The Dan Buettner Podcast Why Menopause is "Hot" Right Now with Dr. Jessica Shepherd
Jan 29, 2026
Dr. Jessica Shepherd, a board-certified OB-GYN and women's health expert, explains why menopause matters now and its links to longevity. She discusses timing of menopause, wide-ranging symptoms beyond hot flashes, hair and metabolic changes, diet and movement strategies, research gaps, HRT timing, and how lifestyle and environment shape menopausal health.
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Longevity Outpaced Our Biology
- Women’s life expectancy has increased ~20 years since the early 1900s, creating an unaddressed long post-reproductive period.
- Jessica Shepherd links that gap to loss of estrogen’s systemic vitality across organs.
Think About Delaying Menopause
- Consider research and therapies aimed at delaying menopause to preserve estrogen's protective effects.
- Jessica Shepherd says scientists are working to 'expand menopause' timing for vitality, not reproduction.
Sleep Is The Dominant Symptom
- Nearly all women experience at least one menopausal symptom, but hot flashes are not universal.
- Sleep disturbance is the most common symptom and critically affects long-term health.
