Speaking of Women's Health

SWH
  • 4.8 (11)
  • Nutrition
  • Updated Weekly

The Speaking of Women's Health Podcast is excited to bring you credible women's health information from host and Executive Director, Dr. Holly L. Thacker. Dr. Thacker will interview guest clinicians discussing relevant women's health topics and the latest news and tips.Please  consider supporting Speaking of Women's Health with a monetary donation to help us continue to provide free women's health content. Thank you!

  1. 5d ago

    Menopausal hormone therapy can improve health span when prescribed well

    Send us Fan Mail October is National Menopause Awareness Month, and Speaking of Women's Health Podcast host Holly L. Thacker, MD talks about the FDA’s decision to lift boxed warnings on vaginal estrogen and what that means for real patients dealing with genitourinary syndrome of menopause: vaginal dryness, vulvar irritation, painful sex, urinary urgency, and the quiet misery that too many women have been told to “just live with.” She shares why local vaginal estrogen is a powerful, targeted tool and why fear-based labeling distorted care for years, even for women with a history of breast cancer. From there, she zooms out to the bigger question clinicians and patients keep asking: who should consider menopausal hormone therapy, when does timing matter, and what are the real risks versus the exaggerated ones? Gut-Brain Therapy | The clinician podcast on gut-brain disorders such as IBS | NervaLeading gut specialists share how they use gut-brain therapy with their patients.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show

  2. Oct 7

    Menopause and hormone therapy care after breast cancer

    Send us Fan Mail You can survive breast cancer and still feel like you’re losing your body to menopause and you shouldn’t have to choose between safety and quality of life. October may be breast cancer awareness month, but the questions we tackle here matter in every season: What happens when estrogen deprivation becomes the “collateral damage” of treatment, and why are so many survivors told to simply endure hot flashes, painful sex, recurrent UTIs, bone loss, and fear? We’re joined by Dr. Corinne Men, a board-certified OB-GYN, Menopause Society certified practitioner, and a long-term breast cancer survivor herself. We talk about how young women still get brushed off with “you’re too young,” and what real self-advocacy looks like: tracking symptoms, keeping your records, pushing for referrals, and demanding evidence-based care. We also dig into genitourinary syndrome of menopause (not just “vaginal dryness”), and why low-dose local vaginal estrogen appears in major guidelines, even for many patients on endocrine therapy, when used thoughtfully. We also zoom out to the bigger survivorship picture: BRCA “previvors,” risk-reducing ovary removal, and why hormone replacement therapy is often recommended up to the age of natural menopause to protect heart, brain, bone, and sexual health.  Gut-Brain Therapy | The clinician podcast on gut-brain disorders such as IBS | NervaLeading gut specialists share how they use gut-brain therapy with their patients.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show

  3. Sep 30

    Estrogen and osteoarthritis: Protect your joints, hips and knees

    Send us Fan Mail September is Pain Awareness Month. One in five adults live in chronic pain worldwide. Knee pain is one of the most common types of pain. But sometimes it is not the knee at all, but weak glutes, stiff hips, poor footwear, or hours of sitting that change your mechanics until your joints start protesting. From the Sunflower House, Dr. Thacker digs into osteoarthritis and the everyday patterns that push joint pain from “annoying” to life-limiting, especially for midlife and postmenopausal women. She breaks down what osteoarthritis is (and what it is not), why X-rays can look terrible when you feel fine, and why you can hurt a lot even when imaging seems mild. She also clears up common confusion between osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, then connects the menopause conversation to joints: low estrogen can affect cartilage, tendons, and muscle, and movement matters because cartilage has no direct blood supply. You will also hear why “dead butt syndrome” is a real thing, how glute weakness can drive knee pain, and which simple exercises and physical therapy strategies can improve strength, balance, and long-term mobility. Gut-Brain Therapy | The clinician podcast on gut-brain disorders such as IBS | NervaLeading gut specialists share how they use gut-brain therapy with their patients.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show

  4. Sep 23

    Treating genitourinary syndrome of menopause can protect your bladder and your quality of life

    Send us Fan Mail Vaginal dryness, painful sex, burning and nonstop irritation get brushed off as “normal aging” far too often and the bladder fallout is even easier to miss. We’re talking about genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), a hormone deficiency problem that can affect the vulva, vagina, urethra and bladder, driving overactive bladder symptoms and recurrent UTIs. When GSM is treated, it not only improves comfort and intimacy, it protects urinary health and quality of life. We focus on the most effective first line therapy: vaginal estrogen. Speaking of Women's Health Podcast host Dr. Holly Thacker shares what’s changed in the conversation around safety, including why the data on low dose local therapy is so reassuring, how correct placement keeps absorption minimal and what dosing often looks like for severe symptoms versus maintenance.  If creams or tablets are not a fit or not enough, Dr. Thacker digs into other options. Vaginal DHEA can support tissue health and sexual function through local conversion, and vaginal rings offer convenience for people who want steady therapy. Gut-Brain Therapy | The clinician podcast on gut-brain disorders such as IBS | NervaLeading gut specialists share how they use gut-brain therapy with their patients.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show

  5. Sep 16

    Dementia prevention basics

    Send us Fan Mail Dementia is one of the most feared diagnoses in aging, and it’s also one of the most misunderstood. Speaking of Women's Health Podcast host Dr. Holly Thacker sounds the alarm on a reality many women never hear clearly: by advanced age, dementia becomes incredibly common, yet a large part of risk is shaped by choices we can start making now. The goal is not perfection or panic. It’s building a prevention plan that protects your brain, your independence and your health span.  She digs into why insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome matter for Alzheimer’s disease risk, including how impaired glucose handling may reduce the brain’s ability to clear amyloid proteins. From there, she gets practical about the big levers: restorative sleep and the brain’s nighttime cleanup system, regular exercise (with a special edge for outdoor movement) and why alcohol can quietly sabotage deep sleep and brain function. We also talk about “brain stimulation” in real life, including how hearing loss, vision loss and reduced social connection can accelerate cognitive decline. Gut-Brain Therapy | The clinician podcast on gut-brain disorders such as IBS | NervaLeading gut specialists share how they use gut-brain therapy with their patients.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show

  6. Sep 9

    A clear guide to abnormal uterine bleeding evaluation and treatment

    Send us Fan Mail Bleeding that feels “off” is easy to downplay until it derails your life or shows up after menopause. We revisit our conversation with women’s health nurse practitioner Kelsey Kennedy and layer in what’s changed since then, including newer ACOG guidance that supports a more proactive approach to postmenopausal bleeding. The key message is simple: a reassuring pelvic ultrasound alone is not always enough, because high grade endometrial cancer can occur even with a thin lining.  Kelsey and Dr. Thacker walk through what abnormal uterine bleeding actually means in real life, from irregular cycles and spotting between periods to heavy flow that soaks pads, clothes, and sheets. Then they sort the most common causes including fibroids, endometrial polyps, adenomyosis, and endometriosis, and we explain why minimally invasive gynecologic surgery (MIGS) teams can be so valuable when surgery is on the table or when prior care has not found the answer. They also highlight an often missed angle: some abnormal bleeding is driven by bleeding disorders like von Willebrand disease, not just gynecologic anatomy or hormones. Gut-Brain Therapy | The clinician podcast on gut-brain disorders such as IBS | NervaLeading gut specialists share how they use gut-brain therapy with their patients.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show

  7. Sep 2

    How to reach healthy vitamin D levels safely

    Send us Fan Mail You get your vitamin D results back and the report screams “HIGH” in red. Do you actually need to panic, or do you need context? Speaking of Women's Health Podcast host Dr. Holly Thacker walks through why vitamin D is often misunderstood, how age, latitude, indoor life, and sunscreen change what your skin can make, and why “normal” lab ranges don’t always match what we’re aiming for in real preventive care.  She connects vitamin D3 to women’s health in a practical way: bone strength and osteoporosis prevention, muscle function and fall risk, oral health, mood support, blood pressure, and the ripple effects of low levels during winter. She also talks through women-specific concerns we see every day, including PMS symptoms, pregnancy needs for fetal development and maternal health, and why nutrition and vitamin D status deserve a place in the broader conversation around cervical health alongside appropriate gynecologic evaluation.  Finally, she explains the missing link that trips up a lot of people: magnesium. Because magnesium is required to metabolize and activate vitamin D, supplementing D without supporting magnesium can backfire with fatigue or cramps. Gut-Brain Therapy | The clinician podcast on gut-brain disorders such as IBS | NervaLeading gut specialists share how they use gut-brain therapy with their patients.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show

  8. Aug 26

    A practical back-to-school checklist for students of every age

    Send us Fan Mail Back-to-school season can feel like a fresh start and a stress test at the same time. Speaking of Women's  Health Podcast Dr. Holly Thacker talks through how to make the transition smoother for every age, from kindergartners riding the bus for the first time to teens facing new pressure, and even students leaving home for college. Her goal is simple: help you build routines that make mornings calmer, kids healthier, and learning easier. Then she goes deeper into the tougher realities families face right now. She talks about teen confidence, mental health warning signs, social media pressure, and how to keep communication open without shaming or shutting kids down. She also gives a shoutout to Clever Crazes for Kids, a free STEM resource for pre-K through eighth grade at clevercrazes.com. If this helps you, share it with a parent, grandparent, teacher, or coach, then subscribe and leave a review so more families can find these back-to-school health tips. Gut-Brain Therapy | The clinician podcast on gut-brain disorders such as IBS | NervaLeading gut specialists share how they use gut-brain therapy with their patients.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show

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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

The Speaking of Women's Health Podcast is excited to bring you credible women's health information from host and Executive Director, Dr. Holly L. Thacker. Dr. Thacker will interview guest clinicians discussing relevant women's health topics and the latest news and tips.Please  consider supporting Speaking of Women's Health with a monetary donation to help us continue to provide free women's health content. Thank you!

Information

  • Creator
    SWH
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    235
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Speaking of Women's Health
  • Show Website
    Speaking of Women's Health

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