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...

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...

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,...

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...

“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...

“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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

“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...

Welcome back to the final installment of my special series of interviews with my kids. So far, you’ve heard from my firstborn, Hannah, my eldest son, Hunter, and my youngest, Anthony. Today, I’m chatting with my thirdborn, Angelo. Angelo and I share very similar birthdays - only four days apart - and he’s the one who’s most like me emotionally. He was born about five weeks early, right before 9/11, and was the only one of my children who was breech. Unlike his older siblings, I never know...

Welcome back to part three of my special series of interviews with my kids. So far, you’ve heard from my firstborn, Hannah, and my eldest son, Hunter, and today we’re jumping to my youngest, Anthony. Anthony was born via C-section on November 22 in Tucson, Arizona. Named after his great-great-grandfather, Antonio, his name is in many middle names and first names throughout my family. As my youngest, I often joke about him being my favorite, but one of the things I am most proud of him for is...

I can't bring myself emotionally, spiritually, psychologically, or physically to use hormone pellets with my patients. Hormone pellets are tiny pellets containing hormones and medications inserted under your skin and replaced every three to six months. In my clinic, many unhappy patients come to me with complications from pellets. Outside of my clinical experience, I also tried pellets myself a few years ago, which was the worst experience of my life. Looking at the science, there are much...

We’re back for part two of this special series of interviews with my kids. Last week, you heard from my oldest-  and only daughter - Hannah, and today, I’m talking to my oldest son, Hunter. Hunter is 28, and the only one of my children who decided to go into medicine, and he’s currently in medical school. Hunter was born in Oklahoma City during the third year of my residency in 1996. Probably the most adaptable of the four, his mother and I divorced when he was young, and later, in the sixth...

This month, I’m doing something different. I have four special guests, my kids, and I’ll share their interviews with you each week. To start things off, today’s guest is my firstborn child, Hannah, who will be turning 30 this month! Hannah was born in Papillion, Nebraska, on December 10, 1993, in my third year of medical school. Later, we moved to Oklahoma, where I did my residency, and when she was around five, her mom and I divorced. Going into the interview, Hannah told me that no...

“Hormone balance is the catchphrase for younger women.” - James Frame When you're looking at perimenopause and post-menopause, the goal is to stop the hormone fluctuations or to replace hormones that have been lost. For younger women, the focus is reinvigorating the biofeedback mechanism to balance and regulate their hormone production. Unfortunately, being younger means that many doctors are more likely to simply put them on birth control to mask any period problems they’re experiencing...

“A majority of people are overfed but undernourished - eating a lot of calories but not consuming essential nutrients.” - Lacey Dunn When it comes to hormones, diet, and lifestyle are huge contributing factors that are often downplayed in conventional medicine. The chronic stress and inadequate nutrition many of us experience create signals in our bodies that can wreak havoc on hormone production. That’s why it’s crucial to drill down to the root causes rather than simply treating the...

Infertility is defined as 12 months of trying regularly without conception occurring. Although it’s not common, it happens to many couples, and it can be completely devastating when it does. With no known causes of infertility, the conception rate is about 85%, which means about 15% of couples fall within that definition. Over my career, I’ve sat with hundreds of women and couples who have experienced this. In today’s episode, I’m talking about what you can do to optimize your fertility and...

Traditional plastic surgery training taught Dr. Anthony Youn that the bigger the operation, the better. This idea was reinforced throughout medical school and residency and stayed with Tony as he built his practice. As he grew, he built up a long waiting list of patients across the country and felt like he had hit the pinnacle of success. Now known as America's Holistic Plastic Surgeon™, Tony has a whole body perspective on aging, the process of reversing aging, utilizing all the different...

“Your normal is different than everybody else’s.” There’s so much misinformation out there about hormones. The misunderstanding of the Women’s Health Initiative findings did massive damage to women’s health. It basically ruined an entire generation of physicians who now buy into the false narrative on the dangers of hormone replacement. Today I’m doing a review episode all about my book, The Hormone Balance Bible. I wrote the book not for you to read from cover to cover but so that you can...

The first step to good breast health is having an intimate relationship with your breasts. Since the person themself catches most breast abnormalities, you are in a powerful position to protect them. In my practice, I see a lot of women with breast pain for various reasons, from hormone replacement to premenstrual syndrome. It can range from mild discomfort to pain that’s interrupting their lives, and it’s not something you should be forced to live with. Today, I’m joined by Dianne Wist,...