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Can fertility treatments really push you into early menopause? And what if the biggest clues about your fertility are being overlooked until it's too late?  After five egg retrievals and a deeply personal journey through surrogacy, fertility specialist Dr. Dorette Noorhasan knows firsthand the heartbreak, uncertainty, and hope that can come with the road to motherhood. She joins Dr. Anna for an eye-opening conversation about the fertility questions every woman deserves answers to. Together, they explore whether fertility medications can trigger early menopause, which ovarian reserve tests to ask for in your 30s, and what AMH, FSH, and antral follicle count can reveal about reproductive health. Dr. Noorhasan explains the role of PGT-A embryo testing, why male factor contributes to half of infertility cases when a cause is identified, and the lifestyle habits and nutrients she discusses with her patients. They also look ahead at emerging fertility treatments, including PRP and stem cell research. Whether you're planning a family, have completed yours, or want to support your hormonal health for the long run, this episode offers practical insights, reassurance, and a powerful reminder that ovarian longevity is part of whole-body longevity.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Fertility medications recruit eggs your body already set aside for that cycle, so according to Dr. Noorhasan they don't move menopause earlier. When a cause of infertility is found, it's roughly 50 percent female and 50 percent male factor, so both partners should be tested. Freezing eggs in your 20s or early 30s preserves both egg quantity and quality. Core ovarian reserve labs include cycle day 2 to 4 FSH, LH, and estradiol, plus AMH and an antral follicle count. Fertility test results are a snapshot of today, not a prediction of your future. Lifestyle can't change age or genetics, but it supports the health of every cell, including eggs and sperm. Ovarian longevity is a marker of overall longevity, whether or not you plan to have children. CHAPTERS  01:48   Your diagnosis is not your destiny. Meet Dr. Dorette Noorhasan 03:13   Career first, and "I forgot to have children" 04:53   Single mother by choice and the first two transfers 05:35   What is PGT-A testing? 06:49   The Halloween party that changed everything 07:26   Is infertility 50 percent male factor? 09:47   Egg retrievals three and four 12:37   "Do one more." The fifth retrieval 13:36   Do fertility drugs cause early menopause? 16:52   How IVF has changed since 1978 19:40   Why ovarian longevity matters for overall longevity 20:41   When should you freeze your eggs? 23:10   How lifestyle and smoking affect ovarian age 23:56   Growth hormone and PRP for fertility 27:49   4 labs to ask for in your 30s 28:45   The AMH, FSH, and follicle numbers to know 29:56   Why fertility tests are a Polaroid   NOTABLE QUOTES "Your diagnosis is not your destiny."  Dr. Anna Cabeca "My only regret is I didn't do another five egg retrievals to give my son a sibling."  Dr. Dorette Noorhasan "The healthier you are, the healthier all your cells in your body are going to be, including your egg and sperm cells."  Dr. Dorette Noorhasan   RESOURCES MENTIONED Miracle Baby: A Fertility Doctor's Fight for Motherhood by Dr. Dorette Noorhasan The Fertility Manual: Reproductive Options For Your Family by Dr. Dorette Noorhasan Modern Parenthood podcast  https://pionairepodcasting.com/modernparenthood/  Mighty Maca® Plus  https://drannacabeca.com/products/mighty-maca  Julva®  https://drannacabeca.com/products/julva  CONNECT WITH DR. DORETTE NOORHASAN Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/dorettemd/  Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/DoretteMD/  YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/@dorettemd  TikTok  https://www.tiktok.com/@dorettemd  CONNECT WITH DR. ANNA CABECA Website  https://drannacabeca.com/pages/show  Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/thegirlfrienddoctor/  YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/@thegirlfrienddoctor  TikTok  https://www.tiktok.com/@drannacabeca  Questions for the show  [email protected]

Shoulders up by your ears. Jaw clenched. Hives that show up out of nowhere. A body that stays braced no matter how clean you eat or how many supplements you take. If your mind is willing but your body is hesitant, Girlfriend, this episode is for you.   ▶ Explore the EQ Flux Pod with IR Wand and use code DRANNA https://eqfluxwave.com/products/eq-flux-pod%e2%84%a2-w-ir-wand  (EQ Flux Wave sponsored my Vitality Experience event. Full disclosure below.) On this episode of The Girlfriend Doctor Show, I sit down with Kiki Cordero-Drake, COO of EQ Flux Wave and founder of PEMFPilates™. Kiki is a Master Instructor in Pilates Sports Therapy who has worked in the field since 2007, and a Manual PEMF Practitioner since 2017. Her work blends frequency and vibration therapies, breathwork, bodywork, fascial stretching, and movement to support nervous system regulation, physical recovery, and performance. Kiki has lived this from the inside. Four shoulder surgeries before she turned 20. Then years of swelling, hives, and histamine reactions that no one could explain. She shares what she learned about feeling safe in her body again, and why healing is not one size fits all.   In this episode, you'll learn • Why pain and stress feed each other, and how a nervous system stuck on high alert shows up in your body • What histamine is, and why reactions can flare in midlife • Why fascia, the "Cinderella organ," tightens with age • The link between your jaw, your breath, and your pelvic floor, and why an old C-section still matters • What PEMF is, in plain English, with a live demo on YouTube • Why "if you have a body, you're an athlete"   Chapters 00:00 The mind is willing, the body is hesitant 03:10 Meet Kiki Cordero-Drake 03:40 Four shoulder surgeries before 20 08:05 When the histamine reactions started 09:05 Eating "clean" and still inflamed 13:50 Hives, swelling, and a body on high alert 18:15 Hydration, minerals, and running on empty 23:35 How PEMF came into Kiki's life 27:55 Pain creates stress, stress creates pain 31:15 Fascia, the Cinderella organ 38:45 If you have a body, you're an athlete 48:20 Your jaw, your breath, and your pelvic floor 51:55 Why old C-section scars still matter   Memorable Quotes "The mind is willing, but the body is hesitant." Dr. Anna Cabeca "The one thing they don't talk about is the trauma that you hold within that injury that stays with you forever." Kiki Cordero-Drake "Pain creates stress and stress creates pain." Kiki Cordero-Drake "The fascia is our Cinderella organ." Dr. Anna Cabeca "If you have a body, you're an athlete." Kiki Cordero-Drake "Healing is not one size fits all." Kiki Cordero-Drake "The best years of your life are not behind you. They are waiting for you." Dr. Anna Cabeca   Connect with Kiki EQ Flux Wave ▸ https://eqfluxwave.com/products/eq-flux-pod%e2%84%a2-w-ir-wand  (code DRANNA) Instagram ▸ https://www.instagram.com/eqfluxwave  TikTok ▸ https://www.tiktok.com/@eqfluxwave    Connect with Dr. Anna Website ▸ https://dranna.com  Instagram ▸ https://www.instagram.com/thegirlfrienddoctor/  YouTube ▸ https://www.youtube.com/@thegirlfrienddoctor  TikTok ▸ https://www.tiktok.com/@drannacabeca  Facebook ▸ https://www.facebook.com/thegirlfrienddoctor    Know a girlfriend who's been told her aches are just part of getting older? Send her this episode, and leave a review so she can find the show too.   Disclosure This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please talk with your healthcare provider before starting any new therapy or device. Kiki Cordero-Drake is the COO of EQ Flux Wave. EQ Flux Wave sponsored Dr. Anna's Vitality Experience event, and Dr. Anna may earn a commission on purchases made with code DRANNA. Individual experiences vary.

You finally get the appointment. You tell your doctor you're not sleeping, the weight is climbing, and your moods feel like someone else's. You walk out with a prescription for an antidepressant, or with nothing at all. Dr. Deborah Kwolek, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and director of Harvard's Women's Health and Menopause course, joins me to talk about why so many doctors were never taught menopause care and what she's doing to change it. We cover the exact questions to bring to your next appointment, your estrogen by the numbers, the labs to know, who may need to think harder about hormone therapy, and what to do when your doctor says, "I don't believe in hormones." Key Timestamps: 00:00 - Meet Dr. Deborah Kwolek 02:48 - Why Harvard had no menopause course 07:00 - Why most doctors were never trained in menopause 08:10 - Is the fear of hormone therapy out of proportion? 11:23 - 3 questions to ask your doctor 17:35 - Your estrogen levels, by the numbers 25:15 - Can you stay on hormones after 65? 33:46 - Who should think twice about hormone therapy? 50:08 - What to do when your doctor says no Memorable Quotes: "The fear among the providers and the fear among the patients. That's really out of proportion to the data." – Dr. Deborah Kwolek "You don't say that about anything else. I don't believe in statin drugs." – Dr. Deborah Kwolek "Almost every cell has estrogen receptors." – Dr. Deborah Kwolek "We don't stop someone's insulin at sixty-five. We don't stop their thyroid hormone at sixty-five. Where did that come from?" – Dr. Anna Cabeca "It's not hard. It's just unfamiliar." – Dr. Anna Cabeca "Your body is always speaking to you. Listen with curiosity, not criticism." – Dr. Anna Cabeca Connect With Guest: LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/dkwolekmd   Harvard Women's Health and Menopause course (for clinicians): https://learn.hms.harvard.edu/programs/primary-care-medicine Mass General Brigham: https://www.massgeneralbrigham.org/en/doctors/k/deborah-kwolek-3001790    Connect With Dr. Anna: Website: Dranna.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegirlfrienddoctor/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thegirlfrienddoctor TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drannacabeca Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegirlfrienddoctor  This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Talk with your healthcare provider before making changes to your medications, supplements, or hormone therapy. Guest views are her own.

Your brain has its own immune cells, and the way you live each day helps decide whether they protect you or turn on you. Two-thirds of Americans living with Alzheimer's are women. Living longer doesn't explain that gap, girlfriend. So what does? I'm so happy to welcome back my dear friend Dr. David Perlmutter, board-certified neurologist and author of the New York Times bestseller Brain Defenders. He explains microglia, the immune cells that make up about 10% of your brain. On a good day, they're like firefighters in the firehouse, quietly repairing the blood-brain barrier and helping your brain build new connections. Under pressure from high blood sugar or inflammation, they can flip into what he calls the evil twin. Dr. Perlmutter walks me through what happens in the brain when estradiol drops in perimenopause and menopause, and how estrogen and your mitochondria, the energy makers inside your cells, keep each other going. He makes the case for caring about metabolic health in your 30s and 40s, long before memory changes show up. He shares the labs he wants on your radar, including hemoglobin A1C, homocysteine, fasting insulin, vitamin D and the p-tau217 blood test, plus why normal isn't the same as optimal. You'll hear why carrying the APOE4 gene is a predisposition, not a destiny, and exactly where he stands on hormone therapy for women. My favorite part was how oxytocin, my Queen Mother hormone, and time with the people you love help keep your brain's immune cells in their supportive state. You get to be the architect of your brain's destiny. This conversation shows you where to start. This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Guest views are their own. Talk with your healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine or medications. Key Timestamps 00:00 Welcome back Dr. David Perlmutter and Brain Defenders 05:25 How blood sugar and inflammation create the evil twin 10:25 Falling estradiol and the loss of brain connections 12:50 How mitochondria and estrogen support each other 14:50 Blood sugar and brain risk 15:55 Why brain health starts in your 30s and 40s 16:45 Common medications and brain health 18:30 The labs you can ask for 20:05 A1C and why normal isn't optimal 22:55 The p-tau217 blood test 23:40 APOE4 is a predisposition, not a destiny 31:35 Oxytocin, connection and your brain's immune cells 33:20 Where Dr. Perlmutter stands on hormone therapy 38:10 Cortisol, sleep and your daily rhythm 41:35 What FSH may be telling you after menopause Memorable Quotes 1. "It's really all about agency, about each of us being the architect of our brain's destiny." — Dr. David Perlmutter 2. "Hormone imbalances and mood disorders are metabolic until proven otherwise." — Dr. Anna Cabeca 3. "It's time that we re-message what's going on with this genetic predisposition, and not a predetermination." — Dr. David Perlmutter 4. "One of the biggest threats for brain decline is isolation." — Dr. David Perlmutter 5. "Some is good. Too much is bad. The devil is in the dose." — Dr. David Perlmutter Connect With Dr. David Perlmutter Instagram: @davidperlmutter LinkedIn: David Perlmutter, MD YouTube: @DavidPerlmutterMD X: @DavidPerlmutter Facebook: David Perlmutter, MD Podcast: The Empowering Neurologist Brain Defender Link: http://braindefenders.com/  Connect With Dr. Anna Website: Dranna.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegirlfrienddoctor/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thegirlfrienddoctor  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drannacabeca  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegirlfrienddoctor  If you loved this conversation, share it with a girlfriend who's been worried about her memory, and leave us a review on Apple or Spotify. It helps more women find these conversations.

A divorce. A layoff. A season where you held everything together for everyone. Your body flipped into fight or flight to protect you, exactly the way it was built to. But what happens when the stress passes and your nervous system never gets the message? Bioenergetic medicine expert Dr. Sue Morter, author of The Energy Codes and The Anatomy of Awakening, explains the hidden stress your body can keep carrying for years. She shows how that old emergency ripples through your adrenals, your thyroid, and your hormones in midlife. Then she walks me through her first two steps. The wise belly breath, which helps engage the calming side of your nervous system. And pratyahara, an ancient practice for calling your energy back from the people and situations that drain you. Dr. Sue and I also get into what releasing anger means (hint, it's not dumping it on someone), how to work with a feeling without needing the whole story, and why meditation can feel impossible at first. If you've been doing everything right and still feel wired, tired, and on edge, Gorgeous, this one is for you. Key takeaways Your nervous system can stay locked in fight or flight long after a stressful event ends, because it never received the signal that the danger passed. That hidden stress keeps your adrenals pumping out cortisol, and Dr. Sue describes the thyroid stepping in to compensate until your whole hormonal system starts to roller-coaster. Your body works on a priority basis, so survival comes before repair, detox, and renewal. A slow belly breath, low first and then rising into the chest, is Dr. Sue's simplest first step for telling your body the coast is clear. Pratyahara means drawing your senses back onto yourself, so you can stay in a hard conversation without handing over your energy. Releasing anger means feeling and moving the energy in your body, not unloading it on someone else. If meditation feels impossible, build body awareness first so stillness becomes easier. Key Timestamps 01:00 Growing up with a pioneer of energy medicine 03:05 Root cause versus symptom care 05:00 The hidden stress keeping you in fight or flight 06:15 The trap door between the thalamus and hypothalamus 09:25 Step one, the belly breath 13:15 Why your belly is wise 14:15 The doorway exercise 18:20 What if you're the one who triggers someone 26:15 The two systems that run your body 31:30 What releasing anger means 40:00 When meditation feels impossible 42:30 Take it to the body practices   Memorable quotes "It's doing the right thing, but it's doing it at the wrong time." Dr. Sue Morter "Work with the energy instead of the label, work with the energy instead of the story." Dr. Sue Morter "We are the CEO of our body, and the best years of our lives are not behind us. They are waiting for us." Dr. Anna Cabeca Resources mentioned The Energy Codes by Dr. Sue Morter The Anatomy of Awakening by Dr. Sue Morter Dr. Sue's courses and classes at drsuemorter.com The Girlfriend Doctor on YouTube CTA: Listen to the full conversation Connect with Dr. Sue Morter Website: www.drsuemorter.com  Instagram: www.instagram.com/drsuemorter  Facebook: www.facebook.com/drsuemorter  Dr. Sue's Newest Book: https://www.theanatomyofawakeningbook.com/ Free Meditation Gift for listeners: https://drsmorter.com/girlfrienddr     Connect with Dr. Anna  Website: https://drannacabeca.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAnnaCabeca Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegirlfrienddoctor YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/thegirlfrienddoctor TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drannacabeca Podcast: https://drannacabeca.com/blogs/podcast Loved this one? Send it to the friend who's been running on empty, then tell me in the comments which practice you're trying first. I read every one.

When a woman sits across from Dr. Anna after a breast cancer diagnosis, she asks one question. What did your oncologist say caused it? Almost every time, the answer is a blank stare. Dr. Nasha Winters has lived that silence from the inside. By 19, she had collected a decade of diagnoses, including PCOS, endometriosis, IBS, anxiety, and thyroid trouble. Then she landed in the ER with a grapefruit-sized tumor and was told she was too ill for treatment. In this conversation, she shares the three things she credits with changing her path. She also explains how childhood trauma can shape the immune system and why she sees the body as a garden to tend rather than a battlefield. Dr. Nasha is a naturopathic doctor and the author of The Metabolic Approach to Cancer. She walks through the ten areas of terrain she evaluates, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio hiding in a standard CBC, and her inflammation "trifecta" of CRP, sed rate, and LDH. She explains why ringing the bell after treatment is the beginning of rebuilding. She also shares the four S's she sees as common threads in breast health. Key takeaways Recurring symptoms and diagnoses can be signals worth investigating, not just labels to manage. Dr. Nasha looks at ten areas of terrain and now starts with mental and emotional health. A standard CBC can reveal your neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio. She prefers it closer to 2 to 1. She tracks CRP, sed rate, and LDH together as a picture of inflammation and metabolic health. In her view, finishing treatment is when the work of rebuilding healthy cells begins. Research links a balanced microbiome with a better response to immunotherapy. Her four S's for breast health are sugar, stress, sleep, and sex. Timestamps  00:00 The question most women are never asked 05:45 A terminal ovarian cancer diagnosis at 19 12:15 The three "accidents" she credits 17:00 Dr. Anna on the 13-hour overnight fast 19:00 The ACE score and psychoneuroimmunology 37:45 The 10 areas of terrain 44:40 The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio 48:15 CRP, sed rate, and LDH 53:30 Why ringing the bell is the beginning 56:00 The microbiome and immunotherapy 61:30 Saliva vs. urine pH and your body's capacity 71:00 The four S's of breast health Memorable quotes "So I thought I was pre-med. Cancer had another story for me." Dr. Nasha Winters "They were trying to be a guidepost of, hey, there's something wrong here that needs our attention." Dr. Nasha Winters, on her early diagnoses "It's very simple. Test, assess, address, don't guess." Dr. Nasha Winters "What I tell folks is that's actually just the beginning." Dr. Nasha Winters, on ringing the bell after treatment "Your body is always speaking to you." Dr. Anna Cabeca "The best years of your life aren't behind you. They're waiting for you." Dr. Anna Cabeca Resources mentioned Dr. Nasha Winters at drnasha.com, which has her books, terrain questionnaire, podcast, Substack, and free resources on what to do after a diagnosis The Metabolic Approach to Cancer by Dr. Nasha Winters Mistletoe and the Emerging Future of Integrative Oncology by Dr. Nasha Winters The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) questionnaire The 2016 JAMA Oncology study on overnight fasting and breast cancer recurrence The Girlfriend Doctor community [TEAM TO ADD LINK] Connect with Dr. Nasha Winter Website: https://drnasha.com Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@drnashawinters Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drnashawinters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drnashawinters LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drnashawinters   Connect with Dr. Anna Website: Dranna.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegirlfrienddoctor/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thegirlfrienddoctor  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drannacabeca Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegirlfrienddoctor   Share the love If this conversation moved you, share it with a woman who needs to hear it. Women heal in community. Your ratings, reviews, and shares help keep conversations like this going. This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please talk with your healthcare provider before making changes to your care.

Tell me if you've heard this before. You're sleeping. You're eating the way you were told to eat. Your labs come back normal, and you still know something is off. That's the woman I had in mind for this conversation. After twenty years in hormone and longevity medicine, here's what I keep coming back to. Most of what supports your hormones comes down to the foundations, like light, darkness, and when you eat, and so many of them cost you nothing. My guest, Sarah Kleiner, is board-certified through the Quantum Biology Institute and the creator of My Circadian App. She came to this work the hard way. In her forties, she went through two pregnancy losses and two rounds of IVF with no viable embryos. Then a single conversation with Jack Kruse pointed her toward leptin and circadian biology. When she asked her fertility doctor to test her leptin, she was told it was an insignificant hormone. Her levels came back very low. She rebuilt her rhythm with morning sunlight, dark evenings, and a shift in how and when she ate, and she later got pregnant with her son without IVF. We get specific. Sarah explains what leptin does while you sleep and why she sees leptin resistance show up before insulin resistance. She covers the early hunger signals that something may be off and how to test leptin so the result means something. We talk through yellow versus orange and red blue light blockers, and why an incandescent bulb on your desk is worth it. We also cover why sitting in the shade still counts and why the same meal lands differently at 8 AM than at 8 PM. I also share why I built MenuPause around rotating eating patterns, especially if you've been doing carnivore, keto, or Keto-Green for a long time. Most of the women who find Sarah's work are in perimenopause and menopause. These small, consistent shifts give your body clearer instructions to work with. And the best years of your life are waiting for you.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Leptin works like your body's accountant. Overnight, it reports to your brain how much stored energy you have, then passes instructions along to your thyroid, your sex hormones, and your metabolism. Blue light at night, eating close to bed, or staying up late can interrupt that nightly conversation. In Sarah's experience, leptin resistance shows up before insulin resistance. It's rarely tested, which is one reason "normal" labs can miss what you're feeling. Some early signs your leptin signaling may be off are feeling hungry again soon after you eat, never feeling satisfied, or having no appetite in the morning at all. Sarah skipped breakfast for about ten years and felt nauseous at the thought of eating in the morning. If you test leptin, do it fasted in the morning, 12 to 14 hours after your last meal. Eating beforehand skews the result, and so does fasting too long. Your morning reset is simple. Go outside soon after you wake up, before your phone and before the overhead lights. After sunset, keep your home dim and switch to orange or red light. Use yellow-tinted blue blockers during the day at screens, and orange or red ones after dark. When you eat matters, not only what you eat. Research we discuss shows your body handles the same meal better earlier in the day, which is why I encourage breaking your fast by 10 AM. You don't need to overhaul your house. An incandescent bulb on your desk, a seat by the window, and working outside when you can, even in the shade, are where Sarah tells people to start.   Time Stamps 00:00 Why the foundations matter more than hacks and peptides 04:02 Sarah's path from corporate America to circadian biology 07:22 Two IVF rounds and a wall with conventional care 10:04 What a morning circadian reset looks like 22:09 Yellow, orange, or red? Choosing blue light blockers 24:48 What leptin is and why Sarah calls it a master hormone 28:10 Sarah's own low leptin, and the doctor who dismissed it 29:42 Early signs your leptin signaling is off 39:31 Why "calories in, calories out" misses timing 42:48 The underrated habit of working in the shade 46:14 Where to find Sarah and how My Circadian App works 49:20 MenuPause and why I rotate eating patterns Memorable  Quotes "You can't out supplement the sun and nature." (Dr. Anna Cabeca) "I always say consistency over perfection every single day of the week." (Sarah Kleiner) "The best years of your life are not behind you. They are waiting for you." (Dr. Anna Cabeca)   RESOURCES MENTIONED From Sarah Leptin Master Plan: https://www.sarahkleinerwellness.com/a/2147833508/9omoaj6i  21 Day Leptin Reset: https://www.sarahkleinerwellness.com/a/2147833508/9omoaj6i  People and research referenced Jack Kruse, an early influence on Sarah's circadian and leptin work Dr. Gerald Pollack, for his research on exclusion zone water and infrared light Dr. Glen Jeffery, for his research on red and infrared light and mitochondrial function From Dr. Anna MenuPause, my book of rotating six-day meal plans, including Carb Up, Autoimmune Paleo, Keto-Green, Carnivore, and Vegan options: https://drannacabeca.com/products/menupause Keto-Green 16: https://drannacabeca.com/pages/offers-keto-green-16-challenge    Connect With Sarah Kleiner:  Website - https://www.sarahkleinerwellness.com Substack - https://substack.com/@sarahkleinerwellness  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sarahkleinerwellness  Podcast - https://www.sarahkleinerwellness.com/podcast  YouTube - hhttps://www.youtube.com/@SarahKleinerWellness Free ebooks: https://www.sarahkleinerwellness.com/all-free-resources Connect with Dr. Anna: Website: dranna.com Instagram: instagram.com/thegirlfrienddoctor    YouTube: youtube.com/@thegirlfrienddoctor   TikTok: tiktok.com/@drannacabeca  Facebook: facebook.com/thegirlfrienddoctor  If someone you love keeps saying "my labs are normal, but I don't feel like me," send her this episode. And subscribe on YouTube so you catch the shorts from this conversation.   Disclaimer This episode is education, not medical advice, so please talk with your own physician before making changes to your health routine.

Dr. Anna sits down with triple board-certified dermatologist, internist, and dermatopathologist Dr. Mamina Turegano for a deep dive into skin health from the inside out. They cover the real drivers of collagen breakdown, which anti-aging ingredients and procedures actually hold up to decades of evidence, and how to build a sunscreen routine you don't have to second-guess.  The conversation then turns to two of the toughest conditions in women's health, rosacea and vulvar lichen sclerosus, with practical, root-cause-informed guidance for both. This is the episode to bookmark if you've ever wondered what's worth your money on the skincare shelf and what's just noise. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro, today's topics 02:23 – Welcome, Dr. Mamina's path into dermatology 03:03 – Blending integrative medicine with medical derm 08:04 – Why we lose collagen, and what accelerates the breakdown 10:29 – Sun protection, the case for and against sunscreen fear 15:00 – Chemical vs. mineral sunscreens, the benzene scare explained 19:51 – Retinoids, how often to use them and why 23:36 – Vitamin C, peptides, and topical hormones for the skin 25:50 – Why topical estrogen can sometimes deepen lines 29:06 – In-office procedures, IPL for dark spots and redness 30:18 – Morpheus and RF microneedling, who it's right for 32:53 – Chemical peels for pigmentation and melasma 33:51 – Red light therapy, what to look for in an at-home mask 34:55 – Rosacea, the gut connection and genetic factors 41:44 – Vulvar lichen sclerosus, why it's so often missed 45:34 – Treatment approach, topical steroids to LDN 50:41 – Where JAK inhibitors and biologics may be headed 51:39 – Where to find Dr. Mamina online 52:22 – Rapid fire round 57:50 – Closing thoughts and where to learn more Memorable Quotes "Your skin is a window of what's going on internally, and when you're addressing your internal health, that can manifest so much on the skin." – Dr. Anna Cabeca "Healthy digestion for a glowing complexion." – Dr. Anna Cabeca "I use the phrase, the cells start to poop out, and we get brown spots." – Dr. Mamina Turegano "Getting a good night's sleep is like aging in reverse." – Dr. Anna Cabeca "When you have lichen sclerosus, it's like double-barreled shotguns. We're going to get rid of this, and we want you to be comfortable and at home in your body." – Dr. Mamina Turegano "Aging beautifully is feeling comfortable in your skin, literally and metaphorically. It's confidence, and I think that can radiate out as beauty." – Dr. Mamina Turegano Connect with Dr. Mamina Turegano Prescription topicals - dermclick.com Consultations - https://app.futureclinic.com/clinics/drturegano/profile Instagram - instagram.com/dr.mamina TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.mamina YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@dr.mamina Co-Author, Holistic Psoriasis Management and Nutrition Guide - https://amzn.to/42tRkaQ Connect With Dr. Anna: Website: Dranna.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegirlfrienddoctor/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thegirlfrienddoctor  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drannacabeca Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegirlfrienddoctor

I was sitting in my studio in Dallas with four women who had just spent five months inside my Magic Menopause Certification, and every one of them got emotional before we even started recording. That tells you something about what this season of life actually does to a woman who thought she had it handled. As a triple board-certified OB/GYN and the creator of the Keto-Green method and the Magic Menopause Coach Certification, I sat down with graduating coaches Chelsea, Song, Tara, and Jamie for a live, unscripted panel on everything nobody warns you about before perimenopause hits.  In this episode, you'll hear: - Why declining progesterone and DHEA between ages 35 and 55 quietly drive insulin resistance and weight gain that shows up out of nowhere - Why fibroids don't have to mean an automatic hysterectomy, and what a natural starting point can look like instead - Why perimenopause symptoms get dismissed as "normal" in a standard OB/GYN visit, and why that isn't good enough - Why this conversation belongs in mother-daughter relationships, starting as early as a daughter's first period  - How to reclaim vaginal and sexual health without shame - What it actually means to become the CEO of your own health This is the conversation I wish someone had handed me twenty years ago. Peace is possible on the other side of this transition. So is feeling like yourself again. Learn more about the Magic Menopause program at magicmenopause.com, subscribe if you're watching on YouTube, and comment your one word for this season of your life. I read every one.  Key Timestamps 00:00 — Why I brought four coaches into one room 04:00 — Fibroids, hysterectomy, and the missing third option 05:25 — The 30-day cycle nobody could explain 18:30 — Why the weight shows up even when nothing else changed 22:00 — The conversation that needs to start with our daughters  47:35 — Peeling back the shame around vaginal and sexual health 52:30 — Becoming the CEO of your own health Memorable Quotes "I didn't realize that until I crossed the line into menopause. And I was devastated." "You go to that doctor's appointment and you're the doctor. If your doctor won't partner with you, that's not your doctor."  -CONNECT WITH DR. ANNA- Website: http://drannacabeca.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegirlfrienddoctor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegirlfrienddoctor/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegirlfrienddoctor Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thegirlfrienddoctor/ * Always seek the advice of your own physician or qualified health professional before starting any treatment or plans. Information found here and results are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional and are not intended as medical advice. *

Grab your Mighty Maca and get cozy. In this episode of The Girlfriend Doctor Podcast, Dr. Anna Cabeca sits down with the very first graduates of her Magic Menopause Hormone Restoration Coaching Certification, Emily, Ann, Amy and Angela. Four women, four completely different paths into menopause, and one shared mission, making sure no woman has to go through this alone. We're talking surgical menopause, the myths that keep women suffering in silence, the postpartum "mini menopause" nobody warns you about, and what it actually takes to feel like yourself again. Key Timestamps 0:00  Welcome back and meet the first Magic Menopause coaches 01:51 Emily's story, from burnout to becoming every woman's advocate 04:41 Ann's story, a fertility journey that led her to integrative medicine 09:06 Amy's story, surviving sudden surgical menopause 13:29 Angela's story, how coaching became a matter of life and death 18:55 Busting the biggest menopause myths 21:37 Emily's postpartum "mini menopause" story 25:58 The truth about hormones and cancer risk 27:40 Girlfriend to girlfriend, words of encouragement 33:01 Menopause in the workplace 35:35 Where to find each coach 39:11 Closing thoughts and what's next Ready to turn your own story into your life's work? The Magic Menopause Certified Coach program trains practitioners, health professionals and passionate advocates to guide women through perimenopause and menopause with real clinical grounding and coaching skill behind it. Learn more here: https://magicmenopause.com/pages/magic-menopause-certified-coach Subscribe for new episodes every week, and share this one with a friend who needs to hear it today. Memorable Quotes "Menopause is natural. Suffering is optional." — Angela "It's the difference between common and normal." — Emily "Hormones are not the enemy." — Amy "You're not broken." — Dr. Anna Cabeca Connect With Dr. Anna Website: Dranna.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegirlfrienddoctor/   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thegirlfrienddoctor   TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drannacabeca  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegirlfrienddoctor

You leave your doctor's office with "everything looks normal" ringing in your ears, but your body is telling you something else. This week Dr. Anna talks with nurse practitioner Dr. Efrat LaMandre, aka Dr. E, about medical gaslighting, why "you're fine" often means "I ran out of tools," and how to advocate for yourself without burning every bridge with your doctor. You'll learn: The difference between "normal" and "optimal," and why it matters What "pre-disease" is and why most providers aren't equipped for it How to describe your symptoms so your doctor actually listens Why one provider can't be your whole healthcare team How to trust your own intuition instead of talking yourself out of it If you've ever been told you're fine and known you're not, this one's for you. Connect with Dr. E:  TikTok: tiktok.com/@drefratlamandre   Instagram: instagram.com/drefratlamandre    Facebook: facebook.com/drefratlamandre  YouTube: youtube.com/@DrEfratLaMandre   Website: drefratlamandre.com   LinkedIn: efratlamandre  Podcast: drefratlamandre.com/e-podcasts  Connect with Dr. Anna: Website: dranna.com Instagram: instagram.com/thegirlfrienddoctor    YouTube: youtube.com/@thegirlfrienddoctor   TikTok: tiktok.com/@drannacabeca  Facebook: facebook.com/thegirlfrienddoctor  #MedicalGaslighting #WomensHealth #Perimenopause #Menopause #PatientAdvocacy #FunctionalMedicine

Have you done everything right and still watched the scale refuse to move? I sat down with fitness industry veteran Chalene Johnson, who built her career telling women exactly how to lose weight, and then walked straight into that same wall herself in perimenopause. Her hormone panel came back "dialed in." She was still doing every workout, every macro track, every habit that used to work. The weight stayed anyway, until she found the piece nobody had pointed her toward, the link between cortisol, insulin resistance, and a metabolism that stops cooperating no matter how hard you push. We get into the stress inventory that changed her day almost overnight, why she traded daily cardio for heavy strength training, her honest concerns about GLP-1s, and the Harvard longevity data that convinced her friendship matters more for a long healthy life than anything you'll find in a gym. Timestamps: 0:00 — Doing everything right and still gaining weight in perimenopause 4:36 — How the fitness industry sets women up to fail on purpose 12:00 — Hormones "dialed in," weight still not moving 13:14 — The cortisol and insulin resistance connection nobody explained to her 13:57 — The stress inventory exercise that changed her days 23:39 — Why she traded cardio for heavy strength training 25:48 — The identical twin study on muscle, memory, and cognition 27:55 — Her honest concerns about GLP-1s and rapid weight loss 33:49 — Why community predicts longevity more than diet or exercise 36:03 — Rapid fire: supplements, sunlight, and energy vampires 42:08 — Camp Be More and where to find Chalene Memorable Quotes: "I have my hormones dialed in, but when I was working with an integrative medical doctor who would look at my panel, she's like, 'Your cortisol is through the roof.'" — Chalene Johnson "The machine needs for you to not succeed so that you believe, okay, something else is going to work for me." — Chalene Johnson "We can't heal a body we hate." — Dr. Anna Cabeca Key Takeaways: A "perfect" hormone panel doesn't rule out cortisol and insulin resistance quietly driving weight gain underneath it Writing out every stressor and circling only what you control turns "reduce your stress" into something actually doable Lower body strength training, not cardio, was the single habit Chalene says moved the needle most for her body and brain The identical twin study she references found more lower body muscle correlated with better memory and cognition at 50 and beyond Rapid weight loss without addressing muscle and detoxification support can cost you the two things that matter most for longevity Community, not diet or exercise, was the strongest predictor of quality of life and lifespan in the longest running Harvard longevity study Vitamin D from sunlight and magnesium are the two non negotiables in Chalene's own daily routine FAQ Why do I keep gaining weight in perimenopause even though my hormones are balanced?  For many women, hormone balance is only part of the picture. Cortisol and insulin resistance can quietly drive weight gain even when a hormone panel looks well managed. Addressing stress load and metabolic health alongside hormones is often the missing piece. Does stress actually cause weight gain, or is that oversimplified? Chronic stress raises cortisol, and elevated cortisol is linked to increased insulin resistance and a slower metabolic rate. This isn't about willpower. It's a physiological chain that can work against weight loss efforts regardless of diet and exercise habits. Is strength training better than cardio for women in midlife? Strength training, particularly lower body work with adequate weight, supports muscle retention, bone density, and metabolic health in ways cardio alone doesn't. Many experts recommend prioritizing strength training first, then layering in cardio. What is Camp Be More? Camp Be More is a live event created by Shelene Johnson for women, focused on connection, aging on your own terms, and building community with other women navigating midlife. How much strength training do I need to see results? Shelene recommends starting with two days a week focused on the lower body if daily training feels overwhelming. Consistency matters more than volume when you're starting out.   Connect with Chalene Johnson Website: https://chalene.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chalene Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chalenejohnson/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chalenejohnson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chalenejohnson Connect with Dr. Anna Website: http://drannacabeca.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegirlfrienddoctor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegirlfrienddoctor/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegirlfrienddoctor Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thegirlfrienddoctor/

She shut down. Walked out of the room. And you spent the next three days replaying the one sentence that did it. That right there is a trigger talking to a trigger. And it's exactly what my guest today spends her career untangling. Tressa Yonekawa holds a graduate degree in cognitive neuroscience for communication. Twenty five years in, she's used it with corporate leaders, celebrity clients, and couples who feel more like roommates than lovers. We get into her own near drowning at four years old, the voice she heard underwater that redirected her entire life, and how her father's war trauma and a chaotic childhood taught her to read the patterns hiding underneath a fight. Here's what you'll walk away with. The exact phrase that stops a fight before it starts ("I have a story that...") Why "we're not having sex anymore" is almost never actually about sex Her four layer Trust Pyramid: presence, emotional safety, curiosity, then trust The one question most couples have never asked each other, and what happens when they finally do How she navigated her own divorce with grace instead of a courtroom fight Gorgeous, if you have ever gone quiet mid conversation because you didn't have the words, this one is for you. Watch the full conversation now and tell me in the comments which tool you're trying first. And if you're ready to take your health, relationships, and vitality to the next level, join me at my upcoming Vitality Event! Learn more and reserve your spot here: https://drannacabeca.com/pages/f-vitality-experience  Key Timestamps  00:00 — Meet Tressa and her background in cognitive neuroscience 04:00 — The near drowning at four and the voice underwater 10:00 — How childhood patterns show up in adult relationships 16:00 — The "I have a story that..." tool for defusing triggers  22:00 — Why sexless marriages are rarely about sex 28:00 — The Trust Pyramid explained 36:00 — Her own divorce and the elegant exit 42:00 — First steps for a woman feeling discontent in her relationship 48:00 — Where to find Tressa and how to send in your questions Memorable Quotes "What looks like anger is almost always fear based." — Tressa Yonekawa "Talking to somebody else's trigger creates harm." — Tressa Yonekawa "There's always hope, healing, and a body you love to live in." — Dr. Anna Cabeca   Connect With Guest  Website: https://tressayonekawa.com/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tressa.yonekawa/   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TressaYonekawa   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tressayonekawa   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tressayonekawa/    Connect With Dr. Anna  Website: Dranna.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegirlfrienddoctor/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thegirlfrienddoctor TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drannacabeca  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegirlfrienddoctor

She was 63, hadn't been intimate with her husband in years, and was told by every doctor, "This is just aging." Dr. Anna Cabeca had one thing to say back: No, it isn't. Dr. Anna Cabeca, The Girlfriend Doctor—a triple board-certified OB/GYN specializing in menopause, hormones, and women's vitality—shares her fully updated vaginal health protocol. This isn't the "just use a lubricant" advice you've heard before. It's a whole-body approach built from more than 26 years of clinical practice, her own experience with early menopause, and the patients who refused to accept "normal" as the final answer. You'll learn: Why vaginal dryness, bladder leaks, and recurrent UTIs are common after menopause—but not something you have to live with. How declining DHEA, estrogen, and progesterone affect tissue health, blood flow, and the vaginal microbiome. A simple 5-step daily routine to support adrenal health, tissue comfort, intimacy, and long-term vitality. Why oxytocin—not just estrogen or testosterone—may be the missing piece for connection, mood, and desire. How Dr. Anna's Sexual CPR framework helps women rebuild communication, pleasure, confidence, and intimacy at any age. Whether you're in your 30s preparing for what's ahead or in your 60s ready to feel like yourself again, this episode will help you understand what's really happening in your body—and what you can do about it. Your body has not given up on you. And it's never too late to feel vibrant again. Timestamps ●  00:03 — The patient who said "I'd rather die than live this way" ●  04:49 — Following her for 20 years, and a better bone scan at 73 than 63 ●  07:07 — The psychiatrist who never connected her sleep to her bladder ●  09:24 — Why vaginal health is a whole body issue ● 11:45 — The old advice that wasn't enough, and her own early menopause story ● 14:13 — What declining hormones actually do to tissue, blood flow, and the urethra ● 16:30 — Why Julva was created, and the rise of inflammation and microbiome disruption ● 18:54 — Early symptoms and why earlier intervention makes restoration easier ●  20:57 — When symptoms get louder, and why comfort drives desire ●  23:13 — The 5-part vaginal health protocol, starting with Step 1: nourish the tissue ●  25:38 — DHEA and testosterone before surgery, and canceling surgeries that were no longer needed ●  32:21 — Step 2: restoring the vaginal microbiome ●  39:11 — The gut, mouth, and vaginal microbiome connection ●  41:35 — Step 3: comfort during intimacy, and why she resisted lubricants for years ●  43:51 — Step 4: supporting hormones from the inside out with Mighty Maca Plus ●  48:40 — Step 5: building a simple daily ritual ●  51:02 — Oxytocin, her own PTSD story, and the hormone we never talk about ●  53:22 — Oxy play: free, daily ways to build oxytocin ●  55:40 — Sexual CPR, and why intimacy isn't a reward, it's a path Memorable Quotes ●  "Common is not the same as normal. And you do not have to accept them." ●  "You are the CEO of your health." ●  "Your body is the cathedral of your spirit, and every cathedral needs constant renovation and repair." ●   "Oxytocin is the connection hormone we've overlooked. You cannot buy it, but you can build it." ●   "It takes more than hormones to support your hormones." Mentioned in This Episode Protecting Your Heart and Smile with Dr. Ellie Campbell: https://drannacabeca.com/blogs/podcast/protecting-your-heart-and-smile-with-dr-ellie-campbell-how-your-oral-health-affects-your-cardiac-health Julva: https://drannacabeca.com/products/julva  Velvé: https://drannacabeca.com/products/velve  Sexual CPR: https://drannacabeca.com/pages/offers-sexualcpr  Join Dr. Anna Live in Dallas Ready to go deeper? Join Dr. Anna Cabeca at The Vitality Experience, an immersive event designed to help you understand what really changes after 40—and what you can do about it. You'll discover: • How your hormones really change after 40 • Practical strategies for fat loss, muscle, and metabolic health in midlife • The pelvic health and intimacy conversations no one else is having with you • What you need to know about breast health, testing, and which screenings actually matter You'll leave knowing what's common, what you don't have to simply manage, and exactly where to focus your energy to feel stronger, healthier, and more vibrant. Learn more and reserve your spot: https://drannacabeca.com/pages/f-vitality-experience If you're looking for natural menopause relief, vaginal health solutions, pelvic floor support, hormone balance, or ways to improve intimacy after menopause, this episode is an essential listen.  Connect with Dr. Anna ●      Website: dranna.com ●      Instagram: @thegirlfrienddoctor ●      YouTube: @thegirlfrienddoctor ●      TikTok: @drannacabeca ●      Facebook: The Girlfriend Doctor If this episode helped you, share it with a woman who needs to hear it, subscribe to The Girlfriend Doctor Podcast, and leave a review so more women can discover these conversations.

What if the key to reducing chronic pain, improving mobility, sleeping better, and even slowing the effects of aging has been hiding in plain sight? In this fascinating episode of The Girlfriend Doctor Podcast, Dr. Anna Cabeca welcomes back naturopathic physician and quantum biology expert Dr. Catherine Clinton, author of Optimize, for a deep dive into one of the body's most overlooked healing systems: fascia. Together, they explore why fascia has been called the body's "Cinderella organ"—overworked, underappreciated, and essential for healthy movement, energy production, nervous system regulation, and longevity. Dr. Clinton explains how chronic stress, trauma, inflammation, hydration, mitochondrial function, and even our thoughts influence this remarkable connective tissue network. Dr. Anna also shares her personal journey through PTSD, insomnia, heart coherence, equine therapy, and a profound experience with dry fasting that transformed her understanding of the body's electrical nature and healing potential. You'll discover practical ways to support your fascia and nervous system through movement, light exposure, hydration, gratitude, circadian rhythms, and simple daily habits that help your body shift from survival mode into true healing. Whether you're dealing with frozen shoulder, stiff joints, chronic inflammation, autoimmune challenges, burnout, or simply want to optimize your health as you age, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on the future of medicine—one that begins by helping the body feel safe enough to heal.   Key Timestamps 00:00 – Why frozen shoulder, joint pain and stiffness may be connected to fascia 04:45 – Trauma, chronic stress, inflammation and the nervous system 11:50 – Heart coherence, gratitude and retraining the brain for healing 18:10 – Can the body truly heal if it doesn't feel safe? 23:20 – Dr. Anna's equine therapy experience and what horses reveal about our nervous system 31:10 – What fascia really is—and why it's far more than connective tissue 39:30 – Piezoelectricity: how fascia generates the body's electrical energy 49:15 – Why hydration, mitochondria and movement keep fascia healthy 58:30 – Structured water, minerals and optimizing cellular hydration 1:09:20 – Daily habits for optimizing energy, longevity and healing through quantum biology 1:17:30 – Final takeaways: reconnecting with nature, joy and the body's innate healing intelligence   Memorable Quotes Dr. Catherine Clinton: "Trauma really is defined by anything the system can't handle. It's not the event—it's what overwhelms the system." Dr. Catherine Clinton: "The body needs to feel safe before it can shift into rest, repair, and healing." Dr. Catherine Clinton: "Pain, inflammation, and disease can be viewed as a loss of electrical charge within the body." Dr. Catherine Clinton: "Movement hydrates fascia. When fascia is hydrated, it glides, communicates, and generates electrical energy more effectively." Dr. Catherine Clinton: "Each relationship we build with nature is an invitation back to safety, resilience, and healing." Dr. Anna Cabeca: "Healing is so much bigger than chasing symptoms." Dr. Anna Cabeca: "Your energy doesn't lie. You may think you're holding it together, but your body tells the truth." Dr. Anna Cabeca: "If it brings you joy, you're on the right track." Dr. Anna Cabeca: "Investing in your physical health is investing in your physical wealth." Dr. Anna Cabeca: "Don't be overwhelmed. Just choose one next right step toward healing." Resources Mentioned: 🎁 Exclusive Bonus for Listeners   If today's conversation resonated with you, Dr. Catherine has a special gift for The Girlfriend Doctor community. When you order her book, Optimize, you'll receive her foundational course, Unlocking Your Quantum Biology (a $167 value), plus the first three Quantum Biology Wellness Summits (a $300 value)—FREE. VivaRays Blue Light Blocking Glasses Mighty Maca® Plus Claim your bonuses here: https://www.drcatherineclinton.com/optimize-bonus   Connect With Guest: Website: https://www.drcatherineclinton.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.catherineclinton/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.catherineclinton  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dr.catherineclintonnd    Connect With Dr. Anna: Website: Dranna.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegirlfrienddoctor/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thegirlfrienddoctor  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drannacabeca Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegirlfrienddoctor