In part two of our menopause series, we unpack common myths and misinformation about perimenopause, menopause, and hormone replacement therapy. Many women are treated in fragments – this episode brings the conversation back into the exam room with practical, patient-centered guidance. We continue our conversation with Sharon Malone, MD, board-certified OB-GYN and chief medical advisor for Alloy Women’s Health, on how perimenopause is diagnosed clinically (often without definitive lab tests), which symptoms should raise red flags, and why HRT is never a one-size-fits-all yes-or-no decision.

Credits

• Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
• Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
• Show Notes: Lauren Summers
• Guest: Sharon Malone, MD

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In 2025, the U.S. FDA removed the “black box” warnings from menopausal hormone therapy products – but what does that actually mean for patients? For decades, many women have navigated perimenopause and menopause with limited information, few effective options, and little validation of their symptoms. In part one of this two-part series, we speak with Sharon Malone, MD, board-certified OB-GYN and chief medical advisor for Alloy Women’s Health, about what happens during the menopausal transition, why symptoms can feel chaotic and unpredictable, and how misinterpretations of past research have shaped – and often restricted – women’s care.

Credits

• • Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
  • Guest: Sharon Malone, MD
  • Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
  • Show Notes: Lauren Summers

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How does trauma shape identity, trust, and connection in relationships? In this episode, we spoke with Thema Bryant, PhD, author of Matters of the Heart: Healing Your Relationship with Yourself and Those You Love, to unpack how PTSD can show up in intimacy and everyday life through hypervigilance, shame, emotional overwhelm, and disconnection, and the pathways to healing. From safe relationships and self-compassion to community and spirituality, we look at how recovery happens over time. This is a conversation about naming harm, rejecting shame, and making space for growth, hope, and wholeness on the other side of trauma.

This episode includes discussion of sexual assault, trauma, and PTSD. Some listeners may find this content difficult or triggering. Please take care while listening, and consider reaching out for support if needed.

Credits

• Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
• Guest: Thema Bryant, PhD
• Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
• Show Notes: Lauren Summers
  
  

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Perimenopause is the natural transition leading into menopause, marked by erratic fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone. These unpredictable shifts can trigger emotional, cognitive, and physical changes – often years before menopause officially begins. We spoke with Megan Spence, PsyD, PMH-C, a licensed clinical psychologist, about the whole-body experience of perimenopause, including mood and memory changes, the structural and social factors that place some groups at higher risk, available hormonal and non-hormonal treatments, lifestyle strategies that may help, and when – and how – to ask for support. Your symptoms matter, and you deserve informed, compassionate care.

Credits

• Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
• Guest: Megan Spence, PsyD, PMH-C
• Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
• Show Notes: Lauren Summers

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Miscarriage is common, yet many people feel unprepared when it happens. What are the different types of miscarriage, and what does follow-up care look like? We spoke with Lora Shahine, MD, double board-certified in reproductive endocrinology, infertility, and OB-GYN, about what to expect after a miscarriage, available care options, and the emotional aftermath, including the connection to postpartum depression. Dr. Shahine also explains the most common cause of miscarriage – genetic issues in the embryo – and why it is not caused by something a person did. Miscarriage is not your fault, and support matters.

Credits

• Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
• Guest: Lora Shahine, MD
• Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
• Show Notes: Lauren Summers

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Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss and can affect the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, and other areas of the body, causing patchy, partial, or complete hair loss. What are the different types of alopecia, and how are they diagnosed? We spoke with Carolyn Goh, MD, a dermatologist specializing in hair loss and scalp disorders, about common forms of alopecia, signs of pattern hair loss, what to expect after a diagnosis, available treatment options, and how to find support – because you’re not alone, and help is available.

Additional resources:
Scarring Alopecia Foundation (SAF)
National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF)

Credits

• Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
• Guest: Carolyn Goh, MD
• Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
• Show Notes: Lauren Summers

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Have you ever felt pressure to keep the peace and ended up saying “yes” when a big part of you wanted to say “no”? In this episode, we unpack people pleasing – and, at its extreme, fawning – an often misunderstood coping response rooted in survival. We’re joined by Lia Love Avellino, LCSW, director of head and heart at The Well, to explore how boundaries, emotional health, and lived experience intersect. Lia helps us recognize the physical cues that signal self-abandonment – like a tight chest, knotted stomach, or shaky voice – and offers tools to pause, check in with the body, and name what you truly need. Because boundaries aren’t barriers; they’re meeting places that make more honest, authentic connection possible.

Credits

• Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
• Guest: Lia Love Avellino, LCSW
• Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
• Show Notes: Lauren Summers

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In this special episode of WebMD Health Discovered podcast, we’re taking you behind the scenes of our Top 5 episodes of 2025 -- and how these powerful conversations came to life. We reflect on the moments that shaped the stories you heard and the questions that guided them. You’ll hear clips from some of our most groundbreaking episodes, spanning stillbirth and maternal care, cancer screenings, anorexia and recovery, evolving parenting dynamics, and the emerging science of xenotransplantation. This year, we released 52 high-value episodes of the podcast, each inspired by your feedback and the real challenges people face while navigating health care. While the podcast has been recognized with top industry honors, these episodes earned their place in our Top 5 for one reason above all others: their impact on you.

Full episodes featured:
Stillbirth and Maternal Care Gaps: Risks, Support, and Advocacy
The Risks of Delaying Routine Cancer Screenings
Understanding Anorexia: Signs, Support, and the Role of Hope in Recovery
Redefining Parenting Dynamics: Moving From Resentment to Collaboration
Exploring Xenotransplantation with Dr. Sanjay Gupta: Inside the Future of Organ Transplants

Credits

• Guests: Heather Florescue, MD, FACOG, OBGYN; Samantha Banerjee; Christopher Scuderi, DO; Kamryn Eddy, PhD; Lia Love Avellino, LCSW; Sanjay Gupta MD
• Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
• Show Notes: Lauren Summers

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At least 1.5 million people in the United States are living with lupus, a chronic and often misunderstood autoimmune disease. What are the most common myths about lupus – and who does it really affect? We spoke with Karen Costenbader, MD, MPH, director of the Lupus Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, about early symptoms to watch for, potential environmental triggers, widespread misconceptions, and what patients can expect from their healthcare team when seeking diagnosis and care.

Credits

• Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
• Guest: Karen Costenbader, MD, MPH
• Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
• Show Notes: Lauren Summers

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About 805,000 people in the U.S. have a heart attack each year – and the experience doesn’t end in the ER. Recovery is a long-term process. We spoke to Harmony R. Reynolds, MD, director of both the Center for Women’s Cardiovascular Health and the Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center at NYU Langone Health, about the signs and symptoms to watch for, what healthy recovery can look like, how to support yourself or a loved one after a heart attack, and the key lifestyle changes that make a lasting difference.

Credits

• Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
• Guest: Harmony R. Reynolds, MD
• Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
• Show Notes: Lauren Summers

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.