June 10, 2025

Why Reproductive Health Is Still Stuck in the 1950s—From Epidurals to Birth Control Methods

1 hour 27 minutes

Are we really still using 70-year-old tools in women’s health? In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Jolene Brighten sits down with award-winning journalist and author Marina Gerner to expose how outdated our current reproductive health care system really is—from the epidural as the “last big innovation” in birth care to the lack of real advancement in birth control methods. But this conversation isn’t just about what’s broken—it’s also about what’s being built.

You’ll learn about groundbreaking innovations like smart bras that detect heart disease, digital contraceptives that rival the pill in efficacy, and why FemTech may be the future of women’s health. Whether you're frustrated by the current system or looking for hopeful, empowering solutions, this episode is packed with actionable insight, compelling stats, and a vision for what modern reproductive health could and should look like.

This episode is brought to you by:

Dr. Brighten Essentials: https://drbrightenessentials.com use code POD15 for 15% off – Supporting parents and families with tools that work.

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LMNT: http://DrinkLMNT.com/Brighten receive your exclusive gift with purchase – Helping you support your child’s development with science-backed products.

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Links Mentioned in This Episode

The Vagina Business by Marina Gerner – https://amzn.to/4kM7xPI

Dr. Brighten’s book Is This Normal? – https://amzn.to/3wvdgWy

Dr. Brighten’s book Beyond the Pill - https://amzn.to/3becjT7

Research: "Association of Hormonal Contraception With Depression" (JAMA, 2016) – https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2552796

Fertility Awareness resource guide – https://drbrighten.com/fertility-awareness-method-work/

The Guardian article on the smart bra – https://www.theguardian.com/careers/2020/jun/02/smart-bras-and-a-light-tracker-the-wearable-tech-helping-plug-the-medical-gender-bias-gap

Follow Marina Gerner:

Website https://www.marinagerner.com/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/marinagerner

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@marinagerner

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💻 Website: https://www.drbrighten.com

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🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten

🧵Threads: https://www.threads.net/@drjolenebrighten

🌟 Grab my free hormone friendly recipes here! https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/

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By Dr. Jolene Brighten

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