Ep 33 | Do I Need Birth Control or Hormone Therapy?
OvaryActive
Birth control or hormone therapy? Why does this decision feel like a personality test you didn’t study for? In this episode of OvaryActive, the Docs tackle one of the most confusing (and hotly debated) topics in perimenopause: when birth control is actually the right choice, when menopausal hormone therapy makes more sense, and why TikTok might not be the best place for medical nuance. Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch walk listeners through how clinicians actually think about this decision. The process includes contraceptive needs, bleeding patterns, symptom “greatest...
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Ep 32 | Perimenopause + Migraines: Your Brain on Hormones
OvaryActive
Hot flashes, mood swings, surprise chin hairs… and now migraines? Welcome to perimenopause, where your hormones throw a rave in your brain and forget to invite you. In this episode of OvaryActive, the Docs tackle the maddening intersection of migraine misery and perimenopause chaos, complete with aura weirdness, estrogen roller coasters, and the universal fear of bright lights and strong perfumes. Migraines are more than “just a headache” and there is a reason they love to show up right before or during your period. You’ll hear about triggers ranging from hormones to allergens to...
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Ep 31 | This is the HOT FLASH Episode
OvaryActive
Hot flashes: the unofficial mascot of perimenopause and the original reason so many midlife women carry a personal fan or freezer pack, or insist on that open window in January. In this episode of OvaryActive, Dr. Amy Voedisch and Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su finally give hot flashes their own episode. The Docs turn up the heat (literally and emotionally) as they talk through the lived chaos that is “my own personal summer”. Our Docs explain what hot flashes actually are, why they show up, and why your brain, not just your hormones, is the real drama queen in this scenario. Listeners will...
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Ep 30 | Topical Viagra & Hot Flash Chaos: The Menopause Conference Recap You Didn’t Ask For
OvaryActive
Perimenopause: the magical season where sleep disappears, hormones riot, and suddenly everyone thinks you’re “doing great” when actually you're googling whether rage counts as cardio. In this episode of OvaryActive, Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch return with their second annual Menopause Society Conference recap. If you're wondering whether testosterone drops off a cliff in midlife or whether scream cream is a placebo disguised as foreplay… good news! They’ve got updates. This episode walks through the latest research from menopause experts covering the big three:...
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Ep 29 | Merry Perimenopause 2025 Edition
OvaryActive
Welcome back to the annual holiday classic Merry Perimenopause. While there’s not much “jolly” about perimenopause, these gifts can add a little more joyeux to your noël! Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch jingle all the way through help for your hot flashes, cold flashes, brain fog, bad backs, night sweats, and the eternal question: why does perimenopause feel like puberty, déjà vu, and a hangover all rolled into one? In this episode of OvaryActive, they kick things off with the biggest news of all: the Docs very own book on perimenopause is officially available for...
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Ep 28 | Stronger Not Thinner: Strength Training in Perimenopause
OvaryActive
Perimenopause: that magical stage where your body suddenly decides it’s the boss, your pants shrink overnight, and your motivation to exercise hides under the bed. On the episode of OvaryActive, Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch welcome the hilarious and whip-smart Dr. Marily Oppezzo from Stanford. She is a behavior-change expert who’s figured out how to help people actually do the healthy things they already know they should be doing. Spoiler: it involves fewer “shoulds” and more squats. Dr. Oppezzo shares her “Stronger” philosophy, a refreshingly guilt-free...
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Ep 27 | Testosterone, Perimenopause, and the Fountain of Nope
OvaryActive
You’ve seen it all over social media, testosterone is apparently the miracle cure for every perimenopausal woe. Low libido? Tired? Losing muscle tone? Influencers say “Just add T!” The Docs say…not so fast Ready for the truth? In this episode of OvaryActive, Dr. Amy Voedisch and Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su are here for just that. Even though it is not exactly what you’re seeing on social media––it is science, sarcasm, and a few chin-year jokes. The Docs explain what testosterone actually does in women’s bodies, why testing it is tricky, and how misinformation has turned a...
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Ep 26 | Swallow This: The Truth About Supplements and Perimenopause
OvaryActive
Feeling overwhelmed by the supplement aisle? Are there pills that might actually help during perimenopause or are you just buying expensive urine? This episode of OvaryActive dives into the pharmacy aisle of supplements. The Docs are talking about everything from influencer “miracle” blends to your best friend’s turmeric obsession. Separating data from drama and giving you the straight, if sarcastic, scoop. Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch explain what your body truly needs (hello, vitamin D and calcium), what might help (fiber and omega-3s for the win), and what...
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Ep 25 | Use a Mirror to See What’s Up…Down There
OvaryActive
Perimenopause: your hormones have packed up and left, your skin starts new hobbies, and your vulva occasionally throws a tantrum. In this episode of OvaryActive, we’re talking about that neglected body part everyone loves to ignore—until it itches, burns, bleeds, or grows suspicious bumps. Joining the conversation are gynecologists and fellow podcasters Dr. Ashley Fuller and Dr. Meredith McClure, the brilliant, and hilarious, minds behind Labia Logic. Ashley and Meredith spend their days — and an entire podcast — focused on vulvas, menopause, sexual health, and the...
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Ep 24 | When Bleeding Isn’t *Just* Perimenopause: The Need-to-Know about Gynecological Cancers
OvaryActive
Perimenopause is already a rollercoaster—hot flashes, brain fog, and now…SURPRISE! cancer screenings. In this episode of OvaryActive, Amy and Rebecca sit down with Gynecologic Oncologist Fernanda Musa, MD MS to tackle the less-fun-but-super-important reality: perimenopause is also prime time for gynecologic cancers. Think of it as the sequel nobody asked for, but everybody needs to watch. Dr. Musa brings her scalpel-sharp expertise (she is a surgeon, afterall ) and a refreshingly candid approach to topics we’d rather avoid. Cervical and uterine cancers and pesky fibroids that...
info_outlineDr. Amy Voedisch and Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su attended the Menopause Society’s annual conference in September 2024. It wasn’t just a chance for them to hang out with each other in person, it was also a great opportunity to gain the latest insights into perimenopause and menopause.
In this episode of OvaryActive, the Docs share their top takeaways from the Menopause Society’s conference. The sessions they attended covered a wide range of topics from understanding hormonal fluctuations to the significance of nutrition and weight management for women during “The Change.” They also heard about new guidelines for breast cancer screenings.
The biggest takeaway of all is the importance of a personalized approach for women and their healthcare, because no two people experience perimenopause and menopause the same way.
Make sure you pass this episode along to a friend, sister, colleague, or any woman you know that maybe, just maybe, has mentioned one of the MANY symptoms that could indicate perimenopause.
What you’ll hear in this episode:
[0:50] Annual Meeting of the Menopause Society
[3:44] Voice changes during perimenopause
[10:40] Weight changes and nutrition during perimenopause
[17:06] Sleep disturbance and insulin resistance
[24:39] Precision breast health and breast cancer screening recommendations
Links & Resources:
Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube
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