Up to 50% percent of women who take an antidepressant have sexual problems. By age 60, roughly 1 in 4 women are taking an antidepressant.  This episode is all about the science behind WHY SSRIs and other antidepressants can sabotage your sex life, and what you can do about it.  








Why so many mid-life women take anti-depressants
Why perimenopause hormonal changes trigger mood issues. 
Why anti-depressants impact libido and the ability to orgasm. 
Other things that impact on libido and orgasm in mid-life women. 
If all SSRIs are equally problematic


This is not a do-it-yourself project! Please speak with your personal clinician before making any changes in your medication!







Options

 It may be temporary


 Altering the dose


 Switching to a different prescription


 Drug holidays


 Timing of taking your medication


 Switching to hormone therapy


 Oral PDE5 inhibitors


 Topical sildenafil


 


Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors 






citalopram 
dapoxetine 
escitalopram 
fluoxetine 
fluvoxamine 
paroxetine 
sertraline 
vortioxetine 
Amitriptyline 
Amoxapine 
Desipramine 

For more information on this topic: 







Episode 78 Is Menopause Making You Moody?  


Episode 113 Viagra! For Women? 




 Slip Sliding Away: Turning Back the Clock on Your Vagina-A gynecologist’s guide to eliminating post-menopause dryness and pain





Come Again! A Guide to Midlife Libido and Orgasm (available for pre-order) 





Hot Flash Hell: A Gynecologist's Guide to Turning Down the Heat





Dr. Streicher’s Inside Information podcast is not intended to replace medical advice and should be used to supplement, not replace, care by your personal health care clinician. Dr. Streicher disclaims liability for any medical outcomes that may occur because of applying methods suggested or discussed in this podcast.





Lauren Streicher, MD is a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, and the founding medical director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause. She is a certified menopause practitioner of the North American Menopause Society. 



Sign up to receive DR. STREICHER’S FREE NEWSLETTER





Dr. Streicher is the medical correspondent for Chicago’s top-rated news program, the WGN Morning News, and has been seen on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, NPR, Dr. Radio, Nightline, Fox and Friends, The Steve Harvey Show, CBS This Morning, ABC News Now, NBCNightlyNews,20/20, and World News Tonight. She is an expert source for many magazines and serves on the medical advisory board of The Kinsey Institute, Self Magazine, and Prevention Magazine. She writes a regular column for The Ethel by AARP and Prevention Magazine. 





Subscribe and Follow Dr. Streicher on  DrStreicher.com





Instagram @DrStreich



Facebook	 @DrStreicher



YouTube	 DrStreicherTV





Books by Lauren Streicher, MD



Hot Flash Hell: A Gynecologist's Guide to Turning Down the Heat



Sex Rx- Hormones, Health, and Your Best Sex Ever



The Essential Guide to Hysterectomy



Come Again! A Guide to Midlife Libido and Orgasm (available for pre-order) 








S3 Ep120: Did Your SSRI Make Your “O” Go?

Hot flashes, vaginal dryness, leaky bladders, weight gain, hair loss, inability to orgasm? Nothing is off limits in these fact filled, solution-driven and often surprisingly funny podcasts that address the specific symptoms women face as they navigate perimenopause and post-menopause. Each segment is like having an in-depth consultation with Dr. Lauren Streicher, a nationally recognized menopause expert and the Medical Director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause. Guests will include other experts on all things menopause.  So strap in- it’s going to be quite the ride! This is THE podcast for accurate information about menopause but is not meant to be personal medical advice.

Sexuality

Health

Medicine

Science & Medicine

Fitness & Nutrition

Health & Fitness


While not everyone is necessarily good about regular physical activity, no one questions that it’s good for you. Cardiovascular health, weight management, cognitive function, mood, better sleep and even reducing the risk of many kinds of cancer are all established benefits to moving as opposed to sitting on your butt all day. But, when it comes to the impact of exercise when it comes to reducing hot flashes, the jury is still out. 



Dr. Maria Sophocles is the Medical Director of Women’s Healthcare of Princeton. She is a certified menopause practitioner and has a particular interest in non-hormonal approaches to help with menopause symptoms.  In this episode, we discussed a study that was recently published in the Journal Menopause titled “The influence of habitual physical activity and sedentary behavior on objective and subjective hot flashes at midlife” 



Link to article: Witkowski, Sarah PhD1; White, Quinn BA1; Shreyer, Sofiya MA2; Brown, Daniel E. PhD3; Sievert, Lynnette Leidy PhD2. The influence of habitual physical activity and sedentary behavior on objective and subjective hot flashes at midlife. Menopause






Chat about South by Southwest Panel
Dr. Sophocles Ted Talk
What research shows as far as exercise and hot flashes
The Menopause Society’s statement on exercise and yoga 
How hot flashes are measured in studies
Perceived hot flashes versus actual hot flashes
Findings of this study 
Dr. Sophocles research with EmberWave™






                                                  Maria Sophocles MD

                                                 mariasophoclesmd.com

                                                   @mariasophoclesmd

                                 Ted Talk- https://go.ted.com/rpUSM





For more information on this topic: 



Episode 2:Think Your Hot Flashes Can't Kill You? Think Again!



Episode 53 Not All Hot Flashes  Mean Menopause 



Episode 82 Journal Club with Mary Jane Minkin



Episode 87 Will THAT Really Help Your Hot Flashes? Lifestyle and other Interventions



Episode 95 Non-hormonal options to treat VMS- Herbs Spices &Wishful; Thinking 





Laurie Mintz



Sheryl Kingsberg



Amanda Thebe





Hot Flash Hell: A Gynecologist's Guide to Turning Down the Heat







Dr. Streicher’s Inside Information podcast is not intended to replace medical advice and should be used to supplement, not replace, care by your personal health care clinician. Dr. Streicher disclaims liability for any medical outcomes that may occur because of applying methods suggested or discussed in this podcast.



Lauren Streicher, MD is a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, and the founding medical director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause. She is a certified menopause practitioner of the North American Menopause Society. 



Sign up to receive DR. STREICHER’S FREE NEWSLETTER



Dr. Streicher is the medical correspondent for Chicago’s top-rated news program, the WGN Morning News, and has been seen on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, NPR, Dr. Radio, Nightline, Fox and Friends, The Steve Harvey Show, CBS This Morning, ABC News Now, NBCNightlyNews,20/20, and World News Tonight. She is an expert source for many magazines and serves on the medical advisory board of The Kinsey Institute, Self Magazine, and Prevention Magazine. She writes a regular column for The Ethel by AARP and Prevention Magazine. 





Subscribe and Follow Dr. Streicher on 



DrStreicher.com





Instagram @DrStreich



Facebook  @DrStreicher



YouTube  DrStreicherTV





Books by Lauren Streicher, MD





 Slip Sliding Away: Turning Back the Clock on Your Vagina-A gynecologist’s guide to eliminating post-menopause dryness and pain





Hot Flash Hell: A Gynecologist's Guide to Turning Down the Heat





Sex Rx- Hormones, Health, and Your Best Sex Ever





The Essential Guide to Hysterectomy




























S3 Ep128: Can you Exercise Your Hot Flashes Away?  A Journal Club with Dr. Maria Sophocles

Have you ever wondered about the history of pubic hair removal, current trends, risks and benefit? In this episode, you will learn more than you ever wanted to know including:  

The EVOLUTIONARY reason for pubic hair
The BIOLOGIC BENEFIT of pubic hair
A brief HISTORY of pubic hair removal trends and techniques
Current TRENDS in pubic hair styles

WHY women choose to remove their pubic hair
My survey on PARTNER preference 

HEALTH BENEFITS of pubic hair removal
If removing hair has any SEXUAL BENEFITS


METHODS of hair removal 
MY ADVICE…..








Dr. Streicher’s Inside Information podcast is not intended to replace medical advice and should be used to supplement, not replace, care by your personal health care clinician. Dr. Streicher disclaims liability for any medical outcomes that may occur because of applying methods suggested or discussed in this podcast.



Lauren Streicher, MD is a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, and the founding medical director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause. She is a certified menopause practitioner of the North American Menopause Society. 



Sign up to receive DR. STREICHER’S FREE NEWSLETTER



Dr. Streicher is the medical correspondent for Chicago’s top-rated news program, the WGN Morning News, and has been seen on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, NPR, Dr. Radio, Nightline, Fox and Friends, The Steve Harvey Show, CBS This Morning, ABC News Now, NBCNightlyNews,20/20, and World News Tonight. She is an expert source for many magazines and serves on the medical advisory board of The Kinsey Institute, Self Magazine, and Prevention Magazine. She writes a regular column for The Ethel by AARP and Prevention Magazine. 



Subscribe and Follow Dr. Streicher on 

DrStreicher.com



Instagram	@DrStreich

Facebook	 @DrStreicher

YouTube	 DrStreicherTV



Books by Lauren Streicher, MD



 Slip Sliding Away: Turning Back the Clock on Your Vagina-A gynecologist’s guide to eliminating post-menopause dryness and pain



Hot Flash Hell: A Gynecologist's Guide to Turning Down the Heat



Sex Rx- Hormones, Health, and Your Best Sex Ever



The Essential Guide to Hysterectomy








S3 Ep127: Going Bare Down There

The only thing more miserable than a urinary tract infection (UTI) is when it happens again, and again, and again. But, good news, there are ways to prevent post menopause RECURRENT URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS.  But sometimes urinary urgency, burning and that “gotta go” feeling is NOT FROM an INFECTION, and need a completely different kind of treatment.  You need to know the difference. 



In this episode, Dr. Streicher covers:


WHY post menopause women have so many UTIs
The typical symptoms of a UTI 

What BLOOD in the urine means
Why symptoms that MIMIC a UTI but are not caused by an infection 
Why it is important to get a URINE CULTURE

An  HOME TEST to get a rapid urine culture and antibiotic sensitivity
Strategies that DO WORK to PREVENT recurrent urinary tract infections
How a LOCAL VAGINAL ESTROGEN can reduce or eliminate both recurrent infections and bothersome bladder symptoms that are not from an infection. 
Non antibiotic options, such as TK that will reduce recurrence. 
Strategies that DO NOT WORK to PREVENT recurrent urinary tract infections
The new vaccine that might keep UTIs away for almost a decade




For more information on MY UTI- Rapid at home testing delivered to your doorstep

 Website: www.myuti.com 

Facebook: @myutiwebsite

Instagram @_myuti_



For more detailed information on the genitourinary syndrome of menopause, treatment options, and the impact on bladder function:

 Slip Sliding Away: Turning Back the Clock on Your Vagina-A gynecologist’s guide to eliminating post-menopause dryness and pain



Episode 3: What's Up Down There? Genital Dryness & Misbehaving Bladders 

Episode 5: Vaginal Estrogen- Rings, Creams, and Other Things 

Episode 11: Vaginal Estrogen is Not Poison

Episode 63 DHEA-An Estrogen Alternative for Vaginal Dryness 

Episode 74 Ospemifene- A Pill a Day to Keep Dryness Away 





Dr. Streicher’s Inside Information podcast is not intended to replace medical advice and should be used to supplement, not replace, care by your personal health care clinician. Dr. Streicher disclaims liability for any medical outcomes that may occur because of applying methods suggested or discussed in this podcast.



Lauren Streicher, MD is a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, and the founding medical director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause. She is a certified menopause practitioner of the North American Menopause Society. 



Sign up to receive DR. STREICHER’S FREE NEWSLETTER



Dr. Streicher is the medical correspondent for Chicago’s top-rated news program, the WGN Morning News, and has been seen on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, NPR, Dr. Radio, Nightline, Fox and Friends, The Steve Harvey Show, CBS This Morning, ABC News Now, NBCNightlyNews,20/20, and World News Tonight. She is an expert source for many magazines and serves on the medical advisory board of The Kinsey Institute, Self Magazine, and Prevention Magazine. She writes a regular column for The Ethel by AARP and Prevention Magazine. 



Subscribe and Follow Dr. Streicher on 

DrStreicher.com



Instagram @DrStreich

Facebook  @DrStreicher

YouTube  DrStreicherTV



Books by Lauren Streicher, MD



 Slip Sliding Away: Turning Back the Clock on Your Vagina-A gynecologist’s guide to eliminating post-menopause dryness and pain



Hot Flash Hell: A Gynecologist's Guide to Turning Down the Heat



Sex Rx- Hormones, Health, and Your Best Sex Ever



The Essential Guide to Hysterectomy














S3 Ep126: A Deep Dive into RECURRENT UTI-Update!

When one thinks of a medical specialty that is knowledgeable about menopause, usually an Ob Gyn, Family Practice doctor, Internist or maybe a urologist comes to mind. In this episode , I am talking to Dr. Vonda Wright, an orthopedic surgeon who has made it her mission to raise awareness about the musculoskeletal changes that occur as a result of menopause, and how a lack of estrogen  sabotages  the ability to be active. And that lack of activity not only impacts bone health and cardiovascular health but also cognitive function.  Today, we are talking about solutions to protect your bones, your blood vessels, and your brain. 





Dr. Vonda Wright MD, MS



Orthopedic Sport Surgeon



Associate Professor UCF College of Medicine



Orlando, Florida



@DrVondaWright








How Dr. Wright became an Orthopedic surgeon who was interested in menopause
The six symptoms of musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause
Hot flashes go away, the consequences of MSM go on forever
Consequences of no estrogen: fracture, incontinence, cardiovascular compromise, dementia
The relationship between GSM and dementia
Why frozen shoulder is the number one complaint
If taking estrogen will help frozen shoulder
The relationship of menopause to osteoarthritis
The impact of mobility on cognitive function
The impact of menopause on frailty
The impact of testosterone on musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause
Exercise and cancer risk reduction
How heavy your weights should be to increase muscle power




For more information on this topic: 



Episode 59 - Boning Up on Bones: Part 1 with Dr. Kristi Tough DeSapri (Risk Factors for osteoporosis, and Screening)



Episode 61 Boning Up on Bones: Part 2 with Dr. Kristi Tough DeSapri (Prevention and Treatment) 



Episode 67- How Long Can you Safely Take Hormone Therapy?



Episode 85 Estrogen and Alzheimer’s Disease



Episode  111 Bone Up with Hormone Therapy with Dr. DeSapri 



Episode 123 Hormone Therapy After Age 60 with Dr. James Simon







Hot Flash Hell: A Gynecologist's Guide to Turning Down the Heat







Dr. Streicher’s Inside Information podcast is not intended to replace medical advice and should be used to supplement, not replace, care by your personal health care clinician. Dr. Streicher disclaims liability for any medical outcomes that may occur because of applying methods suggested or discussed in this podcast.



Lauren Streicher, MD is a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, and the founding medical director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause. She is a certified menopause practitioner of the North American Menopause Society. 



Sign up to receive DR. STREICHER’S FREE NEWSLETTER



Dr. Streicher is the medical correspondent for Chicago’s top-rated news program, the WGN Morning News, and has been seen on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, NPR, Dr. Radio, Nightline, Fox and Friends, The Steve Harvey Show, CBS This Morning, ABC News Now, NBCNightlyNews,20/20, and World News Tonight. She is an expert source for many magazines and serves on the medical advisory board of The Kinsey Institute, Self Magazine, and Prevention Magazine. She writes a regular column for The Ethel by AARP and Prevention Magazine. 





Subscribe and Follow Dr. Streicher on 



DrStreicher.com



Instagram	@DrStreich



Facebook	 @DrStreicher



YouTube	 DrStreicherTV





Books by Lauren Streicher, MD





 Slip Sliding Away: Turning Back the Clock on Your Vagina-A gynecologist’s guide to eliminating post-menopause dryness and pain





Hot Flash Hell: A Gynecologist's Guide to Turning Down the Heat





Sex Rx- Hormones, Health, and Your Best Sex Ever





The Essential Guide to Hysterectomy




























S3 Ep125: The Musculoskeletal Syndrome of Menopause with Dr. Vonda Wright

Every available type of hormone therapy will effectively eliminate hot flashes and other menopause symptoms.   However, all hormone therapy is not the same.  Individual formulations impact bone health, breast health, and cardiovascular health differently.   In episode 123, Dr. James Simon and I discussed starting hormone therapy after the age of 60. In this episode, we discuss the nuances between different hormones and their impact on breast cancer and bone health. 






Why it is important to individualize hormone therapy
Why there is the perception that estrogen causes breast cancer
There is a difference between causing breast cancer and making breast cancer grow
The differences between conjugated equine estrogen (Provera) and a plant-derived bioidentical beta-estradiol in terms of breast cancer impact
The differences between the different estrogens and progestogens as far as bone health
Transdermal vs oral estrogen




Dr. Simon’s Article :

Levy B, Simon JA. A Contemporary View of Menopausal Hormone Therapy. Obstet Gynecol. 2024 Mar 14. 



Ms Magazine article with Lancet Rebuttal https://msmagazine.com/2024/04/15/menopause-treatment-the-lancet/



List of doctors who signed rebuttal





                                                James A. Simon, MD

                                     Clinical Professor George Washington University

                                                 www.IntimMedicine.com



The Menopause Society Find a menopause practitioner page 

Midi Health https://www.joinmidi.com/





For more information on this topic: 



Episode 51- Transdermal versus Oral Estrogen- What's the Difference? 



Episode 67- How Long Can you Safely Take Hormone Therapy?



Episode 114- Is Duovee the Ideal Hormone Therapy? 



Episode 123 Is Starting Hormone Therapy After Age 60 an Option?



 Slip Sliding Away: Turning Back the Clock on Your Vagina-A gynecologist’s guide to eliminating post-menopause dryness and pain





Hot Flash Hell: A Gynecologist's Guide to Turning Down the Heat







Dr. Streicher’s Inside Information podcast is not intended to replace medical advice and should be used to supplement, not replace, care by your personal health care clinician. Dr. Streicher disclaims liability for any medical outcomes that may occur because of applying methods suggested or discussed in this podcast.



Lauren Streicher, MD is a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, and the founding medical director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause. She is a certified menopause practitioner of the North American Menopause Society. 



Sign up to receive DR. STREICHER’S FREE NEWSLETTER



Dr. Streicher is the medical correspondent for Chicago’s top-rated news program, the WGN Morning News, and has been seen on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, NPR, Dr. Radio, Nightline, Fox and Friends, The Steve Harvey Show, CBS This Morning, ABC News Now, NBCNightlyNews,20/20, and World News Tonight. She is an expert source for many magazines and serves on the medical advisory board of The Kinsey Institute, Self Magazine, and Prevention Magazine. She writes a regular column for The Ethel by AARP and Prevention Magazine. 





Subscribe and Follow Dr. Streicher on 



DrStreicher.com





Instagram @DrStreich



Facebook  @DrStreicher



YouTube  DrStreicherTV





Books by Lauren Streicher, MD



 Slip Sliding Away: Turning Back the Clock on Your Vagina-A gynecologist’s guide to eliminating post-menopause dryness and pain



Hot Flash Hell: A Gynecologist's Guide to Turning Down the Heat



Sex Rx- Hormones, Health, and Your Best Sex Ever



The Essential Guide to Hysterectomy


























S3 Ep120: Did Your SSRI Make Your “O” Go?

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