SHE MD

NOTE: PCOS is now called PMOS, or Polycystic Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome.

PMOS is about so much more than irregular periods or fertility. In this episode of SheMD, Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi breaks down the four major pillars of PCOS, and explains how they can all be connected.

This is a deep dive into why PCOS is so often missed, the symptoms that can look different from woman to woman, the role insulin resistance can play, and why you don’t necessarily need high testosterone or polycystic appearing ovaries to meet the criteria for PCOS.

Dr. A also explains how PCOS can affect weight, acne, hair growth, mood, brain fog, ovulation, fertility, and long-term health, plus what women and parents of teenage girls should know about getting properly evaluated.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your symptoms could be connected, this episode is your PCOS deep dive.
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The frozen shoulder. The 3 a.m. anxiety. The brain fog and the rage that come out of nowhere. For decades, women were told it was "just stress" and sent home with an antidepressant. This week, Dr. A and Mary Alice welcome back the woman changing that — Dr. Mary Claire Haver, the OB-GYN The New York Times calls the "Menopause Queen" — for a full masterclass on perimenopause.
It can start in your late 30s, it lasts 7 to 10 years, and almost no one warned us. Dr. Haver explains what's really happening in your body and brain, why so many women are dismissed, and what you can actually do about it — HRT, progesterone, vaginal estrogen, sleep, mood, and the myth that you have to wait until it's "bad enough" to get help. Because suffering isn't the price of admission.
Subscribe to SHE MD Podcast for expert tips on PMOS, endometriosis, fertility, hormonal balance, mental health, and more. Share with friends and visit SHE MD website and Ovii for research-backed resources, holistic health strategies, and expert guidance on women’s health and well-being.
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Egglife: Find Egglife chillin' in the fridge at Aldi, Whole Foods, Kroger, Target, Walmart & more. Visit egglifefoods.com to find a retailer near you.
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What You’ll Learn
What perimenopause actually is and how it differs from menopause
Why perimenopause can begin in your late 30s or 40s
Why brain fog, sleep disruption, anxiety and mood changes can be early symptoms
When hormone therapy may be considered during perimenopause
The difference between HRT/MHT, birth control and vaginal estrogen
What we know, and still don't know, about HRT and cardiovascular and bone health
How GLP-1 medications can affect muscle and bone health
The role of protein, resistance training, vitamin D, omega-3s, fiber and creatine
What declining estrogen can mean for vaginal and urinary health
What women should know about HRT and breast cancer risk
Why listening to your symptoms and advocating for yourself matters
Key Timestamps
00:00 Why Every Vagina Needs Estrogen
01:32 Welcome Back Dr. Mary Claire Haver
05:44 What Perimenopause Actually Is
08:44 The "Zone Of Chaos" And Brain Glitching
18:08 How To Evaluate A Perimenopausal Patient
20:01 All Vaginas Need Estrogen
24:50 Why Perimenopause Is The Best Time To Start HRT
32:13 GLP-1s, Muscle Loss, And Bone Health
36:41 Patches, Pellets, Creams: What Actually Works
40:23 Debunking The HRT-Breast Cancer Myth
50:33 Creatine, Vitamin D, And Key Supplements
54:56 The Histamine-Hormone Connection
58:12 Vulvar Changes Nobody Warns You About
1:04:37 Lightning Round: Hormone Myths Busted
1:07:19 Three Takeaways For Every Woman
Key Takeaways
Perimenopause is a years-long biological transition, not simply the period immediately before menopause.
Symptoms can appear before periods become irregular or hot flashes begin.
Brain fog, sleep disruption and mental health changes can be among the earliest signs of fluctuating hormones.
Hormone therapy does not necessarily have to wait until a woman is fully menopausal; treatment should be individualized based on symptoms, risks and benefits.
Bone health, cardiovascular health, muscle mass and metabolic health all deserve attention during the menopause transition.
If using GLP-1 medications, Dr. Haver emphasizes adequate protein, resistance training and monitoring body composition rather than focusing solely on the number on the scale.
Vaginal and urinary symptoms can be related to declining estrogen and may be treated with local estrogen therapy.
The goal of understanding perimenopause is not simply to get through it, but to enter the next stage of life informed, healthy and empowered.
Guest Bio: Dr. Mary Claire Haver
Dr. Mary Claire Haver is a board-certified OB-GYN and a leading voice in menopause and women's health. She has dedicated her career to helping women better understand the biological changes that happen during midlife and has been called the “Menopause Queen” by The New York Times. She is the author of the bestselling The New Menopause and her newest book, The New Perimenopause, which focuses on the years leading up to menopause. She also hosts the podcast Unpaused and shares women's health education across social media.
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Mary Alice and Dr. A sit down with reproductive endocrinologist and fertility expert Dr. Natalie Crawford for a deep dive into everything women should know about their fertility before they’re ready to have a baby. They discuss why fertility can be an important reflection of overall health, how inflammation, endometriosis, PCOS/PMOS, and autoimmune conditions can impact reproductive health, and why women shouldn’t have to wait until they’re struggling to conceive before they start asking questions.
The conversation also breaks down AMH and ovarian reserve, egg freezing, when it makes sense to see a fertility specialist, and what women should know about long-term birth control and fertility. Dr. Crawford shares why getting more information earlier can give women more choices later, and why understanding your own body is one of the most important parts of advocating for your health.
Subscribe to SHE MD Podcast for expert tips on PMOS, endometriosis, fertility, hormonal balance, mental health, and more. Share with friends and visit SHE MD website and Ovii for research-backed resources, holistic health strategies, and expert guidance on women’s health and well-being.

Sponsors
Prolon: For a limited time, Prolon is offering SHE MD listeners 15% off sitewide plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe to their 5-Day Program! Just visit ProlonLife.com/SHEMD
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Egglife: Find Egglife chillin' in the fridge at Aldi, Whole Foods, Kroger, Target, Walmart & more. Visit egglifefoods.com to find a retailer near you.

What You’ll Learn
Why fertility can be an important marker of overall health
How inflammation can affect reproductive health
What AMH measures and what it can tell you about ovarian reserve
When women should consider fertility testing
When it may make sense to see a fertility specialist
What to know about egg freezing and ovarian reserve
How endometriosis, PCOS/PMOS, and autoimmune conditions can affect fertility
Whether long-term birth control can impact fertility
What to consider before coming off birth control and trying to conceive
How to advocate for yourself when you feel dismissed by your doctor

Key Timestamps
00:00 Male Fertility Is Half the Puzzle
01:42 The Fertility Formula Meet Dr. Natalie Crawford
02:15 Reproductive Endocrinology: Her Path to Fertility Medicine
05:34 Inflammation: The Hidden Root of Infertility
08:01 Chronic Inflammation vs. Normal Immune Response
10:07 Celiac, Endo, Hashimoto's Medical Causes of Inflammation
11:16 Undiagnosed Infertility
13:02 Anti-Inflammatory Eating Explained
16:09 Gut Microbiome Fiber & Healthy Fats
25:01 AMH:The Ovarian Reserve Test
29:53 Missed Diagnoses Endometriosis & PMOS
30:16 Private Equity and Fertility Medicine
40:28 Endo Test New Blood & Saliva Diagnostics
43:18 Does Birth Control Hurt Fertility?
45:02 IUDs: Thin Linings & Scar Tissue Risk
50:33 When to See a Specialist?
53:05 Pregnancy After 40

Key Takeaways
Fertility is about more than getting pregnant. Fertility issues can sometimes point to underlying health conditions that deserve attention.
You don't have to wait until you're trying to conceive to learn about your fertility. The conversation explores how earlier testing can give women more information and more choices.
AMH is one piece of the fertility puzzle. Understanding ovarian reserve can help women make more informed decisions about their reproductive timeline and options.
Birth control does not appear to cause long-term infertility. Dr. Crawford explains that research has not shown a long-term difference in conception rates after stopping the pill, while noting that hormonal birth control can affect how certain fertility markers are interpreted.
You can see a fertility specialist before experiencing infertility. Fertility specialists can help women understand ovarian reserve, discuss egg freezing, and identify potential issues before someone begins trying to conceive.

Guest Bio: Dr. Natalie Crawford
Dr. Natalie Crawford is a reproductive endocrinologist, fertility specialist, educator, podcast host, and author of The Fertility Formula. After completing her OBGYN residency at Parkland Hospital, she completed a three-year fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. She now practices at Fora Fertility in Austin, Texas, and has spent more than a decade educating women about fertility and reproductive health.
She is also the host of the As A Woman podcast, which has reached millions of downloads, and wrote The Fertility Formula to give women the foundational fertility education she believes they should have much earlier in life. Her goal is to help women understand their bodies and fertility before they’re ready to have children, so they can make informed decisions when the time comes.
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What if your health is about more than your lab results? In this episode of SHE MD, Mary Alice sits down with Dr. Lucy McBride, physician and author of Beyond the Prescription, to talk about how women can become better advocates for their health while navigating an overwhelming medical system. They discuss HRT and perimenopause, GLP-1s, cortisol, alcohol, health misinformation, vaccines, AI, and how to know which medical information you can actually trust. Dr. McBride shares how to make the most of a 10- or 15-minute doctor’s appointment and why sometimes the most important health question isn’t the one you think you should be asking.
Subscribe to SHE MD Podcast for expert tips on PMOS, endometriosis, fertility, hormonal balance, mental health, and more. Share with friends and visit SHE MD website and Ovii for research-backed resources, holistic health strategies, and expert guidance on women’s health and well-being.

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Midi Health: Book your first virtual visit today at joinmidi.com.
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What You’ll Learn
Why your health is about more than what shows up on a blood test
How to prepare for a short doctor’s appointment and advocate for yourself
What Dr. McBride wants women to understand about HRT and perimenopause
How she approaches GLP-1 medications and the growing conversation around “microdosing”
Why cortisol has become a misleading catch-all explanation for women’s health concerns
How to think about your relationship with alcohol rather than simply how much you drink
How to identify misinformation and evaluate medical claims online
How to use AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude more thoughtfully when researching your health
What questions women should ask when thinking about preventive health
Why finding the right doctor and building an ongoing relationship with them matters

Key Timestamps
00:00 Welcome Dr. Lucy McBride
04:02 How to Advocate for Yourself at the Doctor's Office
07:33 What Women Need to Know About HRT
10:58 Testosterone in Women: Benefits, Risks & When to Consider It
12:20 The Truth About the "Cortisol" Wellness Myth
14:19 Alcohol, Women's Health & Your Relationship With Drinking
21:10 What Preventive Health Really Looks Like
23:51 The Pandemic & Why Dr. McBride Wrote Her Book
25:24 How to Navigate Health Information in the Age of AI
27:50 Spotting Misinformation & Finding Trusted Medical Sources
30:23 How to Use AI to Ask Better Health Questions
36:05 How to Read Medical Studies & Spot Misleading Headlines
38:24 Dangerous Wellness Trends & Medical Misinformation
39:39 Vaccines, COVID-19 & What the Data Shows
41:36 Understanding Long COVID
43:27 Dr. Lucy McBride's Three Takeaways for Patients
45:52 Final Thoughts & SHE MD Takeaways

Key Takeaways
How to advocate for yourself during a short doctor’s appointment
Why your health is about more than your lab results
What women should know about HRT during perimenopause and menopause
How to think about GLP-1 medications and who they may be right for
The truth about cortisol and chronic stress
How alcohol can impact women’s physical and mental health
How to spot health misinformation online
How to use AI to ask better questions about your health
What preventive health questions women should be asking their doctors
Why finding the right doctor can make all the difference

Guest Bio: Dr. Lucy McBride
Dr. Lucy McBride is a physician, author, and medical communicator whose public-facing work grew during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she began sharing evidence-based information and helping people separate medical facts from misinformation. She has written for The Atlantic, appeared regularly on MSNBC, and testified before congressional committees. Her book, Beyond the Prescription, draws on her own experience as a patient and more than 25 years of medical experience to explore a more holistic approach to health. She is also the author of the weekly Substack newsletter Are You Okay?, which focuses on cutting through medical noise and helping people better understand their health.
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Kim Kardashian joins Mary Alice Haney and Dr. Thais Aliabadi on SHE MD for an honest conversation about living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Kim opens up about her first flare, the challenges of managing psoriasis in the public eye, the treatments and lifestyle changes she’s tried, and what finally helped get her symptoms under control.
Alongside Dr. Wallace, Mary Alice and Dr. Thais break down what psoriasis actually is, how it can affect the joints and other parts of the body, how it’s diagnosed, and when it’s time to see a dermatologist or rheumatologist. They also discuss genetics, stress, self-care, and why understanding what’s happening beneath the skin is so important.
Kim also shares why she’s chosen to be open about her health and use her platform to bring more awareness to psoriasis and help others feel less alone.
Subscribe to SHE MD Podcast for expert tips on PMOS, endometriosis, fertility, hormonal balance, mental health, and more. Share with friends and visit SHE MD website and Ovii for research-backed resources, holistic health strategies, and expert guidance on women’s health and well-being.

Sponsors
Smile Set:  Listeners of our show get an additional 35% off discount when they go to smileset.com/shemd. With this discount, you can get the smile of your dreams for under 1,300 bucks.
Ladder:  If you have an iPhone, head to ladder.fit/shemd. Take the quick quiz and find your plan. You'll get a free seven-day trial, no credit card required, and $10 off your first month when you join.
BEAM Minerals: Get 20% off your first order at beamminerals.com/shemd with code SheMD.
Gusto:  Try Gusto today at gusto.com/shemd and get three months free when you run your first payroll.
Acely:  If your student is heading into testing season and you wanna help them achieve a life-changing score, go to acey.com and use code SheMD for 20% off today.
Skylight Frames:  Go to myskylight.com/shemd for $30 off your 15-inch calendar.

What You’ll Learn
What psoriasis is and how it affects the skin
Why psoriasis is considered an immune-mediated condition
The different types of psoriasis and how they can present
How psoriasis can be connected to psoriatic arthritis
Why diagnosing psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis can sometimes be complicated
When topical treatments may be enough and when systemic therapy may be considered
Why certain topical steroids need to be used carefully
How stress and the mind-body connection may relate to psoriasis
What Kim Kardashian experienced throughout her own psoriasis journey
Why seeking medical care is important instead of relying solely on social media or home remedies

Key Timestamps
00:00 Welcome Kim Kardashian & Dr. Daniel J. Wallace
02:25 Kim's First Psoriasis Flare at Age 30
09:04 What Exactly Is Psoriasis?
15:05 When to See a Dermatologist or Rheumatologist
22:25 How Doctors Diagnose & Evaluate Psoriasis
26:22 Topical Steroids & How to Use Them Safely
29:32 Kim's Psoriatic Arthritis & Flare-Up Experience
33:45 Kim's Skincare & Self-Care Routine
35:45 Kim on Living With Psoriasis in the Public Eye
38:13 Kim's Workout, Supplements & Wellness Routine
41:04 Kim's Advice to Her Younger Self
43:48 5 Things to Know If You Think You Have Psoriasis
44:39 Final Thoughts & Goodbye

Key Takeaways
Psoriasis can look different from person to person and may range from localized skin lesions to more extensive disease.
Psoriasis can affect more than the skin, including the joints and potentially other parts of the body.
Psoriatic arthritis can develop in people with psoriasis and may cause joint pain and swelling.
Treatment depends on the type and severity of psoriasis, and some people may require systemic therapy.
Strong topical steroids can be effective but need to be used carefully, particularly on the face.
Stress, self-care, exercise, and overall lifestyle can be important parts of managing health, although individual triggers and experiences vary.
Medical evaluation is important when psoriasis is suspected, especially when joint symptoms are present.

Guest Bio: Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian is a cultural trailblazer, actress, fashion icon, activist, entrepreneur, and devoted mother of four. She revolutionized the shapewear market with her cult-favorite brand SKIMS and has significantly transformed the beauty industry through her highly successful cosmetic and fragrance lines, KKW Beauty and KKW Fragrance. Beyond her business acumen, Kim is a powerful advocate for criminal justice reform and is currently pursuing a law degree. Her influence on contemporary culture is unparalleled, making her a defining figure of our time.
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