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Sunscreen and sunshine: Finding your perfect balance for happy summer skin
Column
Read Dr. Holly L. Thacker’s column for tips on how to enjoy the summer sun, but also stay safe and protect your skin, hair and healthy complexion.
How to avoid the parasite Cryptosporidiosis and the "explosive" symptoms
July 15, 2026
Podcasts
Explosive watery diarrhea is not just “something you ate” and during a national outbreak, it’s worth knowing the real culprit. Speaking of Women's Health Podcast Host Dr. Holly Thacker walks you through cryptosporidiosis, a waterborne and foodborne illness caused by the parasite Cryptosporidium that can hit hard, spread quietly, and ruin a summer week fast.
She gets practical about what works and what doesn’t. Vinegar rinses and baking soda washes can help remove dirt and some contaminants, but they do not reliably kill this parasite. The most dependable kill step for fresh produce is heat: cooking to 158°F (70°C) or higher. She also shares smarter shopping and kitchen habits during an outbreak, like scrubbing firm produce under running water, peeling when possible, avoiding cross-contamination when slicing melons, and leaning more on cooked, frozen, canned, or peeled options when risk is higher.
She also talks prevention beyond the kitchen: soap-and-water handwashing (hand sanitizer won’t do it here), avoiding swallowing pool or lake water, and why you should never swim with diarrhea. Subscribe, share this with a friend who lives at the pool, and leave a review so more people can find these outbreak safety basics.
Nicotinamide riboside and pterostilbene linked to reduced severity, frequency of menopause symptoms
News
A pilot trial found nicotinamide riboside and pterostilbene cut hot flashes, bloating, and poor sleep by 50% or more in 7 days.
A 7-day supplementation course of nicotinamide riboside and pterostilbene (Basis; Elysium Health, Inc) was associated with significant reductions in the frequency and severity of common menopause symptoms and a favorable shift in estrogen balance, according to an open-label pilot clinical trial published in Frontiers in Aging.1
The trial enrolled 40
The truth about peptides for weight loss and recovery
July 8, 2026
Podcasts
Peptides are suddenly the hottest word in weight loss clinics, gyms, and wellness circles, but most people are hearing the hype without the definitions, the evidence, or the safety guardrails. Speaking of Women's Health Podcast host Holly Thacker, MD sits down with Layth Tumah, MD, a Cleveland Clinic physician board certified in family medicine, obesity medicine, lifestyle medicine, and trained in functional medicine, to explain what peptides actually are: short chains of amino acids that act as powerful signals in the body, sometimes in ways that look a lot like hormones.
They get practical about the peptides people are most likely to encounter through their doctor: GLP-1 and GIP based medications used for diabetes and medical weight management. They clarify how the same underlying drug can be sold under different brand names depending on the indication, why shortages fueled interest in compounding pharmacies, and when compounding is a reasonable tool versus a risky shortcut. They also talk about the deeper “why” behind today’s metabolic disease surge and why these therapies can matter for health span, not just the number on the scale.
They end where real prevention always starts: food, movement, sleep, stress coping, and connection, plus the reminder that there is no "free lunch" when it comes to powerful supplements.
A July 4th reset for metabolism and weight loss
July 1, 2026
Podcasts
Freedom is not just a political idea, it’s also the ability to move through your day with energy, confidence, and choices that are not dictated by symptoms or chronic disease. We connect America’s 250th anniversary theme of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” to a very current women’s health reality: the obesity epidemic and the frustration many midlife women feel when weight changes collide with hot flashes, sleep loss, and brain fog.
We break down common myths around menopause and weight, including the claim that menopausal hormone therapy causes obesity, and we explain what the research actually shows. Then we step into the fast-changing world of weight loss medications, from older drugs that were removed from the market to today’s GLP-1 and GIP agents.
Then we zoom out to something many people underestimate: social connection as a true health intervention. Social Wellness Month is a reminder that loneliness can harm health in ways that resemble other major risk factors. We share practical ways to build deeper relationships, volunteer, use technology wisely, and create summer traditions that strengthen community. You’ll also get healthier July 4th menu ideas, simple recipe inspiration, and summer safety reminders from hydration to fireworks.
Follow the show so you do not miss what’s next, share this with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review to help more women find evidence-based health guidance.
Reduce Pelvic Pain Without More Suffering
June 24, 2026
Podcasts
Pelvic pain can steal your attention, your sleep, your relationships, and your confidence, especially when you keep hearing “everything looks normal.” Speaking of Women's Health Podcast host Dr. Holly Thacker sits down with minimally invasive surgeon and chronic pelvic pain expert Ashley Gubbels, MD to talk about what’s often missed: pelvic floor dysfunction, pelvic neuropathies, and a nervous system that can get stuck in protective overdrive.
They discuss the basics of finding the right pelvic floor physical therapist and why the details matter. If you’ve ever been told to “just do Kegels” and felt worse, they explain why that happens and what pain-focused pelvic floor physical therapy can look like instead, from breathwork and external stretching to internal techniques only with consent and the right timing.
Alpha-gal alert: Summer safety tips with a deep dive on tick-borne illness
June 17, 2026
Podcasts
One tiny tick can change what you can safely eat for years, and sometimes the reaction doesn’t show up until hours after dinner. From the Speaking of Women's Health Sunflower House, host Dr. Holly Thacker walks through summer health essentials, then goes deep on tick-borne illness and the fast-growing concern of alpha-gal syndrome, a red meat allergy that can follow a bite from the lone star tick and other species.
She covers the practical stuff first: hydration and heat safety, UV protection for skin and eyes, smart ways to keep exercising in hot weather, mosquito control, and what to do (and not do) when poison ivy shows up. She also revisits water safety rules that saves lives, especially for children, including swimming lessons, life jackets, and why alcohol and water activities do not mix.
Then she shifts to ticks: why people often never notice a bite, how ticks spread multiple pathogens, and why Lyme disease is still a major threat. She breaks down alpha-gal symptoms that can look “random” because they may appear two to six hours after eating mammalian meat or dairy, from hives and GI distress to swelling, wheezing, fainting, and anaphylaxis.
Finally, she shares timely updates on new federal momentum to combat Lyme disease and accelerate alpha-gal research, plus intriguing early data on an unusual auricular allergy treatment approach that deserves careful study.
Chronic Pelvic Pain Is A Nervous System Problem As Much As A Pelvic One
June 10, 2026
Podcasts
Pain that lingers for months doesn’t deserve a shrug or a “you’re still healing.” Chronic pelvic pain can be life-altering, and the hardest part for many people is not just the symptoms, but the confusion, the misdiagnoses, and the feeling of being bounced from office to office without anyone putting the full puzzle together.
Speaking of Women's Health Podcast host Dr. Holly Thacker sits down with Ashley Gubbels, MD, a board-certified OB-GYN and internationally recognized expert in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery and pelvic pain management, to define what chronic pelvic pain actually is and why it is so often overlooked. They talk through the most common drivers, including endometriosis and adenomyosis, and why even excellent surgery may not fully resolve symptoms when the nervous system has learned the pain pattern. You’ll hear how inflammation, scarring, and repeated monthly signaling can escalate into central sensitization, where pain pathways become easier to trigger over time.
If you’ve ever wondered why pelvic pain is so complicated or why it can persist after standard care, this conversation gives you language, context, and a clear next-step mindset.
Pelvic Floor Therapy Starts With The Right Diagnosis
June 3, 2026
Podcasts
A torn ACL can change a teenager’s life in a single play, and it can echo decades later as arthritis and knee replacements. Speaking of Women's Health Podcast host Dr. Holly Thacker sits down with physical therapist Vince Whalen to talk about why ACL tears hit female athletes so often, why many happen without contact, and how a simple prevention approach can make a measurable difference. Vince breaks down the FIFA Plus routine and the mechanics that matter most: hip control, balance, landing position, and the glute strength that keeps the knee from collapsing into risky alignment.
Pelvic floor therapy is a major focus, especially stress urinary incontinence and chronic pelvic pain. We unpack a key insight: many patients have too much pelvic floor tone, so doing random Kegels can actually worsen symptoms. Vince shares how to find a pelvic floor trained therapist, what to expect if you’re nervous about internal exams, and how telehealth physical therapy can help after an in-person evaluation. They close with the McKenzie Method for back pain, posture habits that drive symptoms, and practical training tips for golfers and active adults.
Why estradiol patches are in short supply and what to do
May 27, 2026
Podcasts
Estradiol patches on backorder, progesterone capsules hard to find, and a lot of anxious scrolling in between. Speaking of Women's Health Podcast host Dr. Holly Thacker recorded this because the hormone therapy supply chain is colliding with a surge in demand, and too many women are getting stuck without a plan. She walks through what’s actually driving the patch shortage, how WHI-era fear still shows up in exam rooms, and why “everyone needs a patch” is just as misleading as “no one should take hormones.”
If you can’t get your usual prescription, you’ll hear concrete alternatives: switching patch schedules, considering gels or sprays, using combined estrogen-progestin products, and when nonhormonal therapies for hot flashes and sleep may fit. She ends with a simple preparedness point: don’t wait until the last refill day to protect your health. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s struggling to get her meds, and leave a review so more women can find evidence-based menopause care.
Your Primary Care Clinician Should Help You Navigate Women’s Health
May 20, 2026
Podcasts
The hardest part of health care isn’t always treatment, it’s figuring out who should treat you in the first place. Speaking of Women's Health Podcast host Holly L. Thacker, MD sits down with Laura Lipold, MD, Director of Primary Care Women’s Health at Cleveland Clinic, to map out how primary care, OB-GYN care and consultative women’s health specialists can work together across every life stage.
They talk candidly about why so many patients feel stuck right now, from limited access to primary care to the long shadow of menopause misinformation after the Women’s Health Initiative. You’ll hear practical guidance on what primary care can often handle (Pap tests, HPV and cervical cancer screening, mammogram orders, chronic disease management, obesity and metabolic health, behavioral health support) and when it’s time to bring in a specialist for complex menopause and hormone therapy decisions, severe osteoporosis, cancer survivorship, blood clots, transplants, or major cardiovascular history.
What is Progesterone Intolerance and Sensitivity?
May 13, 2026
Podcasts
If your body seems to “flip a switch” after ovulation, you’re not imagining it and you’re not alone. Speaking of Women's Health Podcast host Dr. Holly Thacker talks through a lesser-known but very real problem: progesterone allergy and progesterone intolerance, often grouped under progestogen hypersensitivity. The most important clue is timing, with symptoms that reliably worsen in the luteal phase when progesterone rises and then ease when your period starts and hormones fall.
Dr. Thacker walks through what progesterone is supposed to do in women’s health and why it can still trigger trouble for some people, whether it’s your own endogenous progesterone or synthetic progestins in hormonal birth control, fertility treatment, IUDs, or menopausal hormone therapy. She covers the full range of symptoms, from cyclical hives, rashes, itching, swelling, and asthma-like breathing issues to mood changes, anxiety, migraines, breast tenderness, bloating and heartburn. We also explain the difference between a true allergy that can be dangerous and an intolerance that can feel awful but may respond to smarter dosing, timing and formulation choices.
A Mother’s Day Guide to Women’s Health at Every Stage
May 6, 2026
Podcasts
Two little voices kick off a Mother’s Day special, and that warm family moment quickly opens into bigger questions about women’s health that too often get ignored until they’re urgent. Speaking of Women's Health Podcast host Holly Thacker, MD shares what every woman should understand earlier: fertility has a biological clock that doesn’t match how healthy you can feel in your 30s and 40s, and ovarian aging is a major driver of infertility. She talks about when to seek an infertility evaluation, why conditions like endometriosis and celiac disease can be behind unexplained infertility, and how the real-world costs of IVF shape people’s choices. She also shares a hopeful story about stress reduction and acupuncture as a supportive option for some patients who are experiencing fertility issues.
Next, she gets practical about varicose veins and spider veins, especially during pregnancy and with weight changes.
Because May is Osteoporosis Awareness Month, she ends with a focus on bone health, menopause, and prevention. Bone loss can speed up dramatically in the early years after menopause, and osteoporosis can stay silent until a fracture. She also touches on under-recognized factors like celiac disease, persistent nutrient deficiencies, and why biotin supplements can disrupt thyroid, cardiac, and hormone lab tests.
Pediatric Airway Problems Explained: Mouth Breathing, Cavities, and ADHD‑Like Symptoms
April 29, 2026
Podcasts
When sleep is fragmented by mouth breathing or a restricted airway, the ripple effects can show up as cavities, restless sleep, drooling, picky eating, speech concerns, bedwetting, and ADHD-like behavior in kids. Speaking of Women's Health Podcast host Dr. Holly Thacker interviews Dr. Rachel Rosen, DDS, a board-certified pediatric dentist and a Breathe Institute affiliate in Ohio, to connect the dots between airway, oral function, and whole-body health from infancy through adolescence.
They talk through what modern pediatric airway screening should look like and why a quick glance at tonsils or a single referral often misses the bigger picture. Dr. Rosen explains how mouth breathing dries the mouth, drives tooth decay, and why the end goal stays simple: tongue up, lips sealed, and healthy nasal breathing.
You’ll also hear practical, parent-friendly guidance on what to watch for at home, why symptoms can peak deep in REM sleep, and how inflammation, allergens, and diet can worsen the cycle. If you’re looking for more information, follow Dr. Rosen on Instagram or Facebook or visit greatbeginningspd.com.
From dizziness to pain relief with expert physical therapist Vince Whalen
April 23, 2026
Podcasts
The room spins when you roll over in bed, then it vanishes, and you start wondering if you should just “wait it out.” That’s where so many people lose weeks of their life to dizziness, falls and fear. Speaking of Women's Health Podcast host Dr. Holly Thacker sits down with Vince Whalen, a physical therapist and co-founder of Wadsworth Family Physical Therapy, to break down what vestibular therapy and evidence-based physical therapy can do when vertigo, imbalance and pain start shrinking your world.
They get specific about benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV): why “crystals” in the inner ear trigger spinning, how different semicircular canals require different maneuvers and how watching eye movements through goggles helps a PT pinpoint the real problem.
Testosterone and Women
April 15, 2026
Podcasts
Testosterone has become the hottest hormone on social media, and it’s easy to see why: so many women feel dismissed when they bring up low libido, fatigue, or that nagging sense of “I don’t feel like myself.”
Dr. Holly Thacker unpacks what female testosterone actually is, why the lack of an FDA-approved testosterone product for women creates confusion, and how to think clearly about benefits vs risks.
You will also hear her candid warnings about testosterone pellets, high-dose compounded hormones, and “anti-aging clinic” dosing that can push levels into the male range. We cover side effects women rarely get warned about, including acne, oily skin, unwanted hair growth, scalp hair loss, mood changes, and changes that may not fully reverse.
If you care about evidence-based menopause care, women’s sexual health, and safe hormone therapy, listen through and share this with someone who’s been tempted by the hype. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what topic you want discussed next.
Inside Regenerative Spine Care: Evidence, Risks and Real Alternatives
April 8, 2026
Podcasts
Speaking of Women's Health Podcast Host Dr. Holly Thacker sits down with Dr. Alison Stout, an interventional PM&R and sports medicine specialist at Cleveland Clinic and president of the International Pain and Spine Intervention Society. They discuss regenerative spine care and what’s regulated, what’s risky, and what actually helps when chronic back or SI joint pain won’t let up.
Not everyone is a candidate for regenerative injections, particularly those without a clear anatomical target or with uncontrolled conditions like diabetes. They close the interview with credible resources, how to book with Dr. Stout's spine team, and a reminder that the most powerful “regenerative” therapy often starts with motion: build capacity, reduce load where it’s highest, and let biology work for you, not against you.
If this conversation helps you rethink your next step, share it with someone in pain, subscribe for more evidence-first insights, and leave a review to help others find the show.
Six Ways to Save Money on Prescriptions
April 1, 2026
Podcasts
What if paying less for your prescriptions was not just possible, but predictable? Speaking of Women's Health Podcast host Dr. Holly Thacker walks us through a clear, six-step playbook to cut medication costs without cutting corners, drawing on years of women’s health practice, patient stories, and the latest programs reshaping access and pricing.
Dr. Thacker shares how to use discount cards and price comparison sites to uncover true cash prices in your zip code, when to skip insurance at the counter, and how 30- versus 90-day fills change your bottom line. She highlights new manufacturer pathways—direct discounts, MFN-priced listings, and printable coupons—that bring branded therapies back within reach, plus practical tips for navigating supply hiccups and keeping a smart buffer on hand.
Throughout, Dr. Thacker keeps two goals in view: better health and a saner budget. You’ll leave with a checklist you can act on today—compare prices, verify manufacturer offers, coordinate with your insurer, optimize dose, and diversify sourcing—plus long-term moves like using an HSA and scheduling preventive care to avoid last-minute spikes. If this helped you save, subscribe, leave a quick review, and share the episode with someone who needs a lower bill at the pharmacy. Your voice helps more women be strong, be healthy, and be in charge.
Non-Hormonal Menopause Relief
March 25, 2026
Podcasts
Hot flashes that hijack your day and wreck your sleep are more than a nuisance—they’re a brain‑level problem with real solutions. Speaking of Women's Health Podcast host Dr. Holly Thacker sits down with Dr. Nayoung Sung from Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Specialized Women’s Health to unpack a new non‑hormonal therapy, Lynkuet® (elinzanetant).
For listeners weighing options, Dr. Sung and Dr. Thacker lay out who benefits most from non‑hormonal care—those with clotting risks, estrogen‑sensitive cancers, or simple preference to avoid hormones—and where low‑dose paroxetine, venlafaxine, gabapentin, and oxybutynin still fit when personalized thoughtfully.
Relief should also respect the rest of your health. We dive into sexual wellness with local vaginal estrogen or DHEA for tissue comfort, and we zoom out to the metabolic picture: abdominal weight gain, high triglycerides, insulin resistance, and inflammation that magnify heat, pain, and brain fog. Dr. Sung shares early findings on omega‑3 and omega‑6 balance, ferritin, zinc, and CRP—and how small diet shifts and targeted testing can support clearer thinking and steadier energy alongside symptom control.
If you’re searching for safe, swift, and truly personalized menopause care, this conversation delivers. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who deserves cooler nights and brighter days—what question do you want us to tackle next?
Bone health starts now
March 18, 2026
Podcasts
Bones don’t complain until they break—so we went straight to the source to decode how to measure, protect, and strengthen them before trouble starts. Dr. Thacker sits down with Dr. Kristi Tough-DeSapri, a leading women’s bone health specialist, to break down what DEXA really tells us, how trabecular bone score adds vital nuance about bone quality, and where newer ultrasound-based REMS fits when access is limited.
Strong bones start with fundamentals—calcium, vitamin D, protein, resistance and impact training, and fall prevention—but often need targeted therapy to truly cut fracture risk. We cover where hormone therapy can help near menopause, how SERMs and antiresorptives reduce fractures, and when bone-building agents are warranted.