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Recurrent UTIs, urinary urgency, and burning often show up for the first time around perimenopause and menopause, yet most women have no idea their hormones could be involved. If your bladder symptoms changed when your cycle did, this conversation is for you.
In this episode, Forum Health providers Jana Rogers, APRN, FNP-C, IFMCP, The Bladder Expert, and Alicia Barkholtz, FNP-C, explore how declining estrogen affects the bladder, urethra, and vaginal microbiome, and why these changes can begin years before your final period.
You'll learn:
The early bladder symptom of hormone change women shouldn't ignore
How vaginal and systemic estrogen work differently
What to look at when UTI symptoms return but cultures come back negative
Which recurrent UTI prevention tips are worth a conversation with your provider
When it's time for a more specialized evaluation
Urinary symptoms during menopause may be common, but they are not something you have to live with. Through the Forum Health Virtual Clinic, women across the United States can access a root cause approach to hormone and bladder health.
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🩺 Ready to get to the root of your bladder symptoms?
👉 Learn more about The Bladder Expert virtual clinic: https://forumhealth.com/virtual-clinic/the-bladder-expert/
👉 Get started with Forum Health: https://forumhealth.com/
👉 Schedule appointment: https://forumhealth.com/request-appt/
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📲 Follow Forum Health: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forum_health/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forumhealthco/
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About the Providers:
Jana Rogers, APRN, FNP-C, IFMCP, known as The Bladder Expert, is a Board Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner and one of the few nurse practitioners in the country with a practice focused solely on recurrent UTIs and interstitial cystitis. An IFM certified practitioner with specialized training in infection prevention (CBIC), she goes beyond antibiotics to investigate the biofilms, hormonal deficiencies, immune dysfunction, gut dysbiosis, and genetic factors that drive recurrent infections. Bilingual in English and Spanish with active licensure in 32+ states, she provides thorough, unhurried virtual consultations through Forum Health.
Learn more: https://forumhealth.com/virtual-clinic/the-bladder-expert/
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Alicia Barkholtz, FNP-C, is a Family Nurse Practitioner who serves patients virtually through Forum Health, primarily in Wisconsin, Tennessee, California, Illinois, Iowa, Florida, and Texas. She specializes in hormone therapy and medical weight loss, combining a functional approach with extensive clinical experience. Her collaborative practice style centers on individualized treatment plans that balance happiness and health for each patient.
Learn more: https://forumhealth.com/provider/alicia-barkholtz-fnp-c/
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About Forum Health: Forum Health is the nation's first and largest network of integrative and functional medicine providers. Our clinicians go beyond symptom management to find the root cause, using advanced diagnostics, personalized treatment plans, and therapies grounded in evidence. With clinics across the U.S., expert care is closer than you think.
👉 https://forumhealth.com/
Hormone therapy for women just underwent a major shift, and Forum Health providers Emily Rodriguez, CNM, APNP; Traci Eliszewski, NP, AGACNP-BC; and Alexandra Wilson, MSN, FNP-C, CPNP-PC, break down what it means. This episode covers what the Women's Health Initiative study really found, the real difference between bioidentical and synthetic hormones, and why lab testing and cycle timing matter more than age when it comes to estrogen and progesterone. You will also get practical guidance on navigating the current nationwide estrogen patch shortage, including alternative delivery options like creams, gels, injections, and pellets.
Whether you were told hormones were too dangerous to consider, or you are being handed a prescription today with little explanation, this episode gives you the nuanced, root cause take on hormone therapy for women that has been missing from the conversation. Emily Rodriguez, Traci Eliszewski, and Alexandra Wilson see patients at Forum Health Madison, WI.
Ready to find a root cause approach to your hormone health?
Schedule an appointment at Forum Health: https://forumhealth.com/request-appt/
What actually happens during a hormone pellet therapy appointment, from your first visit to the day the pellet goes in? Forum Health Cary practitioners Shelly Garcia and Carolyn Leitzell answer the questions patients ask most before, during, and after treatment.
They walk through how a new patient's plan comes together, including labs, medical history, and an exam before any decision is made, how dosing is individualized based on height, weight, symptoms, and lab values, what the pellet insertion procedure actually feels like, and how long pellets typically last for women versus men. They also cover the cancer and safety questions patients bring up most often, the benefits of hormone optimization beyond hot flashes and fatigue, and the other options available, like creams and injections, for anyone not ready to commit to pellets yet. If you're considering hormone pellet therapy for the first time, this conversation covers exactly what to expect.
🩺 Ready to get to the root of your health?
👉 Get started: https://forumhealth.com/
👉 Schedule an appointment: https://forumhealth.com/request-appt/
Gut health might be the real reason behind your brain fog, skin issues, and stubborn hormone symptoms. In this conversation, originally recorded for The Lab Report podcast by Genova Diagnostics, Dr. Shilpa P. Saxena, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Forum Health, explains why she calls the gut "the front door to the house of health" and shares the clinical framework she uses to help patients finally get answers.
Dr. Saxena walks through how gut health connects to immune function, skin, brain fog and mood, and hormone balance, breaks down her approach to stool testing and the microbiome using her signature "gated community" analogy, and explains when she reaches for antimicrobials versus antibiotics in a functional medicine practice. She also discusses the evolving evidence around bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for bone, brain, and heart health, plus where AI genuinely helps and where it falls short in modern patient care.
Dr. Saxena also shares how Forum Health's nationwide network of providers works together to share best practices across gut health, hormone therapy, and other specialties, so patients benefit from collective clinical expertise rather than any single provider's experience alone.
🩺 Ready to find a root cause approach to your health? 👉 Get started: https://forumhealth.com/
📲 Follow Forum Health: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forum_health/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forumhealthco/
About the Provider: Dr. Shilpa P. Saxena, MD, is Chief Medical Officer at Forum Health, the nation's largest network of integrative and functional medicine providers. She helps lead Forum Health's clinical vision while continuing to see patients through virtual consultations. Dr. Saxena serves on faculty with the Institute for Functional Medicine, the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine [name to confirm], George Washington University's Metabolic Medicine Institute, the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine's Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, and Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola in Lima, Peru. She is known for translating complex physiology into clear, practical guidance for both patients and fellow clinicians, with a particular focus on gut health, the microbiome, hormone balance, and root cause functional medicine care. Dr. Saxena is not currently accepting new patients, but you can learn more about the Forum Health network at the link above.
About Forum Health: Forum Health is the nation's first and largest network of integrative and functional medicine providers. Our clinicians go beyond symptom management to find the root cause, using advanced diagnostics, personalized treatment plans, and evidence based therapies. With clinics across the U.S., expert care is closer than you think.
https://forumhealth.com/
If your urine cultures keep coming back normal but you still feel like you have a UTI, you're not alone. Recurrent UTIs, interstitial cystitis, and overactive bladder affect millions of people, and too many are stuck cycling through antibiotics with no lasting relief.
In this episode, Jana Rogers, APRN, FNP-C, IFMCP, a functional medicine nurse practitioner at Forum Health who specializes in recurrent UTIs and interstitial cystitis, joins us to break down what's actually driving the cycle. We talk about why her approach isn't anti antibiotic, it's anti incomplete, how biofilms let bacteria hide from both antibiotics and the immune system, why a negative urine culture doesn't always mean the infection is gone, and how hormonal changes during perimenopause raise the risk of recurrent UTIs and interstitial cystitis.
Jana also explains why checking the vaginal microbiome matters, how gut health and pelvic floor function tie into a true root cause workup, and why the nervous system and fear cycle around chronic bladder symptoms deserve just as much attention as the physical drivers. If you've been stuck in the antibiotic cycle for months or years, this conversation will change how you think about your bladder health.
👉 Book a free consultation with Forum Health: https://forumhealth.com/
GLP-1 medications have transformed the treatment of obesity and metabolic disease, but lasting success depends on much more than the prescription itself. In this episode, we discuss how proper lab testing, nutrition, gut health, detoxification, sleep, resistance training, and high-quality peptide sourcing all work together to maximize results while minimizing side effects. We also address common misconceptions surrounding GLP-1 therapy and explain why personalized care is essential for long-term metabolic health.
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About the Guest:
Dr. Andrew Eliszewski, DC—better known as "Dr. Drew"—is a board-certified Doctor of Chiropractic and functional health practitioner at Forum Health Madison. He specializes in cardiometabolic health, blood sugar regulation, functional nutrition, and personalized lifestyle medicine.
Dr. Drew takes a root-cause approach to GLP-1 therapy, emphasizing comprehensive lab testing, gut health, resistance training, optimal nutrition, and careful dosing strategies to help patients improve metabolic health while preserving lean muscle and supporting long-term wellness.
Website: https://forumhealth.com/provider/andrew-eliszewski-dc/
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About the Host:
Emily Rodriguez, CNM, APNP, is an integrative healthcare provider at Forum Health who seamlessly bridges conventional care with functional medicine. As a Certified Nurse-Midwife and Advanced Practice Nurse Prescriber, Emily brings a deep, compassionate understanding of whole-body wellness to her clinical practice. Rather than relying on quick fixes or temporary symptom management, she focuses on uncovering the true root causes of illness to build a foundation for long-term vitality.
Specializing in women’s health, hormone optimization, and gut function, Emily provides personalized protocols for individuals navigating perimenopause, menopause, PCOS, thyroid issues, and chronic fatigue. Her background in midwifery informs her patient-centered approach, fostering a true partnership with every individual she treats. By combining functional testing with bioidentical hormone therapy, targeted nutrition, and lifestyle medicine, Emily empowers her patients to take control of their health.Link: https://forumhealth.com/provider/emily-rodriguez-cnm-apnp/
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Forum Health
Website: https://forumhealth.com/
Clinic Locator: https://forumhealth.com/clinics/
Follow us on Social:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forumhealthco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forum_health/
Boost your well-being with physician-grade supplements trusted by providers for longevity, focus, and more at shopforumhealth.com.
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PODCAST
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This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com
https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
What if your gut microbiome is the missing piece behind chronic inflammation, fatigue, metabolic disease, and even brain health?
In this episode, Dr. William Davis explains why modern lifestyles have dramatically altered the human microbiome and how rebuilding beneficial bacteria may support healthier metabolism, stronger immunity, better cognitive function, and healthier aging. We explore SIBO, gut permeability, inflammation, probiotics, fermented foods, and practical strategies to restore your "Super Gut."
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About the Guest:
Dr. William Davis is a preventive cardiologist, #1 New York Times bestselling author, and internationally recognized pioneer in functional and preventive medicine. Best known for the groundbreaking Wheat Belly series and Super Gut, Dr. Davis focuses on restoring the human microbiome as a foundation for preventing chronic disease and optimizing long-term health.
Through decades of clinical experience, he has become a leading authority on gut health, SIBO, microbial restoration, metabolic disease, and inflammation. He is also the host of the Defiant Health Radio podcast and serves as Chief Medical Officer of Realize Therapeutics Corp.
Official Website: Dr. Davis Infinite Health
Instagram: @drdavisinfinitehealth
YouTube Channel: Dr. Davis Infinite Health on YouTube
Podcast: Defiant Health Radio on Apple Podcasts
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Forum Health
Website: https://forumhealth.com/
Clinic Locator: https://forumhealth.com/clinics/
Follow us on Social:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forumhealthco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forum_health/
Boost your well-being with physician-grade supplements trusted by providers for longevity, focus, and more at shopforumhealth.com.
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PODCAST
Thank you for listening.
Please subscribe and share.
This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com
https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
In this episode, we explore why “normal” labs do not always mean optimal health. Dr. Dicken Weatherby explains how functional blood chemistry analysis looks at patterns, trends, ratios, and optimal ranges to uncover early signs of dysfunction before disease develops. We discuss thyroid health, blood sugar, inflammation, nutrient status, and why prevention starts before a diagnosis.
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About the Guest:
Dr. Dicken Weatherby, ND, is a naturopathic physician, best-selling author, and pioneer of Functional Blood Chemistry Analysis. He is the author of Blood Chemistry and CBC Analysis and the founder of Optimal DX, a clinical software platform that helps practitioners interpret standard blood panels through optimal ranges, pattern recognition, and trend analysis.
His work helps clinicians identify subclinical dysfunction earlier, so patients can move beyond being told their labs are “normal” and receive more proactive, personalized support.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/OptimalDX
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/OptimalDX
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OptimalDX
Website: https://www.optimaldx.com
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Forum Health
Website: https://forumhealth.com/
Clinic Locator: https://forumhealth.com/clinics/
Follow us on Social:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forumhealthco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forum_health/
Boost your well-being with physician-grade supplements trusted by providers for longevity, focus, and more at shopforumhealth.com.
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PODCAST
Thank you for listening.
Please subscribe and share.
This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com
https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
In this episode, we sit down with Amber Shuey as she shares the personal story that led her into functional medicine and health coaching. Amber opens up about supporting her younger son through autism spectrum challenges, walking with her older son through seizures and neuroinflammation, and how nutrition, gluten removal, omega-3s, and root-cause care shaped her mission to help others.
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About the Guest:
Amber Shuey is a functional medicine health coach at Forum Health Tampa with training from the Functional Medicine Coaching Academy and the Functional Nutrition Alliance. Her work focuses on helping patients build sustainable nutrition and lifestyle habits that support gut health, metabolic function, brain health, and long-term vitality.
With both clinical training and lived experience navigating neurodegenerative and brain-related health challenges in her own family, Amber brings compassion, practicality, and deep root-cause insight to patient care.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-shuey-3484351b7
Website: https://forumhealth.com/provider/amber-shuey-fmchc
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Forum Health
Website: https://forumhealth.com/
Clinic Locator: https://forumhealth.com/clinics/
Follow us on Social:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forumhealthco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forum_health/
Boost your well-being with physician-grade supplements trusted by providers for longevity, focus, and more at shopforumhealth.com.
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PODCAST
Thank you for listening.
Please subscribe and share.
This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com
https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Paula Kruppstadt, we explore the powerful connection between gut health, neuroinflammation, and autism. Dr. Kruppstadt shares practical strategies for reducing inflammation, supporting healthy digestion, improving communication and behavior, and helping families implement sustainable lifestyle changes that support long-term brain health and development.
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About the Guest:
Dr. Paula Kruppstadt is a board-certified pediatrician, IFM Certified Practitioner, and founder of Hope for Healing. She specializes in pediatric functional medicine with a focus on autism, ADHD, PANS/PANDAS, developmental delays, gut-brain health, environmental medicine, and neuroinflammation.
Through her root-cause approach, Dr. Kruppstadt helps families look beyond symptom management and identify the physiological triggers that may be affecting a child’s health, behavior, development, and long-term potential.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get2theroot.co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/get2theroot-co
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/get2theroot.co
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@get2theroot
🎧 Get2TheRoot: Hope for Healing Podcast
Get2TheRoot: Hope for Healing explores root-cause approaches to health and healing, sharing expert insights, real stories, and practical tools to help listeners uncover the “why” behind their symptoms and move toward lasting wellness.
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple Podcasts
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Forum Health
Website: https://forumhealth.com/
Clinic Locator: https://forumhealth.com/clinics/
Follow us on Social:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forumhealthco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forum_health/
Boost your well-being with physician-grade supplements trusted by providers for longevity, focus, and more at shopforumhealth.com.
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PODCAST
Thank you for listening.
Please subscribe and share.
This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com
https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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