015 Dr. Jolene Brighten – On Orgasms, Seed Cycling & Informed Consent

01:31 – Dr. Stephanie introduces the topics she and Dr. Jolene Brighten discuss in Part Two of her interview 06:00 – A 2016 study out of Denmark of the association of hormonal contraception with depression 11:57 – Mood disorders and the tryptophan pathway 15:52 – The incidence rate of depression and Alzheimer’s in women 17:40 – Elevated cortisol levels 20:04 – Progesterone and head injuries 21:55 – How hormonal birth control affects sexual health and libido 26:37 – How testosterone affects inflammation 27:13 – Yeast infections and vaginal wall atrophy 30:18 – Orgasms 33:31 – The importance of communication during sex 34:42 – Dr. Jolene’s Top 10-12 Things to Know about Orgasms 42:37 – Hormonal birth control’s impact on gut and gastrointestinal health 46:54 – A recent Harvard study on birth control and Crohn’s Disease 50:16 – The value of supplementation while on the pill 59:31 – Seed cycling 1:04:35 – Evidence-based medicine 1:06:55 – Defining Post-Birth Control Syndrome 1:08:48 – Fertility Awareness Method (FAM), defined 1:16:56 – Where listeners can follow Dr. Jolene 1:18:08 – Where listeners can follow Dr. Stephanie and subscribe to her newsletter TWEETABLE QUOTES “We have to have these inconvenient conversations so that we can keep our daughters, our sisters, our future mothers safe.” (11:28) “We can do better when we know. But when we don’t know, then we’re flying blind.” (21:47) “If you’re a woman having sex with a male, that sexual intercourse is inviting someone else’s body into your body.” (32:18) “Now, the other great thing about orgasms, they can give you easier periods, more regular cycles, and relief from menstrual cramps.” (40:44) “We’ve now come to understand that what grows in your mouth can impact your fertility and also impact pregnancy outcomes.” (46:38) “Anybody who lives with women or is a woman knows, women will power through just about anything until they can’t and then they’ll go to the doctor.” (1:08:29) “It’s really important, I think, for all women to understand that if you’re not in a monogamous relationship, the pill, IUDs, patch, they’re not going to protect you against sexually transmitted infections. And that’s something that often gets glazed over.” (1:14:34) LINKS MENTIONED Better! Website Dr. Stephanie’s Website Dr. Stephanie’s Twitter – @dr_stephanie Dr. Stephanie’s Instagram – @dr.stephanie.estima Dr. Stephanie on LinkedIn Dr. Jolene’s Website Dr. Jolene’s LinkedIn Dr. Jolene’s Instagram – @drjolenebrighten Dr. Jolene’s Twitter – @drbrighten Dr. Jolene’s Facebook Dr. Jolene’s YouTube Channel Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales (DASS) DASS Questionnaire Link to Seed Cycling Article Dr. Jolene’s Books: Beyond the Pill: A 30-Day Program to Balance Your Hormones, Reclaim Your Body, and Reverse the Dangerous Side Effects of the Birth Control Pill ENJOYING THE SHOW, READY FOR MORE? Please Subscribe to Better! With Dr. Stephanie Join our Private Facebook Community for Better! Rate and Review: Show your support and help spread the word by writing a review, along with a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts: https://bettershow.co/apple 🎙️🎙️🎙️ Podcast production and marketing provided by FullCast **************************** P.S. When you're ready, here are two ways Dr. Stephanie can help you: Subscribe: The Mini Pause — My weekly newsletter packed with the most actionable, evidence-based tools for women 40+ to thrive in midlife. Build Muscle: LIFT — My progressive strength training program designed for women in midlife. Form-focused, joint-friendly, and built for real results. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.