Fempower Health | A Women's Health Podcast

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**

Episode Summary: Breast Cancer Prevention Just Took Two Big Steps ForwardIn this short but powerful episode, Georgie breaks down two groundbreaking developments in breast cancer prevention that could reshape how we think about screening, menopause care, and early intervention:1️⃣ An FDA-authorized AI tool—Clairity Breast—that predicts a woman’s five-year breast cancer risk from a standard mammogram, even when it appears normal.2️⃣ A menopause drug, Duavee, that may help prevent invasive breast cancer in women with a history of high-risk lesions like DCIS.These tools aren’t just high-tech—they’re practical, accessible, and represent a smarter, more equitable approach to women’s health.Whether you're a clinician, policymaker, or woman navigating your own care, this episode breaks down what you need to know.🔍 What You'll Learn in This Episode✅ FDA-Approved AI for Breast Cancer Risk PredictionWhat Clairity Breast is and how it worksWhy it matters for women under 50How it fits into current mammogram workflowsTimeline for rollout and insurance coverage considerations✅ Menopause Drug Duavee and Breast Cancer PreventionNew clinical trial results shared at the ASCO 2025 meetingWhy this treatment could benefit women with DCIS or other precancerous lesionsWhat clinicians and high-risk patients should be asking nowDuavee’s current FDA status and reimbursement landscape✅ The Bigger Picture: Why This Is a Turning Point in Women's HealthWhat these two tools signal about the future of precision and preventionHow they're designed to work in real-world care—not just research labsWhy this episode matters for people advocating for smarter, faster, fairer care🎯 Who This Episode Is ForWomen navigating breast cancer risk or menopause decisionsClinicians, radiologists, and OB-GYNs focused on patient-centered careHealthcare innovators, startup leaders, and payers interested in smarter early interventionPolicy leaders and health equity advocates📌 Resources & ReferencesRead about Clairity Breast – FDA De Novo authorization detailsLearn about Duavee – Clinical trial results presented at ASCO 2025Check out the blog post of this episode: Breast Cancer Prevention Just Leveled Up: What Two Breakthroughs Mean for the Future of Women’s Health📣 Help Spread the WordIf this episode helped you understand the future of breast cancer prevention, share it with a friend or clinician who needs to hear it.🎧 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 OverviewIn this episode, I take a closer look at compounded medications—what they are, when they’re used, and the important nuances behind their growing popularity.From hormone therapy and menopause care to semaglutide and GLP-1s, compounded meds are often described as personalized solutions. But these treatments exist in a regulatory gray area, with real variability in quality, safety, and effectiveness.This episode is about cutting through confusion—without judgment or hype—and offering context to help you better understand your options.What You’ll LearnWhat compounded medications are and when they’re usedWhy some women rely on them for hormone therapy, PCOS, progesterone intolerance, or GLP-1 accessWhat’s different between FDA-approved medications and compounded versionsWhy terms like “bioidentical” can be misleadingThe impact of drug shortages, insurance limitations, and gaps in careWhy It MattersMany people don’t realize that compounded medications aren’t FDA-approved—and that doesn’t automatically make them dangerous or ineffective. But it does mean they operate by different rules. This episode offers a grounded look at what’s happening behind the scenes and why these treatments are increasingly common in women’s health and beyond.ResourcesRead article on Fear, misinformation, and pharmaceutical messianism in the promotion of compounded bioidentical hormone therapyCheck out the blog post version of this episode here, which includes all citations.🎧 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**

What Every Patient and Clinician Should Know About the 2025 Guidelines for IUD Insertion Pain ManagementFor years, patients have reported severe pain during IUD insertions—only to be told it's "just a pinch." Now, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued updated guidance that changes everything.This episode breaks down what’s in the new guidelines, why it matters, and what’s still standing in the way of better care.What We Cover in This EpisodeWhat ACOG and CDC now recommend for IUD pain reliefWhy misoprostol is no longer a routine optionHow reimbursement challenges affect what happens in the exam roomWhat to do if your provider isn’t aware of the new guidelinesThe role of trauma-informed and shared decision-making modelsWhy this shift is critical for women’s health equity and trustRelated ResourcesACOG Clinical Consensus on Pain Management (May 2025)CDC U.S. SPR Update (Aug 2024)Resources and episodes on Pelvic Health Recommended Books on Hormones and Menstrual 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**

What Your Period Is Trying to Tell You: PMDD, Endo, PCOS & MoreYour period isn’t just a monthly inconvenience—it’s a diagnostic tool.In this episode of Fempower Health, Georgie breaks down how period patterns can reveal chronic conditions like:PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder)EndometriosisPCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)FibroidsAdenomyosisIn This Episode, You’ll Learn:The unique period symptoms linked to each conditionWhy bleeding, pain, and mood shifts are critical diagnostic cluesHow current medical systems miss or dismiss these signsWhat you can track and discuss with your doctorThe overlap and confusion between conditions like endo and adeno, or PMDD and depressionWhy This MattersMost women are told “your period is normal” even when it’s not.This episode helps you recognize when your symptoms are more than a bad period—and how to advocate for answers.ResourcesRead The Guardian article about toxins in tamponsFind safe products at MADE SAFE, Women’s Voices for the Earth, and EWG’s Skin Deep.Resources and episodes on Hormones & Menstrual 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**

Episode Overview:You’ve heard of the nervous system, the endocrine system, and the immune system. But what about the endocannabinoid system (ECS)—the one that helps regulate all of them?In this episode, Georgie breaks down one of the most overlooked systems in human biology. Discovered through cannabis research but far more than a cannabis issue, the ECS plays a critical role in maintaining balance across mood, metabolism, hormones, inflammation, pain, and immune response.So why isn’t it taught in medical school? And how is that omission impacting the care we receive—especially for women dealing with complex, chronic symptoms?This is a must-listen if you’re a health-conscious woman, clinician, innovator, or advocate wondering why the healthcare system keeps missing the root cause.What You'll Learn:What the endocannabinoid system is—and what it isn’tHow the ECS helps regulate key systems: hormonal, metabolic, immune, and neurologicalWhy cannabis stigma is still limiting ECS education in medicineThe real-world consequences of not teaching ECS in medical or nursing schoolWhy women with complex symptoms may be falling through the cracksHow diet, stress, and trauma can dysregulate the ECS—and what to do about itWhat clinicians, patients, and innovators need to know nowRelated Resources:Read the blog post: The System That Regulates Everything (citations for this episode included)🎧 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**