Confession #105: Microalgae have nothing to do with life In this episode of Confessions of a Male Gynecologist, Dr. Shawn Tassone interviews Professor Isaac Berzin, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Vaxa Technologies. He is also an Affiliated Scientist at MIT, where he worked on a NASA sponsored project. Named one the 100 most influential people by Time Magazine for his work in sustainability and climate change, Isaac Berzin is an Affiliated Scientist at MIT, where he worked on a NASA s...
Sep 19, 2024•41 min•Ep. 105
Confession #104: When you start talking about thyroid, people get crazy In this episode, Dr. Shawn Tassone discusses the topic of thyroid health. He highlights the importance of thyroid hormones for overall well-being and explains the role of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in regulating thyroid function. Dr. Tassone also discusses subclinical hypothyroidism, the significance of thyroid antibodies, and the controversy surrounding reverse T3 testing. He emphasizes the need for personalized trea...
Sep 12, 2024•28 min•Ep. 104
In this episode, Dr. Shawn Tassone interviews Ashley James, host of the Learn True Health podcast. Ashley shares her personal journey of overcoming anxiety and various health issues through holistic medicine. They discuss the importance of addressing root causes and exploring different aspects of health, including nutrition, mental health, and environmental factors. Ashley also introduces her book, Addicted to Wellness, which offers 33 health challenges to improve overall well-being. The convers...
Sep 05, 2024•43 min•Ep. 103
Dr. Tassone discusses the different types of hormone testing, including blood, saliva, and urine. Dr. Tassone also discusses the importance of being an informed consumer and not falling for unnecessary tests or supplements. He advises focusing on the basic hormones for testing and reminds listeners that there is no such thing as an optimal level, as it varies for each individual. Episode Highlights Why salivary testing is unreliable for hormones Benefits of blood tests Pros and cons of urine tes...
Aug 29, 2024•20 min•Ep. 102
In this episode, Dr. Shawn Tassone discusses the topic of menopause and addresses common questions and misconceptions surrounding it. He emphasizes the importance of understanding menopause and its symptoms, as well as the role of hormones in managing them. Dr. Tassone also highlights the need for accurate information and proper treatment options for women going through menopause. Episode Highlights: Menopause 101 Common symptoms of menopause When menopause usually begins for women The truth abo...
Aug 22, 2024•32 min•Ep. 101
In this episode, Dr. Shawn Tassone discusses the concepts of sex and gender. He explains the differences between the two and provides definitions for various terms related to gender identity. Dr. Tassone emphasizes the importance of understanding and respecting others' gender identities, while also acknowledging the complexity of the topic. He shares personal experiences and highlights the need for open and respectful discussions about gender. Episode Highlights: Defining sex vs gender The terms...
Aug 09, 2024•25 min•Ep. 100
In this episode, Dr. Shawn Tassone discusses the supplement industry and the marketing tactics used to sell menopause-related products. He emphasizes the importance of being a savvy consumer and highlights the lack of regulation in the supplement industry. Dr. Tassone discusses why he recommends using high-quality, single-ingredient supplements and being cautious of products with multiple ingredients. He also discusses the influence of influencers and micro-influencers in promoting supplements. ...
Aug 02, 2024•35 min•Ep. 99
In this episode, Dr. Shawn Tassone discusses the issue of hormone overdoses and the training providers receive in hormone therapy. He highlights a specific training program called World Link Medical and its medical director, Neil Rosier, who is known for teaching overdoses. Dr. Tassone emphasizes the importance of asking providers about their training and background in hormones. He also criticizes the use of hormone pellets and the unethical practices associated with them. He encourages patients...
Jul 25, 2024•31 min•Ep. 98
Today Dr. Tassone is joined by special guest, Dr. Betty Murray, a functional medicine practitioner, who discusses her approach to women's health and the challenges women face in the medical system. She shares her health journey and how it led her to focus on nutrition and functional medicine. Dr. Murray emphasizes the importance of addressing the underlying mechanisms of hormone imbalance and the need for personalized care. She criticizes the conventional medical system for its lack of understan...
Jul 18, 2024•41 min•Ep. 97
In this episode, Dr. Shawn Tassone discusses the topic of decreased libido in women. He explores the different factors that can contribute to low sex drive, including hormone imbalances, stress, and relationship dynamics. Dr. Tassone also addresses the controversial pink pill, Addyi, which is marketed as a solution for low libido in women. He shares his thoughts on the effectiveness and potential side effects of the medication. Overall, he emphasizes the importance of addressing the underlying c...
Jul 11, 2024•25 min•Ep. 96
In this episode, Dr. Shawn Tassone discusses the use of low dose naltrexone (LDN) as a treatment for various conditions, particularly autoimmune diseases. LDN has been shown to reduce symptom severity in conditions like fibromyalgia, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, and chronic pain syndrome. It acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and has neuroprotective effects. Dr. Tassone explains how LDN works, the dosing, and the potential side effects. He also mentions the LDN Research Trust as a resour...
Jul 05, 2024•28 min•Ep. 95
Today’s episode focuses on the topic of testosterone deficiency in women, which is the number one hormone imbalance across all age groups. Dr. Tassone discusses the impact of birth control pills on testosterone levels and explains the difference between total testosterone and free testosterone. He also discusses commonly overlooked symptoms of low testosterone including fatigue, lack of motivation, and decreased libido. Dr. Tassone emphasizes the importance of checking free testosterone levels a...
Jun 20, 2024•27 min•Ep. 94
In this episode, Dr. Shawn Tassone discusses perimenopause and the symptoms associated with it. He highlights the issue of marketing and selling products related to perimenopause by celebrities and predatory companies. Dr. Tassone explains that perimenopause is not a disease but a time period around menopause, and it is characterized by a range of symptoms. He discusses the importance of addressing symptoms like insomnia, weight gain, fatigue, decreased libido, hot flashes, and hair loss. Dr. Ta...
Jun 13, 2024•30 min•Ep. 93
Dr. Shawn Tassone discusses the patient's bill of rights and what patients should expect from their healthcare providers. He covers topics such as confidentiality, informed consent, access to medical records, pain treatment, and the right to refuse medical treatments. Dr. Tassone emphasizes the importance of patient advocacy and empowerment in healthcare decisions. Episode Highlights Why patients have the right to expect safe, considerate, and respectful care that aligns with their beliefs Why c...
Jun 06, 2024•20 min•Ep. 92
How are we at a point where women are terrified of a hormone they've had in their bodies most of their lives? Many of us have heard horrible things about estrogen and its connection to breast cancer. A lot of this public aversion stems from a study that came out in the early 2000s called the Women's Health Initiative (WHI). The WHI was a landmark study designed to define the risks and benefits of interventions, notably hormonal therapy. Unfortunately, when journals and the media reported on the ...
May 23, 2024•43 min•Ep. 91
In this episode Dr. Shawn Tassone discusses the use of metformin, berberine, and dihydroberberine for weight loss in women, particularly those in perimenopause and menopause. He explains that while GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Monjaro are effective for weight loss, some women may prefer to try metformin, berberine, or dihydroberberine due to concerns or fear of injectable medications. He provides an overview of each medication, including their uses, dosages, side effects, and cost. Dr. Tas...
May 16, 2024•25 min•Ep. 90
In this episode, Dr. Shawn Tassone discusses the recent recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) regarding mammography guidelines. The USPSTF recommends biennial screening mammography for women aged 40 to 74, with a B recommendation. Dr. Tassone explains the incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer, particularly among non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black women. He also addresses the potential harms of mammography, such as false positive results an...
May 09, 2024•24 min•Ep. 89
In this episode, Dr. Shawn Tassone discusses the misleading claims and false information surrounding hormone creams, specifically wild yam cream. He highlights the lack of regulation in the cosmetic industry and the dangers of using products that are not FDA-approved. Dr. Tassone also emphasizes the importance of reading labels and avoiding products that claim to contain progesterone or other hormones but only list wild yam as an ingredient. He warns listeners to be cautious of companies that ma...
May 02, 2024•40 min•Ep. 88
In this episode, Dr. Shawn Tassone discusses the difference between synthetic and bioidentical hormones. He explains that bioidentical hormones are structurally similar to the body's hormones, while synthetic hormones are structurally different. He also delves into the history of hormone replacement therapy, including the use of pregnant mare's urine and the marketing of Premarin. He dispels myths and misconceptions surrounding bioidentical hormones and emphasizes the importance of understanding...
Apr 25, 2024•31 min•Ep. 87
In this episode, Dr. Shawn Tassone discusses a recent study published in the Journal of the North American Menopause Society that challenges the previous negative views on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women over the age of 65. The study found that HRT, specifically estrogen therapy, beyond the age of 65 is associated with significant risk reductions in mortality, breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, congestive heart failure, venous thromboembolism, atrial fibrillation, heart a...
Apr 18, 2024•32 min•Ep. 86
Confession: "Hormone injections and hormone pellets are horrible. Anybody putting them in, in my opinion, is committing malpractice." - Shawn Tassone, MD, PhD In this episode Dr. T discusses the dangers and drawbacks of hormone pellets and injections, particularly testosterone, and why he believes that using these methods is committing malpractice. He also covers how the companies promoting them are prioritizing profits over patient well-being and more! There are several reasons why he believes ...
Apr 11, 2024•37 min•Ep. 85
“Women are getting off birth control amid misinformation explosion.” - a very problematic article in the Washington Post last week. Written by two people with no medical background, the article is highly politicized, filled with anecdotal evidence, and dismissive of women’s lived experiences with birth control. Once I saw it, I had to address it here on the podcast because it’s disgusting. Birth control is obviously not the ultimate evil, but it’s also not the ultimate panacea. It should not be ...
Mar 28, 2024•37 min•Ep. 84
“If you’re already a board-certified OBGYN, why would you pay to become NAMS certified?” Many physicians turn to the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) for guidance on menopause-related issues. Every few years, they release a position statement outlining their stance on relevant treatment options, and lately, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about their recent statements. For the next couple of episodes, I’ll be doing a deep dive into different aspects of NAMS and their position stateme...
Mar 21, 2024•49 min•Ep. 83
Finding the right doctor can be daunting, especially if you've been dismissed or mistreated in the past. One of the questions I get asked weekly on my Saturday Instagram Q&A is how we can work together and what that process looks like. For today’s episode, I wanted to share the entire process with you, from setting an appointment to blood testing, what we discuss during a typical visit, and how we handle follow-ups. Whether you’re looking for help with hormone balance, weight loss, Essure re...
Mar 14, 2024•19 min•Ep. 82
If you see a celebrity partnering with a celebrity physician for a product, I'm here to tell you it won't help. It's a money grab. Menopause is getting a makeover, and menopausal women are spending a lot of money. It’s a multi-billion dollar industry, and celebrities in their mid to late 40s and 50s are leveraging their menopause experiences into cash grabs. By sharing their stories and teaming up with doctors - who may or may not be medical professionals - they’re leading women to believe that ...
Feb 22, 2024•45 min•Ep. 81
Did you know there are only four bioidentical hormones? The amount of misinformation and confusion surrounding hormone replacement options - especially estradiol and micronized progesterone - is staggering. Many doctors act like synthetic hormones, and bioidenticals are the same thing when in reality, it’s like comparing apples to cars. Today, I’m doing a quick but deeper dive to clear up any confusion about estradiol, progesterone, ethinylestradiol, and micronized progesterone and why I recomme...
Feb 15, 2024•37 min•Ep. 80
Semaglutide is a fantastic medication when used the right way. Anybody with a passing interest in weight loss has probably heard about semaglutide. Whether it’s Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus, these antidiabetic medications have skyrocketed in popularity for the incredible weight loss results they can bring. There have even been shortages for the past couple of months! On the flip side, critics point out that around 85% of patients taking semaglutide gain most of the lost weight back if they stop ...
Feb 08, 2024•39 min•Ep. 79
How are we at a point where women are terrified of a hormone they've had in their bodies most of their lives? Many of us have heard horrible things about estrogen and its connection to breast cancer. A lot of this public aversion stems from a study that came out in the early 2000s called the Women's Health Initiative (WHI). The WHI was a landmark study designed to define the risks and benefits of interventions, notably hormonal therapy. Unfortunately, when journals and the media reported on the ...
Feb 01, 2024•43 min•Ep. 78
Confession: You are being lied to about hormone testing, and, in many cases, you’re either not being tested enough or being tested way too much. There are many “hormone experts” out there, and the information they share is often wildly contradictory. From providers who say hormone imbalance doesn’t exist to those who only want to see results from a specific day of your cycle, how do you filter out the valuable insights from the noise? When it comes to your hormones, I always say, “test, don’t gu...
Jan 25, 2024•31 min•Ep. 77
“I think it's scammy. I think it's dangerous. And I'm saddened that many women are being lied to about these products.” Have you seen those ads on social media for menopause or perimenopause supplements and creams that claim that they will fix all your woes? None of these products have a shred of proof behind their dramatic claims, and many of them are backed by huge celebrities promoting them like they’re a godsend for women. The sad thing to me is that, ultimately, they’re spreading misinforma...
Jan 18, 2024•35 min•Ep. 76
