I’m Dr. Heather Hirsch, board-certified internist, menopause specialist, and founder of the Menopause & Midlife Clinic at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Welcome to my podcast where I give you the straight tea on everything midlife and menopause—real symptoms, real solutions, and what actually works—so you can understand your body and take back control of your health.
For a deeper dive into my no BS approach to menopause care, I’ve written Unlock Your Menopause Type and The Perimenopause Survival Guide. You can find me most days guiding patients at The Collaborative, my telemedicine practice
83. Surgical Menopause, BRCA Mutations, and Hormone therapy.. Oh My!
May 05, 2021
Show notes In this episode, Dr. Hirsh talks about surgical menopause and its implications on your health especially if you were premenopausal at the time of your surgery. She also walks you through the risks and benefits of hormone therapy and discusses some of the most optimal ways to do so. Special attention is given to women who undergo risk reduction surgery to reduce their risk of ovarian cancer and what options these women have after surgical menopause. Even if you have not had surgical menopause, understanding the difference between surgical and natural menopause is a must for all women at midlife. MORE ON DR. HEATHER HIRSCH BELOW: GET THE FREE MENOPAUSE HEALTH GUIDE: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5f787bdd57796e835ea84e10 Follow Dr. Hirsch on youtube for weekly videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrAeWep_qZiP7QeR7ogcCPA Say hi on instgram: https://www.instagram.com/hormone.health.doc/ Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/heatherhirschMD For a deeper dive, Dr. Hirsch hosts the course “The Complete Guide to Menopause” which is available at this link: https://the-menopause-course.teachable.com/p/menopause/?product_id=2919066&coupon_code=MENO Website: www.heatherhirschmd.com
82. How to use progesterone, the right way.
Apr 29, 2021
Show notes Many women are confused about who, how and why to take progesterone at menopause. In this enlightening episode, Dr. Hirsch breaks down exactly who should take progesterone and who should not. She then dives into the approved ways to take progesterone to ensure you are doing it safely. lastly, she discussed the dangers of using progesterone incorrectly. You wont want to miss this informative episode on progesterone at menopause. MORE ON DR. HEATHER HIRSCH BELOW: GET THE FREE MENOPAUSE HEALTH GUIDE: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5f787bdd57796e835ea84e10 Follow Dr. Hirsch on youtube for weekly videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrAeWep_qZiP7QeR7ogcCPA Say hi on instgram: https://www.instagram.com/hormone.health.doc/ Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/heatherhirschMD For a deeper dive, Dr. Hirsch hosts the course “The Complete Guide to Menopause” which is available at this link: https://the-menopause-course.teachable.com/p/menopause/?product_id=2919066&coupon_code=MENO Website: www.heatherhirschmd.com
81. Why you have NOT failed for seeking treatment at menopause.
Apr 21, 2021
Show notes 70-80% of women have bothersome symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes, night sweats, and painful intercourse. This is a significant percent of the population, and symptoms last on average 5-7 years. Most women feel that they have “failed” if they need to resort to treating their symptoms with medications, yet it is this message itself that is failing women. In this episode, Dr. Hirsch sets the record straight on why you have NOT failed for seeking help at menopause, and specifically if you decide to start on hormone therapy. She also discussed the dangers that occur to women when they continue to “stick it out” despite bothersome symptoms and reductions in quality of life. This episode is a must-listen for women in menopause who are considering hormone therapy or other treatments for menopause. MORE ON DR. HEATHER HIRSCH BELOW: GET THE FREE MENOPAUSE HEALTH GUIDE: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5f787bdd57796e835ea84e10 Follow Dr. Hirsch on youtube for weekly videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrAeWep_qZiP7QeR7ogcCPA Say hi on instgram: https://www.instagram.com/hormone.health.doc/ Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/heatherhirschMD For a deeper dive, Dr. Hirsch hosts the course “The Complete Guide to Menopause” which is available at this link: https://the-menopause-course.teachable.com/p/menopause/?product_id=2919066&coupon_code=MENO Website: www.heatherhirschmd.com
80. Six uncommonly heard of but common menopause symptoms.
Apr 16, 2021
Show notes Did you know that menopause is more than just experiencing hot flashes and night sweats? Many women experience other Menopause symptoms, such as dizziness, allergies, and heart palpitations. In this very interesting episode, Dr. Hirsch will break down six of the more commonly heard of uncommon symptoms of menopause. This is a must-listen for any woman in midlife and at menopause! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); So, two weeks or a week ago or so I posted about rare symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. And I can’t believe the amount of responses I got from this one post, which shows me that there are so many other symptoms that go missed, and they’re misunderstood, and it just leads to the confusion or the feeling of not ever being able to treat what it is, or that dismissive response that you might get from your clinician. So we’re gonna be talking about six of the more uncommon perimenopause, menopause symptoms in today’s episode. All right, so let’s get into today’s episode, which is, explaining six of the more uncommon symptoms of, again, both perimenopause and menopause. And I always want to remind women that symptoms of menopause, those classic symptoms or unclassified symptoms as we’re gonna talk about today can certainly start in a perimenopause where you’re still having periods whether they’re more frequent or they’re more spaced out. And so these are going to be the more uncommon symptoms of either a perimenopause or menopause. Now, right off the bat, I also wanna let you know that I’m not exactly sure I know the physiology behind each of these, but I’m gonna do my best to stay true to you and tell you when I don’t know something. But it doesn’t mean that we don’t know that, it might just mean that Heather Hirsch doesn’t know absolutely everything. I know, I have to say it out loud, but it is true! And so, if there are other folks out there who know a little bit more about this, these topics could each have experts in their individual fields. So I’m really excited to dive into this today. And the other final point is that, this list is not exhaustive. There are probably many more uncommon symptoms of perimenopause and menopause that we still haven’t yet recognized. And again, this list is just not a fully comprehensive list. So let’s jump into the first one on the list which is really actually much more common than I think other clinicians realize, and that is vertigo. Vertigo, if you don’t know, is the medical term for dizziness. Most vertigo is classified as benign positional vertigo. That means what it sounds like. When you move your head from side to side, that’s when you feel the dizziest. So a really good example of this is someone who is waking up and their alarm goes off and they immediately shoot out of bed without really opening their eyes and letting their brain know what direction they’re looking in and sitting up slowly. When you jump and shoot out of bed and you’re experiencing benign positional vertigo, you can feel a lot of dizziness, that’s one example of it. And this gets very commonly diagnosed in midlife perimenopause and menopause. Now, we do know that there are estrogen receptors from head to toe. I say this all the time. And there are estrogen receptors in our ears. Literally, there’s an estrogen receptor in every organ system of your body. So don’t be surprised. So, estrogen receptors are in our ears. And as that estrogen starts to decline in perimenopause or as you make no more estrogen once you’re menopausal, for some women, it must just trigger either an imbalance or a firing o...
79. Six Cringe-Worthy Menopause Myths Debunked
Apr 07, 2021
Show notes Menopause myths are more abundant then ever. And these myths are not only disturbing, many can be considered harmful. In this week’s episode, Dr. Hirsch breaks down 6 of the most cringe worthy menopause myths and sets the record straight. Join in for this week’s show to hear more on why these myths persist and how you can work to change the narrative for women in midlife. MORE ON DR. HEATHER HIRSCH BELOW: GET THE FREE MENOPAUSE HEALTH GUIDE: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5f787bdd57796e835ea84e10 Follow Dr. Hirsch on youtube for weekly videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrAeWep_qZiP7QeR7ogcCPA Say hi on instgram: https://www.instagram.com/hormone.health.doc/ Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/heatherhirschMD For a deeper dive, Dr. Hirsch hosts the course “The Complete Guide to Menopause” which is available at this link: https://the-menopause-course.teachable.com/p/menopause/?product_id=2919066&coupon_code=MENO Website: www.heatherhirschmd.com
78. The Beauty In Menopause.
Mar 31, 2021
Show notes Midlife and menopause can and should be a beautiful time to reflect, grow, and cherish your body. Check out this week’s episode for all the beauty and peace you can come to find during this time in your life. MORE ON DR. HEATHER HIRSCH BELOW: GET THE FREE MENOPAUSE HEALTH GUIDE: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5f787bdd57796e835ea84e10 Follow Dr. Hirsch on youtube for weekly videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrAeWep_qZiP7QeR7ogcCPA Say hi on instgram: https://www.instagram.com/hormone.health.doc/ Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/heatherhirschMD For a deeper dive, Dr. Hirsch hosts the course “The Complete Guide to Menopause” which is available at this link: https://the-menopause-course.teachable.com/p/menopause/?product_id=2919066&coupon_code=MENO Website: www.heatherhirschmd.com
77. Pregnancy and Menopause.
Mar 24, 2021
Show notes Would you be surprised to know that pregnancy can shed light on your menopause experience? More and more research is showing that it is. In this episode, not only does Dr. Hirsch share an exciting surprise, but she discusses how common pregnancy conditions may predict chronic health conditions later in life, including how you experience your menopause transition. These common gestational conditions include postpartum depression and anxiety, gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, and pre-term birth. Don’t miss this interesting episode on how women’s health comes full circle! MORE ON DR. HEATHER HIRSCH BELOW: GET THE FREE MENOPAUSE HEALTH GUIDE: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5f787bdd57796e835ea84e10 Follow Dr. Hirsch on youtube for weekly videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrAeWep_qZiP7QeR7ogcCPA Say hi on instgram: https://www.instagram.com/hormone.health.doc/ Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/heatherhirschMD For a deeper dive, Dr. Hirsch hosts the course “The Complete Guide to Menopause” which is available at this link: https://the-menopause-course.teachable.com/p/menopause/?product_id=2919066&coupon_code=MENO Website: www.heatherhirschmd.com
76. Menopause in Brazil with Samara Irume
Mar 17, 2021
Show notes Continuing the “Menopause around the globe” series with Dr. Hirsch is Brazilian colleague samara Irume. Psychologist Samara Irume discusses how her personal journey through the midlife transition inspired her to become more involved in women’s mental health at menopause. Together, Samara and Dr. Hirsch discuss all things midlife including sexual health, aging, and of course… Brazil! The widely popular menopause around the globe series has been an incredible way to see how menopause is viewed around the world. Enjoy! Find and follow Samara on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diariomenopausa/ MORE ON DR. HEATHER HIRSCH BELOW: GET THE FREE MENOPAUSE HEALTH GUIDE: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5f787bdd57796e835ea84e10 Follow Dr. Hirsch on youtube for weekly videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrAeWep_qZiP7QeR7ogcCPA Say hi on instgram: https://www.instagram.com/hormone.health.doc/ Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/heatherhirschMD For a deeper dive, Dr. Hirsch hosts the course “The Complete Guide to Menopause” which is available at this link: https://the-menopause-course.teachable.com/p/menopause/?product_id=2919066&coupon_code=MENO Website: www.heatherhirschmd.com
75. Life adjustments at midlife and menopause.
Mar 10, 2021
Show notes Too many women find the unexpected life changes that happen in midlife and menopause come crashing down at the same time as the physiologic changes of menopause. In this week’s episode, Dr. Hirsch is discussing some of the more common midlife changes and challenges that women face at midlife and gives her recommendations on how to use this time to improve our bodies, minds, and overall sense of health and wellness. Tune in for your weekly dose of all things menopause and midlife! MORE ON DR. HEATHER HIRSCH BELOW: GET THE FREE MENOPAUSE HEALTH GUIDE: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5f787bdd57796e835ea84e10 Follow Dr. Hirsch on youtube for weekly videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrAeWep_qZiP7QeR7ogcCPA Say hi on instgram: https://www.instagram.com/hormone.health.doc/ Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/heatherhirschMD For a deeper dive, Dr. Hirsch hosts the course “The Complete Guide to Menopause” which is available at this link: https://the-menopause-course.teachable.com/p/menopause/?product_id=2919066&coupon_code=MENO Website: www.heatherhirschmd.com
74. Do I really need an annual GYN exam? My answer may surprise you.
Mar 03, 2021
Show notes Do you often find yourself wondering why you need to see your GYN every year after you are postmenopausal and have no surgical concerns? Do you look around the waiting room and feel out of place amongst the expecting mothers? If you – you may be on to something. Besides the companionship of the doctor that may have been by your side for years, Dr. Hirsch explores the need (or not) to have an annual GYN exam past childbearing years. Tune in to this charged episode to hear the full explanation straight from Dr. Hirsch. MORE ON DR. HEATHER HIRSCH BELOW: GET THE FREE MENOPAUSE HEALTH GUIDE: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5f787bdd57796e835ea84e10 Follow Dr. Hirsch on youtube for weekly videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrAeWep_qZiP7QeR7ogcCPA Say hi on instgram: https://www.instagram.com/hormone.health.doc/ Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/heatherhirschMD For a deeper dive, Dr. Hirsch hosts the course “The Complete Guide to Menopause” which is available at this link: https://the-menopause-course.teachable.com/p/menopause/?product_id=2919066&coupon_code=MENO Website: www.heatherhirschmd.com
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