Introduction

In this episode, Dr. Suzanne Fenske shares her integrative approach for treating numerous women's health conditions including hormonal imbalances, endometriosis and PCOS. She is a big proponent of using a healthy lifestyle to overcome these health issues, including an anti-inflammatory diet, high quality sleep, stress management and the right exercise. She also shares what symptoms are normal vs common, what peri-menopausal women need to know, the importance of gut and liver health, when to use Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT), and more!

Board-certified gynecologist and integrative health expert Suzanne Fenske, MD, FACOG, provides holistic medical care to optimize patients’ health at TārāMD in Lenox Hill, Manhattan, in New York City. Dr. Fenske applies her broad medical expertise to treat a range of complex conditions, including hormone imbalances, endometriosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), using a functional approach. Dr. Fenske entered an accelerated medical program at age 17 before starting her undergraduate education at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. She then attended medical school at Drexel College of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she discovered her passion for women’s health. She continued her training with a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. Dr. Fenske continued to advance her education and training with a highly renowned minimally invasive gynecologic surgery fellowship at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, also in New York City. Even after all this training, she felt her patients deserved more comprehensive care. This led her to pursue additional training in whole-body health care at the University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine in Tucson, Arizona. Today, Dr. Fenske uses her unique combination of advanced training to provide unmatched care in hormone therapy for perimenopause and menopause, SoLā for pelvic pain, and functional medicine for a range of gynecological conditions. She also contributes to peer-reviewed studies, news articles, and national conferences. Outside her office, Dr. Fenske lives a rich life with her supportive husband, two daughters, and their pet, Lola. She enjoys cooking, meditation, reading, and yoga. 

SHOW NOTES:

0:51 Welcome to the show!

1:36 Pop Quiz Question

2:39 Chatting about women’s hormones

5:39 About Dr. Suzanne Fenske

7:26 Welcome Suzanne to the podcast!

11:01 Getting started with hormone optimization

14:23 Why does lifestyle matter for PCOS?

16:20 Why are PCOS & Endometriosis overlooked?

18:26 Symptoms that are not normal

20:37 What is ideal/optimal for the menstrual cycle

22:04 Her approach to PCOS

23:34 Addressing insulin & glucose

25:05 *Magnesium Breakthrough*

26:53 Optimizing over-active androgens

27:46 Birth control options & alternatives

29:52 Endometriosis: causes & solutions

32:15 Lab testing estrogen & progesterone

35:19 *Silverbiotics*

26:53 Lifestyle modifications for Endometriosis

38:57 Pelvic Floor pain

41:37 SoLa Pelvic Therapy

43:25 Perimenopause & hormonal fluctuations

47:15 When to start Bioidentical Hormones & 

48:47 Gut Microbiome health

50:15 Liver function & alcohol consumption

51:50 Sleep support with Sensate

53:34 How to supper increased hunger & cravings

54:35 Her final piece of advice

55:25 The inspiration for TaraMD

56:14 Thanks for tuning in!

RESOURCES:

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About Suzanne Fenske

TaraMD.com

IG: taramd4women

TikTok: taramd4women

YouTube: TaraMD

EWG.org

SoLa Pelvic Therapy

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Magnesium Breakthrough - code: BIOHACKERBABES

Silverbiotics - code: BIOHACKERBABES