, we speak with Dr. Malone on how to advocate for the care you deserve at every stage of life. It's the subject of her new book Grown Woman Talk: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Healthy. If you liked this episode, check out: How Doulas Make Childbirth Safer for Everyone Well, Now is hosted by Dr. Kavita Patel and registered dietitian nutritionist Maya Feller. Editing and podcast production by Vic Whitley-Berry with editorial oversight by Alicia Montgomery. Production assistance from Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to wellnow@slate.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Women, girls, and people assigned female at birth make up more than half of the world's population. Yet, many of them say they don't feel supported, heard, or cared for in the doctor's office — even in spaces designed specifically for their care like obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Sharon Malone, veteran OB/GYN, is on a mission to change that. On this week's episode of Well, Now, we speak with Dr. Malone on how to advocate for the care you deserve at every stage of life. It's the subject of her new book Grown Woman Talk: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Healthy. If you liked this episode, check out: How Doulas Make Childbirth Safer for Everyone Well, Now is hosted by Dr. Kavita Patel and registered dietitian nutritionist Maya Feller. Editing and podcast production by Vic Whitley-Berry with editorial oversight by Alicia Montgomery. Production assistance from Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to wellnow@slate.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Women, girls, and people assigned female at birth make up more than half of the world's population. Yet, many of them say they don't feel supported, heard, or cared for in the doctor's office — even in spaces designed specifically for their care like obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Sharon Malone, veteran OB/GYN, is on a mission to change that. On this week's episode of Well, Now, we speak with Dr. Malone on how to advocate for the care you deserve at every stage of life. It's the subject of her new book Grown Woman Talk: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Healthy. If you liked this episode, check out: How Doulas Make Childbirth Safer for Everyone Well, Now is hosted by Dr. Kavita Patel and registered dietitian nutritionist Maya Feller. Editing and podcast production by Vic Whitley-Berry with editorial oversight by Alicia Montgomery. Production assistance from Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to wellnow@slate.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you ever wish that your conversations about menopause were more open? Well, that is precisely what our latest podcast episode addresses. Welcome Dr. Sharon Malone as we dive deep into the pressing issue of menopause. Dr. Sharon Malone is a DC-based OB/GYN and Certified Menopause Practitioner on a mission to empower women to take charge of their health. She is a nationally known expert in women's health, a New York Times Bestselling author, and the Chief Medical Advisor at Alloy Women's Health.Together, we emphasize the critical need for education and awareness among both the community and healthcare providers to better address the needs of women going through menopause.Dr. Malone and I highlight the importance of seeking specialized care and effectively navigating the healthcare system. They discuss the challenges and limitations posed by the current insurance system, stressing the urgency of innovative solutions, including telehealth, which could democratize access to specialized care and ensure every woman gets the treatment she deserves.The episode delves into significant findings from the SWAN study, which observed menopausal women over 25 years. Notably, it revealed black women tend to experience menopause earlier with more severe symptoms, such as hot flashes, disrupted sleep, and increased cardiovascular risks. Despite these severe symptoms, there is often a lack of adequate hormone therapy due to a combination of misinformation and the normalization of suffering.Additionally, Dr. Malone shares her personal journey through menopause, highlighting that it can be a productive and fulfilling phase of life if women take charge of their health and well-being. She also discusses her transition from private practice to her role at Alloy Health, aiming to provide more comprehensive care for menopausal women.Highlights:The SWAN Study Findings: Learn about the long-term study that observed menopausal women and the insights gained regarding the onset and severity of symptoms. Navigating Healthcare: Tips on finding the right expertise and efficiently managing healthcare interactions.Telehealth and Innovation: Explore how telehealth can improve access to specialized care for women.Dr. Malone's Personal Journey: Discover how menopause can be a creative and fulfilling phase of life when women take proactive steps for their health.Aging Gracefully: Emphasize the importance of taking charge of one's health and leveraging intergenerational conversations for cognitive fitness.About Dr. Sharon Malone:Dr. Sharon Malone is a DC -based OB/GYN and Certified Menopause Practitioner on a mission to empower women to take charge of their health.Dr. Sharon Malone is a nationally known expert in women's health and the New York Times Bestselling author of Grown Woman Talk. She is the Chief Medical Advisor at Alloy Women's Health, a telehealth company that focuses on women over 40. Before joining Alloy, Dr. Malone was a partner at one of the oldest and most successful OB/GYN medical practices in Washington, D.C. She is board-certified by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and certified by the North American Menopause Society as a Certified National Menopause Practitioner. Throughout her professional career, she has been active in advocating for reproductive rights, reducing teen pregnancy, and eliminating health care disparities.Dr. Malone is the youngest of eight children. During World War II, her parents, both of whom were raised in the rural south,...

In this episode, we learn the truth about HRT with Dr. Sharon Malone, MD. Dr. Malone is a force of nature– a board-certified OB GYN, a certified menopause practitioner, the Chief Medical Officer of Alloy, author of Grown Woman Talk, and the esteemed expert whom Oprah and Michelle Obama turn to for menopause information.  Women have been misinformed about HRT and there are genuine fears around hormones causing cancer. These misconceptions have plagued women since the Women's Health Initiative and today's episode sets the record straight. Topics we cover include: Hormone Replacement Therapy Study Breast cancer risk perspective Hormone therapy controversies Hormone therapy and breast cancer Estrogen as preventative therapy Women's agency in healthcare Perimenopause symptoms and diagnosis Brain fog in perimenopause Menopausal hormone therapy options Hormone therapy risks and benefits Testosterone dosing for women Compounded products and supplements Menopause and treatment options In a society that often views aging as a burden, Dr. Malone also brings a fresh perspective—one that celebrates aging as a privilege rather than a sentence. Through her extensive knowledge and experience, she's here to demystify the myths behind hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and guide us toward a deeper understanding of menopause and its complexities. We explore the transformative power of shifting our perspective on aging, from fear to empowerment. With Dr. Malone's guidance, we'll navigate the nuances of HRT, debunking misconceptions and uncovering the truth about this often misunderstood treatment. Whether you're approaching menopause and want to know the hard facts about HRT including the symptoms that hormones can address or simply seeking to broaden your understanding of this crucial stage of life, grab a seat and get ready to embark on a journey of discovery and empowerment. This episode promises to challenge your assumptions, spark meaningful conversations, and inspire you to embrace aging as the incredible privilege it truly is. Let's dive in with Dr. Sharon Malone. Our Guest IG @sharonmalonemd IG @myalloy LinkedIn Sharon Malone Website: https://www.drsharonmalone.com/ Website: https://www.myalloy.com/ Where to follow Cliterology IG @jacquelinebuckingham IG @cliterology TT @cliterologypodcast YT @cliterology Website: cliterology.com #womenshealth #femininehealth #womeninmedicine #obgyn #mrt #hrt #menopause #hearthealth #hormones #hormonereplacementtherapy #womenshealth #estrogen #progestin ##nightshade #progesterone #testosterone #agingwell #lifestyle #myalloy Disclaimer: CLITEROLOGY is for general information and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine in any way. CLITEROLOGY does not constitute professional health care services or medical advice. No doctor/patient relationship is formed as a result of this podcast. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content of CLITEROLOGY is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard getting medical advice for any such medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any conditions.

263. Women Are Capable of Making Decisions: Grown Woman Talk With Dr. Sharon Malone Dr. Malone is a nationally known expert in women's health and a vocal advocate for menopause awareness and evidence-based information about hormone replacement therapy. A certified Menopause Practitioner, she believes that all women should be able to make decisions regarding their health and quality of life based on facts – not fear. Her first book, Grown Woman Talk: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Healthy, is out now and is a New York Times Bestseller! Dr. Sharon Malone, an expert in women's health and menopause, discusses her transition from traditional OB-GYN practice to menopause care and her role at Alloy Women's Health. She emphasizes the importance of telehealth in providing access to care for perimenopausal and menopausal women. Dr. Malone also addresses misconceptions about hormone replacement therapy and the need for individualized treatment decisions. She highlights the gender disparities in medicine and the need for more research on women's health. Additionally, Dr. Malone discusses the role of testosterone in menopause and the challenges in accessing and prescribing it for women. In this conversation, Dr. Sharon Malone and Dr. Kelly Casperson discuss various topics related to women's health, including the lack of FDA approval for testosterone preparation for women and the need for more research on testosterone in women. They also highlight the additional struggles faced by African American women and minorities in menopause and emphasize the importance of advocating for women's health and quality of life. The conversation provides practical advice on how to advocate for oneself in medical conversations and emphasizes the importance of being prepared and efficient in doctor's visits. Lastly, they debunk the inaccurate breast cancer risk statistic of one in eight. There is a need for FDA approval of testosterone preparation for women and more research on testosterone in women. African American women and minorities face additional struggles in menopause and may have difficulty accessing appropriate treatments. Advocating for women's health and quality of life is crucial, and patients should be prepared and efficient in medical conversations. Knowing one's medications and their purpose is important for effective communication with healthcare providers. The commonly cited breast cancer risk statistic of one in eight is inaccurate and can cause unnecessary fear. https://www.drsharonmalone.com/ https://www.instagram.com/smalonemd/ https://twitter.com/smalonemd Grown Woman Talk: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Healthy Solv Wellness To learn more about Solv Wellness and their products for female pelvic health, visit solvwellness.com for 30% off your first purchase of any product. Discount automatically applied at checkout. FirmTech Go to myfirmtech.com and enter code NOTBROKEN for 15% off today.  ALLOY Women of all ages deserve to feel fantastic. And we can—because there is relief to be found. Go to myalloy.com to start your virtual appointment today. Use code NOTBROKEN20 it's good for $20 off any purchase, one time use, and expires July 31, 2024.

What Therapists Need to Know About Menopause and Perimenopause: An interview with Dr. Sharon Malone, MD Curt and Katie interview Dr. Sharon Malone, MD, author of Grown Woman Talk, about menopause and perimenopause. We explore the mental health impacts as well as the differential diagnosis when assessing a woman over 40 who might be experiencing this phase of life. We also talk about what good treatment can look like, including discussing the debate about hormone therapies. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about mental health impacts of (peri)menopause After Katie was diagnosed with perimenopause, she began looking for sources of information on this seldom-talked-about phase of women's lives. She found Dr. Sharon Malone's work and was so excited that she agreed to come on to talk about menopause and perimenopause as well as her new book, Grown Woman Talk! What is perimenopause and menopause? ·      Life stages for women in midlife and beyond ·      Hormonal shifts (not just dropping, but inconsistent through ·      Remodeling of the brain ·      Perimenopause is not short, it can be up to a decade ·      Too often women think they can power through, but it can and should be treated What are the psychological impacts of perimenopause and menopause? ·      Feeling different or more emotional due to hormonal shifts during up to a decade prior to menopause (when hormones drop) ·      During perimenopause there is an uptick in depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, late onset ADHD, rage, brain fog ·      Perimenopausal mood and psychological changes may be better treated by hormones than by typical psychotropics ·      The differential diagnosis should start with ruling out perimenopause for any woman 40+ What does good perimenopause treatment look like? ·      The most effective treatment of perimenopausal symptoms is estrogen or menopause hormone treatment ·      Too often, women get individual symptoms treated by individual specialists rather than a more global impact of hormone imbalances ·      Hormone treatments can potentiate antidepressant (synergistic effect) for mood concerns ·      We also address the concerns related to hormone treatment (the study was misrepresented) ·      Women should be armed with the questions to ask and collaborate and agree on treatment with their doctors Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist's Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

Physician Dr. Sharon Malone is on a mission to help women better manage their health in the American health care system. Her No. 1 tip from her book 'Grown Woman Talk' -- Be your best advocate. About: On Point is WBUR's award-winning, daily public radio show and podcast. Every weekday, host Meghna Chakrabarti leads provocative conversations that help make sense of the world.

Get in the driver's seat of your midlife health with supportive straight talk from one of Michelle Obama's favorite doctors, Dr. Sharon Malone. A nationally known expert on women's health, Dr. Malone is the author of the new book Grown Woman Talk: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Healthy. Here's a wake-up call: The changing shape of the US healthcare system requires us to step up and become our own best primary caregivers. In this informative, wide-ranging show, Dr. Malone brings us up to speed on what we need to know, do, and pay attention to maximize our midlife health. Bonus! We explore how race, economic status, and gender impact the quality of your health care and uncover tools to help you advocate for better care. Tune in to give your healthcare toolkit a major upgrade!  SHOW NOTES + TRANSCRIPT acertainagepod.com FOLLOW A CERTAIN AGE: Instagram Facebook LinkedIn GET INBOX INSPO: Sign up for our newsletter AGE BOLDLY We share new episodes, giveaways, links we love, and midlife resources

Join Dr. Josephs this week on The Vault as we welcome Dr. Sharon Malone, an acclaimed OB/GYN and Certified Menopause Practitioner from Washington, D.C. Highly regarded by former First Lady Michelle Obama as a "steadying force" in her circle, Dr. Malone shares insights from her new book, "Grown Woman Talk," and discusses crucial topics such as how to effectively communicate with your doctor, choosing the right physician, and the challenges of gathering sensitive family medical histories. With a rich background in advocating for women's health and reproductive rights, Dr. Malone brings invaluable advice to women navigating various life transitions, from puberty to menopause. Tune in for this empowering conversation aimed at helping women take charge of their health, endorsed by many prominent supporters, among them former First Lady Michelle Obama and TV celebrity Oprah Winfrey.Follow Dr. Malone:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smalonemd/Website:https://www.drsharonmalone.com/Book: Grown Woman Talk Follow Dr. Judith:Instagram: https://instagram.com/drjudithjosephTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjudithjosephFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/drjudithjosephWebsite: https://www.drjudithjoseph.com/Sign up for my newsletter here: https://www.drjudithjoseph.com/newsletter-sign-up

Once a taboo topic, menopause has recently come out of the shadows. Media headlines declare it is “having a moment,” as celebrities like Michelle Obama, Drew Barrymore and Oprah have shared their experiences with “the change.” Even Washington is paying attention. In March, President Biden signed an executive order that funds research into women's health – including midlife conditions like menopause. “We cannot afford not to address the health issues of women as they age,” says Dr. Sharon Malone, a gynecologist and vocal advocate for menopause awareness. She points out that menopausal women are the fastest growing demographic in the country, 80% of whom will experience menopause related symptoms such as hot flashes, sleeplessness, or anxiety. This is not just a matter of inconvenience, adds Dr. Malone, but left untreated, can lead to more serious conditions like cardiovascular disease. Dr. Malone is the author of a new book titled “Grown Woman Talk.” She calls it a “‘What to Expect When You're Expecting' book for women who plan to live past 40,” referencing the popular pregnancy guide. Dr. Malone joins Diane on this week's episode of On My Mind to explain why the current attention to menopause is long overdue, and why understanding this phase of life is so critical to a woman's ability to get – and stay – healthy.  

Nationally renowned women's health advocate Dr. Sharon Malone takes us back to her childhood in Mobile, Alabama where she lived through a monumental moment in civil rights history led by her sister, Vivian Malone. Dr. Malone talks about how she views cooking together with family as an act of love, and what better way to show love than baking a decadent pound cake.Dr. Sharon Malone is an OB/GYN and Certified Menopause Practitioner who has been an active advocate for reproductive rights, women's health and health education. She authored the book Grown Woman Talk for aging women whose healthcare needs are ignored or just less talked about. She is also the chief medical officer of Alloy Women's Health. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): Should you use it for your perimenopause or menopause symptoms? Does it prevent dementia? Heart disease? Is it safe? Who should and who shou;dn't take it? Join me for this powerful conversation with Dr. Sharon Malone, an OB-GYN with 30 years of clinical experience - and an advocate for menopause awareness, and I explore these questions. In this episode we unpack: Rethinking aging and embracing the power of menopause - and why Dr. Malone has found this to be the most freeing and joyful phase of her lifeThe controversies surrounding hormone replacement therapy, and the research that led to all of the confusion about its use.The "window of opportunity" for starting HRT, who gets the most benefits, and what symptoms and conditions it's truly useful for. Navigating the potential risks of HRT, including the comparable risks of drinking two glasses of wine - so you can make the most informed decisions about your options The difference between being pro-hormone and anti-suffering for women in menopauseWhy it's important to be wary when it comes to ‘celebrity endorsed' information on menopausal therapiesDr. Malone offers invaluable advice on navigating the symptoms of menopause with grace, while empowering you with the knowledge and confidence to make the best health decisions for during the menopause transition.Mentioned in this episode:The Mama Pathway is not your average childbirth education program. It's a powerful virtual membership community and online education experience where traditional midwifery wisdom and modern medicine meet to support you on your most empowered path through pregnancy, birth, and beyond. Go to avivaromm.com/mama-pathway to learn moreLooking for supplements for yourself and your family, including some of those I talk about in episodes? You can find those - and your 15% discount on every order here: avivaromm.com/supplementsMentioned in this episode:Looking for supplements for yourself and your family, including some of those I talk about in episodes? You can find those - and your 15% discount on every order here: avivaromm.com/supplements

Dr. Sharon Malone is a nationally known expert in women's health and the author of Grown Woman Talk. She is the Chief Medical Advisor at Alloy Women's Health, a telehealth company that focuses on women over 40. Before joining Alloy, Dr. Malone was a partner at one of the oldest and most successful OB/GYN medical practices in Washington, D.C. She is board-certified by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and certified by the North American Menopause Society as a Certified National Menopause Practitioner. Throughout her professional career, she has been active in advocating for reproductive rights, reducing teen pregnancy, and eliminating health care disparities.In this episode, Nada sits down with Dr. Sharon Malone (or Dr. Sharon as she prefers) to discuss her book, Grown Women Talk: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Healthy, and her work as CMO with Alloy Women's Health. Dr. Sharon is setting the record straight, from the history of women's health research and the importance of self-advocacy to the impact of our genetics and hormone therapy. She dives head first into the history and lack of meaningful research from the medical community and the damage it's left on women, especially black women in America. Her 30 years as an OB/GYN and her experience as a black woman give her insight into a population that has been grossly underserved. She unpacks the impact and offers solutions. The interview feels like a kitchen table conversation with your big sister, who happens to be a doctor. She does not sugarcoat the facts, but her signature warmth and playful attitude make it easy to consume. Learn more about Dr. Sharon's work at myalloy, and do yourself a favor and grab a copy of Grown Women Talk: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Healthy. Follow on Instagram: @smalonemdPlease follow us at @thisislibertyroad on Instagram; we want to share and connect with you and hear your thoughts and comments. Please rate and review this podcast. It helps to know if these conversations inspire and equip you to consider your possibilities and lean into your future with intention. If you are interested in learning even more from the experts on this podcast, please consider joining us in After School, Liberty Road's new membership community. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On episode 637 of the 40+ Fitness Podcast, we meet Dr. Sharon Malone and discuss her book, Grown Woman Talk: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Healthy. You can find the full show notes at 40plusfitnesspodcast.com/637.

The largest dam removal project in U.S. history is happening along the Klamath River, which flows from southern Oregon to the Pacific Ocean. The project serves a crucial role in helping to revive America's salmon population. Last year, the Pacific salmon season was canceled.More than 1 million women in the U.S. become menopausal each year, but there is still a stigma around it. Dr. Sharon Malone is an OB-GYN and the chief medical adviser of "Alloy Women's Health." In her new book, "Grown Woman Talk," she gets candid about aging and urges women to advocate for their health without shame.The UConn Huskies once again are on top, winning their second consecutive national championship by beating Purdue, 75 - 60 on Monday night to cap off one of the dominant runs in NCAA Tournament history. Head coach Danny Hurley joins Nate Burleson to discuss his team's back-to-back wins.Transitioning from melodies to storytelling, Maren Morris, together with her best friend and former English teacher Karina Argow, introduce "Addie Ant Goes on an Adventure," a children's book that explores themes of independence and friendship through Addie's first solo journey, with the help of her loyal garden companions.Juanes is an acclaimed recording artist with nearly a dozen studio albums under his belt. His most recent album won "Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album" at the Grammys. Lilia Luciano met him at Rudy's Music in New York City during a stop on his tour.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As the youngest of 8 kids, Dr. Sharon Malone watched her mother navigate the world with good old common sense. When she became a gynecologist, author and the health-advocate for thousands of women she took the exact same approach.  Cited as the “first person I turn to for a whole host of issues, especially my health” by Michelle Obama, Sharon has a mission of taking information that used to “belong” to doctors and make it accessible and available to every woman.  In her book, Grown Woman Talk, she covers conditions from fibroids to endometriosis and how to navigate midlife with confidence and health.  In this podcast episode, we talk about how women have more choices than ever in their health care journey and how to be a good “buyer” in the world of health. She shares her advice on how to get a second opinion, and why you are the person with the greatest continuity in your own health journey (and thus should be listened to!).  You can get a copy of Sharon's book here.   

Dr. Sharon Malone is a nationally known expert in women's health and the author of the book Grown Woman Talk: Your Guide To Getting And Staying Healthy. She is the Chief Medical Advisor at Alloy Women's Health, a telehealth company that focuses on women over 40. Before joining Alloy, Dr. Malone was a partner at one of the oldest and most successful OB/GYN medical practices in Washington, D.C.  Dr. Malone joins Stacy to talk about the current state of menopause legislation and the impact that the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study had on women's healthcare. They discuss the disparities that African-American women face in menopause, the need to reorient thinking around women's health, and why prevention is just as important as treatment. Dr Malone shares practical advice on what women can do to get ahead of aging, and encourages every woman to be a strong advocate for her own health. Be sure to listen after the beep at the end for surprise musical detail about Dr. Malone! Dr. Malone's book Grown Woman Talk is available for pre-order. Follow Dr. Sharon Malone: https://www.drsharonmalone.com/ Follow Stacy London @stacylondonreal Hello Menopause is a podcast from the national nonprofit Let's Talk Menopause. Produced in partnership with Studio Kairos. Supervising Producer: Kirsten Cluthe. Edited and mixed by Justin Thomas. Artwork by Stacey Geller. Thank you to Always Discreet for sponsoring this episode of Hello Menopause. Always Discreet, because we deserve better. Available at Target. Please rate and review the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Menopause. It's big, it's life-changing and it's… hardly talked about. Well, we're gonna do just that. Talk about it! This season, host Stacy London is joined by women who are leading the charge on understanding and managing the most mysterious non-mystery on Earth - menopause. Stacy welcomes guests like Dr. Mary Claire Haver, Carla Hall, Dr. Judith Joseph, Dr. Kelly Casperson, Naomi Watts, Dr. Sharon Malone and more to dig into the latest research and treatments, discuss the wide spectrum of menopause symptoms, and explore the benefits of aging. Each episode is full of information, guidance, and real world solutions to help women thrive in midlife. Hello Menopause! is a podcast from the national nonprofit Let's Talk Menopause. Season two is produced in partnership with Studio Kairos. Edited by Revoice Media. Visit www.letstalkmenopause.org for a wealth of information about the 101's of the menopause transition, a symptoms checklist, helpful resources, and more. Thank you to Always Discreet for sponsoring this season of Hello Menopause. Always Discreet because we deserve better. Available at Target. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maria Shriver, Women's Alzheimer's Movement at Cleveland Clinic founder, Sharon Malone, Alloy Women's Health medical adviser and Lisa Mosconi, director of the Alzheimer's Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell Medicine joined the Global Women's Summit to discuss menopause, the brain and women's health. Then, self-made billionaire Jenny Just, Peak6 co-founder and managing partner, shares what poker can teach women about risk-taking and business strategy. Conversations recorded on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023.

BIG NEWS: Hotflash inc is the #1 Women's Health Podcast on Goodpods, and in the top 1.5 percent of podcasts according to Listen Notes. Thanks so much for making that happen! In today's episode, I talk about traveling to New York for my first big event on behalf of Hotflash inc. And how I finally realized that I belong in the room. The broad themes are connection, confidence and purpose.But the main point, as it always seems to be, is loving and accepting yourself. And how to get there, even if it seems like it takes a lifetime. I talk about the long, hard road to building the confidence to feel worthy of being there, and to keep confident while there, about the essential-ness of connecting with other people, and of the beauty in finding and having a sense of purpose – all essentials, and all things that it can feel like midlife and peri/menopause threatens. But if you let them, they can be just the opposite. I talk about the feeling of ALMOST entering menopause, meeting heroes, becoming your own hero, and what it feels like to start to see yourself, accept yourself, and BECOME yourself, after all this time. Also discussed in this episode:Not wearing heels when everyone else is + the beauty of proper hair and makeupHow I got involved with Perry, the sisterhood for perimenopausePerry panel members: State of Menopause's Stacy London, Menopocalypse author and Nyah Health cofounder Amanda Thebe, Behavioural Sleep Doc Dr. Shelby Harris,  The Menopause mogul Dr. Joy'El Ballard, Endocrinologist Dr. Disha Narang, journalist and midlife influencer Tamsen Fadel, ob-gyn and menopause expert Dr Sharon Malone and most inspirational-in-midlife maven Rachel HughesYvonne, Hotflash inc perimenoposse member extraordinaireCoffee in Bryant Park with pro-aging advocate Skylar Liberty Rose (apologies, I say ROSS)Menopause Multiverse Cocktail Hour in Harlem: Hosted by Omisade Burney-Scott (Black Girl's Guide to Menopause) and featuring many amazing women including Karen Arthur (Menopause Whilst Black); Jessica Jolie (Age Lust) and and the fearless, wonderfully profane and inspiring Mona Eltahawy, who has such astonishing courage that I switched my own nickname for summoning courage from LADY BALLS MONASThe hero's journey of menopause and midlife Showing up for yourselfThank you so much to Perry and Omi and sparks & honey and everyone else who helped me be a part of this.Join the Hotflash Inc perimenoposse: Web: hotflashinc.comTikTok: @hotflashincInstagram: @hotflashincX: @hotflashinc Episode website: Hotflashinc See hotflashinc.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

You can also listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Kelly Casperson, MD, is a urologist, sexual medicine expert, and best-selling author. She is on a mission to empower women to live their best love lives.In her wildly popular book, You Are Not Broken, Dr. Casperson breaks down the common narratives that women have been told about their bodies such as “I shouldn't enjoy sex,” “I can't get any better at sex,” and “It is my partner's job to give me pleasure,” in order to help women play, explore, and normalize their sex lives.Combining the power of mind, body and relationships, she breaks down the societal barriers that keep women from fully embracing their sexuality and intimate experiences.On this episode of Beyond the Prescription, Dr. McBride and Dr. Casperson discuss desire mismatch, relationship communication, and tools to help put women back in charge of their health and sex life. It is time to normalize healthy, enjoyable sex worth desiring, and Dr. Casperson is here to help!Submit your question about sex (or anything else) for this Friday's Q&A right here!Join Dr. McBride every Monday for a new episode of Beyond the Prescription.You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on her Substack at https://lucymcbride.substack.com/podcast. You can sign up for her free weekly newsletter at lucymcbride.substack.com/welcome.Please be sure to like, rate, and review the show!The transcript of the show is here![00:00:00] Dr. McBride: Hello and welcome to my office. I'm Dr. Lucy McBride, and this is Beyond the Prescription, the show where I talk with my Dr. Caspersons like I do my patients, pulling the curtain back on what it means to be healthy and redefining health as more than the absence of disease. As a primary care doctor, I've realized that patients are more than their cholesterol and their weight.[00:00:31] We are the integrated sum of complex parts. Our stories live in our bodies. I'm here to help people tell their stories and for you to imagine and potentially get healthier from the inside out. You can subscribe to my free weekly newsletter at lucymcbride.substack.com and to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.[00:00:57] So let's get into it and go Beyond the Prescription. Today on the podcast I have the honor of speaking with my friend who's also a doctor, a urologist, and a sexpert: Dr. Kelly Casperson. Last year, Kelly published the wildly popular book You Are Not Broken: Stop shoulding all over your sex life. It's a combination of real stories, conversation starters, and journaling prompts about how to have a better sex life. Kelly and I agree that mental health is health, that sexual health is health, and that women and men are unstoppable when we're armed with tools, facts, and the agency to be healthier from the inside out. Kelly, I'm thrilled to have you on the podcast today. Thank you so much for joining me.[00:01:53] Dr. Casperson:  Thanks for having me.[00:01:54] Dr. McBride: So let's get right after it. You are someone like me who believes that health includes many of the invisible components of our everyday life, including sexual health, mental health, a sense of agency over our everyday thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. You're someone who was trained in urology, which is a surgical field. And when people think about urologists, they typically think about male doctors treating male genitalia.[00:02:27] Dr. Casperson: That's right.[00:02:27] Dr. McBride: So, talk to me about what it's like to be a urologist in a male dominated field that people consider as a male dominated field, and then tell me how you came to understand Sexual health as a sort of a moral imperative to dispense more information about. [00:02:44] Dr. Casperson: Well, currently practicing urologists in America, 9% are female. We're getting there. We're about 30% of the residency slots. There's only like 200 residency slots a year. So it's not like we're going to change the 9% much quickly. It's been great. I kind of… It was challenging to get into urology.[00:03:01] I loved that. I loved the instant gratification of urology. And people are still surprised, you know, that there's women in urology and it's like I've been out of residency for 10 years now. So I don't know if that's gonna change in my career at this point. It's not changing fast. But the superpower that being a urologist brings to this whole sex medicine discussion is that I treat men.[00:03:22] And so I get to see every single day how men are treated, and I see how women are treated, and it just becomes so glaringly obvious that we treat these two people very differently, and I get to have a voice because of that. In contrast to the gynecologists who don't see that we don't downplay men's complaints, and we don't say, well, that's just a quality of life issue, or yeah, you're just getting old.[00:03:42] We don't treat men the same way we're treating women. And the sex meds and… I met a patient who was crying in my office, and the more I opened my eyes to what was going on, the more I said, I thought, “this is a huge problem, an absolute huge problem,” which I hadn't really seen before because I was not taking care of women's sexual health before I kind of got awakened to it. It's going to be lifelong work because we've got a lot of work to do.[00:04:11] Dr. McBride: Let's, so let's talk about that for a second. I think what I'm hearing you say is what I experience myself as a doctor and as a person is that we countenance men's sexual dysfunction with ease and there's a whole specialty built around men's sexual health. It's urology. But in reality, urology encompasses everyone's pelvic floor, everyone's sexual health.[00:04:37] It's just that men tend to go into the surgical field, men tend to treat men, and then the narrative is that it's really for men. So, it sounds like that was your professional path, and then you began noticing, like I do, that, hey, guess what? Women have sexual health as well. Women have pain with intercourse, low libido, pelvic floor dysfunction, vaginal dryness. And like men, women are entitled to pleasure, the absence of pain, and most importantly, in my mind, is access to nuanced information about their own bodies.[00:05:13] Dr. Casperson: Yeah, we do a very interesting thing… to stereotype what we do, we say all of men's problems are biological and all of women's problems are psychological. And so like, you know, he's got erections issues. That's a blood flow viagra problem. We've totally forgotten it could be anxiety, depression, all that stuff going on.[00:05:30] And conversely with a woman, we're like, oh, she's just depressed. She's just too uptight. We're like, no, she can have a hormone problem. Women are allowed to have biological issues also. And we really put them in these little containers and then forget about the humanness of everybody.[00:05:47] Dr. McBride: Yeah, I think, you know, we can walk and chew gum at the same time. We can have anxiety about performance, and that can be rooted in an experience that was traumatic. It can also just be rooted in low self esteem, or... Body image issues. You can also have low libido from not having enough estrogen because you're going through menopause.[00:06:08] In other words, human beings are the complex sum of different parts. So to assume that women have sexual dysfunction because it's all “in their heads” and to assume that men have sexual dysfunction because it's all just a blood flow problem is to reduce people to these very simple parts and then assign them by gender. And that is not our job as doctors. It's also just completely inappropriate. It's really depriving people of the deep understanding of how their body and minds work in tandem.[00:06:40] Dr. Casperson: That's right. Absolutely.[00:06:42] Dr. McBride: Okay, so you are sitting there with a patient who's crying. Who's and by the way, I tell my patients when they cry in my office, like, you know, they're sort of apologizing or “oh, sorry. I'm just emotional.” And I'm like, oh my gosh. I mean, it's not that I want you to cry. It's a sign that we're getting somewhere that we have something to talk about. Let's peel back the curtain on what that is. It doesn't always mean you're depressed, it doesn't mean you're a hot mess. It just means there's something that's going on that we need to connect to your body.[00:07:10] So what are you finding women come to you to complain about vis a vis sexual health, sexual dysfunction? What are the main issues they present to you with?[00:07:19] Dr. Casperson: The two main ones in my office would be vaginal dryness/general urinary syndrome/menopause. Right. So low estrogen in the pelvis causing pain with sex, burning, tearing, low lubrication, decreased arousal. It's kind of this umbrella cause. And then the second one is I don't really want to have sex, or a.k.a low libido. Oftentimes, that one's so fascinating, because it's often times not a low libido problem. They don't know what it is. They come in and they say, “I have low desire,” and you talk to them and you're like, that's not what's going on at all. And a lot of times with sex, they think it's about sex, but it's just a couple's communication problem. [00:07:56] You're assuming what he's thinking, he's not talking to you about what he's thinking, you think this is a sex problem. You're like, no, no, no, this is just a relationship communication problem. But like sex gets involved and like, it just all goes haywire.[00:08:09] Dr. McBride: Yeah, I think you're right. I think sex can be the final common pathway for a lot of personal and then relationship challenges. I was talking to one of my patients who is actually a family lawyer, like she helps people get divorced or helps people not get divorced. And she, not surprisingly, said the three things that people commonly fight about or have troubles with in their relationships are kids, money, and sex.[00:08:33] Those are three very vulnerable touch points in our lives. And so I think you're right, that sex can be kind of a symptom of other issues. But in and of itself, it's important. It's part of how we connect with our partners. It's how we experience pleasure. It's a part of the human experience. So to deny someone a conversation about what it is, whether it's truly like a body parts malfunctioning problem or it's an emotional challenge is really not okay.[00:09:02] And your book, We Are Not Broken, speaks to this notion. That having trouble with sex, whether it's desire or the parts not working isn't a personal failure or a commentary on your ability to perform as a human. It's—the diagnosis here is human. It's common. I've, I mean, patients come into me all the time, I'd say of all ages, but often in their middle age and they'll sheepishly say to me, “I'm really embarrassed to say this, but I just don't want to have sex. I love my partner, but I'm just not interested.” And they act like they're the only person who's ever thought that before. And I'll say, “Oh my gosh, I could feel in an auditorium full of women who feel the same way.”[00:09:47] They feel ashamed. They feel guilty. It's not a lack of love for their spouse. Sometimes it is, or their partner. It's simply that they are struggling to connect the body and mind and they need some support and they need to be given permission to have that conversation.[00:10:04] Dr. Casperson: Yeah. Or they've just been having crappy sex their whole life.[00:10:06] Dr. McBride: Well, that's also true.[00:10:08] Dr. Casperson: And I don't want to downplay… there is now an actual medical condition called hypoactive sexual desire disorder because they have to DSM this stuff to get FDA approved for meds, like the entire thing that medicine is, but a lot of this “low libido,” I never believe them anymore because it's there's oftentimes something else and so I'm like, “well, what about sex? Is sex good? Do you like it?” And either the answer is “yes, I love it.” And then I say, “well, you don't have a problem. Stop worrying about low libido. Just go prioritize that amazing sex you're having.”[00:10:38] It's not normal to have a spontaneous desire in a long term relationship. And number two, if they're like, yeah, I could take it or leave it. I'm like, well, that's how dopamine works. You're never going to desire something you could take or leave, right? Like anchovies on my pizza. I'm whatever, right? Like I don't desire it.[00:10:54] And then it's just like, go have the sex worth desiring, which is very stuck in depth. That's easier said than done for a lot of people. They've spent how many years having the exact same unsatisfying sex because they're having sex the other person's desiring. And really prioritizing desire equality and pleasure equality within a relationship. It's like, you don't actually have a low libido problem. You have a sexist man problem.[00:11:18] Dr. McBride: interesting. So to break that down a little bit, and I'm assuming you're talking more about women, are sort of subjugating their needs and not allowing themselves to experience pleasure as much as men are. And therefore they are just having bad sex, which of course they don't desire because why would you desire something that's not that great.[00:11:38] Dr. Casperson: I'm stereotyping, you know, a heterosexual relationship here. Within any partnered relationship, you're going to have somebody who wants sex more than the other person. That's just, that's desire mismatch, and it's completely normal. And we need to normalize that. Like you, you want to, you know, drink seltzer water way more than I do.[00:11:54] Why is there so much seltzer water in our house? Between two people, there's always different things going on. So just normalizing desire mismatch, normalizing it. The other thing to normalize is it's not the lower desire person's job to come up to the higher desire person's level. It's to work within the relationship, to be like, what does our relationship need sex wise to keep everybody happy?[00:12:14] You can fulfill some of your needs outside of my vagina, right? Now, I can say that very easily because I've been talking about sex for years, and you have to be a little more nuanced in a relationship where you've maybe never talked about sex before. Because couples don't talk about sex, and then there's a problem with it.[00:12:31] Well, I don't have the basics of how to talk about sex when it was good. Now it's broken and I really don't know how to talk about it. So even just communication skills about sex is important. But yeah, I think a lot of women and there's we do not have much research on this…We've got decent studies in like college students, which are not long term committed relationships of “well, that's what he wanted. He wanted to do it. I did it to keep him happy.” Kind of this like mercy sex to control another person's behavior. I don't want him to get grumpy. I don't want him to get mad. And so you're having sex for that reason instead of connection and pleasure. And then you come in thinking you're the problem for having low libido. It's not a low libido problem.[00:13:13] Dr. McBride: Well, and there's nothing like shame or guilt to crush a libido that's already low, right? If your relationship with your partner is rooted in shoulds, then… [00:13:24] Dr. Casperson: You need to have sex with me more is the least sexy thing you can say to somebody. The partner is telling the low desire person that they're broken and they need to up their game. Like it's worked zero out of one million times to approach it that way.[00:13:38] Dr. McBride: Well, it's also, it's probably less than zero of a million times in the sense that the telling someone how to feel and then promoting the sort of shame narrative is like the ultimate libido crusher.[00:13:50] Dr. Casperson: Yep. I'm inadequate and I'm supposed to love this thing that I don't love more. [00:13:54] Dr. McBride: So I think you're right, Kelly. I think at the end of the day, it's about communication. It's about shared responsibility for meeting each other's needs. And I think that's hard in the modern era. I mean, who has time to sit down and have a nuanced conversation about sex? But I think we have to.[00:14:11] Dr. Casperson: Right. And even I, I live, I work in a very traditional medical 15 minute visit, right? And now through my years of work, I have the podcast and the book because I cannot explain this to anybody in a 10 minute visit and undo the years of socialization that women are passive and women's pleasure doesn't matter as much.[00:14:30] Male orgasm is what we prioritize—penis and vagina sex for heterosexual people. That's the only sex you should be having. All of this stuff. And they come in with low libido, and then somebody's gonna slap them on a drug. And not undo all this biopsychosocial stuff. I saw a woman literally yesterday. She had a painful vulva and vagina from menopause. Painful to the touch, like even her just touching herself hurt. Somebody threw her on testosterone for low desire. And she's like, “well, what do you think about the testosterone?” And I'm like, “I'm a urologist. I love testosterone. I'm very comfortable with testosterone.”[00:15:06] But putting somebody on testosterone who has a painful vulva, who's never going to want to be touched in the first place, you're completely missing the boat on this. We have to address the pain before we can address the desire. And so it is complex, which is why I love this topic. And I get to keep talking about it for years.[00:15:22] Dr. McBride: Yeah, I think it's treating people from the inside out, right? It's like not band-aiding them with prescriptions and referrals and drugs before we understand the patient. We are not just a set of organs. We are thinking, feeling people who absorb the public narratives, who have been raised perhaps in our own families to think about pleasure and desire and sex itself in a certain way. I think deconstructing those narratives in our own lives, and then being comfortable talking about those things is key. And I think having people like you, Kelly, out there talking about these things in a very matter of fact way is gradually changing the narrative and hopefully empowering women to ask the right questions and give themselves permission to feel.[00:16:09] So it's interesting because you and I both know that doctors are hurried, doctors are rushed. No one has time anymore with their doctor, unfortunately. You've got the field of gynecology, which is tasked with doing your pap test, writing your mammogram order, you know, checking your pelvic exam, and how can they possibly fit into a 10 minute or even 5 minute visit a conversation about pleasure, desire, feelings, behaviors, your relationship. It's just a tall order for a single specialty, right?[00:16:45] Dr. Casperson: they can't. I mean, the other thing that we completely forget in this narrative is that women are 50% of the population, that we've completely ignored in this arena, talking about both menopause and sexual health. 50% of the population, there's not enough gynecologists. Even if they could spend 15 minutes, there's not enough of them.[00:17:02] This is primary care, internal medicine, psychiatry. We really all have to get on board, because, like, we're not a minority recessive gene problem. This is 50% of the world.[00:17:16] Dr. McBride: Right? Yeah, so one of the things I try to help patients navigate is the medical system, given that we have needs the medical system cannot meet. Arm people with the questions to bring to their gynecologists. Instead of being a passive recipient of like the pap test and the referral to the mammogram, make sure you're bringing your needs to them and asking for their advice and then making a separate appointment just for a conversation if needed because it's not the doctor's fault necessarily that they don't have time to talk about sexual desire.[00:17:49] Patients are conditioned not to ask about it. Doctors don't have time. It takes a whole lot more time to counsel someone on the nuances of behavioral health and pelvic floor and the nuances of hormone replacement therapy, which we'll talk about in a minute, than it does to hand someone a referral for a mammogram and say, you look great, see you next year.[00:18:07] Dr. Casperson: Totally. And that's where good resources like your podcast, my podcast, the book is like what you read it, you can consume it. And then our podcast will give you better resources. So you come in with the current menopause guidelines. You come in saying, “I've already talked to my partner about this.”[00:18:22] Dr. Casperson: You're telling us what you've already done. You're an engaged person. We actually want to help, right? And so it's like setting that person up to be successful in the doctor's office and to ask why so many, like, you know, the hormone thing. So many women will come to me and they'll be like, well, they took me off my hormones.[00:18:38] And I'm like, “why?” Why is a very natural question for me, right? And they're like, oh, I don't know. I didn't ask. So it's very okay to just ask why in a non threatening way to your doctor. Like that's my other doctor pro tip and how to talk to…[00:18:51] Dr. McBride: Ask why.[00:18:52] Dr. Casperson: Ask why so you understand![00:18:53] Dr. McBride: This is your body. This is your life. So let's talk about hormone… it used to be called hormone replacement therapy, HRT, now it's called menopause hormone therapy, MHT. Whatever the acronym, what I want to talk about, the conversation every woman should be entitled to about hormones and using hormone replacement therapy to offset the symptoms of menopause and to prevent the myriad potential downstream effects of the absence of hormones.[00:19:25] Just to frame the question and to give listeners a little bit of a sense of what I'm talking about, what is menopause? Menopause is defined as the absence of a menstrual period for a full year. The average age in the U.S. of menopause is 51 and a half years. That stretch of time of not having a menstrual cycle can occur in the mid 40s, it can occur in the mid 50s, there's a range.[00:19:46] And during the lead up to menopause, people can experience a variety of symptoms. As a result of our ovaries no longer making robust amounts of estrogen, progesterone, and some testosterone. That can be hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, urinary tract infections. Pelvic floor, pain with intercourse, mood instability, rage, although maybe the rage is just that we're pissed off, but yes, rage.[00:20:15] And then, of course, there are the less immediate and the long term effects of not having estrogen and progesterone in our bodies, which can be downstream osteoporosis, accelerated cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease, risk of heart attack and stroke, and then the accumulated... downsides of having painful sex or having urinary tract infections.[00:20:41] How many women do I see in their 80s, for example, who end up having recurrent urinary tract infections? They're not even sexually active, necessarily. And that could have been ameliorated with hormone therapy from the get go, when they went through menopause at age 50, for example. So, the question I want to ask you is rooted in the reality that since June 2002, when the Women's Health Initiative study was halted prematurely and the headlines read, “hormone replacement therapy is bad for you.” We really took a hard right turn in the public square on the narratives around hormones. People, patients, doctors included, have been loath to prescribe estrogen and progesterone for menopausal symptoms.[00:21:30] Because the narrative that came out of that 2002 press release was that we're doing harm to women. And that wasn't the narrative before 2002. In fact, hormone replacement therapy was almost standard of care. So you probably read the same article I did, the Susan Dominus article in the New York Times.[00:21:51] I cheered. I also was sort of pissed off reading it, thinking where has the New York Times been for 20 years, but we'll take it better late than never. Her article was a very beautiful explanation of why we deprive women of conversations around hormone replacement therapy. It's easier to not talk about hormone replacement therapy because it's a long conversation in the doctor's office.[00:22:18] There are risks of hormone replacement therapy, potential risks, but there are potential risks of not being on hormone replacement therapy. And you and I both know, and even the expert society for menopause has said that if given within the first 10 years of a woman's last menstrual cycle, hormone replacement therapy in most women does more good than harm.[00:22:47] In other words, protecting you from long term downsides of not having estrogen, osteoporosis, heart disease, stroke, etc., and treating the menopause related symptoms that you have right now, arguably is better for most women than it is to not be on hormones. Now, of course, there's nuance. If you have a personal history of estrogen sensitive breast cancer, that's going to be a different conversation.[00:23:15] To deprive women of that conversation and the choice, given that risk is everywhere and there's risks of hormones and there are risks of not being on hormones, that is where we need to start. Empowering women with facts and rooting their decisions. In their risk tolerance, not ours.[00:23:32] Dr. Casperson: Yeah, I mean, I'm to the point now in my journey of like you want to control women? I got a good idea. Make them afraid. Now you have complete control out of them.[00:23:41] Dr. McBride: Oh my gosh, Kelly, amen, hallelujah. And I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but sometimes I think I am.[00:23:46] Dr. Casperson: Well, you start, I mean, you just do this long enough and you're like, I see what's going on because you know what you do when you empower women and you take their fear away, you give them agency and you give them the ability to choose what they want to do with their body—you give them a hell of a lot more power. So, that's my whole thing now—I'm here to get rid of fear.[00:24:04] Dr. McBride: It's very simple. If you have fear and shame in the driver's seat… [00:24:07] Dr. Casperson: Boom. Control.[00:24:08] Dr. McBride: We are castrated, literally. If you have fearlessness and facts in the driver's seat and a good guide, like a Kelly Casperson or some other doctor who knows the data and is focused on you, not risk aversion for their own protection, liability wise, reputation.[00:24:29] I don't know what doctors are doing when they're depriving women of the conversation or gatekeeping on hormone replacement therapy. But when you put women in charge of their own health and give them tools and information, watch out world. [00:24:42] Dr. Casperson: Yeah. Totally. I mean, the other thing, the other piece I think that Western medicine's very bad at is preventative health care.[00:24:49] Dr. McBride: A hundred percent[00:24:49] Dr. Casperson: And if we look at menopause hormone therapy as preventative health care because what we're doing is we're preventing heart disease We're preventing dementia. We're preventing osteoporosis. We're preventing genital urinary syndrome of menopause. We're preventing diabetes. And you can't see that—you can't measure that especially on an individual scale. And so you're like well just come in when you've got osteoporosis and diabetes and heart disease. We know how to treat you; we've got tons of meds for those problems. But to change the paradigm and be like, I would like to actually not need to be treated for those things, so I want to choose hormones. Hormones aren't perfect, but they will certainly help prevent to a decent amount.[00:25:27] Dr. McBride: Right, I mean people get strokes, people get heart attacks, people get dementia for other reasons, age related, genetics, environment. But certainly the data are clear that again starting hormone replacement therapy within the 10 years of the last period tends to decrease those risks. I think what you're touching on, Kelly, is a really important point that Western medicine does a very poor job—arguably abysmal job—at countenancing things we cannot see, we cannot measure.[00:25:56] So, we can measure cholesterol, we can measure your pap test, we can look at your mammogram result. We can hold it in our hands and look at the number on the computer screen. It is less easy—it takes more time, it takes more conversation and it takes an appreciation of the invisible components of the human condition—to weave in the invisible components of life.[00:26:20] If you live to your 105 and you have perfect cholesterol and no stroke and you're, that's great. But if you are suffering for 50 years from pelvic pain, the absence of a healthy sex life, depression, anxiety, that's not necessarily a good thing we've done for this person. We can help them live long, but what about living well?[00:26:43] And by the way, they're not mutually exclusive, right? It's not like I'm saying, oh, let's knock 10 years off your life to give you a good sex life. I'm saying, let's give you both. Let's be greedy. Let's give you quantity of life and quality.[00:26:53] Dr. Casperson: I think the other thing is menopause is 30 years of your life. Right? Like, maybe you aren't going to decide to go on hormones this year, but go learn some more. You can start them next year, if you want to. Who do you want to be? What do you want your health to be? What do you want to be doing when you're 70?[00:27:12] And think about your future self, and think about how I can set her up. Because once you're 70, once you're 75, you can't start on hormones. The risk is… because, I mean, you can. Technically, you can. But the risk goes up if you don't start during what they call the healthy cell hypothesis. You've got to start on healthy cells, keep them healthy, not start hormones on unhealthy cells. So we're going to think, and I asked these 50 year old women, I'm like, what do you want to be doing when you're 72? What's your plan? And a lot of them see moms with dementia, moms with osteoporosis, they've got stiff joints, they can't get on off the ground with the grandkids.[00:27:49] And you don't have to be that. You can choose, as best as you can, to set yourself up for great health. But it requires making decisions in your 40s, in your 50s, to eat right, sleep well, exercise, possibly use hormones. We don't think about our future selves, and then, you know, she might be kind of miserable.[00:28:08] Dr. McBride: It's true. You know, you probably get this question, and I do too, from middle aged women. How can I age gracefully? What can I do to preserve my cognitive, mental, physical health over time? And that's a great question and oftentimes patients have gone on the internet and they've bought some supplements, they've bought some gizmos, they've bought some gadgets.[00:28:26] They've bought into, unfortunately, the sort of worshiping at the false idols of wellness. Not that I'm anti wellness. Wellness is part of our job, right? It's just that let's be real about what is evidence based and what is woo woo in a nice package. As you can tell, I have an opinion about that.[00:28:43] Dr. Casperson: A woman sent me on Instagram today, what do you think about this supplement? And I'm like, are you drinking alcohol? Stop. Are you exercising? Start. Are you working on love in your life and keeping your brain expanded? So many people, they get narrow in their brain and their flexibility to think as they get older.[00:29:03] Dr. McBride: Well, I think that we think that, not that people are not smart, but I think we start to think that agency exists in a pill. That we'll have control if we can just take the right supplement or pay enough money for some guru, right? And it's not that I know everything. I certainly don't. You can ask my children. It's that there is no vitamin, supplement, or pill for quality of life. It's an integrated sum of different components, and that includes agency. And hormone replacement therapy, arguably, is one of the things we can do to help people “age gracefully.” There's a whole industry, as you know, about treating the symptoms of menopause by nibbling around the edges of the symptoms, like giving you a little eye of newt and a tincture of whatever to treat the various symptoms.[00:29:50] And people will go, women will go to extreme lengths and extreme costs to avoid being on hormones because of the narrative. And so the industry is now promoting, look, you can do non hormonal treatment. And that's fine. I'm not saying, I don't think you are either, that every person should be on hormone therapy.[00:30:09] Not at all. It's not appropriate for everyone. It's not even necessary for everyone. It's just that we should be honest about the data and not steer people down the path of the sort of pseudoscientific wellness industry at the expense of their actual mental and physical health.[00:30:24] Dr. Casperson: Our good friend Rachel Rubin is quoted in that New York Times article: “menopause has the worst PR campaign in the history” of health problems which is just brilliant. [00:30:32] Dr. McBride: What is it about Rachel? She has these sound bites. That was such a freaking brilliant quote. I'm just cheering for her so big, like you are.[00:30:39] Dr. Casperson: mic drops, but it's true. Like we just, we think it's a hot flash and then we think it's done. I literally saw this woman this week. She's 52. She's having heart palpitations. She's having weight gain. She's having a moodiness. Her hot flashes are so debilitating. She has to pull over her car because it's unsafe to drive during her hot flashes.[00:30:56] She went to her provider. They're like, we'll run some tests, see what your hormones are. She's 52, hasn't had a period in two years.[00:31:03] Dr. McBride: smells like a duck, sounds like a duck, looks like a duck.[00:31:05] Dr. Casperson: To me, I'm like, you're in raging menopause, you need no blood work. Get this woman on some hormones. Like, it's so obvious to the people, because menopause and hormones actually isn't that hard. We just didn't get educated. It's not hard. We just didn't get educated for two decades. We've had two decades of doctors who didn't get taught how to treat menopause because of the Women's Health Initiative.[00:31:27] Dr. McBride: Right. And so people who are listening are going to think I'm making this up to make a point, but I'm really not. I spoke to a gynecologist this week who is someone I've worked with for decades. And again, like I'm not in the business of like demonizing other doctors. In fact, I am only as strong as my community of doctors I work with, but my patient is experiencing menopausal symptoms that are hard to measure.[00:31:49] Depression, some heart palpitations, anxiety, sleeplessness, and just feeling like she's a broken person when it's all menopause. So I call the gynecologist because I want to be a team player and ask the gynecologist, what do you think about putting her on fem ring and progesterone? This is a low risk person.[00:32:08] And she's a year and a half out of her last menstrual cycle, this was her response. She said, “can't you just put her on Prozac for the depression?” And I said, well, I'm not sure she's actually depressed. I think she's just experiencing menopause. And I think that the Prozac would maybe help with mood, but it's not giving her the treatment that is going to actually help, in my opinion.[00:32:34] She said, “can't you give her gabapentin for night sweats?” I said, absolutely. We can do the workarounds. But what are you worried about, if I may ask, about putting her on true hormone replacement therapy? Basically, the hair of the dog that bit you. And the answer was, “well, the FDA has really only approved hormone replacement therapy for vaginal dryness.”[00:32:55] I said, “well…”[00:32:56] Dr. Casperson: Not true.[00:32:57] Dr. McBride: Look, I believe in our federal government. I'm a registered Democrat, but the FDA does not know my patient. The FDA, as far as I'm concerned, is a gatekeeping apparatus to deprive women of these medications. So, as her doctors, you and me, I feel obligated to offer her something that would actually help with her symptoms instead of nibbling around the edges. What do you think? And she agreed with me. But it took a long conversation. She agreed.[00:33:24] Dr. Casperson: Well, it's the… hormones are this, it's this myth that they're so dangerous. It's like Zoloft has a black box warning for suicide. Is that the preferred drug? Besides the fact that it isn't treating the root cause, which is low hormones.[00:33:36] Dr. McBride: Exactly! The level of scrutiny on hormone replacement therapy is beyond any degree of scrutiny I've ever seen for any medication, right? Urgent cares are prescribing Z packs for viral colds. I mean... What are we doing by not giving people a natural hormone if they need it, if they want it, and they know the potential downsides?[00:33:57] Dr. Casperson: 100%. Like, once you, like, as you see, you see this. It's absolutely insane. If there was a drug that helped men live three years longer on average, every man would be on it. That drug is called menopause hormone therapy. Multiple studies showing decreased immortality, increased longevity, and not only living longer, but living quality of life longer.[00:34:22] And I'm like, do you, do you think the man would be on that if he had a chance to be on that? Heck yeah. And it's like, there's no other drug. What other drug is going to give you three extra years of life? None of our drugs, to my knowledge, have that kind of longevity data.[00:34:37] Dr. McBride: That's right.[00:34:37] Dr. Casperson: Estrogen has that longevity data. We blow it off. We would not blow it off if that was given to men.[00:34:43] Dr. McBride: So tell me what your advice to people listening to your audience, Kelly, is, when they are experiencing symptoms of menopause, their doctor may not be... interested, have the time or be informed with all the data to have a discussion. What do you tell patients to do? In the power dynamic in a doctor's office, patients assume that their doctor knows everything.[00:35:06] They're making a good judgment when frankly we are experts and we do know a lot, but it is not our job to tell you what to think, tell you how to feel or to gatekeep on medications. It's really to arm you with the tools you need to manage your everyday health. So what do you tell people? In your audience as a good kind of like three or four rules of thumb to bring to your doctor when you're experiencing menopausal symptoms or want to just have the conversation.[00:35:35] Dr. Casperson: Yeah, I would bring in the 2022 North American Menopause Guidelines. That's a great document. Doctors are going to respect that document. And it really downplays a lot of fears. It says how safe it is. So come in prepared with something that the doctor, they speak that language,[00:35:50] Dr. McBride: Great. And I'm going to link to that document in the show notes.[00:35:53] Dr. Casperson: Yep. And the other pro tip for talking to a doctor about something that they might not be comfortable with is to say, you know what I'd like?[00:35:58] I would like just to try this for a couple of months and then I'll come back and I'll report back and if it didn't go well, I'll stop. Does that sound okay to you? Most doctors are going to say yes to that. Because now they've got a plan, they know you're not going to follow up, right? I'm like, I just want to try this and see if it works.[00:36:17] Dr. Casperson: Because I think people get so bent out on hormones, they're like, “should I do hormones? Should I not? Should I? Should I not?” It's like, “just try them. You could stop. This is not an amputation. It's all okay.” But having that sort of plan with your doctor, I truly believe in a long term doctor patient relationship. They're going to know you. That is the best case scenario. That doesn't always exist in our current culture. And when women don't get what they need, the smart ones are going to go online. And that's where these online clinics for menopause are coming from, because they see we are underserving women.[00:36:51] Doctors do not have time. This is a nuanced conversation. And I think for better, for better or for worse, but I think for better, you can get your hormones online now, because you don't have to spend two hours on hold trying to make an appointment with somebody you might not even know anyways. The healthcare system is kind of bad.[00:37:08] We're not set up for this, right? We're not set up for the New York Times changing, like, how many millions of women are like, maybe I can consider hormones now. We're not set up for that. We're already full, right? So, I think that's the role of where these online clinics are going to come from. I think some are doing it well.[00:37:26] Certainly, I don't think it's as good as an inpatient, in your town doctor patient relationship. But we do not have capacity to start tackling these issues like we should. And so I think that's the new role for the online clinics.[00:37:39] Dr. McBride: Yeah, I think you're right. I mean, it's sort of like the sort of outcrop of mental health providers who are doing virtual care to kind of meet the demand. I don't think online virtual therapy is ever going to replace in person therapy, but it's better than nothing. And if they're doing good and people have managed expectations about what an online therapist can do, Great. Similarly, a lot of these outposts, these online businesses helping people with menopause and hormone replacement therapy are really doing good work, like MyAlloy, which was founded by a friend of mine, Ann Fullenweider. Their medical advisor has been Sharon Malone, who's a really well respected OBGYN in DC.[00:38:20] She's a friend of mine as well. And they're doing really good work trying to empower women with facts and information because not every woman, A, has a primary care doctor, B, is comfortable talking about these things with that doctor, and C, has the time and the visit to even discuss these things. So I think it's a net.[00:38:38] I just think people need to be careful about the snake oil salesmen that are telling you to just take this little eye of newton—whatever the metaphor is—because we run the risk of misinformation running rampant as it already is.[00:38:52] Dr. Casperson: Well, yeah. And people's dollars are limited and you go online and it's this supplement, that supplement, what's the new trendy thing? And at the end of the day, I want you to save your money. Like, you really don't need a lot of that crap. And hormones are pretty darn cheap. They've been around since the 60s and 70s, right?[00:39:08] If we came out today with a drug that made you live three years longer, you know how much that would cost? Right, and you can get that in estrogen for pretty darn cheap. So that's…[00:39:17] Dr. McBride: The other point I'd love to make that people don't always understand is there's a lot of brand sort of marketing lingo around hormones that in my opinion is unnecessary and make people think that there's like a right way or a wrong way to take hormones. The word bioidentical is sort of having a moment and I would just say to people you don't need to buy fancy brand name hormones.[00:39:41] CVS, Walgreens, not that I'm a big believer in chain pharmacies, but your regular pharmacy has “bioidentical hormones.” In other words, micronized progesterone, which is the safer progesterone and estrogen in the form of a tablet, a patch, a ring is as close as it can get to not being actually your tissue.[00:40:03] So, I think that people need to be educated on the fact that it doesn't have to be fancy, formal, or brand name, and to be suspicious of anybody who says that they have the best bioidenticals and someone else doesn't, because that is just made up.[00:40:20] Dr. Casperson: It's made up. Well, I mean bioidentical came because we were so freaking afraid of hormones That it was a way to help people stop being so afraid of hormones. So it was kind of like this lead in to safety But I tell people it's like you know when you like you have a granola bar and it says natural on it and I'm like, you know what the natural means like legally And they're like, no. And I'm like, it means nothing. It doesn't… [00:40:43] Dr. McBride: It's a marketing word. It's a marketing word. It's a way to deescalate fear and to make people feel like it's their own body. When... if we can just get rid of the charade and just get people what they need, we'd be a lot better off.[00:40:55] Dr. Casperson: Yeah. And most cheap FDA approved products are “bioidentical.” They're the same. [00:41:00] Dr. McBride: It is funny. I mean we're all victims of sort of messaging and narratives and we're beneficiaries of it too. But it's just you have to know what the landscape is because otherwise we get tripped up and believe things that are just sort of hoo ha. I'm a victim of that too. And do I buy soap at CVS that says lavender scented calming soap?[00:41:24] I was laughing at that the other day and I was like, as if this soap is going to calm my noisy brain down. If it did, that'd be awesome, but I'm just going to manage my expectations that this soap is just going to clean my hands.[00:41:37] Dr. Casperson: Yeah. A hundred percent. The power of the mind, man. I mean, going back to sex, placebo gives you an erection 40% of the time. So, the mind is very powerful.[00:41:45] Dr. McBride: It's true. So Kelly, as we come to the close of our conversation, I'd love to just thank you for helping change the narrative for arming people with facts and tools and for reaching people where they are, because this is where we need to be in the modern era. We need women to have truth, access to tools and to take shame and fear out of the driver's seat.[00:42:12] Thank you so much for joining me.[00:42:13] Dr. Casperson: Thanks for having me.[00:42:15] Dr. McBride: Thank you all for listening to Beyond the Prescription. Please don't forget to subscribe, like, download, and share the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you catch your podcasts. I'd be thrilled if you liked this episode to rate and review it. And if you have a comment or question, please drop us a line at info@lucymcbride.com. The views expressed on this show are entirely my own and do not constitute medical advice for individuals. That should be obtained from your personal physician.  Get full access to Are You Okay? at lucymcbride.substack.com/subscribe

You can also check out this episode on Spotify!Dr. Mary Claire Haver is a board certified OBGYN and women's health advocate who has helped thousands of women going through menopause actualize their health and wellness goals. Dr. Haver's goal is to empower and educate women in their mid-lives, and help women advocate for themselves in the doctor's office. On this episode of Beyond the Prescription, Dr. McBride and Dr. Haver break down the myths and facts about menopause and hormone therapy. They discuss the harms of fear-based narratives in medicine and the importance of balancing risk to help women live longer and healthier lives.So, should you or shouldn't you take hormone replacement therapy? Dr. McBride wrote a longer piece about this decision-making process here. The upshot?* Menopause is defined as having gone a full calendar year without a menstrual period. A woman's midlife decline in estrogen and progesterone levels can cause short-term symptoms (like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and insomnia) and can increase the risk for long-term health problems (like cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis).* In general, menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is considered safe for most healthy women when it is initiated within 10 years of menopause.* Estrogen itself does not seem to increase the risk of breast cancer for the vast majority of women.* Unless she has had a hysterectomy, a woman should take estrogen and progesterone together.* Micronized (aka “bioidentical”) progesterone does not increase the risk of breast cancer; synthetic progesterone does seem to increase the risk, but only slightly.* Dr. McBride recommends not panicking about the new Danish study suggesting an increased risk of dementia in women who take MHT. Why? It was an observational study (not a randomized controlled trial or RCT) therefore it cannot prove causation; the study population used oral estrogen and synthetic progesterone which are not the standard of care in the U.S.; myriad RCTs show the opposite finding: that MHT is likely protective against premature cognitive decline, especially when started early. * Too many women needlessly suffer through menopause because of false narratives about the safety of MHT and because discussions about quality of life often aren't prioritized.* Don't take it from her! Dr. McBride encourages you to share the latest expert statement from the North American Menopause Society with your own doctor to help guide your decision-making process.* Women are entitled to make their own decision about hormones, armed with the data, and with an understanding of their unique risks and benefits.Dr. McBride will answer your questions about menopause and HRT on Friday. Submit your question right here!Join Dr. McBride every Monday for a new episode of Beyond the Prescription.You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on her Substack at https://lucymcbride.substack.com/podcast. You can sign up for her free weekly newsletter at lucymcbride.substack.com/welcome.Please be sure to like, rate, and review the show!The transcript of the show is here![00:00:00] Dr. McBride: Hello, and welcome to my office. I'm Dr. Lucy McBride, and this is Beyond the Prescription, the show where I talk with my guests like I do my patients, pulling the curtain back on what it means to be healthy, redefining health as more than the absence of disease. As a primary care doctor, I've realized that patients are more than their cholesterol and their weight.[00:00:31] We are the integrated sum of complex parts. Our stories live in our bodies. I'm here to help people tell their story, and for you to imagine and potentially get healthier from the inside out. You can subscribe to my free weekly newsletter at lucymcbride.substack.com and to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.[00:00:57] So let's get into it and go Beyond The Prescription. Today on the podcast, I'm talking with the incredible Dr. Mary Claire Haver. She's a board certified OBGYN who has helped thousands of women who are going through perimenopause, menopause, and beyond actualize their health and wellness goals. She realized after decades of practice that she hadn't learned as much as she should have about the science of menopause, aging and inflammation.[00:01:27] She really took a deep dive into the science and has created an online course called The Galveston Diet with the goal of empowering and educating women in their mid lives. Mary Claire, thank you so much for joining me today on the podcast.[00:01:41] Dr. Haver: Thanks for having me.[00:01:42] Dr. McBride: Let's talk about the fact that women have been notoriously excluded from medical studies. Women have also been deprived in many ways of access to nuanced information about their own bodies and health. And so it's interesting right now that menopause is having this moment, right?[00:02:01] It's like Susan Dominus wrote this beautiful article about how women have been misled, and I think women around the country, around the world were like, “yes. Oh my gosh. Thank you for seeing me and hearing me.” And I think it's a historic moment where women are finally recognizing that they need to be seen and heard, and that their menopausal symptoms are not just in their head and that it's time to get the facts to put ourselves in the driver's seat. So let's just start with that article. So tell me what happened when that article in the New York Times came out, did that change increase the volume of phone calls coming to you? What? What did it mean to you?[00:02:39] Dr. Haver: I think it just validated and reinforced what I was already doing on social media and that really people were sending me the article by the thousands—I was getting tagged. I was getting, “why aren't you in this article?” I didn't even know it was being written, and I just felt like it was really well done and it really was the tip of the iceberg, but it was the first meaningful publication—in such a respected area—that really was drawing attention to the problem. But women have been screaming about this for years, and I'll tell you, so I finished my OBGYN training in 2002, which was also the year the WHI stopped the study on hormone replacement therapy and basically ended any meaningful research into menopause care for at least 20 years. [00:03:36] And when I graduated from that training program, I would've sworn on a stack of Bibles based on my board scores and my level of training that I was a world-class menopause doctor. And it wasn't until 20 years of clinical practice that I realized in going through my own menopause journey that I was not a good menopause doctor, that there were serious gaps in my own education and training.[00:04:03] So when you look at an OBGYN residency, and I know this because I was a former residency program director, and over half of what we do, probably 55 to 60% of what we do is obstetrics. All important stuff. Then everything else gets shoved in the box called gynecology. And in that gynecology box we have pediatric gynecology, we have GYN oncology, we have reproductive endocrinology, which is fertility.[00:04:29] We have everything, and menopause gets a tiny sliver of that time and education. There are only 20% of residents coming out today who feel that they had any clinical menopause training, meaning went to a clinic where they were specifically addressing a woman in menopause. When multiple surveys have been done, the doctors are realizing this is important, but they didn't get the training.[00:04:56] Nothing was really focused on that. Not to say that what we learned wasn't important. It's just menopause has never been prioritized.[00:05:03] Dr. McBride: Why do you think that is?[00:05:05] Dr. Haver: So I think it's a perfect storm of societal norms of medical education, how women have been treated through the years in medicine. I don't know about you, but we had a saying, if it walks like a duck, it talks like a duck… we love a differential diagnosis.[00:05:22] We love a standard set of symptoms, and I think one of the problems is that menopause has a very diverse presentation in each woman. Even identical twins can have completely different symptomatology. We're all going through something very similarly endocrinologically as far as our ovaries beginning to lose their eggs, and the decrease of estrogen and leading to the full menopause with no estradiol. But how that presents in our bodies is very different. So unless you've been trained in the nuances of how to pick this up, then you're going to miss it unless she's just waving a flag with hot flashes and no periods. But the symptoms of menopause begin in perimenopause seven to 10 years before.[00:06:03] So we have this entire generation of women who are suffering and going to their healthcare providers with this kind of laundry list of symptoms. And if the doctor isn't trained to realize that this constellation could all have a common denominator of decreasing estrogen levels, they may get told it's all in their head, or this is a normal part of aging, or there's nothing we can do, white knuckle it, suffer through it, you'll be fine.[00:06:30] And we're just leaving them without… they're walking out feeling dismissed, feeling like maybe they're crazy and that they are going home to cry over, I can't get any help for this. [00:06:42] Dr. McBride: I couldn't agree with you more that medical school and residency, while of course I learned a ton, did not do a fantastic job at countenancing suffering that you can't see, that you can't measure in a blood test or a CAT scan, night sweats, hot flashes, vaginal dryness. Pain with intercourse, relationships, struggles because of sexual dysfunction, decreased arousal—what we call low libido.[00:07:10] Those are things you can't see. Plus, women are used to suffering. We are very comfortable in the space of suffering, right? We deliver babies. We have our nipples cracking and bleeding with these infants hanging off of our chest. And I think it's not hyperbole to say that women are pretty good at suffering.[00:07:34] And so I think it makes sense that gynecologists who only have so much time in the office to talk to patients. And who only had a certain education and that didn't encompass menopause per se. And when we aren't comfortable talking about things we cannot see and we can't measure, we can't quantify despair, that it gets brushed under the rug.[00:07:57] It reminds me a lot of, my interest is in the relationship between mental and physical health. The relevance of mental and physical health, how we all have anxieties, we all have fears, we all have moods, we all have relationships, and we didn't talk about that at all in medical school. My psychiatry rotation was about addressing patients who are in institutions and paranoid schizophrenics, which of course is relevant, but it's not speaking to the universality of mental health as a common sort of ground zero for our whole health. So I think what you and I are doing is trying to shine a light on these universal phenomena—grief, loss, anxiety, moods, relationships. And in the case of women, the fact that every single woman, if you live long enough, will go through menopause as defined by…[00:08:47] Dr. Haver: A hundred percent.[00:08:48] Dr. McBride: The gradual decrease in the production of estrogen and progesterone, and a little testosterone, and we need to talk about it. We need to be open about it. We need to empower women with the questions to ask their doctors.[00:09:03] Dr. Haver: I think the other thing to mention here, and it's really getting brought to the forefront with the political discourse going on right now, is that society in general stops valuing a woman somehow after she's done with the ability to reproduce. And we're seeing it, and I think this is manifesting in how we are not focusing on menopause care, why the research dollars are not going to menopause care.[00:09:30] When you look at women's health spending at the NIH, it's, I think it was several billion, but only 45 million was spent on anything to do with menopause, and that was like 0.3% of the funding in women's health was going to anything to do with menopause when a third of us living, breathing, functioning women are suffering right now due to their menopause journey. We're just not valuing them.[00:09:58] Dr. McBride: And then we have, of course, the headlines that came out in 2002 when the Women's Health Initiative was stopped early, and the headlines screamed things like, I mean… you put the word breast cancer out there in a headline and the fear of breast cancer. What happened in 2002 is that this enormous study, that was the first study on hormone replacement therapy powered by NIH and Bernadette Healy was the first female head of the NIH was stopped early because there was a signal suggesting that hormone replacement therapy causes breast cancer. Now, when you hear that as a woman and women are—we're smart, we're paying attention, we also are not immune to fear-based messaging. And so talk about what happened and how it has taken us so long to correct the narrative on hormone replacement therapy as a treatment for menopausal symptoms.[00:10:52] Dr. Haver: So the fanfare with which that announcement was made was pretty much unprecedented in medicine. There was a press conference called in DC and there were reporters everywhere, and one of the—it was only one person in the study who decided to release this information. This was before the study had actually even been published.[00:11:17] Healthcare providers couldn't even read the article and decide for themselves. So everyone's in their offices, I'm in residency, and we're just doing our normal day-to-day lives. And it was like a shot went off across the world in our world that estrogen causes breast cancer, hormone therapy is going to kill you.[00:11:36] And that was the take home message. And all of us were reeling. We're reading the headlines. No one can get their hands on the study for another week or two. 80% of prescriptions for hormone replacement therapy stopped immediately based on one announcement. And in the 20 years, that 22 years now that have ensued since that publication, so much of that has been walked back on multiple levels.[00:12:04] It's been reanalyzed, looked at, retracted. People have apologized who were in the study, and none of that has gotten any of the fanfare. It's been really hard. The best book that came out was Estrogen Matters, the Avrum Blooming book. He really broke that study apart so a layman could read it and understand, and the fallacies of the study and the things that it really represented.[00:12:28] So the average age in the study was 65 years old. We weren't talking about newly menopausal women in the beginning of their menopause journey and the potential benefits, the estrogen only arm had a 30% decrease risk of developing breast cancer. No one talks about that. And that women who were diagnosed with breast cancer, it was itI believe the risk went from 3.2 to 3.8% if I have the numbers correct, and that represented a 25% increase, but it was still very small. And that the women who were on hormone replacement therapy at the time of their diagnosis had a 20 to 30% higher survival rate, five-year survival rate than the women that weren't.[00:13:09] So women were not allowed to digest that information and decide for themselves what their tolerance to this risk was, and if they still, for the health benefits, for their quality of life, they were absolutely denied. So in desperation, I think practitioners began giving people antidepressants, which can be helpful, but it's never the gold standard and the gold standard for menopausal symptoms is always going to be estrogen. But doctors just were so terrified. The patients were terrified. They didn't want to get sued.I remember being fearful of being sued for giving hormone replacement therapy.[00:13:49] And the mantra, like I was taught, kind of was only give it if she's threatening suicide, like if there's no other option, you know, otherwise do anything other than giving her back the hormones she so desperately needs.[00:14:02] Dr. McBride: Yeah, it's such an example of the paternalism of medicine or maternalism because I think women doctors too were depriving women of these hormones, but it's more this sort of like sense that doctors should be the gatekeepers and we should be the arbiters of the patient's risk tolerance. It reminds me a heck of a whole lot of COVID when instead of giving the public sort of nuanced information about, you know, calibrating your risk mitigation measures to your actual level of risk, given your age and underlying health conditions and number of vaccines.[00:14:39] Instead just telling people, here's what you do. Regardless, we are going to tell you how much risk to tolerate in medicine, as you well know, first of all, patients don't trust doctors who think they know everything. I mean, I don't, and I certainly don't know everything. And I think we owe patients…We owe women the ability to make their own decisions based on the facts and the information they have, and we need to countenance the invisible suffering, just like we countenance the risk of breast cancer. Certainly there are risks of hormone replacement therapy and there are risks of not being on hormone replacement therapy. And let's talk about both and let's try to thread that needle with the understanding that life is risky.[00:15:21] There's risk everywhere you go. You could live your life not on hormone replacement therapy cuz of the fear of breast cancer that may be completely founded because of a family history, a genetic predisposition, but then you're going to have to tolerate perhaps an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, an increased risk for premature cognitive decline, an increased risk for osteoporosis, sexual side effects, etc.[00:15:42] We owe women the discussion, the conversation. But as you know, the conversation takes time. And then it takes more time when you have to undo a fixed narrative that a woman is bringing to the doctor's office saying, “oh wow. I don't want to be on hormones because that causes breast cancer. And that's not because these people are not intelligent, it's because they've been told…”[00:16:05] Dr. Haver: It's going to ake everybody being on board. It's going to take years, but I am so proud to be on… I can't believe this. I'm just a regular OBGYN. There's nothing special about me and, but I…[00:16:19] Dr. McBride: Oh, there's so much special about you. [00:16:20] Dr. Haver: I'm kicking the door down on this I feel like… And it's probably the thing I'm most proud about in medicine, and I've delivered about tens of thousand, over 10,000 babies. I've done thousands of surgeries, all good stuff. But I feel like this is the biggest impact I can make for women's health ever.[00:16:40] Dr. McBride: I think you're making a big difference. I mean, it's amazing to me how menopause is having this moment right now. My friend Sharon Malone, who's a dear friend and colleague, was just on Oprah talking about menopause. I mean, thank you Oprah, for shining a light. My friend Rachel Rubin, our mutual friend, Kelly Caspersen, I mean, we're talking about sex, we're talking about vaginal lubrication, libido.[00:17:01] We're talking about taking control of our health kind of for the first time in a long time. I don't know if you think it's related to COVID and to me COVID laid bare our vulnerability to narratives that aren't always rooted in truth. COVID laid bare the vast marketplace of sort of pseudoscience and weird stuff.[00:17:24] It also laid bare how vulnerable we are as consumers of the healthcare industry. And how we really need to know what questions to ask. And so then I think, that's where I came in. I started writing and podcasting and you started doing your messaging and it's, I think people are really glad to have people they trust without any sort of agenda.[00:17:42] Dr. Haver: Social media for me opened my eyes to how much misinformation as far as menopause care, how much disinformation and misinformation was out there. And then one of the caveats of this menopause explosion and what the New York Times touched on is the gold rush. And so my… I live in the menopause metaverse, I call it, and my social media feed is just filled with everything menopause.[00:18:13] The wackadoodle companies that are coming up with miracle cures and vitamins and promising you're getting your unrealistic expectations of what this one little herb or something can do and get your life back and lose weight and get your sex life back and all this stuff. And none of it is founded in any evidence.[00:18:32] They're marketing to a very vulnerable population. They're desperate and willing to try anything at this point because they can't get it from, most of them can't get it from their healthcare provider, and so a lot of these new companies are popping up and really exploiting this very vulnerable population, and it makes me insane.[00:18:50] Dr. McBride: I know. I feel like wellness is a word that I think MDs and medical professionals should embrace, right? Like, what else am I doing other than helping people be well? But the wellness industry is taking advantage of women's vulnerabilities, insecurities and lack of access to the truth. And then it's fleeing them and giving them false promises. Not always. I mean, there's some good actors.[00:19:16] And I believe in vitamin supplementation if you're deficient in something in addition to getting your nutrients through food. But I think we agree that there's no sort of supplement that's going to kind of fix your broken marriage and your low libido that stems from sexual trauma or… we have to do the work, we have to do the hard job of looking at these parts of our lives that doctors unfortunately haven't really countenanced and we have to understand that the treatment for menopausal symptoms and the way to prevent the downstream cardiovascular, cognitive, and bone related health problems that stem from the absence of hormones is hormone replacement therapy.[00:19:56] Women are entitled to a conversation with their provider about hormone replacement therapy. Whether or not they take it is a different story, but in general, the benefits of hormone replacement therapy outweigh the risks in women who are within that 10 year window from their last menstrual cycle[00:20:11] Dr. Haver:  Right. And when a patient leaves my clinic, now again, I have a background in nutrition. I'm certified in culinary medicine. I can do this with confidence in myself that I know what I'm doing. I give them what I call the menopause toolkit, and so the first thing we address is nutrition. I'm lucky enough that I have a body scanner where I can measure muscle mass.[00:20:34] All of this is all so intertwined, visceral fat, body fat. So I give them very direct nutritional recommendations based on their body composition. We talk about hormones—pharmacology, hormonal pharmacology, and non-hormonal pharmacology based on their symptoms. We talk about supplementation based on what their nutrition profile looks at.[00:20:56] We talk about stress reduction, we talk about sleep quality, and every single one of those things is important to turn that wheel so that you can have the best healthspan and lifespan when a patient comes to my clinic. Yes, she's suffering, but her goal is not to have a bikini. Most of them… they don't care about bikinis anymore.[00:21:14] Sure, that'd be great. But they're more looking at their parents and what themselves and their siblings are going through taking care of parents with chronic disease. When I have a patient who is caring six or 10 years for a debilitated parent or grandparent, it shapes their lives and they are so motivated. What can I do now to keep me from doing this to my children, to my loved ones, to my nieces and nephews. I want to live the most independent, healthiest life that I can. So I'm not gonna burden the people I brought into this world with my disease and illness. Now, there's no guarantees on that. They're like, “how can I stack those cards in my favor?”[00:21:55] And I said, okay, let's get started. Nutrition, exercise, pharmacology, sleep, stress. It all works together to get you where you wanna be.[00:22:04] Dr. McBride: You're absolutely right and it so dovetails with the way I talk to my own patients and the way I write that sleep is arguably the best chemical boost you can give yourself—getting good sleep. Now, it's easier said than done. I mean, just telling someone to sleep more is not the end of the story for most people. But managing stress, having brain space to be mindful about our eating, our relationships, being in touch with how we feel, sort of being in the driver's seat, if you can, of your everyday habits. I think all of that relates to symptoms of menopause. It also relates to just our everyday health.[00:22:44] I think you're right. You look at our parents, our patients in their middle age often look at their parents and they see if their mom has osteoporosis and maybe some cognitive decline. Their dad may have cardiovascular disease or vice versa. And those are not a hundred percent preventable of course, but it's pretty incredible what hormone replacement therapy will and can do if you pair it with appropriate lifestyle modifications and you pair it with someone who's a good coach and a good guide because it's not enough for me to say, eat less red meat, Exercise more, sleep eight hours, manage your stress, take hormones, Good luck. I mean, first of all, I don't do all that stuff well all the time myself. Most humans need a trusted guide. They need structure, they need support, they need follow up, and they need cheerleading, and they need data and evidence and facts to guide their behavioral changes.[00:23:36] How does your program work? Like tell me, if you have a new patient who comes in, you do an assessment, let's say you recommend hormone replacement therapy. How does that look? I mean, do you typically recommend the patch? Do you recommend the ring? Do you recommend oral hormones? Tell me about the menu of options for hormones.[00:23:54] Dr. Haver: So I do stick to the FDA approved options. Estradiol is the number one hormone that I prescribe. So there are synthetic estrogens on the market. There's the conjugated, equine estrogens on the market. There are also different compounded options because compounding is not subject to regulation. It's not subject to testing. It can be very variable. I really want to stick to—I know when I pull it off the shelf, it's what I use for myself. There's a 98% chance of what they say is in that box, is in it, and that my patient's going to get a steady state. I usually go with a transdermal option over oral for estradiol because the first pass effect of the liver, which you and I know, when that estrogen bump hits the liver, it upregulates our clotting factors. So there's about a seven out of 10,000 women increase. So not very much, but still seven women who will have a blood clot. I can negate that and put you back to your baseline.[00:24:55]  Not saying you will never have a clot, but I won't increase that risk with a transdermal option. And because of cost, affordability, and options, I usually do an estradiol patch. If we decide on progesterone as well, There's some wonderful new data that's come out looking at different progesterones, synthetic versus progesterone, which is what our ovaries make… I hate the term bioidentical because it's become a marketing term, not a medical term…[00:25:19] Dr. McBride: Thank you. Oh my gosh. Thank you.[00:25:21] Dr. Haver: Women are getting sold a bill of goods and they're being told lies and they're being told the most ridiculous marketing that, oh, buy BHRT… I'm like, I don't use that term. I talk about estradiol and I talk about progesterone. I do not pick up a phone and call another physician and talk about bioidentical. That is, I would be laughed out of… I think people meant well with it, but it's turned into this crazy marketing term to get you to buy their product. So for progesterone I do the oral micronized progesterone. It has the best safety profile for breast cancer.[00:25:57] Actually, in the latest studies, no increased risk of breast cancer. It was the synthetics. So I tend to avoid those as much as possible. So for myself, I use an estradiol patch and I take my oral progesterone at night. I still have my uterus. For me, I find progesterone sedating, which is a benefit because it helps me with sleep.[00:26:17] Now, if someone is also having severe vaginal atrophy, I look at vaginal preparations. I love a vaginal ring. Nobody can afford it. It is top tier for most insurance plans. It's a wonderful method of delivery. I think it's amazing, but again, cost is a problem. So for vaginal estrogen, I tend to stick with the vaginal estrogen cream, which is generic and is very affordable for most patients if we decide she needs testosterone.[00:26:47] And I pretty much only prescribe that in a case of hypoactive sexual desire disorder. There's not enough evidence yet for me to prescribe it for other reasons I don't. Everyone's testosterone is low, guys, everyone, you don't even need it checked if you're menopausal, half of your testosterone unless you have a tumor.[00:27:06] And so if she's suffering from HSDD, then we discuss different options, the vii, the adi, the testosterone, if she chooses testosterone, because I don't have a great FDA-approved option. And it's very difficult for my patients to get the man's version because they only need 1/10  of the dose and they have to break the packets open and it's just Complicated. I will do the local compounding pharmacy to get some testosterone for them.[00:27:30] Dr. McBride: So helpful. So I wanna ask you a couple questions and just to clarify for listeners, vaginal estrogen, in my humble opinion, I wonder if you agree topical estrogen or just vaginal estrogen in a tablet form that is not systemically absorbed, is just topical to help with vaginal dryness. It also can help with urinary continence. It can help with muscle tone in the pelvic floor if paired with PT or just Kegels. That should be in my opinion, over the counter. That should be non-prescription. It should be something women are…[00:28:01] Dr. Haver: Yes, and I believe it is in the UK now.[00:28:04] Dr. McBride: And even for women who have had breast cancer, it's, and look, talk to your primary care provider, your OBGYN. Don't take my advice on the internet, because I'm not your doctor necessarily, but I think it should be over the counter when you talk about vaginal estrogen, like a femme ring. The femme ring is the vaginal estrogen formulation. That is systemic hormone replacement therapy. The hormone replacement therapy we're talking about is to help with not only the symptoms locally, but also the sort of whole person, the bone density, the cardiovascular risk protection.[00:28:38] So yeah, you're right. The femme ring is extremely expensive, but if someone's insurance happens to cover it, the femme ring, there's a nice way to go with the estrogen, and then you have to do the progesterone. In addition, if you have a uterus, you have to take progesterone with estrogen. Those are the two train tracks, because without progesterone, estrogen alone can stimulate the uterus and cause uterine cancer.[00:29:01] So that's sort of the mantra. Testosterone, as you said, is sort of out of the box a little bit, but it is becoming clear that it's good for hypoactive sexual desire disorder. I do have patients asking me about it because they're like, “What about belly fat, muscle mass? Can I use testosterone for that?” I know you have this wonderful program you're doing on Instagram with the belly fat challenge, and you're doing this on the heels of your Galveston diet. So tell me about testosterone for women a little bit more if you could vis-a-vis metabolism muscle mass.[00:29:31] Dr. Haver: So one of the phenomena that we know about in body composition changes through the menopause transition, we see an acceleration of body fat deposition. So it's kind of steady state and then whoop goes up in perimenopause and we see an increasing of the rate of muscle loss with age. It's called sarcopenia, which is the natural loss of muscle mass with age, and you have to combat that with consistent resistance training and adequate protein intake.[00:29:57] There's no way around it. You are going to lose muscle if you don't do the thing. And that's just your body breaking down. And that muscle is so much more important than I ever learned in school. It is controlling our insulin resistance. It is controlling our strength and functionality. And so I am one of those girls who was genetically low muscle.[00:30:16] I was always lean. But lean to me means muscle. I didn't have very much growing up. I could never do a pull up. I still can't do one. And so there's some thinking, so I'm using testosterone for myself off label, and I'm very clear about that because I'm genetically predisposed to low muscle mass. I measure it every day. I'm about the 90th percentile and I wanna hang on to that. So I'm doing a very low dose of transdermal testosterone in order to help my efforts of protein intake and resistance training to hang on and possibly build some muscle. So my levels are physiologic. I check my levels every three to six months.[00:30:56] I think the last one I was 47. And so in our natural lifespan, When we're our reproductive height, when our libidos were on point, your testosterone level is never above 70, and some of these pellet companies are recommending that you be super physiologically dosed with no evidence to support it.[00:31:18] I have had patients come and say, just check my level. My pellet should have worn off six months ago. They're still out of 300. That is men start at 246. Okay, so I asked the patient, okay, let me just make this clear. Are you transitioning? I fully support that. If this is what you're doing, I'm not the right doctor to help you through this, but, and they're like, no, I'm like, your levels are at a transitioning level. [00:31:41] I don't have clinical evidence to support a super physiologic dose of testosterone for patients. And that's what's being sold to them by a lot of these camp bonding companies.[00:31:53] Dr. McBride: So you're saying the data are not there yet, but there's enough evidence in your mind to use it at a physiologic dose to combat sarcopenia, which is low muscle mass. In addition to using it off label for people with low sexual desire, low libido.[00:32:11] Dr. Haver: Yes. So we have great studies for menopausal women, and testosterone clearly showed a benefit. FDA has not picked up those studies and that work hasn't been done yet. It takes a pharmaceutical company saying, it's worth it for me to do this, and they're not doing it because it's, it's all about economics and there is ot a lot of money in it for them, which is why we don't have an option.[00:32:34] Dr. McBride: Right. Let's talk diet and nutrition and what happens to our bodies around menopause. I've just gone through menopause myself. I'm on hormone replacement therapy. Woohoo. It's fantastic. I mean, my symptoms weren't that dramatic, but I think what happened was when I went on hormone replacement therapy, I just felt like myself.[00:32:54] It wasn't like I could name what it was. I mean, I had some hot flashes, night sweats weren't bad, but I don't know, I just slept better. I felt like myself again. But nutrition, so patients commonly come into me around perimenopause in their late forties, early fifties saying, my belly fat has increased. I've never had belly fat there. And they're just, their body composition has changed and they find it harder to…[00:33:20] It's true that estrogen in the absence of estrogen makes it easier to accumulate weight in our middles typically, and then it increases our risk for insulin resistance or pre-diabetes or diabetes.[00:33:33] So what are you counseling patients? I know it's not a one size fits all prescription, but what are you counseling patients in general about how to combat that metabolic shift and the weight distribution?[00:33:44] Dr. Haver: So there are certain behaviors and patterns of eating that we know through studies that for women in their menopausal journey, are going to lead to less accumulation of visceral or belly fat. When we say visceral fat, I want to be clear. So we have the fat, we've known our whole lives, subcutaneous fat.[00:34:03] It gives us our breasts, our butts, our curves, our cellulite. We don't like it. It's cosmetically distressing, but in, in usual physiologic amounts, it's not dangerous. Okay, visceral fat is different. That's the fat inside of our abdomens and our wrapping around our organs. That at a level, at a certain level starts leading to inflammation.[00:34:21] It produces cytokines, it's linked to cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, et cetera. And we see a rapid accumulation of this fat in the menopause transition due to multiple factors, but leading off with decreasing estrogen levels. So, what can we do about it? So number one, women who have 25 grams or more of fiber in their diet per day have a much lower risk of visceral fat, and there's probably several reasons for this. It slows down the absorption of glucose into our bloodstreams, which lowers our insulin levels. It keeps us full longer. You're less likely to overeat or make different choices. [00:34:55] Number two, having a diet that has less than 25 grams of added sugar in your diet per day—less visceral fat and added sugars are the sugars in cooking and processing. And I'm not talking about keto, so I'm talking about the sugars that are found naturally in fruits, vegetables, dairy, they come in a package with fiber, with other micronutrients, with other things that keep you healthy and slow down their absorption.[00:35:21] It's Very different from drinking a soda, and that's the number one source of added sugar in the United States in women's diets is beverages that sugar is instantly absorbed. It instantly goes into the bloodstream, causes a spike in glucose, and the concomitant rise in insulin levels, which then drives fat to the abdomen.[00:35:37] The whole thing happens so fast before you even realize it drives your blood sugar down. Boom, you're hungry again. And so keeping those added sugars less than 25 grams per day. Not to say you can never sip on a soda or have a cookie, but you have a budget. And if you can keep it less than 25 a day, you're going to have less visceral fat and less ensuing health risks because of it. Third, there are some supplements done, checked on, menopausal women that seem like they were helpful. Number one is eating something rich in probiotics every day. So that could be yogurt, kimchi, miso, tempe, whatever… chinese pickles, there's lots of options, but the study that was done in menopausal women was actually done on supplementation, because that's easier to control and study is give someone a pill versus have them eat a tub of yogurt.[00:36:25] So, when the study was done on obese, menopausal women with hypertension, so the weight loss was the same. They put them both on calorie restricted diets, but added in a probiotic supplement for Group B, and the supplement group had less visceral fat, so they did their visceral fat measurements, and they also had lower blood pressure.[00:36:44] So keeping the gut microbiome healthy, both through fiber, which we talked about earlier and with probiotics, restocking the pond, as I call it, can be really helpful. Turmeric supplementation or eating diets rich in turmeric, not so typical in the US. People are now drinking turmeric teas or adding it to certain things, but turmeric supplementation, especially if you add a black pepper extract, can be really helpful.[00:37:06] Zone two training. It's getting real with Peter's book, Peter Attia's book. It's getting really popular right now. Zone two training is training below the level that you can talk through, so like when you're a little bit breathless and so there's multiple, you can google different ways to calculate what that is.[00:37:22] 220 minus your age, 60 to 70% of that is one thing that patients use. I wear a heart rate monitor usually, and so I know what my maximum heart rates are and I can do the calculation from there, but 150 minutes a week of zone two training is really helpful in that, and resistance training is important as well. [00:37:40] Dr. McBride: Okay, so to summarize these pearls of wisdom we're talking about ideally getting at least 25 grams of fiber a day. Ideally less than 25 grams of added sugar a day. We're talking about supplements based on your unique profile and health issues, and we're talking about resistance training and 150 minutes of exercise a week, building that muscle mass, keeping that motor running. In addition, we talked about sleep stress management. I mean, that's a good kit. I mean, it's a lot to do. You know, when I talk to patients about these kind of lifestyle modifications, they often aspire to these things. They aspire to sleep more or drink less alcohol.[00:38:19] Eat less sugar. One of the challenges is minding the gap between our best intentions and the execution, as I say to patients all the time,even walking around your block for five minutes after work is better than nothing. While you're on the phone, maybe do a couple squats or wall sits.[00:38:38] Notice how you feel if you take a week off of alcohol. I decided to take May off of alcohol, not because I have an alcohol problem per se, but just because I feel better without it. And it really does take at least a week in my mind to kind of notice the effect. One night's not gonna do it. So my advice to patients is just small, incremental bite-sized changes. Don't try to make wholesale changes in every aspect of your everyday health because you just won't do it.[00:39:08] Dr. Haver: Exactly. I say, we have the rest of your life to figure this out. Let's take this one step at a time. Here's the ultimate plan. We're building a house here, so first we have to lay the foundation, then we're gonna put up the studs. Then we're gonna, you know, like we have to take this step-by-step. We don't want you to be overwhelmed. We don't want you to feel like these are new habits. We're building one habit at a time.[00:39:29] Dr. McBride: That's right. That's right. Mary Claire, thank you so much for joining me today. How can people find you on the internet? In your clinic, like how can people find your wisdom and expertise?[00:39:41] Dr. Haver: So we have tons of blogs packed with information on how to advocate for yourself at your doctor's visit and you know what tests to ask for. There's lots of nutrition information at our website at galvestondiet.com. You can also find me on my biggest social media channels on Instagram and TikTok. [00:40:06] Dr. McBride: Thank you all for listening to Beyond the Prescription. Please don't forget to subscribe, like, download and share the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you catch your podcasts. I'd be thrilled if you liked this episode to rate and review it. And if you have a comment or question, please drop us a line at info@lucymcbride.com.[00:40:28] The views expressed on this show are entirely my own and do not constitute medical advice for individuals that should be obtained from your personal physician. Get full access to Are You Okay? at lucymcbride.substack.com/subscribe

We've all heard about what happens during menopause, but what exactly occurs during perimenopause, why is it so important, and why is no one talking about it? We spoke with Sharon Malone, MD, obstetrician-gynecologist and chief medical officer at Alloy Women's Health, about hormonal changes linked to perimenopause, lifestyle adjustments, treatment options, and how to talk about these things with your doctor for an empowered and collaborative experience in personal health. 

On Thursday's Morning Focus, Alan went on a trip to Ennistymon and set up camp in the Ennistymon Hub. Alan was joined by a number of guests on today's busy show. This included John Egan, graduate of NUIG in history and archaeology. John presented Alan and all of our Morning Focus listeners with a brief lesson on the hidden history of Ennistymon. Alan also spoke with Urban Mcmahon, Head of Information Systems Digital & Broadband Department with Clare county council. He highlighted the lack of digital services in the county and how Digiclare hopes to help with this problem. Later on, Alan then spoke with Shane Talty, Fianna Fail Councillor in the Ennistymon Electoral Area and Liam Grant, Green Party Councillor from Lahinch. Alan Highlighted some issues in the area hoping that they both could shed some light on the issues. The long list of those who also joined the conversation include Joe Kileen, Carol Gleeson, Enda Byrt, Brendan Lynch, Harrison Gardner, Sean Haugh, Fiona Haugh, Maurice Harvey, Gerry Reidy, Ray Ó Foghlú, Sharon Malone, and Frank McNamara.

On Ours To Protect, we take a closer look at biodiversity and sustainability in Co Clare. For this week's episode, Pat Flynn visited the Falls Hotel in Ennistymon where management and staff have made great strides to make theirs a greener and more sustainable business. Sharon Malone is Sales and Marketing manager and Green Leader at the Falls Hotel.

How could we all have NOT known? ⁠ ⁠ Dr Heather Hirsch recently appeared on @oprahdaily to discuss Menopause with Oprah herself, Drew Barrymore, Maria Shriver and Dr Sharon Malone and this proved to all of us that there are still millions of women out there who are just as unaware as we all were when we started experiencing Perimenopause. ⁠ ⁠ In this episode we talk about education and she actually puts the onus on the medical community to learn about this life stage. We also discuss her new book 'Unlock Your Menopause Type' in which she demonstrates personalising your treatment plan, going through many symptoms individually and offering a variety of solutions. ⁠ ⁠ If you want to know some more about HRT / MT / MHT this is an interesting listen as Heather breaks down her opinion on the 'window of opportunity'.⁠ ⁠ She also really nails long term self care and reveals the number 1 essential ingredient for great health. ⁠ ⁠ 'Unlock Your Menopause Type' is out on June 6th 2023.⁠ ⁠ You can find Dr Heather on IG @heatherhirschmd and her website heatherhirschmd.com and on all social media with the same handle.⁠

Today we continue our fascinating conversation with Dr. Sharon Malone. We dive into the association between perimenopause and brain functioning. We'll learn about the role estrogen plays in the brain, the link between estrogen declines and Alzheimer's risk, and the implications for developing brains. You don't want to miss this one! Sponsored by Seed: Start a new healthy habit today. Visit seed.com/RAISING and use code RAISING to redeem 25% off your first month of Seed's DS-01® Daily Synbiotic. That's seed.com/RAISING and use code RAISING Ready Set Food: Visit readysetfood.com/HUMAN to learn more and get exclusive discounts on these amazing early allergen introduction products. EveryPlate: Get started with EveryPlate for just $1.49 per meal by going to EveryPlatedot com slashpodcast and entering code humans149. Produced by Dear Media This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Join us for an enlightening conversation as we dive into the world of menopause and perimenopause with Dr. Sharon Malone, an expert in women's health and a passionate advocate for understanding and embracing menopause. Throughout the episode, Sharon delves into the physiological changes that occur during menopause and perimenopause, discussing the fluctuation of hormones, hot flashes, and other common symptoms. She offers fascinating insight into how understudied the process of menopause has been, and how early the signs of menopause can begin - It's sooner than you think! Ready Set Food: Visit readysetfood.com/HUMAN to learn more and get exclusive discounts on these amazing early allergen introduction products. Canopy: Use code HUMANS at checkout for an additional 10% off a humidifier for your little ones at www.getcanopy.co Thrive Market: Go to ThriveMarket.com/HUMANS for 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift! Zocdoc: Zocdoc is a MUST! Download the FREE Zocdoc app at www.zocdoc.com/HUMANS and schedule your appointments in seconds! Produced by Dear Media This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Washington Post senior writer Frances Stead Sellers speaks with Bobbie Organic Infant Formula CEO Laura Modi, Poppy Seed Health CEO Simmone Taitt and Alloy Women's Health medical advisor Sharon Malone about the cultural stigmas that impact the health of women of all ages, and how to improve awareness, innovation and resources in the women's health space. Conversations first recorded on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023.

MENtality Unchained host Kevin Thomas starts season 3 by sitting down with Rev. Louis and Sharon Malone to discuss their transition and how their testimonies change lives. They speak about the state of the church, community, and mental health and how they are intertwined. Sharon talks about how she balance being a wife of a pastor and being an advocate for mental health. Rev. Malone encapsulates his calling as a pastor and his passion for teaching and guiding men. They both come together to speak on the state of the home and the institution of marriage. They contribute that everything leads back to Christ and the hope that He provides. They discuss the many ministries they have to reach souls outside of the church and that if every church in the community operate in their perspective ministries throughout the community no one will be in need. #podcast, #podcasterunite, #podcaster, #podcastshow, #podcastlife, #healthpodcast, #podcasts, #podcastersofyoutube, #mentalhealth, #therapy, #podcastseries, #love, #youtube, #spotifypodcastshow, #spotify, #spotifypodcast, #marriage, #marriageandlongevity, #chrisitanmarriages, #healthymarriage, #testimony, #mentalhealthchurchcommunity --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mentality-unchained/support

MENtality Unchained host Kevin Thomas starts season 3 by sitting down with Rev. Louis and Sharon Malone to discuss their transition and how their testimonies change lives. They speak about the state of the church, community, and mental health and how they are intertwined. Sharon talks about how she balance being a wife of a pastor and being an advocate for mental health. Rev. Malone encapsulates his calling as a pastor and his passion for teaching and guiding men. They both come together to speak on the state of the home and the institution of marriage. They contribute that everything leads back to Christ and the hope that He provides. They discuss the many ministries they have to reach souls outside of the church and that if every church in the community operate in their perspective ministries throughout the community no one will be in need. #podcast, #podcasterunite, #podcaster, #podcastshow, #podcastlife, #healthpodcast, #podcasts, #podcastersofyoutube, #mentalhealth, #therapy, #podcastseries, #love, #youtube, #spotifypodcastshow, #spotify, #spotifypodcast, #marriage, #marriageandlongevity, #chrisitanmarriages, #healthymarriage, #testimony, #mentalhealthchurchcommunity --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mentality-unchained/support

What happens to post menopausal women?  We talk a lot on the show about perimenopause and the actual day of menopause, but what happens to your body for the next 30 to 40 years? We invited Dr. Sharon Malone to answer this question and more.  Dr. Malone is a world renowned Obgyn and the Chief Medical Offer of Alloy.  She shares what to expect after your periods have ended and how your body may respond.  She answers questions including When bleeding may be a cause for concern The role of HRTs in postemenopaussal women What changes are permanent and what may still change as we age. What we can do to help our bodies age well. Listen to Hot Flashes & Cool Topics podcast on any podcast platform and sign up for our newsletter at www.hotflashescooltopics.com Want to Leave a Review for Hot Flashes and Cool Topics? Here's How: For Apple Podcasts on an iPhone or iOS device: Open the Apple Podcast App on your device. Click on the “search” icon Type into the search bar “Hot Flashes and Cool Topics” and click on the show Towards the bottom, look for “Ratings and Reviews” Click on “Write a Review” and leave us your thoughts and comments! For Apple Podcasts on a computer: On the Apple Podcasts website, go to the search bar and type “Hot Flashes and Cool Topics” After clicking on the show, find the “Listen on Apple Podcasts” button and click on it The “Hot Flashes and Cool Topics” podcast should open on the Apple Podcasts application Keep scrolling on the page until you see “Ratings and Reviews” Click on “See All” If you want to give us a five-star rating, hover over the empty stars! If you want to leave your thoughts and comments, click on “Write a Review”!  

If you've been around Rebellious Wellness at all, you know that BHRT, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, is a therapy I support for relief of perimenopause and menopause symptoms. And that's what most people think of it for. But it's so much more than just symptom relief. My guest, Monica Molenaar, shares her story, the science, and the reasons she co-created https://www.myalloy.com (MyAlloy.com.) We started with what exactly BHRT or MHT (menopause hormone therapy) as they call it at Alloy, is. If you've heard negative reports about this therapy, it's likely because of https://www.whi.org (The Women's Health Initiative.) This study was flawed from the participants they invited, the data they did and didn't collect and the results released, and the way they used the HTs. (TWHI is still gathering data on many subjects. I'm referring to a specific study on hormone replacement therapy and its influence on heart disease risks.) This is a shame because hormone replacement was at one time commonly prescribed to women without incident. Fast forward to today. Many studies on the safe, natural forms of estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone have been done and the results show that BHRT can improve health markers, not just relieve symptoms. Monica was thrown into instant menopause with the removal of her ovaries to prevent ovarian cancer. "What really nobody prepared me for was menopause. All of a sudden was left without any estrogen in my body. And I did gain 20 pounds pretty fast, and I didn't sleep through the night for six months until I started taking HRT. But the bigger problem is that I felt like nobody was talking to me about this. Nobody was giving me the information that I was looking for.I will continue to interview experts on this topic and beat the drum about BHRT so that there are more conversations about it, to show women how it can help with aging and symptoms and so that no one has to suffer like Monica did. We want to dispel the myth that so many women hear from medical professionals, "the sort of prevailing idea out there is like, it's natural. You should just deal with it."As I pointed out at some point, if men had to go through menopause, we would not need these conversations. One of the reasons Monica and her partner, Anne Fulenwider, started https://www.myalloy.com (MyAlloy.com) was to, as they call it, democratize menopause care. They want to make it easier for women to get information and prescriptions of safe, natural, hormones. Their chief medical officer is Dr. Sharon Malone. Monica tells a great story about Michelle Obama and hot flashes on Air Force One. It was Dr. Malone who came to her rescue. More on Monica's why. "I think for so many women is they don't really understand what the treatment possibilities are, what the safety profiles are, what their personal risks might be or not, usually less than they think."MyAlloy.com helps the women who come to them find out those things. They also answer your questions. If you want to see if you are a candidate for hormone therapy, you start on the home page of https://www.myalloy.com (MyAlloy.com), where you'll see the take the assessment button. That information goes to one of MyAlloy's docs for review to see if hormone therapy is right for you. If yes, and you agree, the script goes to their pharmacy, is filled and shipped to your home. Convenient and it saves time and money on an office visit. The fee for getting started with them is $0. If you aren't ready to give BHRT a try, there are articles addressing the various joys of the post estrogen producing life, on topics like hair loss, meno fatigue, painful sex, and more. Learn all you need to know about estrogen and progesterone. Besides the hormones, they offer peroxetine, which is a non-hormonal treatment for hot flashes, a low dose birth control, (seems we are more fertile than we realize in the last few years of transition) and a proprietary symbiotic, which is a prebiotic

Many Black mothers tend to put the health care needs of their loved ones ahead of their own. And when they finally get to the doctor, they don't always get all of the answers they seek. Carol sits down with Dr. Sharon Malone, one of the nation's leading OB GYNs, to talk about women's health issues and how to change how Black women experience health care.  Dr. Malone is on a mission to help women know more about how to take care of themselves, as she believes that “women shouldn't feel guilty about feeling better”. She shares invaluable advice about how to attain and maintain good health, how to understand our body's changes and changing needs over time, and how to get the absolute most out of doctor's visits. She also tells us what women of all ages need to know about menopause, and how her new telemedicine venture Alloy can make it easier for women to understand and treat symptoms of all stages of menopause. Dr. Malone is the trusted doctor friend we want and need!  Follow us at @GroundControlParenting and on www.groundcontrolparenting.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Barbara Sturm sits down with menopause campaigner and author of Cracking the Menopause, Mariella Frostrup and one of America's leading women's health consultants and the Chief Medical Officer of Alloy Women's Health, Dr. Sharon Malone, to talk all things menopause. This intimate conversation breaks down the various stages of menopause and perimenopause, explains the biology involved and gives women the information they need to help manage the symptoms. For further support contact The Menopause CharityFor more education and inspiration around aging, health, nutrition and beauty follow Dr. Sturm at @drbarbarasturm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Revel CCO Nina Collins talks about Menopausal Hormone Treatment with Alloy's Cheif Medical Officer Dr. Sharon Malone. They demystify the treatment process, and debunk some myths. More About Alloy: https://www.myalloy.com/?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=revel&utm_campaign=awareness ***Use the code Revel25 for $25 off at checkout.  More About Revel: www.hellorevel.com  

Dr Sharon Malone is an eminent American physician who has worked as an obstetrician and gynaecologist for over 30 years in Washington DC. After 15 years of working mostly as an obstetrician, Sharon changed to specialise in menopause care around the time of her own perimenopause. She is passionate about educating women to understand their own hormone journey and empower them with evidence based information about hormone treatments. The experts discuss the challenges of influencing and persuading medical colleagues on the benefits of hormone replacement, the importance of patient choice and agency, and the lack of menopause research and need for government funding. Dr Malone's advice to women: Find your community of women who will support you and understand what you're going through Be active, keep exercising regularly Maintain a healthy diet and eating habits; processed foods negatively affect so many aspects of your health To read or listen to Dr Malone's Washington Post op ed, visit https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/04/28/menopause-hormone-therapy-nih-went-wrong/ Dr Malone is the Chief Medical Officer at US based menopause company Alloy, to find out more visit www.myalloy.com

For far too long, women have been left out of the conversations about their own health. They have been dismissed, misguided, or downright ignored when asking questions about their bodies. Millions of women lack access to the care they need, especially those in their post-reproductive years. Enter Dr. Sharon Malone — a leading obstetrician, gynecologist, menopause practitioner, and champion for women's health. With three decades of experience in treating patients, she's made it her mission to shine a light on the myriad health issues facing women, especially those that are often overlooked or dismissed.In this episode of Beyond the Prescription, Dr. Malone talks about the challenges facing women's health today, and her own journey as the youngest of eight children to the becoming one of the nation's leading experts in women's health. Together, Dr. McBride and Dr. Malone discuss what is needed to achieve true equality in women's healthcare and how to empower women with the information and resources they need to make informed decisions about their health.A new episode launches every Tuesday. Beyond the Prescription is hosted by Dr. Lucy McBride (https://lucymcbride.com/podcast) and produced by kglobal (https://kglobal.com/podcast-studio).

Hormones for menopause? Yes or no? Breaking down the common misconceptions about menopausal hormone therapy with top OBGYN and Chief Medical Officer for Alloy, Dr. Sharon Malone. A 2002 study connecting hormone use and an increased risk of breast cancer has been challenged for many years, and a new study directly contradicts the study's findings, turning it on its head. Dr. Malone breaks it all down for us in this week's episode of Coming Up Next.

Welcome to an exciting episode of the perry podcast with the wonderful host Rachel Hughes. This time Rachel meets with Dr. Sharon Malone, Chief Medical Officer at Alloy - an online provider for personalized menopause solutions. Dr. Sharon Malone is a force of good, who educates about menopause with compassion. In this perry talk you can expect to learn more about What exactly is perimenopause? What is the difference with menopause? What are symptoms? What are treatment options? Are they safe? What should I be taking into consideration? Perimenopause can be a lonely journey - and it shouldn't be that way. Join us in our free community app here to connect with like-minded warriors in the same stage of life. Disclaimer: This podcast is not medical advice, does not take the place of medical advice from your physician, and is not intended to treat or cure any disease. Patients should see a qualified medical provider for assessment and treatment. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/perryapp/message

EP. 86 - On this episode, I am joined by Dr. Sharon Malone Holder, wife of former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Jr. Crowned "The First Lady of Justice," Dr. Sharon Malone Holder is the nation's leading Obstetrician / Gynecologist with a focus on the specific health challenges associated with menopause. Together along with Monica Molenaar, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Alloy - the new telehealth platform for women focused on perimenopause and menopause - we candidly discuss the ups and downs of entering menopause, why its symptoms have been a taboo subject, and trusted solutions and resources for women to navigate their journey into their next phase of womanhood. Please #Subscribe and rate our show! #Healthandwellness #WomensHealth #Health

Women's health is one of the most underserved areas of wellness – specifically menopause. Our guests today, Dr. Sharon Malone and Monica Molenaar, founded a telehealth platform designed to democratize related information and resources so all women can access the guidance they need. Dr. Sharon Malone is the youngest of eight children, born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, who later became an Ivy League doctor and married a young lawyer named Eric Holder, the future attorney general of the United States under President Obama. Monica Molenaar is a mom and entrepreneur who elected to remove her ovaries prophylactically after testing positive for the BRCA gene at forty, sending her into menopause overnight. There are 55 million women in America going through menopause at any given moment of time. And yet, only 1.4 million are getting the proper care they need. The Global Wellness Summit is making strides in this area through their Hormonal Wellness Initiative, supporting options for women in their post-childbearing years. In this episode, we go to the front line of the fight for awareness, addressing the fears of hormonal therapy head on and out loud. We also pose the big question: Should women just give up and accept their fate of hot flashes, mood swings, thinning hair, and other symptoms – all because their bodies are experiencing a natural decrease in estrogen? The world population of menopausal and postmenopausal women is projected to reach 1.2 billion by 2030, with 47 million new entrants each year. The issue Alloy seeks to alleviate is two-fold: 75% of women who seek treatment for menopausal symptoms leave their physician's office untreated, while over 80% of gynecologists self-report lacking the training to treat these women. “I saw firsthand the confusion around menopause treatment and the suffering it can cause," says Dr. Malone. "My life's work has been to help democratize menopause care," PACE Healthcare Capital Founder Julia Monfrini Peev adds, “We were deeply inspired by Anne, Monica and Dr. Malone's vision to empower women in menopause to take ownership of their health and be able to age healthily and beautifully." "We are fiercely dedicated to rewriting the aging narrative for women, and making sure they're informed on all the options available to help them to feel like their best selves," says Anne Fulenwider, Alloy Co-Founder, Co-CEO and former longtime Editor-in-Chief of women's magazine Marie Claire. "Alloy exists because too many women haven't been able to get the treatment they need. We are here to course correct post-reproductive healthcare and we could not be more excited to share this platform with the world." For any men out there with women in their life, whether it's a partner, mother, daughter, or friend –  don't change that dial. Knowing is caring and understanding is love. To learn more, visit https://www.myalloy.com/ (MyAlloy.com) Resources: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-malone-76446832 (Dr. Sharon Malone on LinkedIn) https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-molenaar-2945b225 (Monica Molenaar on LinkedIn) https://www.globalwellnesssummit.com/trends-2021/ (Global Wellness Trends Mid-Year Report: The Future of Wellness 2021) https://www.globalwellnesssummit.com/2021-global-wellness-summit/ (Global Wellness Summit 2021 in Tel Aviv, Israel) Hosted by https://www.swellpublicrelations.com (Kim Marshall) Produced by http://crate.media (Crate Media)

On Thursday's Clare FM, Alan Morrissey was joined by Anthony Moloney, Owner of Doolin Inn and Sharon Malone, Sales and Marketing Manager at Falls Hotel and Spa, Ennistymon - Both members of The Burren Ecotourism Network. Staff shortages in the hospitality sector in the Burren could hamper Autumn bookings, following one of the busiest summers in the region in recent years in terms of Irish visitors. Hotels and self-catering accommodation providers have reported bookings are up on last year, due to a combination of recent fine weather and the desire to holiday at home due to coronavirus restrictions, abroad. Despite Ireland's vaccine roll out success many people are still putting off taking international holidays until next year.

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MICHELLE interviews Dr. SHARON MALONE, OB-GYN. I am not the owner of the music, songs or content.