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Our Womanity Q & A with Dr. Rachel Pope: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Dr. Rachel Pope
Dr. Rachel Pope, along with women's healthcare professionals, experts, and inspiring women address commonly asked (and not asked) questions about, health equity, sexual health, menopause, perimenopause, reproductive health care, anatomy, aging and more. Whether you have questions about periods, pregnancy, or menopause, we will do our best to address them here!
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- Yesterday30 min
16. The Menopause Retreat: Neo Tantra with Shari Adler
Are fatigue, burnout, and shifting hormones making you feel like your inner light is dimming? In this heartwarming and deeply grounding episode, Dr. Rachel Pope sits down with her longtime friend Shari Adler—a certified perimenopause and menopause health coach, wellness facilitator, and former Pfizer corporate leader. Shari shares her personal journey from corporate burnout and caregiver fatigue to discovering somatic practices, trauma-informed coaching, and Neo-Tantra. Together, they break down the common misconceptions surrounding Tantra, distinguishing traditional classical practices from contemporary methods that cultivate presence, breathwork, and emotional connection. Shari explains how low estrogen, sandwich-generation stress, and systemic depletion cause women to feel disconnected from their bodies—and how simple embodiment practices can restore intimacy, desire, and life force energy during perimenopause and menopause. The episode wraps up with a short, soothing live embodiment exercise you can practice anywhere. Guest Bio Shari Adler is a certified perimenopause and menopause health coach, wellness facilitator, and somatic practitioner. With 15 years of corporate leadership experience at Pfizer in people development and program management, Shari combines her corporate background with extensive training from the Integrative Women's Health Institute, The Embody Lab, and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She specializes in guiding women through midlife transitions using trauma-informed somatic practices, mindfulness, energy work, and Neo-Tantra. Key Takeaways The "Dimmed Light" of Midlife: Hormonal depletion paired with "sandwich generation" stress (balancing kids, aging parents, and peak career demands) frequently leads to pre-burnout, apathy, and physical exhaustion. Classical Tantra vs. Neo-Tantra: Classical Tantra (originating in the 5th century) is a rigorous, text-based spiritual study focused on mantras and deities, whereas Neo-Tantra integrates psychology, breathwork, conscious relating, and somatic movement to release stagnant energy. Tantra is Not Just for Couples: Neo-Tantric principles are fundamentally about self-connection, presence, and building internal energy—making them deeply transformative for single women and partnered individuals alike. Integrative Approach to Sexual Wellness: Somatic and energy practices work best alongside medical interventions like Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT), offering a holistic pathway back to vitality. Redefining Pleasure: Pleasure does not require penetrative sex or orgasms; it can be as simple as feeling soft fabric against your skin, savoring chocolate, or enjoying the warmth of the sun. Upcoming Live Event Details Event Title: Awaken Your Aliveness: A Women's Workshop in Feminine Embodiment Date: October 16th Location: Cleveland, Ohio area What to Expect: Join Shari Adler, Anna Myers and Dr. Rachel Pope for a transformative, in-person gathering designed to help you slow down, build internal energy, and reconnect with your body. You'll learn simple, practical somatic and breathwork exercises that fit seamlessly into busy daily routines—giving you actionable tools to reclaim your vibrancy through perimenopause, menopause, and beyond. Reserve Your Spot: Get Tickets on Eventbrite: bit.ly/4diQ0NO
- 1 weeks ago32 min
Is There An Evolutionary Purpose of Menopause Symptoms with Dr. James Simon
Why do menopausal women experience hot flashes, poor sleep, and low libido? In this captivating discussion, Dr. Rachel Pope sits down with renowned physician and researcher Dr. James Simon to explore his groundbreaking paper, The Evolutionary Origin and Significance of Menopause [https://www.ovid.com/jnls/menopausejournal/abstract/10.1097/gme.0b013e3181ed957a~the-evolutionary-origin-and-significance-of-menopause?redirectionsource=fulltextview]. Dr. Simon presents an evolutionary perspective: 50,000 years ago, a low-estrogen state served a crucial adaptive function during exclusive breastfeeding. Hot flashes generated torso heat to warm infants in cold environments, sleep vigilance protected against cave intruders, and low libido prevented rapid subsequent pregnancies in resource-scarce environments. Because ancient humans rarely lived past reproductive age, menopause is essentially the body entering a "perpetual postpartum state"—a low-estrogen phase without the original evolutionary objective. The discussion covers hormone replacement therapy (MHT) (HRT) nuances, the dual nature of progesterone, and how evolutionary biology helps reframe modern women's health. Dr. James Simon [https://intimmedicine.com/our-team/james-a-simonmd/] is a Washington, D.C.-based physician specializing in patient-focused care across the female reproductive lifecycle—from adolescence to childbirth and through menopause. Through extensive clinical research, Dr. Simon has contributed to major medication breakthroughs in women's sexual health and menopause management. Key Takeaways * The Postpartum–Menopause Parallel: postpartum and menopause are the only two life stages where estrogen levels drop so significantly. * The Evolutionary Purpose of Hot Flashes: Heat radiating from the chest level was designed to warm a newborn held against a mother's body in harsh, prehistoric conditions. * Sleep Disturbances as Survival Tools: Light sleep and hypervigilance in low-estrogen states kept postpartum mothers alert to newborn cries or cave threats. * Libido & Reproduction: Reduced sexual desire and vaginal dryness during lactation protected the infant by preventing early secondary pregnancies when calories were scarce. * Perpetual Breastfeeding Mode: Menopause triggers the exact biological mechanisms of lactation, but without the recovery cycle younger women experience post-weaning. * Individualized Hormone Therapy: MHT/HRT offers vast benefits for healthy menopausal women, but medical intervention must be tailored—especially when evaluating the mixed benefits and side effects of oral progesterone. Resources Mentioned * Research Paper: The Evolutionary Origin and Significance of Menopause [https://www.ovid.com/jnls/menopausejournal/abstract/10.1097/gme.0b013e3181ed957a~the-evolutionary-origin-and-significance-of-menopause?redirectionsource=fulltextview] (Dr. James Simon et al.)
- Aug 10, 202626 min
14. Finding Real Perimenopause Care with Julia Granacki
Why is finding a healthcare provider who truly listens during perimenopause so difficult? In this episode of Our Womanity, host Dr. Rachel Pope sits down with NBC-HWC health coach and certified Pilates instructor Julia Granacki to unpack the systemic hurdles women face when seeking midlife care. From her own sudden, mask-and-glove hot flash in a deli line during COVID to being dismissed by her longtime OBGYN because her periods were still regular, Julia shares her personal journey through perimenopause and how it inspired her to build a multidisciplinary coaching practice alongside Dr. Anna Barbieri. Together, Dr. Pope and Julia break down the "period myth" in perimenopause diagnostic criteria, the staggering gap in physician menopause training, how to spot predatory midlife wellness upsells, and how Julia's three-part framework—Validate, Educate, Advocate—helps women reclaim agency over their health. Meet Julia Julia Granacki, NBC-HWC, is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, comprehensive Pilates instructor (Kane School of Core Integration), and founder of The Age Craft Practice. Trained through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and Harvard Medical School's Sustainable Nutrition Program, Julia works alongside Dr. Anna Barbieri as part of a multidisciplinary perimenopause and menopause care team in New York City. She is the host of the Agecraft After Dark podcast and former co-host of Circling the Drain. Key Takeaways * Research and clinical criteria often require menstrual changes to diagnose perimenopause, yet symptoms like sleep disruption, anxiety, body composition shifts, and hot flashes frequently appear years while cycles remain a clockwork 28 days. * The Medical Education Deficit: 80 percent of US OBGYN residents report little to no formal training in menopause management, while only 1 in 5 practicing OBGYNs report receiving formal training. * Discrepancies in insurance reimbursement between female and male anatomy procedures, paired with 15-minute appointment caps, force many specialists into membership or private models to deliver adequate care. * As midlife awareness grows, vulnerable women are increasingly targeted with costly, unverified tests (such as Dutch tests), unnecessary compounding setups, and aggressive aesthetic upsells. * Julia's coaching framework acts as a "midlife doula" service—validating symptoms as real, providing verified Menopause Society guidelines, and empowering women with the agency needed to advocate for themselves in clinic visits. * How quality telehealth platforms are helping close the care gap for women living in midlife medical "deserts" across the country. Resources * Connect with Julia Granacki: juliagwellness.com [http://juliagwellness.com/] * Podcast: Agecraft After Dark: juliagwellness.com/podcast [http://juliagwellness.com/podcast] * Find a Certified Specialist: Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP) directory at menopause.org [http://menopause.org/] * Connect with Dr. Rachel Pope: @drrachelpope [https://www.instagram.com/drrachelpope/] on Instagram | ourwomanity.com [http://ourwomanity.com/] Please like, subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share this episode with anyone navigating perimenopause or midlife health transitions!
- Aug 3, 202627 min
13. Sleep & Menopause with Dr. Andrea Matsumura
Five years without a full night's sleep isn't "just aging"—it's a health crisis. In this episode of Our Womanity, host Dr. Rachel Pope sits down with double board-certified sleep physician Dr. Andrea Matsumura to break down the biological drivers of midlife sleep loss, why Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) doesn't always stop insomnia, the hidden risk of female sleep apnea, and practical tools you can use tonight. Meet The Guest Dr. Andrea Matsumura [https://andreamatsumuramd.com/], MD is a double board-certified sleep medicine physician, Chief of Sleep Services for Monarch MD, and creator of the Dream Sleep Method. Featured in The New York Times, CNN, and Shape, Dr. Matsumura specializes in hormone-informed and behavior-driven approaches to women's sleep. Key Takeaways * Progesterone vs. Estrogen: Progesterone helps with sleep onset; estrogen supports sleep maintenance and REM. Crashes in perimenopause lead to both falling-asleep and staying-asleep issues. * Why MHT Isn't Always Enough: While MHT mitigates hot flashes, it cannot replace every lost estrogen receptor signal in the brain's sleep centers. * The 3:00 AM Cortisol Spike: Women can lose up to 50% of natural melatonin by age 50. Without melatonin to buffer cortisol's natural middle-of-the-night rise, the body triggers a sympathetic "fight-or-flight" response at 3:00 AM. * Midlife Sleep Apnea Risks: Falling hormones reduce airway elasticity and respiratory drive, raising midlife women's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) risk to 40%-60%. * Undiagnosed Symptoms: 9 out of 10 women with sleep apnea go undiagnosed because female symptoms present as insomnia, fatigue, morning headaches, and mood shifts rather than classic snoring. Actionable Tools 20-Minute Rule: If awake for over 20 minutes at 3:00 AM, get out of bed. Do something quiet in low light until sleepy to break the anxiety-bed association. Sleep Compression: Set a strict wake-up time to build "sleep pressure," adjusting bedtime in 15-minute increments. "Sleep is the OG longevity tool. If you don't have the core foundation of sleep, pain is worse, emotional regulation is off, and medications don't work as well." - Dr. Andrea Matsumura Resources & Links * Dr. Andrea Matsumura: Monarch MD/Newsletter: monarchmd.com [http://monarchmd.com/] * Upcoming Book: When Women Stop Sleeping by Dr. Andrea Matsumura (releasing next year) * Find a Specialist: Locate a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP) at menopause.org [http://menopause.org/] * Connect with Dr. Pope: @drrachelpope [https://www.instagram.com/drrachelpope/] on Instagram Support The Podcast Please like, subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share this link with anyone struggling with midlife sleep!
- Jul 14, 202635 min
12. She's Just Under Construction: A Partner's Complete Guide to Perimenopause
"Your partner is not broken. Your relationship is not unsalvageable. She is simply going through one of the most profound biological transitions of a human life—and she shouldn't have to navigate it alone." — Dr. Rachel Pope Why This Guide Exists Why is it that the most common question women in menopause support groups ask is: "How do I explain this to my partner?" How do you explain that the irritability, the sleep loss, the brain fog, and the sudden physical changes are not personal attacks or signs of a relationship unraveling, but rather the result of a massive, systemic neurological and hormonal transition? To bridge this gap, board-certified OBGYN and sexual medicine specialist Dr. Rachel Pope created this comprehensive audio guide. Written with equal measures of clinical precision and direct, honest language, this guide is designed specifically for the partner who loves a woman in transition. It is not designed to help you "fix" or "manage" her; it is designed to help you understand the profound science of what she is experiencing so you can show up as a true, informed partner. What You Will Learn in This Guide: * Perimenopause: The actual timeline (it can last 4 to 10 years), ovarian decline, the pituitary "shout" (FSH), and why standard blood tests frequently miss it. * Physical Body Transition: The real thermoregulatory science of hot flashes, night sweats, sleep architecture changes, metabolic shifts (visceral fat distribution), and cardiovascular safety. * Psychological Landscape: Why her brain is not betraying her. The neurochemical connection between fluctuating estrogen, serotonin, GABA, sudden anxiety, panic, and "brain fog." * Sex, Desire, Intimacy: Demystifying Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM), painful intercourse, the drop in testosterone, and the crucial shift from spontaneous to responsive desire. * Practical Protocols for Partners: How to own the cognitive labor of the household, optimize the bedroom temperature (65°F to 68°F), utilize better intimacy tools (like UberLube), and support her medical treatment decisions (including Menopause Hormone Therapy). The Partner's Quick Communication Cheat Sheet: Instead of saying the wrong thing, try shifting your language to show partnership: Instead of: "You're being so emotional about this." * Try: "I can see this is hard. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere." Instead of: "Is it your hormones again?" * Try: "What does support look like for you right now?" Resources * Locate a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP) near you at menopause.org * Follow @drrachelpope [https://www.instagram.com/drrachelpope] on Instagram * Love, Sex, and Menopause [https://www.amazon.com/Love-Sex-Menopause-Rachel-Pope/dp/1304877345] If you found this guide helpful, please leave us a 5-star review and share this episode with a friend or partner who needs to hear it!
- Jul 6, 202627 min
11. Explaining the Inequity of Women's Healthcare with Dr. Jocelyn J. Fitzgerald
Did you know doctors are paid systematically less for procedures on female anatomy? (For example, 45% more to biopsy a penis than a vagina). This shocking reality, highlighted by creator René Jay @bornwithadarktan [https://instagram.com/bornwithadarktan] and Dr. Kemi Doll's book A Terrible Strength [https://www.amazon.com/Terrible-Strength-Hidden-Survival-Healing/dp/0593977475], is a baked-in structural issue. In this episode of Our Womanity, host Dr. Rachel Pope sits down with urogynecologist Dr. Jocelyn Fitzgerald—the lead researcher behind the landmark study "Price and Prejudice [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39978776/]"—to dismantle the financial architecture failing female patients and their specialists. Dr. Jocelyn Fitzgerald, MD is a board-certified urogynecologist and reconstructive pelvic surgeon at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh, and an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh. Her clinical work and research span chronic pelvic pain, female sexual dysfunction, pelvic floor disorders, and genitourinary syndrome of menopause. She is a prominent advocate for equity in women's healthcare, famously publishing research detailing the surgical reimbursement inequities embedded within female anatomy billing. Key Conversation Highlights: * The RVU Trap: How the Relative Value Unit (RVU) billing system systematically devalues the female body, gynecologic surgery, and non-surgical menopause visits. * "Moms of Medicine" Dilemma: Why society expects OBGYNs to constantly absorb uncompensated emotional labor and primary care duties, diluting their specialized surgical value. * The Workforce Crisis: Why post-op "ghost towns" and devalued billing are driving a massive OBGYN shortage, with only six states projected to have adequate care by 2040. * Beyond "Lady Stuff": Why menopause is a systemic transition overlapping with cardiology, rheumatology, and neurology, demanding interdisciplinary research. * The Allderdice Connection: A fun look back at Rachel and Jocelyn's shared feminist upbringing at Taylor Allderdice High School in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh. "In medicine, if we don't study it and we don't name it, it's not there. It's just treated as 'lady stuff.'" — Dr. Jocelyn Fitzgerald Connect & Listen: Subscribe to Our Womanity on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and follow Dr. Rachel Pope on Instagram: @DrRachelPope [https://instagram.com/] for daily midlife wellness tips! The Study: Price and Prejudice: Reimbursement of Surgical Care on Male Versus Female Anatomies [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39978776/] by Madeline Penn, Donessa Colley, Pratistha Koirala, Dr. Louise King, and Dr. Jocelyn Fitzgerald.
- Jun 26, 202623 min
10. Why Testosterone Matters for Women with Dr. Mohit Khera
There is an undeniable buzz around testosterone for women right now. While many patients report feeling more energized, happier, and clearer of mind after adding it to their hormone therapy regimen, clinical questions and nuances still remain. In this episode, Dr. Rachel Pope sits down with world-renowned urologist Dr. Mohit Khera [https://drmohitkhera.com/], Professor and Director of the Laboratory for Andrology Research at the Baylor College of Medicine, to demystify testosterone's role in midlife optimization, the safety data behind it, and why sexual health is the ultimate check-engine light for your overall well-being. Key Takeaways: * The Hormonal Triangle (Triple Therapy): Modern midlife medicine must evolve past dual hormone therapy (estrogen and progesterone). True optimization requires Triple Therapy—adding systemic testosterone to balance the triangle—alongside localized vaginal estrogen therapy for complete quality of life restoration. * Women naturally produce nearly five times more testosterone than estradiol. When testosterone declines, replacing it can significantly augment bone mineral density, lean muscle mass, cognitive focus (brain fog), mood stability, and all four domains of sexual function (desire, arousal, orgasm, and pain mitigation). * The Clinical Safety Reality: Historical fears that testosterone causes breast cancer or cardiovascular events are not backed by data. Large-scale charts and transgender health studies (using ten times the standard female dose) demonstrate excellent safety profiles. In fact, emerging data suggests testosterone may even help decrease breast cancer risk. * The "Sex Factor" & Overall Health: Sexual health is a bidirectional barometer for physical and mental health. Rather than just a recreational activity, sexual function acts as a "check engine light." Dysfunction is often an early clinical indicator of undiagnosed depression, diabetes, or future cardiovascular events. * The 50/50 Rule: Hormones are not a standalone holy grail; they are synergistic with lifestyle modification. Clinical optimization requires medical therapy (50%) to meet lifestyle modifications (50%) halfway through intentional diet, exercise, sleep, and chronic stress reduction. Upcoming Frontiers in Healthcare: The landscape of hormone therapy regulation is rapidly shifting. Dr. Khera shares recent monumental policy wins, including the FDA's removal of major historical warnings on local estrogens and male testosterone labels. For women, clinical discussions are currently underway with the FDA to bring regulatory approval for female-specific testosterone gels and oral formats to the US market within the next two to three years.
- Jun 9, 202617 min
9. 15-Minute Consult: New Research in Vestibulodynia with Dr. Jill Krapf
If you experience severe, sharp burning at the vaginal opening, you know how frustrating the journey to a clear diagnosis can be. In this episode, world-renowned pelvic pain expert Dr. Jill Krapf [https://www.vulvodynia.com/about] joins Dr. Rachel Pope to share a massive milestone in neuroinflammatory vulvar pain research: a gold-standard, 3-month clinical trial testing a brand-new topical Ketotifen cream. Ketotifen is a mast cell stabilizer historically used for allergies, but it has never before been formulated into a topical cream for pelvic pain. This breakthrough treatment directly targets the "neuroinflammatory zone," calming hyper-reactive mast cells and hypersensitive nerve endings. Key Takeaways: * The Clinical Protocol: To track improvement, the trial uses two precise baseline tests: a specialized Q-Tip pressure monitor at the vestibule (requiring a 5/10 pain score to qualify) and a gentle dilator insertion test. Patient comfort is the absolute priority; tests stop immediately if pain thresholds are hit. * A Pure Passion Project: Funding for localized vulvar pain is notoriously low. Backed by a small grant from the National Vulvodynia Association (NVA) [https://www.nva.org/], this trial is a true labor of love by Dr. Krapf, Dr. Andrew Goldstein, and Dr. Chailee Moss to provide a non-surgical alternative for patients. * How to Get Screened: Active trials are currently recruiting. Reach out directly to the site closest to you: The Centers for Vulvovaginal Disorders Research Details & Locations: * Duration: Approximately 3 months (only 4 short in-person study visits). * Locations: Tampa (FL), Washington D.C., and New York City. Tampa, (FL): * Lichen Scelorus research: researchjkmd@gmail.com Vulvodynia Research: * Washington, DC- research.cvvd@gmail.com * New York City, NY- research.cvvd@gmail.com Exclusion Criteria: Individuals with active pudendal neuralgia or a diagnosed vulvar dermatosis (such as Lichen Sclerosus or Lichen Planus) are unfortunately excluded. How to Get Screened: If you are interested in participating or traveling to one of the three sites, check the screening contacts listed. Even if you can't participate, sharing this study on social platforms helps show investors and pharmaceutical companies that women's health research is highly valued and desperately needs funding!
About Our Womanity Q & A with Dr. Rachel Pope
Dr. Rachel Pope, along with women's healthcare professionals, experts, and inspiring women address commonly asked (and not asked) questions about, health equity, sexual health, menopause, perimenopause, reproductive health care, anatomy, aging and more. Whether you have questions about periods, pregnancy, or menopause, we will do our best to address them here!
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