Ep 12 | Your Brain on Peri: Mood
OvaryActive
Perimenopause: the magical time of life when your emotions decide to go on an unpredictable rollercoaster ride, leaving you laughing, crying, and irrationally furious—all within the span of a single coffee break. This is the first in a three-part series about your brain during perimenopause. In part one, OvaryActive hosts Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch dive deep into the murky waters of hormones, mood swings, and cognitive hiccups that make perimenopause feel like an elaborate prank. Good (?) news: you're definitely not alone in feeling like your brain is working against you....
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Ep 11 | Weight Management During Perimenopause
OvaryActive
Ah, perimenopause, that magical time when your body decides to play metabolic musical chairs without telling you the rules. Suddenly your favorite jeans feel like they belong to someone else and the weight gain is like a surprise subscription box — you don’t remember signing up for it, but it keeps showing up! In this episode of OvaryActive, the Docs are chatting with Stasi Kasianchuk, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), Exercise Physiologist, and Gennev’s Senior Director of Lifestyle Care. Stasi is on the show to talk all about the complexities of hormonal shifts and...
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Ep 10 | Menopause, Mood Swings, & Mojo––Keeping the Spark Alive
OvaryActive
Perimenopause: the time in a woman’s life when her hormones decide to play an elaborate game of musical chairs, and her body is just along for the ride. As if hot flashes and brain fog weren’t enough, let’s talk about another under-discussed topic—sexual health. In this episode the Docs are talking all about the complexities of intimacy, desire, and connection during perimenopause because, spoiler alert, sexual health doesn’t just disappear after 40 (or at least, it doesn’t have to). Joining the conversation is Dr. Leah Millheiser, a sexual medicine expert who knows a thing...
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Ep 9 | Hormone Replacement Therapy Series: Women’s Health Initiative
OvaryActive
What do brain fog, bone health, and breast cancer all have in common? They’re all part of the rollercoaster ride that is menopause. Ever wondered how hormone therapy became such a controversial topic, or why some studies seem to contradict each other? And is it possible to navigate perimenopause without feeling like a contestant on "Survivor: Hormonal Edition"? Grab a cup of tea (or a glass of wine—we won’t judge) and join the Docs for an enlightening discussion. Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch tackle the ins and outs of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI)—one of the...
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Ep 8 | Hormone Replacement Therapy Series: Estrogen
OvaryActive
What do a 1940s scientific breakthrough, a 2000s public health scandal, and your perimenopause symptoms have in common? Answer: Estrogen. In this episode, the Docs kick off a hormone therapy series by telling listeners the dramatic story of estrogen. How “she” got famous, suffered a scandal, and is beginning to resurge in light of more information on menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor–Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch mix science, history, and some observations on how medical research has typically treated women to explain how randomized controlled trials and...
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Ep 7 | Hot Flashes Heard Around the World
OvaryActive
How does perimenopause show up in your life compared to others’? Why do experiences vary so widely across cultures? What factors contribute to how people experience perimenopause? Each person’s experience is completely unique, but in this episode of OvaryActive, the Docs are offering insight and wisdom to explain the complexities of perimenopause. Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch get into the epidemiology of perimenopause. They shed light on how genetics, social norms, and environmental factors play a role in shaping individual experiences. They also discuss the...
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Ep 6 | The (Whole) Truth on IUDs During Perimenopause
OvaryActive
Have you seen the headlines about an increased risk of breast cancer associated with levonorgestrel IUDs? You might know these IUDs as Mirena, Kyleena, Skyla, or Liletta. Before you head to your OBGYN to schedule a removal, hang on: there’s so much more to the story than just the headline. Lucky for us, our Docs, Dr. Amy Voedisch and Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su, have dedicated this episode of OvaryActive to breaking down the science and the stats surrounding breast cancer, the role of progestins, and the implications of recent studies. What are the benefits, risks, truths, and...
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Ep 5 | Merry Perimenopause
OvaryActive
What do you give to the woman who has everything? She has it all–– including hot flashes, sleepless nights, blotchy skin, unexplained weight gain, and even a decreased (or increased?) libido. Do you need just the perfect gift guide for the woman in your life who has ALL these things? The Docs have just that for you in this episode of OvaryActive. Drs. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Amy Voedisch are sharing a curated holiday gift list to help you focus on the women in your life that are already getting the joy of perimenopause this holiday season. They are sharing innovative products...
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Ep 4 | Meeting of the Menopause Society
OvaryActive
Dr. 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...
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Ep 3 | The Estrogen Equation: Aging Insights
OvaryActive
Changes to your skin––add it to the list of things women face during perimenopause. It’s completely understandable that you’ll want to change up your skincare routine. However, you may want to get more information before slathering yourself with topical estrogen in response to skin changes and unwanted signs of aging. In this episode of OvaryActive, Drs. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Amy Voedisch explain recent studies with relevant findings for women’s health. First, they look at a study focused on the effects of using topical estrogen during perimenopause and menopause. They also...
info_outlineAh, perimenopause, that magical time when your body decides to play metabolic musical chairs without telling you the rules. Suddenly your favorite jeans feel like they belong to someone else and the weight gain is like a surprise subscription box — you don’t remember signing up for it, but it keeps showing up!
In this episode of OvaryActive, the Docs are chatting with Stasi Kasianchuk, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), Exercise Physiologist, and Gennev’s Senior Director of Lifestyle Care. Stasi is on the show to talk all about the complexities of hormonal shifts and weight gain during perimenopause. She is going to help us decode what’s actually happening under the hood and why your metabolism seems to suddenly be running on a different operating system.
Drs. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su & Amy Voedisch, along with RDN Stasi, discuss the role of genetics, the importance of shifting health goals, and how to foster a better relationship with our ever-changing bodies.
The team are covering everything from the best exercise strategies for perimenopausal bodies to the power of protein, fiber, and a solid night’s sleep (yes, it’s possible). They also address myths about body types, discuss the rising rates of diabetes in this demographic, and stress the importance of self-care.
Listen (and share!) for practical tips, a reality check on diet culture, and some much-needed reassurance that you’re not alone on this hormonal rollercoaster.
What you’ll hear in this episode:
[0:55] Meet Stasi Kasianchuk
[5:28] Genetics & your health
[6:47] Hormones & weight changes
[16:18] Realistic expectations for weight management
[24:13] Making sense of exercise recommendations
[31:21] Nutrition in perimenopause
[34:23] Finding nutritional balance
[48:25] Addressing diabetes in perimenopausal women
Links & Resources:
https://www.gennev.com/clinician/stasi-kasianchuk
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