About this episode
This week, join Dr. Thais Aliabadi and Mary Alice Haney as they sit down with special guest Dr. Sharon Malone, Chief Medical Advisor at Alloy Women’s Health and New York Times bestselling author. In this episode, Dr. Malone shares her insights on the crucial differences between menopause and perimenopause, including why women in their 30s need to start thinking about hormone therapy. The conversation also covers the pros and cons of birth control pills versus menopausal hormone therapy, the role of testosterone in libido, and even using estrogen cream on your face. Dr. Malone also delves into the founding of Alloy Women’s Health, a telehealth company revolutionizing how women access healthcare, and discusses her latest book, Grown Women Talk . Whether you’re looking to better understand perimenopause, hormone therapy options, or the latest in women’s health, this episode is packed with expert advice and actionable takeaways. For more resources, visit our website: SheMDpodcast.com Follow us across social media: @SheMDpodcast Sponsors: Knowing your family's history of cancer is the first step to understanding your own cancer risk and may qualify you for the MyRisk Hereditary Cancer Test with RiskScore hereditary cancer test. It's easy, accurate and covered by most insurers. Learn more at https://myriad.ws/getmyrisk Redefine learning with play! Get 50% off your first month on ANY crate line at KIWICO.com , promo code SHEMD. Visit https://clearstem.com/she-md and use code SHEMD at checkout for 20% off your first purchase. Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/SHEMD *Rules and restrictions may apply If you think that you or a loved one could be struggling with an eating disorder, Equip can help you achieve lasting recovery. Visit https://Equip.health/shemd to learn more. Head to https://moonjuice.com/ and use code SHEMD at checkout for 20% off If you want to take ownership of your health, it starts with AG1. Try AG1 and get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3K2 AND 5 free AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase at drinkAG1.com/shemd . IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00] Dr. Sharon Malone shares her background and discusses the difference between menopause and perimenopause [13:12] Discussion of birth control pills versus menopausal hormone therapy [20:35] Discussion of testosterone and libido and using estrogen cream on your face [30:16] Alloy Women’s Health, a telehealth company, is conceived and Dr. Malone's book, Grown Women Talk [39:50] Discussion of progesterone taken with estrogen and the Women’s Health Initiative KEY TAKEAWAYS: Is It Menopause or Perimenopause? Many women don’t realize that perimenopause can happen anywhere from four to ten years before menopause. Don’t think you aren’t in perimenopause just because you are still having periods. Women in their 30s need to begin to educate themselves about hormone therapy. Don’t Suffer in Silence: There is help for the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. Various options are available to treat symptoms, and the critical thing to remember is that if one doesn’t work, try another one. Don’t suffer. There is a Substantial Difference Between Oral Contraceptives and Menopausal Hormone Therapy: The amount of estrogen that is in a birth control pill is anywhere from two to three times more estrogen than that in menopausal hormone therapy. You Need to Know the Difference Between Testosterone Pellets and Testosterone Creams: Some women will have an adverse reaction if there is too much testosterone in the therapy. With a cream, you can control the amount of testosterone you receive. Try Alloy Women’s Health from the Convenience of Your Own Home: Gone are the days when you waited months to speak to a doctor. With Alloy, you can book an appointment online and talk to a doctor who is an expert in women’s health issues. Alloy provides continuing education and delivers prescriptions to your door. RESOURCES: Alloy Women's Health - Website Grown Women Talk - Book Dr. Sharon Malone - Website Dr. Sharon Malone - Instagram Dr. Sharon Malone - X CONNECT WITH SHE MD: Mary Alice Haney - Instagram Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi - Instagram SheMD Podcast - Instagram SHEMD - YouTube SHEMD - Podcast SHEMD - Website GUEST BIOGRAPHY: Dr. Sharon Malone is a DC-based OB/GYN and Certified Menopause Practitioner dedicated to empowering women to take charge of their health. As a nationally recognized expert in women's health, she is the Chief Medical Advisor at Alloy Women's Health and a New York Times Bestselling author. Dr. Malone is board-certified by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and certified by the North American Menopause Society. Her personal experiences, including her mother's untimely death from colon cancer, have driven her passion for addressing healthcare disparities and advocating for reproductive rights. QUOTES: “The one thing that I want all people to understand is that we treat you when you're symptomatic. We're not waiting for any particular milestone or marker because I think a lot of women think, Oh, well, I haven't suffered enough, or my symptoms aren't bad enough. That should not be the standard of care we use. We treat it when the symptoms are bothersome for you.” Dr. Sharon Malone “So, the things that we talk about like hot flashes, mood swings, night sweats, vaginal dryness. The list goes on and on. All of those things can happen well in advance of when you think menopause is supposed to start, and It causes a lot of consternation because we're not prepared for it and women don't know what to do.” Dr. Sharon Malone See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .