Ep. 529 The Medical Gaslighting Epidemic – Why Women Deserve a Better Healthcare Model | Menopause with Dr. Sameena Rahman
Everyday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Menopause, and Science for Women 35+
Oral contraceptives' effects on vulvar tissue
Sameena reviews how some combined pills raise SHBG, reduce available androgens and can contribute to vestibular atrophy in susceptible women.
Today, I am delighted to connect with Dr. Sameena Rahman, a board-certified OBGYN and certified menopause practitioner with over a decade of expertise in midlife sexual medicine and concierge gynecology. Dr. Rahman founded the GSM Collective in downtown Chicago to deliver a more personalized patient-first model of health care for women.
In our conversation, we explore how cultural and racial factors influence care for women, particularly during the menopausal transition. We discuss the heart disease risk of women with a baseline of inflammation and insulin resistance, the effects of allostatic load on minority women, why cognitive health is crucial, the impact of alcohol, and why the current medical model is a systemic failure that gaslights women. We also examine the impact of pelvic floor therapy, appropriate pelvic examinations, specific autoimmune vulvar conditions, and how oral contraceptives affect sexual health, and Dr. Rahman shares her recommendations for preventing frailty and loss of independence.
I am a big admirer of Dr. Rahman’s work and look forward to having her join us again after her new book is published.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:
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Why Hormone Replacement Therapy alone might not solve all menopausal genital issues
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How pelvic floor issues can even affect women who have not given vaginal births
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What a routine Pap smear can miss, regarding vulvar and vestibular health
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What a simple Q-tip test can reveal about vulvar pain
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How untreated pain can create a cycle of pelvic floor problems
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How local hormone therapy can target vulvar and vestibular pain where systemic hormones may fall short
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The benefits of trauma-informed exams
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The value of integrating pelvic floor therapy with local hormone treatment
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How long-term birth control use might affect vulvar tissue
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What to consider for balancing contraception with sexual health
Bio: Dr. Sameena Rahman
Dr. Sameena Rahman is a board-certified OB/GYN, sex-med gynecologist, menopause specialist, and a clinical assistant professor of OB/GYN at the Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine. She is the founder of the GYN & Sexual Medicine Collective, a successful concierge practice that emphasizes evidence-based medicine, and an affiliate of Ms. Medicine. Dr. Rahman is dedicated to evaluating and treating each patient with compassion, trauma-informed care, and an awareness of personal bias. Additionally, she hosts the podcast Gyno Girl Presents: Sex, Drugs & Hormones and will release her first book, Brown Girls Disease? A Guide To Sexual Health and Empowerment through a South Asian Lens in 2026.
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Connect with Dr. Sameena Rahman
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Dr. Sameena Rahman on Instagram (@gynogirl)
Resources
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Prosayla (Female Sexual Health Education)
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