Menopause, Healthcare Access, and the Myth of Having It All with Dr. Sharon Malone

Can you really "have it all"? Dr. Sharon Malone OB-GYN, New York Times bestselling author of Grown Woman Talk, and Chief Medical Advisor at Alloy Health joins me for an honest conversation about what it really takes to balance medicine, motherhood, and everything in between. Dr. Malone and I talk about the things we don't usually say out loud. How do you balance being a great doctor, a present parent, and a supportive partner when society tells you to excel at all three simultaneously? Dr. Malone practiced medicine before and after the Women's Health Initiative, so she has a unique perspective on how hormone therapy went from being standard care to being feared and how that fear disproportionately affected women of color. We discuss why only 1% of Black women who are eligible for hormone therapy are actually on it, despite suffering the longest and most severe menopausal symptoms.We also talk about her work with Alloy Health, her new podcast The Second Opinion, and why she believes menopause is inevitable but suffering is not. Plus, we get into the uncomfortable truth about medical racism, implicit bias, and why your gut feeling matters more than your doctor's ego.HighlightsGive yourself grace in midlife perimenopause decreases your coping threshold for everything you're already juggling.Women of color carry the weight of representing their entire group, not just themselves, which adds invisible pressure.Diversity in healthcare leadership literally changes what research gets funded and what treatments get offered.Only 1% of Black women eligible for hormone therapy are actually on it, despite having more severe and longer-lasting symptoms.The "adipose tissue theory" that Black women don't need hormones because they make more estrogen on their own is completely false.Racialized medicine affects everything from endometriosis diagnosis (only thin white women?) to pain management assumptions.If your doctor gets mad that you asked for a second opinion, you need a different doctor.Guidelines are guardrails, not laws medicine requires both confidence and humility.Dr. Malone's book Grown Woman Talk is everything you need to know about navigating midlife with confidence and information. And remember: trust your gut. If something feels off, keep advocating until someone listens.I have an incredible lineup of guests coming up, so make sure you subscribe and leave a review so you never miss episodes like this one!Links:Get in touch with Dr. Malone:WebsiteBookInstagramPodcastGet in Touch with Me: WebsiteInstagramYoutubeSubstackMentioned in this episode:GSM CollectiveThe GSM Collective - Chicago Boutique concierge gynecology practice Led by Dr. Sameena Rahman, specialist in sexual medicine & menopause Unrushed appointments in a beautiful, private setting Personalized care for women's health, hormones, and pelvic floor issues Multiple membership options available Ready for personalized women's healthcare? Visit our Chicago office today. GSM Collective