Dr. Streicher’s Inside Information: Menopause, Midlife, and More

If you have ever wondered what it’s like when a gynecologist mother and a sex therapist daughter hang out – you are about to find out! My guest (and daughter) Rachel Zar LMFT, CST , has a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and is an AASECT-certified sex therapist. We are going to chat about what happens behind the closed doors of a sex therapist. Rachel and I talk about: The WORST and...

According to The American Institute for Cancer Research, 33% of breast cancer is preventable.  I am joined by Selene Yaeger, a health and fitness journalist and major influencer in the menopause world to discuss TEN ACTION STEPS that women can take to significantly DECREASE their personal risk of risk getting not only breast CANCER, but other cancers as well.  We discuss our top 10 tips to reduce...

Systemic estrogen, unlike local estrogen, affect every single cell in the body which means there is an impact on not only hot flashes but also your bones, your brain, your bladder, and your cardiovascular system along with your vulva and vagina. While there is a long list of benefits with both oral and transdermal systemic estrogen, the potential complications are where the differences come in. So...

Since 2010, the relationship company Match has enlisted the help of experts from the Kinsey Institute of Sexual Research to conduct and publish a scientific study on the attitudes and behaviors of single people in the United States. Today, my guest is Dr. Justin Garcia, the Executive Director of The Kinsey Institute, and the Scientific Advisor to Match. He’s the scientist who knows the secrets of...

For once I am not going to talk about vaginal dryness, leaky bladders, a dropping uterus, or brittle bones! I am chatting about fashion and style for the over-40 crowd with Lauren Dimet Waters , the Host of The Beauty is a Bitch Podcast , and founder of Fountain of 30. We discuss:  If you need to dress differently when going through menopause The difference between fashion and style Best and worst...

The impact of religion and culture on sexual function…and dysfunction is fascinating and complex. In this episode I am joined by Dr. Seemena Rahman, a Clinical Assistant Professor of Ob-Gyn at Northwestern University and one of the few experts in the study of the impact of religion on sexual function.   Dr. Rahman published a pivotal scientific paper in Sexual Medicine Reviews about female sexual...

For people with a physical challenge, such as back pain, a hip replacement, arthritis, or generalized weakness, the mechanics of having sex make it seem out of the question. But no matter the physical challenge, both solo, and partnered sex can be not only possible but pleasurable . In this episode, Dr. Streicher chats with Dr. Heather Howard, a clinical sexologist, the founder of The Center for S...

Dr. Steven Snyder, an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, and the author of Love Worth Making - How to Have Ridiculously Great Sex in a Long-Lasting Relationship is “the expert” when it comes to sex and male-female relationship issues.  Dr. Streicher spent two days with Dr. Snyder filming segments for the Today Show and particularly loved his explanation of “why men go missing in bed” In t...

Post menopause bleeding. It’s not just about making the midnight run for tampons, it’s that stomach-dropping fear that “blood equals cancer” that causes women to spend hours consulting Dr. Google for some reassurance. Although most women imagine the worst, in the overwhelming majority of cases, postmenopausal spotting or bleeding is not, is not, an indication of anything serious. In this episode,...

The key to eliminating incontinence, sexual pain and pelvic pain is to work one on one with a pelvic floor physical therapist. But while most women have a pretty good idea of what a physical therapist does when it comes to hips, and shoulders, it’s a mystery to most women what to expect from PELVIC FLOOR PT. In this episode, Dr. Streicher is joined by Janelle Howell, AKA The Vagina ReHAB doctor, w...

Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) isn’t a sexy topic, but it’s an important one. Dropped bladders, dropped rectums, and/or a dropped uterus are common occurrences that are uncommonly talked about  In this episode, Dr. Streicher covers: The Definition of PELVIC ORGAN PROLAPSE UTERINE Prolapse  Cystocele ( BLADDER prolapse)  Rectocele ( RECTAL Prolapse)  RISK factors for Pelvic Organ Prolapse SYMPTOMS of...

Google, “when does menopause start" and you will learn that you are post menopause when you haven't had a period in 12 months . But the 12 months without a period definition is totally MEANINGLESS for the millions of women who DON'T GET PERIODS.  In this episode, Dr. Streicher discusses: Scenarios in which women don’t get periods Hysterectomy Progestin Intrauterine Device  Endometrial Ablation   H...

It used to be that the term “bioidentical hormone therapy” referred exclusively to compounded hormone products. But today, the term bioidentical includes FDA approved commercial products and compounded products. A legal loophole combined with aggressive marketing has resulted in women believing that compounded hormone creams and pellets not only work better but are safer than commercially produced...

How is it that some women are sexier, more productive, more fulfilled, and even more relevant after the age of 50 than then when they were younger? In this episode, Dr. Streicher is joined by Iris Krasnow, a renowned journalist, a New York Times bestselling author of 7 books, and an expert when it comes to smashing stereotypes around aging.   In this episode, Dr. Streicher and Iris Krasnow discuss...

If you are peri or post-menopausal and can’t remember the name of your next-door neighbor or why you walked in a room, you are not crazy, you are not heading towards dementia, and you are not alone.  In this episode, Dr. Streicher is joined by Dr. Pauline Maki, a Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Obstetrics & Gynecology. For over 25 years, Dr. Maki has led a program of NIH-funded resear...

The number one reason women give for not taking estrogen is fear of breast cancer. This fear is based on the 2002 study which has been reevaluated and shown to be flawed in a number of ways. Despite solid proof that estrogen therapy does not cause breast cancer and other serious illness, most doctors continue to exaggerate the risks and undersell the benefits of hormone therapy. The goal of this e...

It used to be so simple. Women were just advised to get a mammogram every year. But now we have not just x-rays, but ultrasound, MRI, digital breast tomosynthesis, screening mammograms, and diagnostic mammograms. Women are confused, and frankly, a lot of doctors are also confused. I am joined by Dr. Lisa Larkin, a board-certified internist, a certified menopause practitioner of the North American...

Relatively minimal research is devoted to menopause even though menopause affects literally 100% of women that live past the age of 50. For women of color, the situation is far more dire.. Not only do we know less about the impact of medical conditions or therapies in mid-life black women but it is incredibly challenging for many black women to access appropriate care. My guest is Dr. Fenwa Milhou...

With women delaying pregnancy, the year you start flashing just might coincide with the year you are sending your son or daughter off to college. If you are a mid-life woman who has college-bound kids, you need to know that things have changed …a lot…since you left home and went off to school. In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Jill Grimes, a family physician and the author of The ULTIMATE Colleg...

Years before estrogen production completely shuts down, HORMONE LEVELS start to FLUCTUATE wildly during that special time of life known as PERIMENOPAUSE. Waiting out bothersome hot flashes, mood swings, and insomnia is not generally the best strategy since perimenopause can last for years. In addition, it’s not as if those symptoms magically go away when you enter menopause!   In this episode Dr....

Overall, women are 40% more likely to experience insomnia than men and the numbers are even higher during perimenopause and menopause. There are many reasons for sleepless nights mid-life (beyond hot flashes!) that often go undiagnosed. In this segment, I am joined by Dr. Stephanie Faubion, the Director for Mayo Clinic's Center for Women's Health, and the medical director for The North American Me...

Prepare to rethink everything you have been taught about female sexuality. One in five couples practice open non-monogamy, yet cultural and societal expectations are that a woman have only one partner for life. Dr. Martin’s book, UNTRUE: Why Nearly Everything We Believe About Women, Lust, and Adultery is Wrong-and how the new science can set us free “cuts through the junk science and regressive cu...

More than 60% of women say that their menopause symptoms decreased their productivity and quality of work and even though millions of corporate dollars are lost due to absenteeism, reduced quality of work, and health care costs, the US government and corporate America refuse to recognize or mitigate the problem. The time is way overdue to acknowledge and fix it.  In this episode Dr. Streicher disc...

Up to 70% of post menopause women have vaginal or vulvar changes which lead to difficulty with sexual function, but for many couples, that is far from the whole story. In this episode, Dr. Streicher has a frank conversation with Dr. Rachel Rubin , a board-certified urologist, and one of a handful of physicians with specific training in sexual medicine for both men and women.  This episode will inc...

Vaginas are not the only part of the body that change mid-life! With age, muscles start to naturally atrophy- a condition called sarcopenia. Women can lose up to 10% of their muscles mass every decade.  Fitness expert Amanda Thebe’s best-selling book, Menopocalypse: How I Learned to Thrive During Menopause and How You Can Too! addresses the value and importance of exercise, diet, and lifestyle cho...