OvaryActive

Vaginal dryness, itching, burning, and painful sex? Ah, the many gifts of perimenopause that nobody asked for. As estrogen levels decline, the vulva and vagina can undergo some pretty significant changes. And while these symptoms are common, they aren't something you just have to live with. Your vagina deserves better.

In this episode of OvaryActive, the Docs are getting up close and personal with genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). They explain why hormonal changes affect vaginal and vulvar tissues, how symptoms can range from mild irritation to recurrent UTIs, and why vaginal estrogen might just become your new best friend. From over-the-counter moisturizers to prescription hormones, they talk all about what actually works, what doesn't, and what's mostly expensive marketing.

The doctors also explore vulvar skin conditions like lichen sclerosus and lichen planus, the role of pelvic floor physical therapy, and when it's time to get things checked out. Bottom line? Pain, itching, and dryness shouldn't be your new normal, and there are plenty of ways to give your vagina the attention it deserves.

What you'll hear in this episode:

[0:42] Vaginal Troubles

[1:13] GSM Symptoms

[3:19] Speak Up! (at your visits)

[5:36] Estrogen's Exit Causes Tissue Changes

[9:43] Infection or Hormones?

[11:11] Slather on the Moisturizer…Down There

[17:46] Estrogen Options

[24:49] Local Therapy Matters

[25:34] DHEA Delivery

[28:19] Osphena: Pill Power

[30:53] Testosterone Talk

[36:40] Laser Hype

[39:22] When It's NOT GSM

[47:19] Get Examined!

Links for over-the-counter moisturizers:

Replens

Hyalogyn

Revaree

Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube | https://www.perimenopausedrs.com/ovaryactive

Estrogen, Interrupted by Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su & Dr. Amy Voedisch

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/cw/OvaryActive

Meet the Docs:

More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su:

Gennev: https://www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su

LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su

More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch:

Stanford Medical Clinic: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html

This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

Join us for one of our LIVE events: https://bit.ly/3UeeHEL

Perimenopause is hard enough without being told you need expensive supplements, miracle hormones, and a new workout routine that apparently requires becoming an Olympic athlete. With menopause misinformation everywhere and wellness influencers selling solutions to problems you didn't know you had, how do you separate science from a really good sales pitch?

Women's health and fitness coach Amanda Thebe joins the Docs on this episode of OvaryActive for a refreshingly unfiltered conversation about menopause, hormone therapy, and the business of women's health. Amanda shares her own difficult menopause journey, why hormone therapy isn't right for everyone, and how she went from struggling with symptoms to advocating for evidence-based menopause education and realistic lifestyle changes.

Amanda and the Docs are talking all about menopause myths, misleading hormone claims, questionable supplements, and the growing industry profiting from women's fears. They also explore realistic fitness goals, the power of small habits, the mental load of midlife, and why a doctor's appointment alone isn't a complete menopause plan.

You will learn how to recognize misinformation, advocate for better menopause care, and prioritize sustainable lifestyle changes without spending a fortune or being a complete jerk to themselves.

What you'll hear in this episode:

[1:37] Amanda's menopause journey

[5:06] Menopause misinformation

[8:47] Hormone therapy hype

[13:54] Building a menopause community

[18:51] Lifestyle over supplements

[27:28] Reframing midlife expectations

[31:25] Managing mental load

[34:09] Menopause healthcare gaps

[37:45] Coaching meets medicine

[41:29] Healthcare inequality

[45:01] Questionable hormone treatments

[49:48] Advocating for yourself

Links:

https://amandathebe.com/

Join SPRING w/ Amanda Thebe

Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube | https://www.perimenopausedrs.com/ovaryactive

Estrogen, Interrupted by Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su & Dr. Amy Voedisch

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/cw/OvaryActive

Meet the Docs:

More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su:

Gennev: https://www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su

LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su

More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch:

Stanford Medical Clinic: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html

This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

Is it ADHD, perimenopause, or has your brain simply decided it has reached maximum capacity?

In this episode of OvaryActive, the Docs are talking about the very real overlap between ADHD symptoms and perimenopause. This includes brain fog, forgetfulness, disorganization, overwhelm, and the sudden inability to keep all those carefully balanced plates spinning.

ADHD may become more noticeable in midlife, especially for women whose inattentive symptoms went undiagnosed as kids. They explain what ADHD can actually look like in women, why old coping strategies may stop working during perimenopause, and when it might be worth getting a formal ADHD evaluation instead of assuming hormones are responsible for everything.

Sometimes the answer is hormones. Sometimes it's ADHD. Sometimes your brain has simply opened 47 tabs and refuses to tell you where the music is coming from.

You'll hear about ADHD versus perimenopause symptoms, hormone therapy and stimulants, estrogen and dopamine, study limitations, and why worsening ADHD symptoms in your late 30s or 40s may be worth discussing with your doctor. The research still has plenty of unanswered questions, but one thing is clear: if your mental gigabytes suddenly feel full, you're not imagining it.

What you'll hear in this episode:

[0:30] Why ADHD comes up NOW

[3:30] ADHD diagnosis basics

[7:38] ADHD Symptoms checklist

[12:04] Peri & ADHD tools

[17:35] Let's talk data!

[23:52] We hear you. We see you. You're not crazy.

Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube | https://www.perimenopausedrs.com/ovaryactive

Estrogen, Interrupted by Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su & Dr. Amy Voedisch

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/cw/OvaryActive

Meet the Docs:

More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su:

Gennev: https://www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su

LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su

More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch:

Stanford Medical Clinic: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html

This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

We have an announcement! OvaryActive has a Patreon! Help support the show — become a patron for as little as $5/month! https://www.patreon.com/cw/OvaryActive

Progesterone: soothing hormone, sleep savior, uterine bodyguard… or wildly overhyped perimenopause celebrity?

In this episode of OvaryActive, Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch take on micronized progesterone, progestins, and the many confident claims the internet has made about both. Because apparently even hormones need a PR team.

The Docs explain the difference between progesterone, progestogens, and progestins; why micronized progesterone is formulated the way it is; and why progesterone creams and "natural" wild yam products are not doing what TikTok may have promised.

The episode also looks at progesterone's reputation for improving sleep, why some people feel dramatically better while others feel absolutely nothing, and the small subset who can experience poor mood effects instead of calm. Finally, Rebecca and Amy tackle the complicated evidence around micronized progesterone, breast cancer risk, and long-term hormone therapy.

Listeners will walk away knowing what the research actually says, what it definitely does not say, and why "it depends" remains medicine's least satisfying but frequently most correct (for now) answer.

What you'll hear in this episode:

[0:46] Progestogens: Pick a Lane

[3:43] Micronized, Not Magical

[5:34] Please Don't Put That There

[8:10] Protecting the Uterus, Ideally

[12:12] Bleeding: Worth Investigating

[17:51] Allopregnanolone Enters the Chat

[21:27] When "Calming" Backfires

[23:16] More Doesn't Always Mean Better

[25:10] Sleep Savior? Let's Check the Data

[32:20] Breast Cancer Risk: Hello, Nuance

[41:07] The Five-Year Rule That Isn't Really a Rule

[42:17] Progesterone: Neither Villain Nor Savior

Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube | https://www.perimenopausedrs.com/ovaryactive

Estrogen, Interrupted by Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su & Dr. Amy Voedisch

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/cw/OvaryActive

Meet the Docs:

More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su:

Gennev: https://www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su

LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su

More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch:

Stanford Medical Clinic: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html

This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

We have an announcement! OvaryActive has a Patreon! Help support the show — become a patron for as little as $5/month! https://www.patreon.com/cw/OvaryActive

Blood clots and hormone therapy: two things that can make perimenopause feel even more delightfully complicated.

In this episode of OvaryActive, Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch dig into the risk of blood clots with menopausal hormone therapy, and why the internet's favorite phrase, "It's totally safe," deserves a few very large asterisks.

Rebecca and Amy take a data-driven look at what we actually know about oral versus transdermal estrogen, including findings from the Million Women Study.

They also explain what "provoked" blood clots really mean, when prior clots may make estrogen especially risky, why a hematologist might need to join the group chat, and how shared decision-making should work when the research doesn't give a clean yes-or-no answer.

Listeners will come away understanding why hormone therapy recommendations need to be individualized, what questions to ask their clinician, and why "we don't have enough data yet" is sometimes the most medically accurate answer available.

What you'll hear in this episode:

[0:43] Clot risk controversy

[1:54] Not birth control estrogen

[3:15] Million Women Study

[10:31] Let's talk about our high risk ladies

[12:03] Provoked clots debate

[18:54] Prior clot evidence

[25:05] Clinical counseling approach

[30:25] Shared decision making

Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube | https://www.perimenopausedrs.com/ovaryactive

Estrogen, Interrupted by Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su & Dr. Amy Voedisch

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/cw/OvaryActive

Meet the Docs:

More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su:

Gennev: https://www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su

LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su

More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch:

Stanford Medical Clinic: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html

This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

We have an announcement! OvaryActive has a Patreon! Help support the show — become a patron for as little as $5/month! https://www.patreon.com/cw/OvaryActive

Perimenopause can change your sleep, your body, your mood, and — because apparently the transition needed another hobby — your sex life.

Returning guest Julie Weitlauf, PhD, joins the OvaryActive Docs to talk about low libido, vaginal dryness, unpredictable bleeding, less-intense orgasms, and the deeply unsexy experience of thinking about tomorrow's dinner during intimacy.

The conversation explores why satisfying sex in midlife may require more time, better stimulation, fewer distractions, and a willingness to stop comparing forty-something you to your nineteen-year-old self. Julie explains how mindfulness, body image, relationship dynamics, sexual shame, past experiences, and changing identities can all influence desire and pleasure. Big surprise, simply telling yourself to relax is not a particularly effective treatment plan.

This conversation offers practical ways to expand the sensual menu, reconnect with pleasure, and approach midlife intimacy with curiosity instead of panic.

What you'll hear in this episode:

[1:35] Perimenopause, Sex Myths, & Midlife

[5:07] Recenter what you want

[9:13] Relationships & Life's Mental Load

[13:55] Normal Desire & Pleasure Gaps

[16:51] Expand Your Menu

[26:17] Menopause Sex Concerns (mindfulness, sensate focus, body image, scheduling)

[40:26] Substance Use and Sexuality

[44:08] Questioning Sexual Identity in Midlife

[48:07] Relationship and Family Dynamics

[52:47] Make Pleasure a Priority by Expanding Your Intimacy Menu

Resources:

Julie Weitlauf on LinkedIn

Managing Hot Flushes and Night Sweats by Myra Hunter

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us

Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube | https://www.perimenopausedrs.com/ovaryactive

Estrogen, Interrupted by Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su & Dr. Amy Voedisch

Meet the Docs:

More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su:

Gennev: https://www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su

LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su

More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch:

Stanford Medical Clinic: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html

This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

We have an announcement! OvaryActive has a Patreon! Help support the show — become a patron for as little as $5/month! https://www.patreon.com/cw/OvaryActive

Perimenopause has officially entered its supplement era, and apparently every capsule on the internet is promising to fix your metabolism, your wrinkles, your joints, your brain, and maybe your credit score.

In the third installment of the Swallow This series, Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch sort through another round of popular supplements with their trademark mix of evidence, skepticism, and just enough sarcasm to make reading medical studies almost fun.

This episode tackles berberine, glucosamine, CoQ10, collagen, and NAD+, separating promising science from clever marketing. Rebecca and Amy explain why the quality of a study matters just as much as the headline, how industry-funded research can paint a very different picture than independent studies, and why "natural" doesn't automatically mean effective, or even safe.

Listeners will learn which supplements may have a role for specific medical conditions, which ones don't live up to the hype for perimenopause, and why the phrase "more research is needed" is sometimes the most honest answer in medicine.

What you'll hear in this episode:

[0:55] Berberine buzzkill

[3:05] Natural GLP-1... maybe?

[6:32] Leave your liver alone

[8:03] Dog joint medicine? Glucosamine reality check

[14:21] CoQ10 heart talk

[20:00] Collagen vs. wrinkles

[25:17] Lasers in the vag (please don't)

[29:34] NAD+ hype train

[32:43] DON'T INJECT RANDOM STUFF!

[33:47] Cowboy hats for the Wild West

[35:29] Social media vs. science

Studies Mentioned: Gianturco SL, Mattingly AN. Distinguishing between compounding facilities and the development of the 503B bulk drug substance list. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). Jan-Feb 2021;61(1):e8-e11. doi:10.1016/j.japh.2020.06.024

A 2-yr Randomized Controlled Trial on Creatine Supplementation during Exercise for Postmenopausal Bone Health. Philip D Chilibeck et al. Med Sci Sports Exerc.2023.

Prokopidis K, Witard OC. Understanding the role of smoking and chronic excess alcohol consumption on reduced caloric intake and the development of sarcopenia. Nutrition Research Reviews. 2022;35(2):197-206.

Prokopidis K, Giannos P, Triantafyllidis KK, Kechagias KS, Forbes SC, Candow DG. Effects of creatine supplementation on memory in healthy individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutr Rev. Mar 10 2023;81(4):416-427. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuac064

Avgerinos KI, Spyrou N, Bougioukas KI, Kapogiannis D. Effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive function of healthy individuals: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Exp Gerontol. Jul 15 2018;108:166-173. doi:10.1016/j.exger.2018.04.013

Ye Y, Liu X, Wu N, Han Y, Wang J, Yu Y, Chen Q. Efficacy and Safety of Berberine Alone for Several Metabolic Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. Front Pharmacol. 2021 Apr 26;12:653887.

Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube | https://www.perimenopausedrs.com/ovaryactive

Estrogen, Interrupted by Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su & Dr. Amy Voedisch

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/cw/OvaryActive

Meet the Docs:

More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su:

Gennev: https://www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su

LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su

More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch:

Stanford Medical Clinic: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html

This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

We have an announcement! OvaryActive has a Patreon! Help support the show — become a patron for as little as $5/month! https://www.patreon.com/cw/OvaryActive

Perimenopause is apparently the new Black Friday for supplement marketing, and this episode is here to check the receipt.

In part two of the Swallow This supplement series, Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch dig into the body-building-adjacent products showing up all over social media, including peptides, creatine, and the many "miracle" promises aimed at people who are tired, foggy, sweaty, and understandably over it.

They start with peptides, the trendy injectable alphabet soup being marketed for healing, metabolism, anti-aging, and performance. The verdict? Big no. We think you'll understand once you hear what peptides actually are and why FDA-approved peptide medications are very different from what is being sold online. Then the Docs turn to creatine, which thankfully has more information and science behind it and does not immediately need to be thrown into the medical dumpster fire.

This episode covers what looks promising, what looks sketchy, what is probably safe, and what should absolutely not be injected into your body unless you are in an actual doctor's office and not a cash-pay wellness cave.

What you'll hear in this episode:

[0:29] Supplements, again

[1:39] Influencer red flags

[2:57] Peptides: alphabet soup and a hard nope

[10:17] Safety risks and compounding

[13:47] Creatine enters politely dressed as muscle sprinkles

[22:27] Kidney caveat

[24:37] Supplement quality roulette

[25:35] Please don't inject things

Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube | https://www.perimenopausedrs.com/ovaryactive

Estrogen, Interrupted by Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su & Dr. Amy Voedisch

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/cw/OvaryActive

Meet the Docs:

More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su:

Gennev: https://www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su

LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su

More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch:

Stanford Medical Clinic: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html

This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

Perimenopause is already a strange little carnival of bleeding patterns, hot flashes, hormone debates, and wondering whether your body has joined a group chat without you.

Dr. Kemi Doll, gynecologic oncologist, uterine cancer scientist, and author of A Terrible Strength: The Hidden Crisis of the Black Womb and Your Survival Guide to Healing joins this episode of OvaryActive. Together the docs zoom out from the usual menopause chaos to talk about something bigger: the hidden crisis in gynecologic care, especially for Black women, and why "you're fine" has done a truly Olympic amount of damage.

They get into it all, the stories, science, and systemic failures behind disparities in fibroids, endometriosis, heavy bleeding, uterine cancer, and routine gynecologic care. Dr. Doll shares why maternal mortality is only the tip of the iceberg. And she also shares how Black women are often conditioned to minimize pain and symptoms and why doctors need to stop asking vague questions like, "Any problems with your period?" when someone may be casually working from a bathtub in an adult diaper.

Listeners will learn how language shapes care, why "normal" bleeding is not always normal, how misinformation finds its opening, and why better questions, better data, and better listening can literally change outcomes.

Also: nuance is not as catchy as a wellness influencer selling chamomile DNA rearrangement, but unfortunately for the internet, it matters.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• [0:34] Meet Dr. Kemi Doll
• [3:03] Beyond maternal mortality
• [5:22] Uterine cancer and menopause
• [7:00] Power of patient stories
• [10:25] Dismissal and invisibility
• [13:22] Asking better questions
• [19:30] Rebranding birth control
• [29:01] Why write?
• [32:04] Endometriosis misdiagnosis story
• [38:38] Nuance over quick fixes
• [45:37] Bleeding patterns and cancer risk
• [48:38] Let's talk HRT, unopposed estrogen, and estrogen cream
• [56:39] Myths! We always have to cover myths!
• [1:04:28] Wrap up

Links:

https://kemidoll.com/

https://kemidoll.com/book/

@kemidoll on Instagram

@kemidollcoach on Facebook

@kemidoll on LinkedIn

Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube | https://www.perimenopausedrs.com/ovaryactive

Estrogen, Interrupted by Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su & Dr. Amy Voedisch

Meet the Docs:

More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su:

Gennev: https://www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su

LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su

More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch:

Stanford Medical Clinic: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html

This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

In this special bonus episode of OvaryActive, Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch celebrate the arrival of their new book, Estrogen, Interrupted and share an excerpt from the audiobook.

This preview introduces their candid, science-backed approach to perimenopause: the symptoms no one warned you about, why "it's normal" is not a treatment plan, and why women deserve better information, better care, and a lot less medical shrugging.

Listen in for a first taste of the book, including what perimenopause really is, why it can feel so unpredictable, and how Rebecca and Amy are working to make this stage of life less confusing, less isolating, and slightly less "why are my pants suddenly attacking me?

Links:

Get your copy of Estrogen, Interrupted: https://bit.ly/Estrogen-Interrupted-preorder

Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube | https://www.perimenopausedrs.com/ovaryactive

Estrogen, Interrupted by Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su & Dr. Amy Voedisch

This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

Perimenopause is already handing out enough surprises without the internet yelling that menopausal hormone therapy is either a miracle cardiology cape or a one-way ticket to doom.

In this episode of OvaryActive, Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch take on the very confusing question of whether hormone therapy can help prevent cardiovascular disease in menopause.

They walk through the history of hormone therapy and heart health, from large observational studies like Framingham and the Nurses' Health Study to the much-debated Women's Health Initiative, a study that launched roughly a thousand menopause panic spirals.

The doctors explain why timing matters, why older hormone therapy data does not always apply to today's estradiol options, and why oral versus transdermal estrogen is more nuanced than "patch good, pill bad."

So yes, hormones can be fabulous. But no, they do not replace exercise, lipid screening, diabetes care, statins when needed, or the deeply annoying truth that lifestyle still matters.

What you'll hear in this episode:

[2:45] Where the "estrogen protects the heart" idea came from

[5:02] The Women's Health Initiative and why timing matters

[6:31] Plaque, blood clots, and starting hormones later

[7:26] The timing hypothesis and "window of opportunity"

[7:59 Older hormone therapy studies don't always match current treatments…why?

[12:04] What we know about oral estradiol, transdermal estrogen, and the liver

[16:40] Medicare data, mortality claims, and why database studies are tricky

[18:37] Can MHT prevent cardiovascular disease?

[20:37] Proven heart-health strategies that matter most

[22:42] What hormones can help with, and what they CAN'T promise

Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube | https://www.perimenopausedrs.com/ovaryactive

Estrogen, Interrupted by Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su & Dr. Amy Voedisch

Meet the Docs:

More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su:

Gennev: https://www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su

LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su

More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch:

Stanford Medical Clinic: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html

This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

Perimenopause is apparently the perfect time to start worrying about dementia, cholesterol, hearing aids, and whether your brain is quietly packing its bags.

This episode of OvaryActive is part 2 of the conversation with Dr. Ayesha Sherzai of the Brain Docs. Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch are talking with Dr. Sherzai all about dementia prevention, brain health, and the deeply rude realization that the "boring stuff" might actually matter.

This episode picks up with the Lancet Dementia Commission report and the 14 modifiable risk factors linked to dementia, including hearing loss, high LDL cholesterol, depression, diabetes, smoking, physical inactivity, hypertension, obesity, social isolation, vision loss, and more.

Dr. Sherzai explains why midlife is such an important window for prevention, how hearing aids are no longer giant beige Lego pieces, and why statins deserve a much better PR team.

Listeners will learn what really helps reduce dementia risk, what to know about APOE4 genetic testing, and why menopausal hormone therapy should not be started for dementia prevention alone. The conversation also goes over brain health supplements, the limits of "natural" wellness claims, and why expensive pee is not a long-term cognitive strategy.

What you'll hear in this episode:

[0:53] Lancet Report explained

[5:50] 14 risk factors

[7:57] Midlife window shift

[9:15] Hearing loss breakthrough

[14:18] Reading and APOE

[16:57] APOE and LDL

[21:30] Statins for prevention

[24:30] Hormones and dementia

[29:52] Social media hype

[32:52] Supplements reality check

Links:

https://thebraindocs.com

Find the Brain Docs on Instagram: @thebraindocs

Find the Brain Docs on Facebook: @BrainDocsFB

Find the Brain Docs on YouTube: @theBrainDocs

Purchase The NEURO Plan Playbook: http://thebraindocs.com/playbook

Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube | https://www.perimenopausedrs.com/ovaryactive

Estrogen, Interrupted by Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su & Dr. Amy Voedisch

Meet the Docs:

More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su:

Gennev: https://www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su

LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su

More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch: Stanford Medical Clinic: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html

This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

Perimenopause can make your brain feel like it left the room — not that it remembers why it went there in the first place. In this first part of a two-part series with the Brain Docs, OvaryActive is talking all about migraines, hormones, cholesterol, hearing aids, and whether your brain is quietly packing its bags.

Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch welcome Dr. Ayesha Sherzai, one half of the Brain Docs, for a reassuring and science-backed conversation about what is actually happening in the brain during perimenopause. They talk about estrogen, memory, sleep disruption, hot flashes, mood changes, and why midlife brain fog is common, distressing, and usually NOT the beginning of dementia.

Part one is a hopeful, practical episode about brain health, dementia risk, and why You're Not Crazy continues to be the most medically useful sentence in perimenopause.

What you'll hear in this episode:

[0:28] Meet the Brain Docs

[1:21] Why study preventive medicine in neurology specifically?

[4:18] Migraine mea culpa

[5:49] Modern migraine science

[9:29] CGRP treatments explained

[11:37] Hormones OCP stroke risk

[17:24] Midlife brain fog fears

[19:20] Estrogen and cognition

[21:25] "When to worry" signs

[25:16] Referrals, prevention and what's coming in part 2

Links:

https://thebraindocs.com

Find the Brain Docs on Instagram: @thebraindocs

Find the Brain Docs on Facebook: @BrainDocsFB

Find the Brain Docs on YouTube: @theBrainDocs

Purchase The NEURO Plan Playbook: http://thebraindocs.com/playbook

Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube | https://www.perimenopausedrs.com/ovaryactive

Estrogen, Interrupted by Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su & Dr. Amy Voedisch

Meet the Docs:

More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su:

Gennev: https://www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su

LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su

More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch:

Stanford Medical Clinic: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html

This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

Perimenopause: where your body starts doing weird things and then gaslights you about it.

In this episode of OvaryActive, Dr. Amy Voedisch and Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su dive into the "wait…what?" symptoms. Those random, head-scratching changes that pop up during the menopause transition. Think asthma out of nowhere, itchy ears that won't quit, or sudden dizziness that makes you question your balance and your sanity. Is it hormones? Is it aging? Is it both? Welcome to the gray area.

They are sharing what little research exists, where estrogen might be playing a role, and why so many of these symptoms live in the frustrating "we're not totally sure" category.

They also talk about whether menopausal hormone therapy helps, hurts, or lands squarely in the "we'll have to try and see" bucket.

Most importantly, this episode reinforces a core truth: you're not making this up. You're definitely not alone. And you're NOT crazy. This is really happening.

NOTE: Hey, we misspoke: BPPV is from the semicircular canals, not the ossicles. Thanks to listener Amy Patrick for spotting the error!

What you'll hear in this episode:

[0:29] We're talking WEIRD

[0:58] We have to give a disclaimer…because we're doctors.

[2:21] Can hormones fix it?

[3:50] Why am I out of breath?

[10:39] Okay, now I'm dizzy.

[12:47] I can't hear you!

[20:30] My ears are itchy?!

[22:54] My mouth is on fire!

[26:46] Why am I cold all the time? (I thought I was supposed be HOT!)

[29:44] This is really weird. My fingers are…buzzing?

[33:08] We hope you feel better. You're NOT crazy!

Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube

Meet the Docs:

More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su:

Gennev: https://www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su

LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su

More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch:

Stanford Medical Clinic: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html

This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

Perimenopause: the phase where your body does whatever it wants, whenever it wants, and your brain has thoughts about it. So what happens when hot flashes hit, anxiety creeps in, and suddenly you're questioning everything from your wardrobe to your worth? And more importantly…what if the problem isn't just the symptom, but the story you've been told about it?

In this episode of OvaryActive, Julia Weitlauf joins the Docs to talk all about cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for menopause—because apparently, we can't control the hot flashes, but we can control how much they ruin our day.

They are covering what CBT is, how it's been used for decades to treat things like anxiety and insomnia, and how it's now being adapted to help women manage menopause symptoms, specifically the distress around hot flashes.

Listeners will also hear why the CBT approach doesn't eliminate symptoms, but can significantly reduce their impact, improve quality of life, and help women get back to doing the things they love.

Bottom line: menopause may still be a buzzkill… but it doesn't have to run the show.

What you'll hear in this episode:

[3:00] What is CBT?

[4:53] How CBT is used for anxiety, depression, & imsomnia

[6:23] CBT with menopause and perimenopause

[15:08] CBT session-by-session breakdown

[24:47] When menopause overlaps with anxiety and depression

[26:58] CBT improves sleep, mood, and quality of life…why?

[28:08] DIY options

[32:26] Who should use CBT?

[33:41] How to find a therapist trained in CBT?

[35:19] Final takeaway

Resources:

Julia Weitlauf on LinkedIn

Managing Hot Flushes and Night Sweats by Myra Hunter

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us

Perimenopause is still taking the blame… but in this unexpected third installment (because Amy just got too excited), we're talking about functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA).

Dr. Chrisandra Shuflet joins the Docs in this episode of OvaryActive to explain FHA, tell us why it is often missed or dismissed, and how it's diagnosed. The conversation explores how disrupted brain signaling leads to low estrogen, why it's a diagnosis of exclusion, and how this condition shows up most often in younger women, even though its impact can follow you well into perimenopause and beyond.

As a condition that can look like perimenopause but is actually your brain hitting the pause button on your ovaries. If your cycle disappears and you're nowhere near your forties, it's probably not peri… it's your body responding to stress, under-fueling, over-exercising. Or maybe all of the above.

What you'll hear in this episode:

[0:34] Welcome Chrisandra Shufelt, MD

[3:46] What is FHA?

[6:02] A diagnosis of exclusion

[7:00] Lab patterns to distinguish FHS, PCOS, POI

[8:45] Who is most at risk:

[13:42] Why do so many women go years without a diagnosis?

[18:14] Long-term risks

[20:30] Cardiovascular connection

[22:38] ARCH study

[29:13] What does a history of FHA mean in perimenopause?

[33:34] Treatment approach (sorry, no Rx)

[37:22] Final takeaways: you are NOT crazy still applies!

Links:

Reveal trial: https://www.mayo.edu/research/clinical-trials/cls-20570285

Dr Shufelt: http://www.mayo.edu/research/faculty/shufelt-chrisandra-l-m-d/bio-20542101

@chrisandra-shufelt-md-ms-facp-mscp on LinkedIn

Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube

Meet the Docs:

More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su:

Gennev: https://www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su

LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su

More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch:

Stanford Medical Clinic: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html

This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

Perimenopause gets blamed for a lot of things – mood swings, weird cycles, rogue chin hairs – but sometimes the culprit isn't peri at all. In Part 2 of When It's NOT Peri, the Docs are talking about polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a condition that looks suspiciously like perimenopause but actually comes from a completely different hormonal playbook.

The hosts explain what PCOS actually is, why insulin resistance sits at the center of the syndrome, and how symptoms like irregular periods, acne, hair growth, and weight changes can overlap with perimenopause. They also walk through how doctors diagnose PCOS, the famous Rotterdam criteria, and why clinicians often have to rule out several other endocrine issues before landing on the diagnosis.

The episode also explores how PCOS evolves across the lifespan and why the metabolic side of the condition still matters long after the reproductive years are over.

What you'll hear in this episode:

[1:11] PCOS defined and misnamed

[3:29] Symptoms that overlap

[5:55] Ethnicity and different presentations

[7:42] Rotterdam diagnostic criteria

[12:16] Who gets diagnosed and when

[18:00] Hormone signaling and ovulation disruption

[20:48] Fertility timing, OPKs, & birth control

[29:54] Lifestyle and metformin

[33:22] PCOS in perimenopause

[37:10] Research gaps and advocacy

[40:09] Takeaways

Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube

Meet the Docs:

More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su:

Gennev: https://www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su

LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su

More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch:

Stanford Medical Clinic: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html

This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

Perimenopause gets blamed for a lot… but sometimes it's innocent. In this first episode of our two-part series When It's NOT Peri, the Docs talk about what happens when symptoms that look like perimenopause are actually something else entirely. Sometimes the ovaries aren't "transitioning"… they're waving a much earlier white flag.

This episode of OvaryActive zeroes in on premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). This is a condition where ovarian function declines before age 40. Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch walk through what POI is and what it isn't. They also talk about why diagnosis can take years, how it differs from typical perimenopause, and the detective work involved in ruling out other causes like thyroid issues, genetics, or prior treatments.

Along the way, listeners will understand why symptoms can feel confusingly similar yet require a completely different medical approach. POI is more than a cycle change. It's a long-term health consideration affecting bone, heart, brain, fertility, and mental health. And early treatment matters.

Think of this episode as the "wait, could it be something else?" guide: equal parts validation, science, and practical next steps to help you recognize when maybe it's NOT peri.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• [1:52] Maybe it's NOT peri. Maybe it's POI
• [6:15] The workup: genetics, fragile x, turner syndrome, & more
• [9:41] Causes to rule out
• [12:09] We treat POI aggressively, here's why
• [15:46] Long-term health stakes

• bone health, heart & brain, mental health, & sexual health

• [23:43] How to treat POI
• [26:25] Contraception options in POI
• [30:12] Long-term planning
• [32:54] Special cases
• [39:06] Key takeaways & wrap-up: POI is NOT peri

Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube

Meet the Docs:

More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su:

Gennev: https://www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su

LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su

More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch:

Stanford Medical Clinic: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html

When we talk about perimenopause, we talk a lot about symptoms, but not nearly enough about what's happening to your heart. Since February is Heart Health Month, it's the perfect time to take a "beat" to focus on your cardiovascular health.

In this episode of OvaryActive, the Docs zoom out from hot flashes and hormones to talk about the number one killer of women: cardiovascular disease. They also explain why the menopause transition is a critical (and often ignored) window for heart health.

Preventive cardiologist Dr. Beth Abramson joins Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch to connect the dots between perimenopause, estrogen changes, and rising cardiovascular risk.

They talk about why cholesterol and blood pressure tend to creep up after ovarian function declines and how lifestyle factors actually matter more than we'd like them to. This conversation reframes midlife as an opportunity, not a countdown.

The takeaway? You're not doomed, but you do need to pay attention. Your heart has been quietly keeping score this whole time.

What you'll hear in this episode:

[0:28] Welcome Dr. Beth Abramson

[1:20] Heart health 101

[5:21] Understanding risk factors and prevention

[7:30] Diet & exercise: practical advice

[12:34] Menopause & cardiovascular health

[16:30] Pregnancy & long-term heart health

[24:11] Lp(a) explained

[26:29] Hormones ≠ heart shield

[32:14] Risk–Benefit Math

[40:16] What the future holds

[44:07] Basic health practices are important

[44:36] A few final thoughts on heart health

Resources:

https://cardiometabolicprevent.ca/

Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube

Meet the Docs:

More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su:

Gennev: https://www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su

LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su

More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch:

Stanford Medical Clinic: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html

Birth control or hormone therapy? Why does this decision feel like a personality test you didn't study for?

In this episode of OvaryActive, the Docs tackle one of the most confusing (and hotly debated) topics in perimenopause: when birth control is actually the right choice, when menopausal hormone therapy makes more sense, and why TikTok might not be the best place for medical nuance.

Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch walk listeners through how clinicians actually think about this decision. The process includes contraceptive needs, bleeding patterns, symptom "greatest hits," and medical history that actually matters.

The Docs will guide you through the options and even cover what a combination approach might look like. Most importantly, shared decision-making, not social media panic, should guide treatment choices.

This episode reminds you that perimenopause is real, complicated, and highly individual. And the right plan is the one that treats your physiology, not someone else's algorithm.

What you'll hear in this episode:

[1:05] Birth control vs. hormone therapy

[2:49] Contraception needs during perimenopause

[5:34] Understanding menopausal hormone therapy

[7:45] Assessing symptoms

[16:59] So many choices! How do you choose?

[22:03] Breakthrough symptoms

[23:51] Combination approaches (Amy's FAV)

[29:58] You didn't miss the window!

[35:32] Alternative methods & why they may not be a good fit

[40:22] You're NOT crazy!

Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube

Meet the Docs:

More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su:

Gennev: https://www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su

LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su

More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch:

Stanford Medical Clinic: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html