Confessions of a Male Gynecologist

Latest Episodes:

10: Estradiol, Estrone, and Estriol - OH MY: Estrogen 101 Sep 29, 2022

Show notes

Estrogen is probably the most misunderstood hormone.

The demonization of estrogen by the Women's Health Initiative has done a disservice to women's health and caused a lot of fear.

Between the patients who don't want to take it and the doctors who refuse to prescribe it, many women are missing out on estrogen's protective effects and suffering needlessly for years and years.

I want you to know you don't need to fear estrogen.

Today I'm talking about what research shows about the benefits of estrogen, the three types of estrogen, how they're prescribed, the metabolism of estrogen in the body, what you can do to maximize your estrogen breakdown, what I've found works best for hormone replacement, and more. Enjoy the episode!

Highlights

Common fears around estrogen

Setting the record straight: estrogen and breast cancer

The three types of estrogen

Why testing for estradiol alone is typically enough

What you need to know about Biest and Triest

The function and protective effects of estradiol

Adverse effects of the demonization of estrogen

Why estriol is no longer widely used

The comparative strength of estradiol, estriol, and estrone

Why estrone was removed from the market

How your body gets rid of estrogen

Why DIM and I3C are not suitable for decreasing estrogen levels

How you can improve your estrogen metabolism

Estrone's potential for increased cancer risk

Why I stopped prescribing Biest

Pros and cons of different methods of delivery for estrogen

Typical starting dosage for estrogen

How to test your body's estrogen metabolism

What to do if you have low methylation

Today's confession: hormone testing is valuable

Mentioned in this episode

Confessions of a Male Gynecologist | Episode 3: Test Don't Guess: Hormone Testing 101

Resources

Dr. Shawn Tassone's Practice https://www.drshawntassone.com/

Dr. Shawn Tassone's Book | The Hormone Balance Bible https://tassonemd.com/hormone-balance-bible/

Dr. Shawn Tassone's Integrative Hormonal Mapping System | Hormone Archetype Quiz https://tassonemd.lpages.co/hormonearchetypequiz/

Learn more at https://tassonemd.com/podcast/.

Disclaimer

This podcast and website represent the opinions of Dr. Shawn Tassone and his guests. The content here should not be taken as medical advice and is for informational purposes only. Because each person is so unique, please consult your health care professional for any medical questions.

9: Maca, Julva for the Vulva, and MenuPause with Dr. Anna Cabeca Sep 22, 2022

Show notes

The medical community is often critical of new ideas. Yet, if we don't evolve as providers, we're doing our patients a disservice.

As someone who's been at the forefront of women's health throughout her career, Dr. Anna Cabeca never let the naysayers deter her. Back in her first practice in a small town in Georgia, Dr. Anna often found herself with patients with little resources. That experience forced her to get creative in treating her patients; she also recognized the value of empowering the body to heal itself.

Today I'm excited to welcome Dr. Anna, a great friend, and a true hormone expert, to share her insights and experience with you.

In this episode, we talk about hormone replenishment, why she created her all-natural products, restorative health, why she is a big fan of compounding pharmacies, the benefits of bioidentical hormones, how being in ketosis helps the body, what it means to live by design, and more.

About Dr. Anna Cabeca

Dr. Anna Cabeca is a medical doctor, mother, advocate for women's health, researcher, and educator. Dr. Cabeca frequently lectures nationally and internationally regarding restorative health and women's health issues.

Highlights

Dr. Anna's medical background and why she became passionate about advocacy and empowering the body to heal itself

Recognizing the opportunities to improve patients' lives through sexual medicine

Why we must evolve as healthcare providers

Dr. Anna's constant drive to be at the forefront of women's health research

Busting the myths about estrogen being the bad guy

How our understanding of hormones and hormone replacement therapy has developed in recent years

Why Dr. Anna created Julva® and how it helps women

The transformative role of organic Peruvian maca in Dr. Anna's healing journey

Why Dr. Anna does hormone replenishment, not hormone replacement

The benefits of Mighty Maca® Plus for men and women

The benefits of regularly getting into ketosis

How MenuPause can help you overcome common dietary plateaus

How to connect with Dr. Anna and where to find her products

Dr. Anna's Confession

Connect with Dr. Anna Cabeca

Website https://drannacabeca.com

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thegirlfrienddoctor

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thegirlfrienddoctor

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@thegirlfrienddoctor

The Girlfriend Doctor Club https://go.drannacabeca.com/the-girlfriend-doctor-club

Books https://drannacabeca.com/collections/books

Julva® - Vulva revitalizing cream https://drannacabeca.com/products/julva

Mighty Maca® Plus - Superfood drink https://drannacabeca.com/products/mighty-maca

Resources

Dr. Shawn Tassone's Practice https://www.drshawntassone.com/

Dr. Shawn Tassone's Book | The Hormone Balance Bible https://tassonemd.com/hormone-balance-bible/

Dr. Shawn Tassone's Integrative Hormonal Mapping System | Hormone Archetype Quiz https://tassonemd.lpages.co/hormonearchetypequiz/

Disclaimer This podcast and website represent the opinions of Dr. Shawn Tassone and his guests. The content here should not be taken as medical advice and is for informational purposes only. Because each person is so unique, please consult your health care professional for any medical questions.

8: 10 Must-Have Supplements for Women Sep 15, 2022

Show notes

Which supplements do you recommend? Do they really work? How do you identify which brands are good quality?

With so many supplement options available, it can be hard to sift through the noise and find the ones that make sense for you. Plus, just because something is natural doesn't automatically mean it's safe.

For over ten years, I've worked to hone in on the most beneficial supplements, and today I'm sharing the top ten supplements I recommend for most women. I'll discuss the right way to think about supplements, what you can expect from each one, how and when I use them, and which brands are worth it. Enjoy the episode!

Highlights

Supplements are a complement, not a standalone therapy

Natural doesn't mean safe

Supplement #1: Omega-3

How to check the quality of oil-based supplements in capsules

Choosing the best source of omega's for you

Balancing Omega-3, Omega-6 & Omega-9

How much flaxseed oil to take each day

Supplement #2: Magnesium Glycinate

The role of magnesium in your body

Conditions and symptoms that can improve with magnesium supplementation

Whole food sources of magnesium

Supplement #3: Maca root

Traditional uses of maca

Maca for balancing hormones

Different types of maca and their properties

Potential side effects of maca

Supplement #4: Myo-inositol

Especially beneficial for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Typical symptoms of PCOS

Research on inositol for improving fertility

Supplement #5: Zyflamend™

Who can benefit most from using Zyflamend™?

Why I generally recommend solitary supplementation and why Zyflamend™ is the exception

Side effects from Zyflamend™

Supplement #6: Probiotics

Why I prefer MegaSporeBiotic™

Understanding the Estrobolome

The gut-vagina connection

Supplement #7: Vitex/Chaste Tree

How vitex impacts your hormones

How much vitex to take per day

Who can benefit most from taking vitex

Research on the mode of action of vitex

Supplement #8: Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is part of many proprietary blends

Traditional uses of ashwagandha in Ayurveda

Benefits of ashwagandha

Recommended daily dosage for ashwagandha

Supplement #9: Rhodiola

Benefits of Rhodiola

Who will benefit most from Rhodiola supplementation

Supplement #10: Hops

Transitioning patients off of sleep medication

Sedative effects of hops

Different formats available for taking hops

Today's Confession & my current supplement protocol

Resources

Dr. Shawn Tassone's Practice https://www.drshawntassone.com/

Dr. Shawn Tassone's Book | The Hormone Balance Bible https://tassonemd.com/hormone-balance-bible/

Dr. Shawn Tassone's Integrative Hormonal Mapping System | Hormone Archetype Quiz https://tassonemd.lpages.co/hormonearchetypequiz/

Learn more at https://tassonemd.com/podcast/.

7: The Betty Body with Dr. Stephanie Estima Sep 08, 2022

Show notes

Early in her clinical career, Dr. Stephanie Estima recognized through her patients that men and women required very different approaches to achieve successful outcomes. That realization led to Stephanie developing a standard of care uniquely focused on female health and wellbeing.

Now, her mission is to inspire women globally to be the best versions of themselves physically and emotionally through the power of easily accessible female health education.

Stephanie has been a friend of mine for several years, and her approach to women's health and fitness is unique and fascinating. In this conversation, Stephanie and I talk about the role of diet and lifestyle in your brain health, the benefits of a female-centric ketogenic-style diet, why women should lift heavy weights, what you'll learn in The Betty Body, and more.

About Dr. Stephanie Estima

Dr. Stephanie Estima is the Founder of Hello Betty, a community centered around female empowerment through health and business coaching. She is a doctor of chiropractic with a special interest in metabolism, body composition, functional neurology, and female physiology. She is also the Host of the Better! Podcast With Dr. Stephanie, featuring the world's leading voices on health and wellness.

Highlights

Stephanie's training and clinical experience as a chiropractor

What led Stephanie to develop a standard of care that uniquely focuses on female health and wellbeing

Implications of the differences in serotonin and dopamine synthesis and receptors between the sexes

Measuring brain function and brain metabolism

How nutrition and lifestyle directly impact your brain health

Why Stephanie advocates for the ketogenic diet as a great starting point for improving your brain health

The stumbling block many people encounter around 4-5 weeks into the ketogenic diet

Potential harmful effects of chronic protein restriction

What to look for in a good protein source

How to start weight training

What you will learn from reading The Betty Body

The two-phase approach of the Estima Diet™

Stephanie's Confession: Feeling abandoned by the traditional medical system

Connect with Dr. Stephanie Estima

Dr. Stephanie Estima's Book | The Betty Body: A Geeky Goddess' Guide to Intuitive Eating, Balanced Hormones, and Transformative Sex https://bettybodybook.com/

Dr. Stephanie Estima's Podcast | Better! with Dr. Stephanie https://hellobetty.club/podcast

Dr. Stephanie Estima on Instagram @dr.stephanie.estima https://www.instagram.com/dr.stephanie.estima/

Dr. Stephanie Estima's Website | Hello Betty https://hellobetty.club/

Resources

Dr. Shawn Tassone's Practice https://www.drshawntassone.com/

Dr. Shawn Tassone's Book | The Hormone Balance Bible https://tassonemd.com/hormone-balance-bible/

Dr. Shawn Tassone's Integrative Hormonal Mapping System | Hormone Archetype Quiz https://tassonemd.lpages.co/hormonearchetypequiz/

6: Knock Knock, Who's There? What Are Your Provider's Credentials? Sep 01, 2022

Show notes

Many patients are choosing providers outside of the traditional medical system because of negative experiences with MDs.

In a time where there are so many doctors, experts, and gurus to choose from, there's no need to stay with a provider that is failing you. At the same time, figuring out who is well-positioned to help you has become quite confusing.

From doctors who aren't medical doctors to specialists advising outside of their specialty, how are you supposed to know what to look for?

With this episode, I want to get you thinking about your providers and to be empowered in choosing whose advice you follow. I'm sharing what the letters behind providers' names mean, the differences between similar-sounding specialties, and the red flags that you should be aware of when selecting a provider.

Highlights

The confusion caused by non-medical practitioners with the title "Dr."

Core tenet for credential clarity: Always clarify what type of Dr. you are

Getting clear on the training and experience behind:

MD: Medical Doctor; 4 years of undergrad, 4 years of medical school, residency and possibly fellowship

DO: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine; similar training path to MDs but with an additional study on manipulative therapy

Naturopath/Naturopathic Doctor: operate on the six principles of naturopathic medicine; usually a 4-year program

Chiropractic Physician/Doctor of Chiropractic: Focus on the musculoskeletal anatomy

DPT: Doctor of Physical Therapy; Graduate degree; required to indicate that they are physical therapists when using the title of Dr.

Clinical Nutritionist: analyzes a person's diet along with their medical history; often licensed and can usually order labs

Registered Dietitian (RDN): food and nutrition experts; internship after completing their degree; can sometimes order labs

Certified Nutritional Consultant (CNC): educates clients on their lifestyle and dietary habits; can sit for a certified board exam after completing education and experience requirements

Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN)/Integrative Functional Nutritionist: receive nutrition training but don't necessarily have a medical background

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners: lengthy degree requirement; aim to find the energetic body aspect of your illness and correct it from that angle

Acupuncturist: degree program differentiated them from someone who does needling

Keys differences between:

Psychologists vs. psychiatrists

Plastic surgeon vs. cosmetic surgeon

Nurse practitioners (NP) vs. physician assistants (PA)

Resources

Dr. Shawn Tassone's Practice https://www.drshawntassone.com/

Dr. Shawn Tassone's Book | The Hormone Balance Bible https://tassonemd.com/hormone-balance-bible/

Dr. Shawn Tassone's Integrative Hormonal Mapping System | Hormone Archetype Quiz https://tassonemd.lpages.co/hormonearchetypequiz/

Learn more at https://tassonemd.com/podcast/.

5: Hormones from Down Under with Nat Kringoudis Aug 25, 2022

Show notes

Nat never planned to treat women's health.

Coming out of her studies, she opened up her clinic and found herself inundated with women desperate for answers to the symptoms they were experiencing. After turning many women away, thinking she couldn't help, she started to recognize a pattern of common symptoms in most of their cases.

Years of study, practice, and experience later, Nat is now known as the Hormone Revolutionist, and she's empowering women and girls to understand their bodies and hormones better.

Nat is a great friend who's been instrumental in getting to where I am today. We've been through some fantastic adventures and times together, and I'm excited to have her on the podcast to share her expertise and insights.

In this conversation, we're talking about how our modern lifestyle is reflected in common symptoms women experience, her approach to addressing the root cause of your symptoms, the revolutionary shows, and books Nat has created, what she's learned since her son's cystic fibrosis diagnosis, why she wrote her first-of-its-kind book Beautiful You to empower young women, the changes we experience in different phases of our lives, how to figure out which information to trust, and more.

About Nat Kringoudis

Nat Kringoudis is a two times best-selling Author, two-time podcast host, and all-around women's health and natural fertility practitioner. She founded Melbourne's home of natural health - her clinic, The Pagoda Tree, where she has helped over 20,000 women rescue their hormones and reclaim their best life.

Highlights

Why Nat decided to specialize in supporting women's health

Nat's approach to addressing the root cause of women's symptoms

The revolutionary YouTube series Nat created

Nat's experience of having a child with a cystic fibrosis

Moving forward with a difficult diagnosis and finding your path

How Beautiful You empowers young women when it comes to their bodies and their health

Western medicine's one-dimensional approach to perimenopause

The changes that come in different phases of our lives

Recognizing typical symptoms vs. red flags in perimenopause

How to vet sources of information and identify who to trust

Connect with Nat Kringoudis

Nat Kringoudis' Website https://www.natkringoudis.com/

Nat Kringoudis on Instagram | @NatKringoudis https://www.instagram.com/natkringoudis/

Nat Kringoudis' Podcast | The Wellness Collective https://www.listnr.com/podcasts/the-wellness-collective

Nat Kringoudis' Book | Beautiful You: Your body is talking, it's time to listen https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1698013051/

Resources

Dr. Shawn Tassone's Practice https://www.drshawntassone.com/

Dr. Shawn Tassone's Book | The Hormone Balance Bible https://tassonemd.com/hormone-balance-bible/

Dr. Shawn Tassone's Integrative Hormonal Mapping System | Hormone Archetype Quiz https://tassonemd.lpages.co/hormonearchetypequiz/

4: Working It With The Betty Rocker: Essure, Exercise, and Energy Aug 18, 2022

Show notes

All too often, it's women who bear the brunt of medical device failures.

A major example is Essure, which came on the market in 2002 as a female sterilization device. It was sold to physicians and patients as a non-surgical, FDA-approved option that could be inserted without much downtime. Sounds good, right?

That's what many of us thought at first, but by 2016, many women reported issues, and I started removing them. At the end of 2018, Essure production was stopped, and the distributors took it off the market.

Today Women's Fitness and Nutrition Coach Bree Argetsinger, also known as The Betty Rocker, joins me to talk about her experience with Essure and ultimately having it removed. In this episode, we talk about her decision to try Essure, how she realized that it was the source of health issues she was experiencing, how you can benefit from a health team, her Essure removal experience, and more.

About Bree Argetsinger, The Betty Rocker

Bree Argetsinger, The Betty Rocker, is a C.H.E.K. (Corrective Exercise and High-performance Kinesiology) certified Exercise Coach, a Nationally Certified Structural Integration Practitioner (realignment of the body through manual therapy), an ISSA (International Sports Sciences Association) certified fitness nutrition practitioner and an all-around fitness motivator and champion of personal growth.

Highlights

Bree's long history with hormonal birth control since age 14

The attractive promises of a future with Essure

Why so many women and their providers felt confident about Essure

The three types of patients who encounter issues with Essure

How exposure to black mold ultimately led Bree to dig deeper into Essure side effects

The unusual circumstances around Essure being taken off the market

Why the main components of the device and its mechanism of action can be problematic

How we connected after Bree's recognition that Essure was at the center of her issues

Major issues that occur due to botched Essure removals

How I approach Essure removals after performing over a thousand via laparoscopic surgery

Managing the mental and emotional aspects of losing a part of yourself

Bree's post-op and recovery experience

Why it's important to be health conscious instead of body conscious

How an "all or something" mindset will help you to reach your goals more consistently

The faster healing Bree experienced after her Essure removal

Connect with Bree Argetsinger

Bree Argetsinger's Website https://thebettyrocker.com/

Bree Argetsinger on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thebettyrocker/

Resources

Dr. Shawn Tassone's Practice https://www.drshawntassone.com/

Dr. Shawn Tassone's Book | The Hormone Balance Bible https://tassonemd.com/hormone-balance-bible/

Dr. Shawn Tassone's Integrative Hormonal Mapping System | Hormone Archetype Quiz https://tassonemd.lpages.co/hormonearchetypequiz/

3: Test Don't Guess: Hormone Testing 101 Aug 18, 2022

Show notes

Confession: You are being lied to about hormone testing, and, in many cases, you're either not being tested enough or being tested way too much.

There are many "hormone experts" out there, and the information they share is often wildly contradictory. From providers who say hormone imbalance doesn't exist to those who only want to see results from a specific day of your cycle, how do you filter out the valuable insights from the noise?

When it comes to your hormones, I always say, "test, don't guess." Today I'm sharing everything you need to know about hormone testing so you can be empowered when you go to your OBGYN, naturopath, or whichever provider you prefer to see. We're talking about the pros and cons of different hormone tests, how you can determine which tests to ask for, details about how testing is done, how to spot red flags, and more.

Highlights

Why a rigid approach to testing doesn't make sense

The right time to test your hormones

Why hormone testing is crucial

Red flags that suggest your provider isn't a hormone expert

The problem with saliva testing and the cases where it's worth it

Pros and cons of serum/blood testing

Hormones and proteins I prefer to check through serum testing

How DUTCH tests work

Advantages and disadvantages of urine testing

Why I believe DUTCH tests are overused

Resources

Dr. Shawn Tassone's Practice https://www.drshawntassone.com/

Dr. Shawn Tassone's Book | The Hormone Balance Bible https://tassonemd.com/hormone-balance-bible/

Dr. Shawn Tassone's Integrative Hormonal Mapping System | Hormone Archetype Quiz https://tassonemd.lpages.co/hormonearchetypequiz/

Learn more at https://tassonemd.com/podcast/.

2: Hormones 101 Aug 18, 2022

Show notes

Many women have a similar experience: you're feeling like crap, but when you go to the doctor, you're told everything is normal, and you're fine.

Understanding your hormones is a critical foundation for advocating for yourself and being empowered when it comes to your health.

To start things off, this week is all about your hormones. I'm sharing the basics every woman needs to know about her hormones and some insights into what you can expect from upcoming episodes of this podcast.

Enjoy the episode!

Highlights

What I'm looking for when testing estrogen levels

Busting common estrogen myths

Symptoms of high and low estradiol levels

Why progesterone's effects are higher in the second half of your menstrual cycle

Benefits and therapeutic uses of progesterone

Why women aren't often treated with testosterone

The role of testosterone in women

Why you need to test specifically for free testosterone

The connection between dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), estrogen, and testosterone

The critical importance of thyroid hormone

Why it's not enough to test for TSH

How FSH and LH directly affect ovulation

The many functions of cortisol

Understanding "The Saboteur" archetype from The Hormone Balance Bible

Dr. T's Confession

This week's challenge: Find out your Hormonal Archetype

Resources

Blog Post | The Pitfalls of Pellets https://tassonemd.com/the-pitfalls-of-pellets/

Dr. Shawn Tassone's Book | The Hormone Balance Bible https://tassonemd.com/hormone-balance-bible/

Dr. Shawn Tassone's Integrative Hormonal Mapping System | Hormone Archetype Quiz https://tassonemd.lpages.co/hormonearchetypequiz/

Learn more at https://tassonemd.com/podcast/.

1: Confessions of a Male Gynecologist Aug 18, 2022

Show notes

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Confessions of a Male Gynecologist, a cheeky-sounding name for an unconventional show.

I'm Dr. Shawn Tassone, a board-certified OB-GYN who's also board certified in integrative medicine. It's an unusual combination, rooted in my recognition that I couldn't help my patients as much as I wanted to through allopathic medicine alone.

How we respond to our health and how we respond to each other tells a story. I created this podcast not only to share the stories I've experienced and encountered over the past 20 years but to create a space for colleagues and patients to share their stories.

In this episode, I'm sharing what you can expect from Confessions of a Male Gynecologist, my background and what drove me to want to be a better healer, what I've learned from my patients, and how the conversations we'll share on this podcast will empower you in your health journey.

I'm excited to welcome you on this journey. Now, let's get to those confessions.

Highlights

What you can expect from the Confessions of a Male Gynecologist podcast

How 20 years in practice have turned me into a storyteller

How my mother's cancer diagnosis changed my perspective on medicine and healing

The spiritual crisis that led me to train in integrative medicine

Exploring healing with your mind

The meaning behind "Confessions of a Male Gynecologist"

Second-class citizens and the doctor-archy

The mission to get you the vetted information you need to advocate for yourself

Mentioned in this episode

Andrew Weil's Book | 8 Weeks to Optimum Health: A Proven Program for Taking Full Advantage of Your Body's Natural Healing Power https://www.amazon.com/Weeks-Optimum-Health-Program-Advantage/dp/034549802X

Shawn A. Tassone MD & Kathryn M. Landherr MD's Book | Spiritual Pregnancy: Develop, Nurture & Embrace the Journey to Motherhood https://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Pregnancy-Develop-Nurture-Motherhood/dp/0738735515

Resources

Dr. Shawn Tassone's Book | The Hormone Balance Bible https://tassonemd.com/hormone-balance-bible/

Dr. Shawn Tassone's Integrative Hormonal Mapping System | Hormone Archetype Quiz https://tassonemd.lpages.co/hormonearchetypequiz/

Learn more at https://tassonemd.com/podcast/.

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