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.

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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: 

1. 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. 
2. 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.
3. 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. 
4. 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. 
5. 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

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Mary Alice Haney - Instagram

Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi - Instagram

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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

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