Confessions of a Male Gynecologist

Weight loss products are a magnet for controversy. From fraudulent claims to critics and copycats, everybody has an opinion. Today I'm talking about the one currently on everybody's mind, GLP-1 drugs like Ozemic and Mounjaro. There are a lot of people in the healthcare community, especially alternative health, who are demonizing these medications. And why? I think it's because they work and put so...

"The first step is to realize that you deserve to be healthy." - Dr. Trevor Cates Your skin is your body's largest organ, and one of its most significant functions is protecting your body from the environment. The problem is that many of us are damaging that barrier function between the issues with our gut health and the things we put on our skin. Today I'm joined by Dr. Trevor Cates, a naturopath...

Culinary medicine exists at the intersection of the art of cooking and the science of medicine. When we understand the connection between nutrition and health, we are empowered to make better choices that strengthen our bodies and put us on the path to optimal health. Unfortunately, many of us never learned how to cook healthy meals. Packaged foods and Wonder bread were staples in our diets, and w...

Strong bones are foundational to leading an active life, yet bone health is a topic that's often overlooked or ignored until age 60 or beyond. At the same time, women are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis than men, making them more susceptible to fractures and other bone-related issues. Prioritizing bone health helps prevent osteoporosis and contributes to overall well-being and quality...

"You're just getting older." When it comes to menopause, women are getting dismissed by doctors, and their symptoms are ignored. With the subject being largely ignored in medical school and residency, it can be a struggle to find a practitioner who is both knowledgeable and willing to dig deeper and provide the care that's needed. Today I'm joined by my friend, Integrative Dietitian and Menopause...

"Starve a fever; feed a cold!" Whether it's from grandma, a friend, or the internet, a lot of health-related advice is passed down through generations or amplified through social media. There's a reason they persist - they seem logical and sound like good advice, so it's easy to assume they're true. Some are harmless but ineffective, while others might stop you from living your best, healthy life....

"If you want to feel well, you've got to let your body know that it's safe." - Dr. Izabella Wentz There are only two hormonal issues that are life and death: thyroid and adrenals. Unfortunately, when it comes to adrenals, what you think you should be doing is probably the opposite of what you should be doing. Whether you identify with the burned-out Saboteur or the Workaholic who's constantly push...

Estrogen has many protective effects, from bone and heart health to thyroid function and sexual motivation. I can't tell you how often I've put a woman on estrogen only to return, saying she felt better for a couple of weeks but decided to stop the medication. Why? Because her friends told her that estrogen causes breast cancer. This narrative is spreading like wildfire, and it's frankly misogynis...

Every year, millions of people take dietary supplements hoping to improve their health. The problem is, most of us have no idea what's in the pills we're taking. This is particularly true for omega-3 fatty acids, one of the top three supplements I recommend for women of all ages. So many of the omega-3 products on the shelf are low-quality, rancid oils that are a waste of money and can cause more...

Endometriosis is a debilitating condition affecting millions of women worldwide, yet many go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for years. Early diagnosis leads to better outcomes and improved quality of life. As part of our Endometriosis Awareness Month series, I'm joined by holistic health coach Khush Sra today. In addition to being an Endometriosis Nutritionist, Khush has personally suffered with endo...

Endometriosis is a long-term disease, but it's not a terminal illness. While endo symptoms usually present at a young age, it takes approximately seven to ten years for most women to get diagnosed. It's not uncommon to hear of women being bounced around the medical system and silenced with birth control pills to mask their symptoms, with no one taking a closer look. Plus, a doctor needs to confirm...

The thyroid gland is a contentious topic in the medical community. In my practice, I've seen many women with debilitating symptoms dismissed by doctors only interested in checking TSH levels and sending them on their way. Clinicians react from a place of defensiveness, not wanting anyone to question their authority. With the latest research pushing for TSH ranges to be expanded, it seems like the...

We're back for another round of Q&A with Dr. T! So much misinformation is shared when it comes to women's health. There are also a lot of doctors who seem to prescribe things willy-nilly, following guidelines without digging deeper and using science. Many of these topics come up in questions on my Instagram ( @ShawnTassoneMD) , and in this episode, I'm exploring eight common questions and sharing...

"Instead of looking at each person's bio-individuality, we're all treated with one protocol." When we slap a band-aid solution like the pill on PCOS, irregular periods, acne, and PMS, the women behind the symptoms are left disempowered and without a real solution. That's what today's guest, Nicole Jardim, is passionate about changing. Through her work as a Certified Women's Health Coach, educator,...

Semaglutide is a fantastic medication when used the right way. Anybody with a passing interest in weight loss has probably heard about semaglutide. Whether it's Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus, these antidiabetic medications have skyrocketed in popularity for the incredible weight loss results they can bring. There have even been shortages for the past couple of months! On the flip side, critics poin...

It's not all in your head. As you probably know, I'm a firm advocate for the removal of foreign bodies and foreign materials, particularly within my practice with the Essure coils. Many women go through a long journey to have the problem acknowledged and often spend years dismissed by doctors. A big part of this podcast is about patient advocacy and empowering you to stand up and speak your mind r...

"You have to trust your gut and be an advocate for yourself." - Angela Grassi There is no one-size-fits-all approach for managing polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). It's a very common, very misunderstood condition that often goes undiagnosed for years. Even after diagnosis, many women are quickly put on birth control pills that mask the symptoms and do nothing to address the underlying issues. To...

"If it's made in a factory, skip it. If it's made in nature, eat it." - Dr. Joel Kahn Diet has become a controversial topic, and people quickly turn confrontational. From the carnivore diet to keto to veganism, chances are that talking publicly about what you eat will be met with opposition. So how can you navigate these conversations and figure out the best diet for you? Today I'm joined by integ...

"Those that don't have time for wellness will eventually have to make time for illness." - Dr. Jaime Seeman You should be the number one advocate for your health. Like I tell my patients, I can give you the tools, and I can give you ideas, but ultimately you've got to do it yourself. We all have an innate drive to propagate our DNA. Do you want that to be a legacy of heart disease, or do you want...

Every Saturday for the past year, I've been doing "ask me a question" on my Instagram ( @ShawnTassoneMD ). Over time, I've noticed specific questions and themes that come up over and over. Now, I'm bringing them to the podcast! Starting with today's episode, I'm going to create some Q&A episodes where I hit some of the more popular questions and go a little deeper than I can on Instagram. I love r...

"Consider natural alternatives; your body wants to heal." - Terri Long For years Terri Long suffered from chronic pain and fatigue that left her struggling to function in everyday life. She bounced from doctor to doctor before finally being given a fibromyalgia diagnosis. But even with the medication she received, she still felt horrible. Eventually, fed up with being stuck and believing her body...

"We would not have evolved as a species if we could not have gone through periods of food feasting and famine." - Cynthia Thurlow From ancient Rome to the Industrial Revolution, people have been fasting for various reasons, including religious rites and social customs. But while it's not a new practice, modern-day intermittent fasting exists in a new environment where food is abundant, but nutrien...

Progesterone is the great calmer. It's the hormone responsible for pregnancy and is probably my second favorite (right after testosterone). With its central role in the menstrual cycle, I've seen progesterone help many women in my practice. In my book, The Hormone Balance Bible, the archetype for progesterone deficiency is the Unbalanced Heroine. It's a common archetype associated with insomnia, i...

"Honor your body. If something doesn't feel right, it's because it's not right." - Roya Pakzad Being in control of your health is empowering, but often, that's easier said than done. High deductibles, restrictions on insurance coverage, and the cost of working with functional medicine practitioners are just some of the barriers that prevent women from accessing the full range of testing and modali...

Cortisol gets a lot of bad publicity, but if you didn't have it, you would die. Produced by the adrenal glands, cortisol is your body's primary stress hormone released as part of the body's response to a threatening situation. But when cortisol levels are on the low or high end of the normal range, many women experience symptoms that significantly impact their quality of life. In my book, The Horm...