Welcome back to the annual holiday classic Merry Perimenopause. While there's not much "jolly" about perimenopause, these gifts can add a little more joyeux to your noël! Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch jingle all the way through help for your hot flashes, cold flashes, brain fog, bad backs, night sweats, and the eternal question: why does perimenopause feel like puberty, déjà vu, and a hangover all rolled into one? In this episode of OvaryActive, they kick things off with the biggest news of all: the Docs very own book on perimenopause is officially available for pre-order! With Estrogen, Interrupted you can now gift yourself the knowledge your hormones refuse to give you. Merry Perimenopause 2025 is your official gift guide for yourself or the lucky person in your life that needs to know they are not crazy, this is really happening. Gift ideas include favorite books, gadgets, creams, cushions, food delivery obsessions, and tech that has saved their sanity this year. It's a roundup that covers body, brain, home, kitchen, and holiday spirits. After this episode you'll have great ideas for what to read, what to buy, what to smear on your face, what to sleep on, what to stick on your nails, what ice cream machine makes protein shakes taste like dessert, and where to order life-changing pies, kringles, crabcakes, and lobster rolls. What you'll hear in this episode: [0:54] Exciting news! Preorder Estrogen, Interrupted by Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor Su & Dr. Amy Voedisch [2:39] Book recommendations [6:43] Body & health [13:28] Cognition [17:32] Fashion [23:17] Tech gadgets [27:56] Skin & nails [32:24] Kitchen essentials [42:05] Travel ideas [46:36] A fun extra or two Links: Merry Perimenopause 2025 PDF download: https://bit.ly/4pvS34R Preorder Estrogen, Interrupted by Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su & Dr. Amy Voedisch Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube Meet the Docs: More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su: Gennev: www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch: Stanford Medical Clinic: stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html
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Ep 28 | Stronger Not Thinner: Strength Training in Perimenopause
Perimenopause: that magical stage where your body suddenly decides it's the boss, your pants shrink overnight, and your motivation to exercise hides under the bed. On the episode of OvaryActive, Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch welcome the hilarious and whip-smart Dr. Marily Oppezzo from Stanford. She is a behavior-change expert who's figured out how to help people actually do the healthy things they already know they should be doing. Spoiler: it involves fewer "shoulds" and more squats. Dr. Oppezzo shares her "Stronger" philosophy, a refreshingly guilt-free approach to perimenopausal wellness that's all about adding joy and ditching deprivation. From "strength snacks" (two-minute squats you can do between Zoom calls) to "breaking the dishes" (yes, that's cardio), she helps women fit movement into real life without the drama. No boot camps, no macro counting, no shame spirals—just scrunchies, science, and a sense of humor. What you'll hear in this episode: [0:41] Meet Marily Oppezzo PhD, MS, RDN, DipACLM [1:33] Behavioral change and healthy habits [4:13 Strength training is your new bestie [6:16] Exercise "snacks" vs. sessions [9:24] Technique & tips for the squat [19:28] Finding a balance between cardio and strength training [22:13] Cardio tips [25:07] Nutrition myths BUSTED [27:40] Protein's role [37:08] Healthy snack ideas [39:59] Concluding thoughts and future plans Links: profiles.stanford.edu/marily-oppezzo Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube Meet the Docs: More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su: Gennev: www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch: Stanford Medical Clinic: stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html
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Ep 27 | Testosterone, Perimenopause, and the Fountain of Nope
You've seen it all over social media, testosterone is apparently the miracle cure for every perimenopausal woe. Low libido? Tired? Losing muscle tone? Influencers say "Just add T!" The Docs say…not so fast Ready for the truth? In this episode of OvaryActive, Dr. Amy Voedisch and Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su are here for just that. Even though it is not exactly what you're seeing on social media––it is science, sarcasm, and a few chin-year jokes. The Docs explain what testosterone actually does in women's bodies, why testing it is tricky, and how misinformation has turned a controlled substance into a so-called "elixir of youth." They compare estrogen's unfairly bad reputation with testosterone's sudden celebrity moment. And they also explain why some promises from "hormone balancing" gurus should make you raise an eyebrow. Listeners will learn the good, the bad, and the hairy: when testosterone might be appropriate, the real risks and irreversible side effects, and how to approach hormone therapy safely. In this episode, you'll hear: [1:03] Is testosterone a "fountain of youth"? [5:30] What are the risks? [11:16] Testing is unreliable (and meaningless) [15:15] Can testosterone help libido? [22:04] Testosterone deficiency isn't why you're losing muscle [28:50] The truth about testosterone pellets [30:33] How to use it safely, IF your doctor advises you to [37:47] "We're not here to make friends. We're here to tell women the truth." Resources Mentioned: thecut.com/article/women-in-menopause-taking-testosterone Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube Meet the Docs: More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su: Gennev: www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch: Stanford Medical Clinic: stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html
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Ep 26 | Swallow This: The Truth About Supplements and Perimenopause
Feeling overwhelmed by the supplement aisle? Are there pills that might actually help during perimenopause or are you just buying expensive urine? This episode of OvaryActive dives into the pharmacy aisle of supplements. The Docs are talking about everything from influencer "miracle" blends to your best friend's turmeric obsession. Separating data from drama and giving you the straight, if sarcastic, scoop. Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch explain what your body truly needs (hello, vitamin D and calcium), what might help (fiber and omega-3s for the win), and what should probably stay in the compost bin (looking at you, wild yam cream). They share LOL takes on supplement marketing…"clinically proven" by whom exactly? And they shine a light on the difference between food, vitamins, and herbal remedies. What you'll hear in this episode: [0:30] The supplement struggle is real [1:33] Defining the basics [4:43] If the gut works, use it! [6:32] Natural does not mean safe [8:54] "Clinically proven" is NOT a thing [12:06] The short list: vitamin D, omega-3s, and fiber [19:00] When natural turns dangerous [27:44] Myths and facts [32:26] What to skip if you've had hormone-related cancers [34:57] Final truth bomb: balanced real food wins every time Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube Resources Mentioned (a.k.a. The Real Receipts): menopause.org fda.gov ods.od.nih.gov heart.org ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/list-all/ Meet the Docs: More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su: Gennev: www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch: Stanford Medical Clinic: stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.htm
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Ep 25 | Use a Mirror to See What's Up…Down There
Perimenopause: your hormones have packed up and left, your skin starts new hobbies, and your vulva occasionally throws a tantrum. In this episode of OvaryActive, we're talking about that neglected body part everyone loves to ignore—until it itches, burns, bleeds, or grows suspicious bumps. Joining the conversation are gynecologists and fellow podcasters Dr. Ashley Fuller and Dr. Meredith McClure, the brilliant, and hilarious, minds behind Labia Logic. Ashley and Meredith spend their days — and an entire podcast — focused on vulvas, menopause, sexual health, and the often-overlooked conditions that live "down there." They're here to shine a light on the things nobody learns in residency, medical school, or, let's be honest, middle school health class. You'll hear about what's normal, what's not, and when to stop Googling and actually see a doctor. Consider this your crash course in vulvar self-awareness sprinkled with humor, honesty, and just enough TMI to keep things interesting. What you'll hear in this episode: [0:33] Welcome Drs. Ashley Fuller and Meredith McClure from Labia Logic [3:00] Your vulva and perimenopause [5:28] Annual check ups [7:33] Lumps, bumps, bleeding, and spotting [12:59] Vulvar biopsies [16:57] Lichen sclerosus [19:37] The power combo: topical steroids+vaginal estrogen [22:13] Want more? Labia Logic podcast is dedicated to all things vulva Follow Labia Logic for the sex ed you should have gotten in the first place! @labia_logic on Instagram | @LabiaLogic on YouTube Catch full episodes at ashleyfullermd.com/labia-logic-podcast. Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube Meet the Docs: More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su: Gennev: www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch: Stanford Medical Clinic: stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html
Two gynecologists walk into a recording studio.
Sounds like the start of a joke, and frankly, perimenopause can feel like the start of a joke too. Only this joke is on you. And it's not that funny. But back to those two OB/GYNS….
Dr Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch have been caring for the reproductive health of those born with uteruses for a while now. And the doctors are frankly pretty tired of how those body bits — and the people they belong to — get ignored by medical science when they are no longer ideal baby-makers.
Half of a woman's life comes after her Build a Baby shop shuts down; however, the medical community does little to educate her about or treat her for issues related to her peri- and post-menopausal body.
In this smart, funny, incredibly informed, wonderfully irreverent podcast, Doctors Rebecca and Amy give us the down low on our… down lows. What is perimenopause? What can I expect? How can I feel better? And for crying out loud, WHEN IS IT OVER?
Tune in on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month to get the real information without the hype, the sales, the myths, superstitions, and nonsense. Are your ovaries starting to overreact? Grab a partner, a buddy, a random woman who looks on the verge of tears, and listen up. You're not in this alone.
And as the docs say, "You're not crazy. This is actually happening."
Brasil