Episode 100
Episode 100: A Major Win for Women's Health & Answers to Your Top Questions
It's our 100th episode! I celebrate this milestone with Karen Bradley, NP, discussing the biggest wins, most common questions, and key themes from nearly two years of podcasting about women's sexual health and menopause.
We dive into the FDA's recent decision to remove the boxed warning from vaginal estrogen a huge victory for women's health advocacy. This warning has prevented countless women from getting treatment for painful sex, recurrent UTIs, and other symptoms of genitourinary syndrome of menopause.
I share a powerful story of a patient with breast cancer history who was denied hormone therapy by her oncology team, only to have them completely reverse course once the boxed warning was removed.
The conversation covers the most frequently asked questions from listeners: Is it perimenopause or just stress? (It's both.) Why is my libido gone? (Biology, psychology, and life circumstances all play a role.) Why do I keep getting UTIs after sex? (Often it's vestibulodynia or changes in the vaginal microbiome from estrogen deficiency.) How do I talk to my partner about sex? (Communication is key, and sometimes you need a sex therapist to help.)
We also discuss the reality of midlife weight gain, the role of GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Zepbound, and why building muscle matters more than endless cardio. This episode is a celebration of how far we've come and a reminder that you don't have to suffer through menopause.
Highlights:
- The FDA removed the boxed warning from vaginal estrogen—what this means for access to care
- The biology behind midlife low libido and why it's not "all in your head"
- Why recurrent UTIs after sex might actually be vestibulodynia or vaginal microbiome changes.
- How to talk to your partner about sex when you've never had those conversations
- The truth about midlife weight gain and what hormones can and can't do
- GLP-1 medications: FDA approvals for weight loss, cardiovascular protection, MASH, and sleep apnea
Thank you for being here for 100 episodes. Honestly, there have been times I've wanted to stop, but then I get a DM from someone saying they heard something on the podcast that changed their care, or a patient tells me they finally found answers here. That's what keeps me going.
The biggest way you can help me keep doing this work is simple: share this show with someone who needs it and hit subscribe. When you share an episode with a friend who's struggling, a family member who's been dismissed by doctors, or post about it on social media, you're helping me reach more women who deserve better care.
Thank you for listening, for learning, and for advocating alongside me. Here's to the next 100.
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