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OvaryActive

OvaryActive

By: Dr Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su Dr Amy Voedisch
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Two gynecologists walk into a recording studio. Sounds like the start of a joke, and frankly, perimenopause can feel like the start of a joke too. Only this joke is on you. And it's not that funny. But back to those two OB/GYNS…. Dr Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch have been caring for the reproductive health of those born with uteruses for a while now. And the doctors are frankly pretty tired of how those body bits — and the people they belong to — get ignored by medical science when they are no longer ideal baby-makers. Half of a woman's life comes after her Build a Baby shop shuts down; however, the medical community does little to educate her about or treat her for issues related to her peri- and post-menopausal body. In this smart, funny, incredibly informed, wonderfully irreverent podcast, Doctors Rebecca and Amy give us the down low on our… down lows. What is perimenopause? What can I expect? How can I feel better? And for crying out loud, WHEN IS IT OVER? Tune in on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month to get the real information without the hype, the sales, the myths, superstitions, and nonsense. Are your ovaries starting to overreact? Grab a partner, a buddy, a random woman who looks on the verge of tears, and listen up. You're not in this alone. And as the docs say, "You're not crazy. This is actually happening."2024 Hygiene & Healthy Living Physical Illness & Disease
Episodes
  • Ep 43 | A Terrible Strength: Dr. Kemi Doll on Black Women, Perimenopause, and the Womb Care We're Still Getting Wrong

    Ep 43 | A Terrible Strength: Dr. Kemi Doll on Black Women, Perimenopause, and the Womb Care We're Still Getting Wrong
    Jun 25 2026
    Perimenopause is already a strange little carnival of bleeding patterns, hot flashes, hormone debates, and wondering whether your body has joined a group chat without you. Dr. Kemi Doll, gynecologic oncologist, uterine cancer scientist, and author of A Terrible Strength: The Hidden Crisis of the Black Womb and Your Survival Guide to Healing joins this episode of OvaryActive. Together the docs zoom out from the usual menopause chaos to talk about something bigger: the hidden crisis in gynecologic care, especially for Black women, and why "you're fine" has done a truly Olympic amount of damage. They get into it all, the stories, science, and systemic failures behind disparities in fibroids, endometriosis, heavy bleeding, uterine cancer, and routine gynecologic care. Dr. Doll shares why maternal mortality is only the tip of the iceberg. And she also shares how Black women are often conditioned to minimize pain and symptoms and why doctors need to stop asking vague questions like, "Any problems with your period?" when someone may be casually working from a bathtub in an adult diaper. Listeners will learn how language shapes care, why "normal" bleeding is not always normal, how misinformation finds its opening, and why better questions, better data, and better listening can literally change outcomes. Also: nuance is not as catchy as a wellness influencer selling chamomile DNA rearrangement, but unfortunately for the internet, it matters. What you'll hear in this episode: [0:34] Meet Dr. Kemi Doll[3:03] Beyond maternal mortality[5:22] Uterine cancer and menopause[7:00] Power of patient stories[10:25] Dismissal and invisibility[13:22] Asking better questions[19:30] Rebranding birth control[29:01] Why write?[32:04] Endometriosis misdiagnosis story[38:38] Nuance over quick fixes[45:37] Bleeding patterns and cancer risk[48:38] Let's talk HRT, unopposed estrogen, and estrogen cream[56:39] Myths! We always have to cover myths![1:04:28] Wrap up Links: kemidoll.com kemidoll.com/book @kemidoll on Instagram @kemidollcoach on Facebook @kemidoll on LinkedIn Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube | perimenopausedrs.com/ovaryactive Estrogen, Interrupted by Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su & Dr. Amy Voedisch Meet the Docs: More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su: Gennev: www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch: Stanford Medical Clinic: stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • BONUS: Estrogen, Interrupted UNBOXED

    BONUS: Estrogen, Interrupted UNBOXED
    Jun 16 2026

    In this special bonus episode of OvaryActive, Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch celebrate the arrival of their new book, Estrogen, Interrupted and share an excerpt from the audiobook.

    This preview introduces their candid, science-backed approach to perimenopause: the symptoms no one warned you about, why "it's normal" is not a treatment plan, and why women deserve better information, better care, and a lot less medical shrugging.

    Listen in for a first taste of the book, including what perimenopause really is, why it can feel so unpredictable, and how Rebecca and Amy are working to make this stage of life less confusing, less isolating, and slightly less "why are my pants suddenly attacking me?

    Links:

    Get your copy of Estrogen, Interrupted: bit.ly/Estrogen-Interrupted-preorder

    Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube | perimenopausedrs.com/ovaryactive

    Estrogen, Interrupted by Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su & Dr. Amy Voedisch

    This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.
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    16 mins
  • Ep 42 | Hormones, Heart Health, and Hot Flash Hype: What Menopause Hormone Therapy Can Actually Do

    Ep 42 | Hormones, Heart Health, and Hot Flash Hype: What Menopause Hormone Therapy Can Actually Do
    Jun 11 2026

    Perimenopause is already handing out enough surprises without the internet yelling that menopausal hormone therapy is either a miracle cardiology cape or a one-way ticket to doom.

    In this episode of OvaryActive, Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch take on the very confusing question of whether hormone therapy can help prevent cardiovascular disease in menopause.

    They walk through the history of hormone therapy and heart health, from large observational studies like Framingham and the Nurses' Health Study to the much-debated Women's Health Initiative, a study that launched roughly a thousand menopause panic spirals.

    The doctors explain why timing matters, why older hormone therapy data does not always apply to today's estradiol options, and why oral versus transdermal estrogen is more nuanced than "patch good, pill bad."

    So yes, hormones can be fabulous. But no, they do not replace exercise, lipid screening, diabetes care, statins when needed, or the deeply annoying truth that lifestyle still matters.

    What you'll hear in this episode:

    [2:45] Where the "estrogen protects the heart" idea came from

    [5:02] The Women's Health Initiative and why timing matters

    [6:31] Plaque, blood clots, and starting hormones later

    [7:26] The timing hypothesis and "window of opportunity"

    [7:59 Older hormone therapy studies don't always match current treatments…why?

    [12:04] What we know about oral estradiol, transdermal estrogen, and the liver

    [16:40] Medicare data, mortality claims, and why database studies are tricky

    [18:37] Can MHT prevent cardiovascular disease?

    [20:37] Proven heart-health strategies that matter most

    [22:42] What hormones can help with, and what they CAN'T promise

    Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube | perimenopausedrs.com/ovaryactive

    Estrogen, Interrupted by Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su & Dr. Amy Voedisch

    Meet the Docs:

    More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su:

    Gennev: www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su

    LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su

    More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch:

    Stanford Medical Clinic: stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html


    This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.
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    24 mins
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