Fempower Health | A Women's Health Podcast

Originally Released October 2021Dr. Mindy Pelz, D.C speaks about how women should incorporate intermittent fasting based on where they are in their cycle and over their life span of reproductive years, perimenopause, and menopause. Dr Mindy is a best selling author, keynote speaker, nutrition and functional medicine expert who has spent over two decades helping thousands of people successfully reclaim their health. In this episode, Dr Mindy covers:What is intermittent fasting, and how does it promote fat-burning and metabolic switching?How do blood sugar stabilization and dietary changes support a successful fasting transition?What is “dirty fasting,” and why is it counterproductive to health goals?How can women map fasting schedules to their menstrual cycles?What are the specific intermittent fasting strategies for women in perimenopause or post-menopause?What is the role of ketones in brain health, and should women consider exogenous ketones?How does intermittent fasting impact conditions like obesity, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders?What does “n of one” mean, and how can women customize fasting for their unique health needs?How can women use nutrition, mindfulness, and fasting to balance hormones during life transitions?Why are women hormonally driven to share health discoveries, and how does this influence health trends?Referenced in the podcast & related episodes:Resources and episodes on Perimenopause & Menopause and sign up for the Perimenopause and Menopause newsletter The Menopause Reset by Dr Mindy PelzHormone Repair Manual by Dr Lara BridenNew England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) Article on the Science Behind Intermittent Fasting🎧 Loved the episode? Here's how you can take action:1. Help others discover Fempower Health:Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.2. Stay connected:Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.Or join our newsletter to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024** Guest BioDr. Mindy Pelz, D.C is a best selling author, keynote speaker, nutrition and functional medicine expert who has spent over two decades helping thousands of people successfully reclaim their health. She is a recognized leader in the alternative health field and a pioneer in the fasting movement, teaching the principles of a fasting lifestyle, diet variation, detox, hormones, and more. Her popular YouTube channel combines the latest science with practical lifestyle tools every person can use to reset their health. She is the host of one of the leading science podcasts, The Resetter Podcast, and the author of three best-selling books; The Menopause Reset, The Reset Factor, and The Reset Kitchen. **The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.****May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**

Episode OverviewTikTok banned my anatomy quiz. The reason? I showed an anatomically correct clitoris model and asked people to guess what it was. No explicit words. No graphic content. Just science.This is exactly why Saundra Pelletier, CEO of Evofem Biosciences, launched #SayVaginaMonth —a movement to fight censorship, challenge stigma, and normalize medically accurate conversations about women’s bodies.What You’ll Hear in This EpisodeWhy female anatomy gets censored while male terms don’tHow stigma in language leads to silence in the exam roomWhy even doctors avoid sexual health—and how to change thatWhy naming body parts correctly is critical for safety, consent & careWhat you can do to join #SayVaginaMonth and push back against bansWhy This MattersIf we can’t say vagina or clitoris without fear of being banned, how can we expect healthcare, policy, or research to serve women properly? Words shape awareness. Awareness shapes care. Silence keeps us in the shadows.Resources & LinksConnect with Saundra Pelletier on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok🎧 Loved the episode? Here's how you can take action:1. Help others discover Fempower Health:Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.2. Stay connected:Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.Or join our newsletter to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024** **The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.****May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**

With new conversations on longevity coming up, I wanted to bring back this interview so you can revisit (or hear for the first time) the key insights that are still shaping how we think about women and aging.Originally Published October 2023The ovaries play a key role in overall health, not just reproduction. More scientific findings are revealing that the ovaries even influence mood, behavior, and longevity. In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Garrison from the Buck Institute for Research on Aging explains the intricate relationship between the brain and reproductive organs. She covers topics including the science of aging, the “hypothalamus pituitary gonadal axis”, menopause and health, hormone replacement therapy, and the importance of understanding ovarian function.Dr. Jennifer Garrison is a PhD scientist and the head of a research lab at the Buck Institute, an independent institute dedicated to studying aging as a risk factor for diseases. Listen as Dr. Garrison explores how age is the primary risk factor for most chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Discussed in this episode:How the brain controls female physiology, including reproductive functionEarly menopause and POI/POF Menopause and how it relates to overall health The fascinating story women’s ovaries can tell us about aging Understanding hormones as messengers in the bodyThe impact of diet and exercise on aging and fertility How understanding the aging process can help target and treat age-related diseasesHormone replacement therapy for hormonal imbalances during agingPhysical and emotional symptoms associated with periods, motherhood, and menopause"If we can understand the mechanisms that underlie aging— what's causing it, what's driving it— then we can use that knowledge to target age-related diseases." — Dr. Jennifer GarrisonRelated to this episode:Related episodes: Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) and Menopause | Dr. Mandy LeonhardtRelated episode: Women’s Health and the Ovulation Cycle | Dr. Jerilynn PriorDr. Garrison’s Lab at Buck Institute: www.buckinstitute.org/lab/garrison-lab Dr. Jennifer Garrison on Twitter and LinkedIn Find Global Consortium for Reproductive Longevity and Equality (GCRLE) on Twitter,  Instagram, and LinkedInResources and episodes on Breaking Taboos Recommended Books on Hormones and Menstrual Health Resources and episodes on Perimenopause & Menopause and sign up for the Perimenopause and Menopause newsletter 🎧 Loved the episode? Here's how you can take action:1. Help others discover Fempower Health:Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.2. Stay connected:Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.Or join our newsletter to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024** **The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.****May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**

Episode SummaryIn this episode, Georgie Kovacs, founder of Fempower Health, unpacks the recent FDA hearing on SSRI use during pregnancy—an emotionally charged and complex conversation that brought together OB-GYNs, psychiatrists, pharmacologists, and advocates.Drawing on over 25 years in healthcare consulting and six years interviewing global women's health leaders, Georgie offers a balanced, deeply informed analysis of the real conversation that took place—beyond the headlines and controversy.This wasn’t just a debate about antidepressants in pregnancy. It was a wider reckoning with how we define mental health, how we treat it, and the pressures facing clinicians and patients in a fragmented system. From risk-benefit tradeoffs and informed consent to how “depression” is diagnosed and operationalized, this episode explores what was said, what was missing, and what we need next.Whether you're a woman seeking clarity or a clinician striving to provide the best care, this episode breaks it all down.Discussion Points What actually happened at the FDA panel on SSRIs and pregnancy?Are SSRIs overprescribed—or unfairly stigmatized—during pregnancy?Is "depression" too broad of a diagnosis?How do mental health diagnoses affect treatment decisions for pregnant women?Why is informed consent inconsistent in SSRI prescribing?What are the long-term risks of untreated maternal depression?Are OB-GYNs expected to manage too much—including mental health?How does limited access to psychiatrists shape treatment options?What does better mental healthcare look like during pregnancy?Should we rethink how we integrate psychotherapy, medication, and lifestyle care?Expert Backgrounds MentionedOB-GYNs treating pregnant patients on SSRIsPsychiatrists both prescribing and deprescribing antidepressantsAcademic researchers investigating serotonin’s effects on fetal developmentAdvocacy leaders spotlighting systemic barriers to mental health careResourcesFDA Hearing: https://www.fda.gov/patients/fda-expert-panels/fda-expert-panel-selective-serotonin-reuptake-inhibitors-ssris-and-pregnancy-07212025ACOG Response to FDA Hearing: https://www.acog.org/news/news-releases/2025/07/statement-on-benefit-of-access-to-ssris-during-pregnancySociety for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) Statement https://www.smfm.org/news/smfm-statement-on-ssris-and-pregnancyRegulatory Focus Responds: https://www.raps.org/news-and-articles/news-articles/2025/7/fda-panel-debates-label-change-on-ssri-use-duringSTAT News Responds: https://www.statnews.com/2025/07/25/ssri-drugs-fda-review-panel-antidepressants-pregnancy/National Curriculum in Reproductive Psychiatry (NCRP) Responds: https://ncrptraining.org/press-release-ncrp-responds-to-fda-panel-on-ssri-use-in-pregnancy/🎧 Loved the episode? Here's how you can take action:1. Help others discover Fempower Health:Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.2. Stay connected:Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.Or join our newsletter to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024** **The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.****May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**

It's Fibroid Awareness Month and this is an important topic to have front and center in your listening feed!Originally Published April 2025Uterine Fibroids: What You’re Not Being Told About Your Treatment OptionsUterine fibroids affect up to 80% of women by age 50, yet most are not given the full range of treatment options. In this episode, I speak with leading fibroid experts—including minimally invasive surgeons, interventional radiologists, and advocates—to unpack the medical, financial, and structural reasons why hysterectomy is so often pushed as the default solution.Whether you’re trying to preserve fertility, manage chronic pain, or simply want to know what questions to ask at your next appointment, this episode is a must-listen.🎧 What We Cover in This EpisodeWhat uterine fibroids are and who they affect mostThe different types of fibroid treatment (UFE, myomectomy, hormonal therapy, hysterectomy)Why UFE is still underutilized despite being a first-line treatmentHow reimbursement structures impact the care women receiveHow to prepare for your appointment and advocate for yourselfWhat a true multidisciplinary care model looks likeThe connection between fibroid care and larger women’s health equity issues💬 Expert Guests FeaturedDr. Jessica Opoku-Anane – Minimally Invasive GYN Surgeon, ColumbiaDr. Marc Schiffman – Co-Executive Director, Weill Cornell Medicine Fibroid CenterTanika Gray Valbrun – Founder, The White Dress Project and fibroid awareness advocate🧠 Key TakeawaysAsk about all options before agreeing to surgeryConsider seeing a center that includes interventional radiologists and minimally invasive surgeonsYour experience and symptoms are valid—even if you’ve been told “it’s normal”Tracking your symptoms before appointments helps you get better careInsurance coverage and doctor training gaps often limit what gets recommendedResources:What Your Doctor Might Not be Telling You about Fibroid Treatment: https://fempowerhealth.beehiiv.com/p/uterine-fibroids-treatment-options-beyond-hysterectomyHysterectomy Unveiled: What your Doctors Don't Always Tell You: https://fempowerhealth.beehiiv.com/p/hysterectomy-informed-consent-womens-health🎧 Loved the episode? Here's how you can take action:1. Help others discover Fempower Health:Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.2. Stay connected:Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.Or join our newsletter to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024** **The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.****May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**

The FDA finally held a hearing on menopause—and it was long overdue. Georgie Kovacs breaks down the powerful expert testimony, the systemic failures, and why this matters for every woman navigating midlife care.In this grounded recap, you’ll learn:Why the FDA’s black box warning on vaginal estrogen may be misleadingThe difference between systemic and local hormone absorption—and why it mattersHow testosterone access for women remains limited despite clear clinical needWhat experts like Dr. James Simon, Dr. Heather Hirsch, and Dr. Rachel Rubin said that might change the gameOne big thing missing: progesterone. Should women with a uterus be taking it?“Can we fix menopause care if doctors aren’t trained, patients are afraid, and the FDA mislabels essential treatments?” -Georgie KovacsResources Mentioned:Watch the full FDA hearing on menopauseGeorgie’s YouTube RecapResources and episodes on Perimenopause & Menopause and sign up for the Perimenopause and Menopause newsletter 🎧 Loved the episode? Here's how you can take action:1. Help others discover Fempower Health:Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.2. Stay connected:Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.Or join our newsletter to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024** **The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.****May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**

Your body is talking to itself all the time — through your gut, brain, and hormones. This week, we trace how these hidden threads shape health, pain, mental focus, and even policy momentum for menopause and endometriosis.What You’ll LearnThe Gut Microbiome & Chronic PainNew research shows your gut microbiome may hold “signatures” for chronic pain conditions — but personalized treatment isn’t there yet. What does an anti-inflammatory diet or SCFAs mean now?ADHD as an Evolutionary StrengthEvidence supports the “hunter in a farmer’s world” idea: ADHD traits once helped our ancestors survive. So how do we design schools, workplaces, and mental health care to match that reality — especially for women affected by PMDD?Menopause Policy MomentumMore than 15 states have introduced menopause bills this year — plus the NextGen Now initiative is training thousands of providers. But funding and policy only help if they reach real people.Why Connecting the Dots MattersWhen we silo gut health, neurodiversity, and hormones, people pay the price in misdiagnosis and costly, fragmented care. This episode shows why connecting these threads matters for patients — and for anyone shaping the system.Listen If You’re:A patient, advocate, or startup founder working to make healthcare more wholeNavigating ADHD, chronic pain, or hormonal shiftsCurious about the intersection of science, policy, and real-world careResources & Related LinksRead the newsletter The Threads We Keep MissingListen to my interview with Dr. Caroline Mitchell on the Vaginal MicrobiomeListen to my interview with Dr. Allie Sharma on Mental Health and MenopauseRead about the $24 billion menopause opportunityExplore Fempower Health’s ADHD resources🎧 Loved the episode? Here's how you can take action:1. Help others discover Fempower Health:Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.2. Stay connected:Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.Or join our newsletter to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024** **The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.****May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**

Episode SummaryWhy do so many women feel dismissed in healthcare — even when they see good doctors? The problem isn’t always the people — it’s the cultural stories we’ve told about what “matters.”Inspired by sports journalist Kate Fagan’s TED Radio Hour insight on women’s sports, Georgie draws a powerful parallel to women’s health: when we don’t tell clear stories or define the stakes, we leave research gaps, funding gaps, and entire conditions misunderstood.In just 10 minutes, you’ll hear:What Kate Fagan’s quote reveals about collective blind spotsHow endometriosis, PMDD, and IUD pain show this in actionWhy better stories are the first step to better funding, research, and careHow this idea applies far beyond women’s health, to any overlooked issueListen If You…Have ever felt unseen in a doctor’s officeWork in healthcare, research, or policy and want better insightsWant to understand the link between storytelling and system changeResources & Next StepsListen to the TED Radio Hour episode with Kate Fagan Read the full companion article: What We Don’t See, We Don’t Solve🎧 Loved the episode? Here's how you can take action:1. Help others discover Fempower Health:Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.2. Stay connected:Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.Or join our newsletter to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024** **The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.****May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**

Episode SummaryCeliac disease is often dismissed as just a gluten issue — but for millions, the reality is far more complex.In this episode, Fempower Health breaks down two new studies showing:Why diagnosis is still delayed — especially for women, people of color, and patients with clear symptoms.How an immune “scar” in the gut can cause ongoing symptoms, even with a strict gluten-free diet.What this means for anyone still feeling dismissed or untreated.If you’ve struggled with gut issues, chronic symptoms, or frustrating medical visits, this is for you.Listen now to learnThe top risk factors that should lead to celiac testing — but often don’tWhat researchers found when they looked at individual gut cellsHow to use this knowledge to ask better questions about your healthResources MentionedLearn about Beyond Celiac — research and advocacyFull article: Celiac Disease Isn’t Just Gluten: Why Diagnosis Is Delayed—and Symptoms Linger🎧 Loved the episode? Here's how you can take action:1. Help others discover Fempower Health:Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.2. Stay connected:Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.Or join our newsletter to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024** **The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.****May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**

Episode Summary:In this episode of the Fempower Health Podcast, we unpack one of the most important shifts happening in gynecology that few patients know about: salpingectomy—the removal of the fallopian tubes—is replacing tubal ligation in many cases as a way to reduce ovarian cancer risk.Research has shown that most ovarian cancers actually begin in the fallopian tubes, not the ovaries. But outdated coding, confusing consent processes, and insurance issues have made this simple, evidence-based cancer prevention tool harder for women to access—or even understand.This 10-minute episode breaks it all down in plain English.🩺 What You’ll Learn:Why most ovarian cancers don’t start in the ovariesWhat salpingectomy is—and how it differs from tubal ligationWhy more doctors are removing fallopian tubes during surgeryHow new diagnostic codes launching in Fall 2025 may improve access and insurance coverageWhat questions to ask your OB-GYN to make informed decisions🔎 Why This Matters:With no effective screening for ovarian cancer, prevention matters more than ever. Salpingectomy offers a promising path—but most women don’t know about it, and many have undergone surgery without fully understanding what was done.Informed consent isn’t just a checkbox—it’s the foundation of agency in healthcare. If you or someone you love is facing a hysterectomy or sterilization procedure, this episode is a must-listen.Resources & Links:Read the blog post Ovarian Cancer Might Not Start in the OvaryListen to my interview with the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance as we discuss why ovarian cancer is so hard to diagnose and why women are typically diagnosed in its later stages.Listen to my interview with Oriana Papin-Zoghbi about her company’s efforts to create an ovarian cancer diagnostic.Share This Episode:Know someone planning surgery or looking to reduce their cancer risk? Send them this episode or post it on social media. Because when women are informed, they’re empowered.🎧 Loved the episode? Here's how you can take action:1. Help others discover Fempower Health:Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.2. Stay connected:Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.Or join our newsletter to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024** **The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.****May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**