Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a relatively common condition that affects many women of reproductive age. Despite that, we still lack clear diagnostic criteria, resulting in many women receiving an incorrect diagnosis of PCOS or having PCOS and remaining undiagnosed. September is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Awareness Month, and in honor of that, I’m doing a …

“The most expensive dietary supplement is the one that doesn’t work.” Whenever I go on Instagram, I’m inundated with ads from supplement companies. They all make crazy claims about what they can fix, and I’m skeptical. The regulation of the supplement industry is complex, and consumers are faced with labels filled with acronyms and terms …

Culture, politics, medical practices, and scientific understandings of the female body all influence our knowledge of women’s health. In today’s episode, I’m doing something different and talking about how the medical field is failing women in the United States. The reality of women’s health in this country leaves much to be desired, from exclusion from …

“You’re just getting older.” When it comes to menopause, women are getting dismissed by doctors, and their symptoms are ignored. With the subject being largely ignored in medical school and residency, it can be a struggle to find a practitioner who is both knowledgeable and willing to dig deeper and provide the care that’s needed. …

“Starve a fever; feed a cold!” Whether it’s from grandma, a friend, or the internet, a lot of health-related advice is passed down through generations or amplified through social media. There’s a reason they persist – they seem logical and sound like good advice, so it’s easy to assume they’re true. Some are harmless but …

“If you want to feel well, you’ve got to let your body know that it’s safe.” – Dr. Izabella Wentz There are only two hormonal issues that are life and death: thyroid and adrenals. Unfortunately, when it comes to adrenals, what you think you should be doing is probably the opposite of what you should …

Estrogen has many protective effects, from bone and heart health to thyroid function and sexual motivation. I can’t tell you how often I’ve put a woman on estrogen only to return, saying she felt better for a couple of weeks but decided to stop the medication. Why? Because her friends told her that estrogen causes …

Every year, millions of people take dietary supplements hoping to improve their health. The problem is, most of us have no idea what’s in the pills we’re taking. This is particularly true for omega-3 fatty acids, one of the top three supplements I recommend for women of all ages. So many of the omega-3 products …

Endometriosis is a debilitating condition affecting millions of women worldwide, yet many go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for years. Early diagnosis leads to better outcomes and improved quality of life. As part of our Endometriosis Awareness Month series, I’m joined by holistic health coach Khush Sra today. In addition to being an Endometriosis Nutritionist, Khush has …

Endometriosis is a long-term disease, but it’s not a terminal illness. While endo symptoms usually present at a young age, it takes approximately seven to ten years for most women to get diagnosed. It’s not uncommon to hear of women being bounced around the medical system and silenced with birth control pills to mask their …

The thyroid gland is a contentious topic in the medical community. In my practice, I’ve seen so many women with debilitating symptoms dismissed by doctors only interested in checking TSH levels and sending them on their way. It’s a common theme. Clinicians react from a place of defensiveness, not wanting anyone to question their authority. …

We’re back for another round of Q&A with Dr. T! So much misinformation is shared when it comes to women’s health. There are also a lot of doctors who seem to prescribe things willy-nilly, following guidelines without digging deeper and using science. Many of these topics come up in questions on my Instagram (@ShawnTassoneMD), and …

“Instead of looking at each person’s bio-individuality, we’re all treated with one protocol.” I think most doctors want to do things differently. Unfortunately, the insurance system incentivizes doctors to see as many patients as possible instead of spending time with each patient to get to the root cause of their symptoms. So what ends up …

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 …

It’s not all in your head. As you probably know, I’m a firm advocate for the removal of foreign bodies and foreign materials, particularly within my practice with the Essure coils. Many women go through a long journey to have the problem acknowledged and often spend years dismissed by doctors. A big part of this …

“You have to trust your gut and be an advocate for yourself.” – Angela Grassi There is no one-size-fits-all approach for managing polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). It’s a very common, very misunderstood condition that often goes undiagnosed for years. Even after diagnosis, many women are quickly put on birth control pills that mask the symptoms …

“If it’s made in a factory, skip it. If it’s made in nature, eat it.” – Dr. Joel Kahn Diet has become a controversial topic, and people quickly turn confrontational. From the carnivore diet to keto to veganism, chances are that talking publicly about what you eat will be met with opposition. So how can …

“Those that don’t have time for wellness will eventually have to make time for illness.” – Dr. Jaime Seeman You should be the number one advocate for your health. Like I tell my patients, I can give you the tools, and I can give you ideas, but ultimately you’ve got to do it yourself. We …

Every Saturday for the past year, I’ve been doing “ask me a question” on my Instagram (@ShawnTassoneMD). Over time, I’ve noticed specific questions and themes that come up over and over. Now, I’m bringing them to the podcast! Starting with today’s episode, I’m going to create some Q&A episodes where I hit some of the …

“Consider natural alternatives; your body wants to heal.” – Terri Long For years Terri Long suffered from chronic pain and fatigue that left her struggling to function in everyday life. She bounced from doctor to doctor before finally being given a fibromyalgia diagnosis. But even with the medication she received, she still felt horrible. Eventually, …

“We would not have evolved as a species if we could not have gone through periods of food feasting and famine.” – Cynthia Thurlow From ancient Rome to the Industrial Revolution, people have been fasting for various reasons, including religious rites and social customs. But while it’s not a new practice, modern-day intermittent fasting exists …

Progesterone is the great calmer. It’s the hormone responsible for pregnancy and is probably my second favorite (right after testosterone). With its central role in the menstrual cycle, I’ve seen progesterone help many women in my practice. In my book, The Hormone Balance Bible, the archetype for progesterone deficiency is the Unbalanced Heroine. It’s a …

“Honor your body. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s because it’s not right.” – Roya Pakzad Being in control of your health is empowering but often, that’s easier said than done. High deductibles, restrictions on insurance coverage, and the cost of working with functional medicine practitioners are just some of the barriers that prevent women …

Cortisol gets a lot of bad publicity, but if you didn’t have it, you would die. Produced by the adrenal glands, cortisol is your body’s primary stress hormone released as part of the body’s response to a threatening situation. But when cortisol levels are on the low or high end of the normal range, many …

Medicinal mushrooms are a fantastic tool for mitigating risk and cultivating health. From Reishi to Tremella, Lion’s Mane, and beyond, the Western world is finally waking up to the magic and medicine of mushrooms. With that increasing popularity, more and more research is being conducted that confirms what ancient traditions have long known about the …

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. They’ve been around for decades, but recently they’ve gained popularity, and they’re now being inserted by Nurse Practitioners, plastic …

You can’t biohack your way out of your symptoms; you have to address the root cause. Where many testosterone clinics are quick to identify low testosterone and start testosterone therapy, it’s often a sign of many deeper issues This is where poly-hormonal adrenal testosterone (PHAT) syndrome comes in. PHAT syndrome presents with a host of …

Low testosterone in women is the plague of the 21st century. Testosterone is one of the most important parts of women’s hormone replacement. While most women feel their best with testosterone levels in the middle of the normal range, in my practice I see a lot of women with levels at the low end of …

Hormone replacement is not usually life or death, except in the cases of the thyroid and adrenals. Thyroid disease has tripled in the last few decades and thyroid medication is consistently among the top three most prescribed medicines in the world. At the same time, many women find themselves with adrenal insufficiency due to a …

Thyroid hormones are critical to our survival. Unfortunately, thyroid disease is very common, and women are around five to eight times more likely to be diagnosed with a thyroid condition than a man. In my practice, I see many women who have either been diagnosed with thyroid disease or who have subclinical thyroid disease, where …

“This ain’t your Mama’s menopause. You get to define what it looks like moving forward.” – Dr. Mariza Snyder During perimenopause, it can feel like everything is falling apart. Your body is changing, sex hormones are declining, and ovarian function shifts towards retirement mode. But the more metabolically flexible you are heading into menopause and …

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 …

We live in an exciting time in cosmetic medicine, where so many options are available that don’t require going under the knife. 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. …

Estrogen is probably the most misunderstood hormone. The demonization of estrogen by the Women’s Health Initiative has done a disservice to women’s health and caused a lot of fear. Between the patients who don’t want to take it and the doctors who refuse to prescribe it, many women are missing out on estrogen’s protective effects …

The medical community is often critical of new ideas. Yet, if we don’t evolve as providers, we’re doing our patients a disservice. As someone who’s been at the forefront of women’s health throughout her career, Dr. Anna Cabeca never let the naysayers deter her. Back in her first practice in a small town in Georgia, …

Which supplements do you recommend? Do they really work? How do you identify which brands are good quality? With so many supplement options available, it can be hard to sift through the noise and find the ones that make sense for you. Plus, just because something is natural doesn’t automatically mean it’s safe. For over …

Early in her clinical career, Dr. Stephanie Estima recognized through her patients that men and women required very different approaches to achieve successful outcomes. That realization led to Stephanie developing a standard of care uniquely focused on female health and wellbeing. Now, her mission is to inspire women globally to be the best versions of …

Many patients are choosing providers outside of the traditional medical system because of negative experiences with MDs. In a time where there are so many doctors, experts, and gurus to choose from, there’s no need to stay with a provider that is failing you. At the same time, figuring out who is well-positioned to help …

Nat never planned to treat women’s health. Coming out of her studies, she opened up her clinic and found herself inundated with women desperate for answers to the symptoms they were experiencing. After turning many women away, thinking she couldn’t help, she started to recognize a pattern of common symptoms in most of their cases. …

All too often, it’s women who bear the brunt of medical device failures. A major example is Essure, which came on the market in 2002 as a female sterilization device. It was sold to physicians and patients as a non-surgical, FDA-approved option that could be inserted without much downtime. Sounds good, right? That’s what many …

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 …

Many women have a similar experience: you’re feeling like crap, but when you go to the doctor, you’re told everything is normal, and you’re fine. Understanding your hormones is a critical foundation for advocating for yourself and being empowered when it comes to your health. To start things off, this week is all about your …

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Confessions of a Male Gynecologist, a cheeky-sounding name for an unconventional show. I’m Dr. Shawn Tassone, a board-certified OB-GYN who’s also board certified in integrative medicine. It’s an unusual combination, rooted in my recognition that I couldn’t help my patients as much as I wanted to through allopathic medicine …

In the world of social media, the internet, and having an abundance of ‘influencers’ it’s important to know if the person you’re trusting with your health is who they claim to be. When discussing women’s hormones women need experts! We need these women under the care of someone who is wanting to get to the …

You know that warm sense of relief you feel after walking into a doctor’s office to discuss your health concerns and you feel like the physician genuinely cared or understood your concern? How about when you told them you had Essure and you thought it was the cause of your chronic pelvic pain? I know …

You might be one of the millions of women around the world who was looking for a permanent birth control option, but didn’t want traditional abdominal sterilization, so you took a chance and had Essure placed. It sounded perfect for you at the time. You didn’t have to remember to take a pill, it was …

I often get asked in my clinic. “Dr. T I have chronic pain, but don’t want to take pain medication.” “Dr. T I am struggling with anxiety and migraines. Is there anything you recommend that is natural and actually works?” My answer is a resounding “YES!” I went out on a search and found a …

Adrenal glands are responsible for producing several hormones daily that are used throughout the body. When your adrenal glands become fatigued it can trigger other health problems starting with a hormone imbalance. Since your adrenals are so important to overall body function it’s common for adrenal fatigue to be noticeable in several areas of your …

Exhausted. Gaining weight. Suffering from Insomnia…. Anxious. Retaining water. Irregular periods and pelvic pain. What a joy it is to face another day. You’ve been to three doctors already and been told it’s all normal or “you’re just getting older.” You’ve even tried to convince yourself – maybe they’re right? But surely, there has to …

Whole body health is something of extreme importance to me. Whether you believe it or not your mind, body, and spirit are all intertwined. Did you know that emotional and spiritual exhaustion have similar effects on the body? Because of this people who have an empath personality are more likely to experience negative health impacts. …

Are you menopausal? Perimenopausal? Or do you even know? This is part of the problem when it comes to menopause. There are many women that don’t know much about it at all, other than they’re dreading that time in their life, but it doesn’t have to be all bad! It’s a natural process of a …

Summer and sunshine go hand in hand! While there are health benefits to sun exposure such as being a source for Vitamin D, it can also be harmful if you are overexposed or not protected correctly putting you at risk for sunburn or skin cancer. But, did you know a recent study done by the …

We are full swing into the summer body craze where everyone is wanting to look their best! Have you recently picked up a new fitbit, apple watch, or other form of health tracker? It seems most of these fitness accessories automatically tell you that you should take roughly 10,000 steps a day to obtain optimal …

It’s officially Spring! There’s nothing better than a nice bowl of fruit while soaking in the sunshine… or is there? While you may feel like you’re making healthy choices by eating fruit as a snack, according to the new Dirty Dozen just released by EWG, you may reconsider. The top 5 on the Dirty Dozen …

What is HIIT? HIIT is an abbreviation for High Intensity Interval Training and it is absolutely trending in the workout world. During my recent Instagram LIVE on diets and which one will keep you on track for your New Year’s Resolution. I mentioned how important it was to implement exercise with nutrition for maximum results. …

In the clinic and online I often get asked what my favorite supplements are. You know the one’s you shouldn’t go a day without? I teamed up with Fullscript and created an online dispensary that offers the safest source of practitioner-grade supplements, at a lower cost than most retailers. Four Supplements You Shouldn’t Go a …

Balancing your hormones with diet alone will not achieve the results you really need or expect. That’s where my 7 – Day Hormone Reboot will help start your journey. I recommend this program to every woman I meet in my clinic as well as consult online who is struggling with adrenal dysfunction or other signs …

Endocrine disruptors may be found in many everyday products– including plastic bottles, metal food cans, detergents, flame retardants, food, toys, cosmetics, and pesticides. Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that may interfere with the body’s endocrine system and produce adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune effects in both humans and wildlife. A wide range of substances, both natural …

What is a hormonal imbalance? Delivered in the endocrine organs, hormones are intense biological substances that travel around your circulation system instructing tissues and organs. They help control a significant number of your body’s real procedures, including digestion and reproduction. When you have a hormonal irregularity, you have excessively or too little of a specific …

This book is by Dr Shawn Tassone, MD, PhD and Dr. Natalie Kringoudis (Author) BUY NOW on Kindle: $1.99 to buy What is the real truth about birth control? This tell all book deals with the topics of birth control pills, Implants, Injections, IUDs, Diaphragms, Cervical Caps, Permanent Sterilization, Essure, and Natural Family Planning. Birth Control is a common …

You give 110% of yourself all the time. Whether it’s at work or at home, you want to make sure everyone is taken care of. Sometimes, however, you feel like the world is working against you – you’re an outsider in your own realm. The overwhelming symptoms of excess estrogen not only make you physically …

When you’re navigating the treacherous waters of multiple hormone imbalances there is a lot to take into consideration. In some cases, one hormone may be too high while another is waning. In other instances, there might be two that are raging out of control. The latter is the case with estrogen dominance and cortisol excess. …

You are fierce. A force to be reckoned with. Some days you feel as though you could literally take on the world. Others you’re moody and maybe feel a little angry or aggressive. So, what gives? You may be experiencing what’s known as testosterone excess. Why Do Women Need Testosterone? Testosterone is often associated with …

Tired. Exhausted. Spent. Worn out. If you can relate to any of these words you may very well be experiencing cortisol insufficiency. The good news? You’re not alone, and there are things you can do to help combat this increasingly common health issue. Why is cortisol so important? You may have read about the effects …

You’re swept up in a feeling of exhaustion so strong you could lay down right where you’re standing and sleep for a week. Your feet feel leaden and your head a little foggy. You are always running but it’s not enough. You feel like the consummate underdog. This is what it’s like on a near-daily …

Are you a fantastic combination of enthusiasm and zeal tempered with a strong sense of responsibility and an eye on achieving the hard stuff? While this might be a boon for any employer, when talking about your adrenal system taking on the role of the workaholic, it’s a whole different matter. What’s Up With Cortisol, …

“Why don’t you just relax a little?” Is this a familiar question? Oh, if they only knew. You sleep four hours a night. You eat whatever you want but always feel like you’re too thin. Sitting through a movie with your family is impossible. Your house is spotless, not because you’re a neat freak but …

You’re quiet and introspective. Your mind and body are always in a quiet state, allowing you to exist. You feel like you’re an observer and the world just moves around you while you develop thoughts and ideas. If only you could find the energy to share them… Probably constantly trying to figure out the why’s …

A wise woman is calm, introspective, and worldly. Who wouldn’t want to feel like they have the inner peace and knowledge to move through life confidently? If you’re suffering from estrogen deficiency, however, you are probably wondering if you will ever feel like the wise woman you’ve come to be and be able to reclaim …

Have you been feeling like you’ve lost your zest for life? Less interest or no interest in sex, fatigue, and a general loss of enthusiasm for life… all of these and more are signs that you may be suffering from testosterone deficiency. What Is Testosterone Deficiency? Testosterone Deficiency is a term used to describe a …

Have you been feeling a little less than yourself lately? Irregular menstrual periods, abnormal weight gain, mood swings, a decrease in sex drive… all of these and more are signs that you may be suffering from estrogen dominance. What Is Progesterone Deficiency? Progesterone is made in the ovaries, the placenta, and it’s also partially made …

Headaches. Fatigue. Low sex drive. Irregular periods. Do these symptoms sound familiar? You don’t have to be entering menopause to experience these problems and more. No matter what your age, you may be experiencing unsettling symptoms that are synonymous with a condition known as estrogen dominance. Estrogen and progesterone are the two primary hormones that …

Your BEST LIFE is ahead of you! I’ve designed a 7 Day Hormone Reboot just for you. With this first-of-its-kind program, you’ll receive: Private Membership Support from Dr. T Daily Text Reminders Daily Emails Mindfulness Videos Secret Facebook Community Daily Worksheets Journal Coaching In 7 days, with this Reboot you’ll reset your daily practices — …